The Horseback Hehr Household
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70 – July/Aug, 2016
At 12 years old, Tracey Hehr was horse crazy. Like many in the horse show crowd, she began her equestrian career on the back of a Shetland pony, competing in all-around events at 4-H and local open shows in Mason, Michigan.
Her Paint pony named Prince turned out to be a bit challenging for Hehr in more ways than one. “I’ll never forget when I was 12; I thought I was going to be a horse trainer,” Hehr says. “He wouldn’t pick up his left lead, so I decided I was going to tie a rope around his right leg so he would learn to pick up his left lead. The funny thing is that it worked! He helped me learn a lot…”
When Hehr’s father realized that Prince the pony wasn’t likely to fulfill his daughter’s desire to compete, the hunt was on for a horse. Hehr was once again faced with a challenge. “When I told my dad I wanted a horse, he made me go find a place to board it. I literally walked up and down our road until I found somewhere to board the horse. I was determined,” she says.
Hehr’s determination paid off. She moved on from Prince the pony to a Barrel Racing horse that her parents thought would be able to be cross-trained for other events. When that didn’t pan out exactly as planned, Hehr acquired a new partner. She laughs thinking back, “After that I got a Palomino, I was good to go. I thought I was really something!”
When Hehr headed off to North Michigan University to study nursing, she made the tough decision to sell her three horses. It was during that time when Hehr met her husband, Jason. The two would eventually marry and later have twins, Isabella and Sheldon. “I always wanted a child to share my passion and love for horses with,” she says. “Well, my wish came true, times two!”
Following a brief hiatus, Hehr returned to the show pen in 2007, when she purchased Just Zippin Up and later a 2001 sorrel gelding named Doctor Can Dee with help from Carly VeldmanParks. Hehr and “Doc” competed in all-around events and were named the Reserve World Champions in Novice Amateur Western Riding in 2012. Apart from their many wins as a team, Hehr has a special place in her heart for Doc. She says, “He is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Doc is a best friend, a teacher and a soulmate. He is part of me and has made me who I am today.”
70 – July/Aug, 2016
