Exclusively at the Verde Valley Equine Festival
Arizona Horseman’s Challenge 2014
April 4, 5 & 6
Competing Horse Trainer Feature:
Jeremy Cluff, Queen Creek, AZ
“Horse Tamer” Jeremy Cluff grew up in Central
Arizona and learned at a young age the value
of a good horse. He has spent his life studying
what makes horses tick and learning as much
as he can from each of them. Jeremy treats
his horses in the same manner as his family
has for generations: with a soft hand and a big
heart. Early days competing as a professional
bareback bronc rider have lent to his ability to
ride colts and work with problem horses. The
unprecedented hands-on education that he
received along the way is clearly demonstrated
in his horses as well as his horsemanship skills.
As a trainer and clinician Jeremy spends his
days helping people to better understand why
their horse does what it does, and teaching
them to work together to make the ride more
enjoyable. His evenings are spent playing
with his kids and unwinding with lovely
wife Kristy.
Jeremy had the great opportunity to spend
most of fall on set as horse wrangler and
technical consultant for the film “A Horse
for Summer”, due for release in the summer
of 2014.
Competing Horse Trainer Feature:
Matthew Smiley, Window Rock, AZ
Originally from Manuelito, New Mexico,
Matthew Smiley has been training horses for
half a decade. “For as long as I can remember,
I’ve had a passion for horses”, and coming from
a family truly rich in a history of ranching, it
was Smiley’s late grandfather Jimmy that planted
these roots. Inspired to become a rancher and
cowboy at 12, Matthew spent summers with
horses and even after receiving his share of bad
experiences, his persistence for working with
horses was never suppressed. “It was, however,
the good experiences that made a mark on my
young cowboy life”, claims Smiley.
Matthew was in pursuit of becoming a
horseman, and after starting his first two
horses, he became hungry for more advanced
horsemanship skills. Smiley spent time
refining cues and doing research on different
philosophies, methods, principles and buying
better equipment. He made his way to a
horsemanship seminar hosted by the Padres
Mesa Ranch and received an invitation to come
to the ranch. He’s been a returning volunteer
for 3 years now and every year has seen great
improvement. “To give your horse a job to do,
and to have the horse so willing, working as
one, is truly an awesome feeling.”
Matthew has had the opportunity to
demonstrate his horse training talents
throughout Arizona and New Mexico. In his
first competition ever, he placed 3rd in the
Cowboy Ranch Horse Competition in Tsaile,
Arizona. The following year, he placed 2nd.
Smiley recently performed a demonstration
in Naschitti, New Mexico for an Equine Assist
Learning Program, an outreach to youth that
are on drugs, including homeless and dropouts.
He was intrigued with this noble outreach
for the community. According to Matthew,
“Doing this great contribution for communities
throughout the reservations is one thing.
Making a serious outreach with horses is
awesome. It simply draws people together”.
continued on page 39
AZintheSaddle.com
February 2014
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