From the beginning, 30 year-old trainer Reid Thomas from Corpus Christi, Texas seemed destined to be involved in the horse industry. “He had horses in his blood from an early age,” his mother Charlene Thomas said. “Reid tried t-ball, tennis and soccer, but he always went back to horses.” Even at the age of three, his mother remembers Reid wanting to ride the horse carousel at the mall. “I was thinking it would be cheaper to buy the carousel and pacify him that way instead of deal with the responsibilities and expense of buying him a real horse,” laughs Charlene.
Finally, at the age of seven, Reid talked his father, Brock, and mother, Charlene, into acquiring some horses. Reid’s first mount was named, RC, a AQHA sorrel gelding, and his older brother, Ryan, rode a horse called Dr. Pepper. One of their friends competed on a horse called Big Red. When they participated at the 4-H and open shows nearby, this group was affectionately known as the Coca Cola Bunch. Reid’s older brother, who is now an orthopedic surgeon, eventually lost his interest in riding, but Reid’s enthusiasm for horses never wavered. His mother helped form the Nueces Horseman’s 4-H Club where Reid was involved with the judging team. “He learned how to critique the horses and develop oral reasonings for his placings,” his mother said. “I believe that helped him develop and enhance his natural talent as a horseman.”
Reid also developed an interest in the hunter classes where he learned to jump on a 14.1 hand Palomino mare named Honeybee. Unfortunately, Honeybee developed navicular so he was unable to continue showing her. Thomas ended up trading Honeybee for a western Palomino mare named DAZZLING REVUE. By the age of 14, Thomas was giving lessons to local kids and volunteering his time to learn more about riding and training horses. His fondness for Palominos led him to start showing on the PHBA circuit, and it was also a great introduction into the horse show world because it was a place he could be competitive and successful even with a limited budget. DAZZLING REVUE and Reid won the 13 & Under Horsemanship at the Palomino World Championship Show. Then, Thomas bought a Palomino gelding, HESA CERTAIN SUCCESS, that he showed in the 14-18 pleasure and horsemanship. This duo was very successful on the PHBA show circuit where they won the Houston Palomino Livestock Show in western pleasure four times in a row and, in 1995, this team won the 14-18 Western Pleasure at the Palomino World Show.
Thomas went on to graduate from high school seventh in his class of 400. Obviously quite astute, Reid attended Texas A&M and received a degree in Business with a minor in International Law. During college, Reid still had some horses in training and started competing at the futurities and AQHA shows. He had every intention of going to law school, but he chose instead to devote all his talents to training and showing horses. “I just couldn’t image living half of my life in an office cubicle,” Reid said. “My grandmother, Charlotte, was very instrumental in helping me make my decision. She told me to follow my passion. If you love what you do and do it right, then you will be successful.”
His grandmother was right. With this young trainer’s drive and passion, he has developed a reputation as one of the top all-around trainers in the nation. His talent of matching horses to riders and horses to their strongest events has been Reid’s most important asset and sets him apart from other trainers in the industry. “He seems to have this knack to be able to bring out the best in the riders and horses,” remarks his mother Charlene. Thomas adds, “Every year, I sit down with my clients and set out goals for each client according to their budget and talents of each specific horse and rider. If my clients and I are not on the same page, it gets frustrating and nothing gets accomplished. I try to be honest with them and set realistic goals.”
Luckily, Reid has been fortunate with his ability to juggle the demands and ambitions of his customers. He has managed to maintain several long term clients–four of which he has helped since he was 15 years-old. Thomas has helped several of his customers from when they started in walk-trot to currently showing in the Amateur division. Debbie Donald, whose daughter Brittany hauls with Reid, mentions his determination and willingness to go the extra mile. “He is an excellent instructor who is constantly wanting to increase his knowledge and skills to help his clients.” Another customer, Kay Walker, whose two boys train with Thomas explains that while he is very driven and wants to win, he also stills makes it fun. “He is a very caring person who wants us to be successful but not to the point where we aren’t enjoying ourselves and lose sight of why we show horses in the first place–to have fun, meet new people, and hopefully learn lessons that will help my boys later in life.”
All of Reid’s hard work and determination came to fruition at last year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress. He brought seven horses to the Congress and five came away as Congress Champions–two of the five won two classes. His client Brittany Donald won the 12-14 Youth All-Around and the All Age Youth All Around with CHIPS PRIVATE STARS. Donald also won the 14-18 Novice Youth High Point with CHIPPEN IN STYLE. At this past year’s Palomino Youth World Championships, Brittany received the 14-18 Golden Horse with her mount YOU BET SHEZ INVITED. His other client Taylor Dearman won the 14-18 Trail at the Palomino Youth World while Brittany was second in the same class. His two clients switched it up in the 14-18 Horsemanship where Brittany was first and Taylor was reserve champion. His assistant, Blake Weis, won the Green Trail at last year’s Congress with SLOWLY INTOXICATING, and the Congress Amateur Versatility was won by his client Brittany Boyd and DONT SKIP MY CHARMS. They won the horsemanship and western pleasure and were 4th in the hunter under saddle and pole bending. CHIPPEN IN STYLE also won the Progressive Working Hunter at the AQHA Open World, was third in Senior Hunter Hack, and fourth in Senior Working Hunter with world-renowned hunter trainer Patty Stovel in the irons.
Thomas credits his parents for his success by providing unconditional love and support as well as his mentors in the industry: Steve Archer, Charlie Cole, Jason Martin, David Connors, Lainie DeBoer, and Patty Stovel. “They are all inspirational and amazing talents who have helped and given me encouragement and advice throughout the years. But, I have also learned a lot from just watching how they approach a pattern or course, train a specific horse, treat their clients, and run their businesses.”
Top trainer Charlie Cole says that Reid has built a really successful business in the last few years. “He not only can ride and train a horse very well but he is excellent with his clients. He knows how to pick and match up horses and riders. He’s always trying to learn and improve himself. I’d say he’s a very well rounded horseman.”
Currently, Thomas has 24 horses in training on his 20 acre farm that he shares with his mother. His mother runs a therapeutic riding program known as the Glenoak Therapeutic Riding Center for children with developmental disabilities out of the same facility. While Reid is happy for his clients’ success in the show arena, he realizes that riding horses is not all about winning at the highest levels. It is sometimes just about the connection and bond between horse and rider. He currently helps Lisa Hepner who has cerebral palsy at the AQHA shows in the Equestrian with Disabilities events. Hepner won the Equestrian with Disability Trail at the NSBA World Championships last year with ZIPS DANDY SENSATION. “I was so happy for her, and it was one of the most amazing feelings to just be there and share that moment with her,” Reid said. Thomas also mentions his excitement of teaching his two nephews and niece how to ride horses. “My niece loves riding and I am glad through all my hard work I am able to now teach and help her learn how to ride. It feels like everything has come full circle.”
While one of Reid’s goals is to win the AQHA World and Congress, he still tries to focus mainly on making sure his clients and their horses succeed in the horse show ring. His motto is “Success is about the journey not the destination.” His proudest moments are when he learns that the younger kids that he has helped and taught at the horse shows have grown up to do amazing things with their lives. “It really makes everything worthwhile,” Reid said. “To know that I have made a positive difference in people’s lives.”
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