2023 Ambassador, Colleen Nolan-Tran and Determine This, Tidewater Tomcat and Evaluator
Meet New Vocations' 2023 Ambassadors, Colleen Nolan-Tran and Determine This, Tidewater Tomcat and Evaluator
I’m Colleen Nolan-Tran and I own 3 New Vocations grads: Determine This ("Cricket" a 2005 Standardbred gelding), Tidewater Tomcat ("Tomcat" a 2008 Standardbred gelding), and Evaluator ("Cheddar" a 2015 Thoroughbred gelding). I have been competing in dressage with my horses, but I also have a special interest in using positive reinforcement and clicker training.
Cricket and I have been showing the world that Standardbreds can do dressage! He has competed through Training Level and last year he won the USDF All-Breeds Award, the SIP Dressage year-end award, and was Grand Champion for Training Level Dressage at the Standardbred National Show. When he’s not competing, Cricket really enjoys trail riding. He’s fearless out on the trails and hacks around like a pro. He is also happy to give my husband a safe and fun ride whenever he wants to hop on a horse.
Tomcat has become my most advanced trick horse. After he mostly retired from riding after an injury, I started teaching him tricks. He knows how to smile, stand on a pedestal, ride tackless, lay down on command, and more. He really enjoys the challenge of problem-solving and learning new behaviors. Plus he’s a total ham, so he loves the attention he gets when he puts on a show. Even though he’s no longer being ridden regularly, Tomcat really enjoys having a job, and teaching him tricks with clicker training has been a lot of fun for both of us.
Cheddar is my most recent New Vocations adoptee. I adopted him in March 2022 to take him to the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover. Soon after I got him home, I noticed the increased workload was making him a bit sour under saddle. When I had my vet out, we found he had ulcers and mild kissing spines. I spent quite a lot of time rehabbing him to work happily under saddle and he went on to compete successfully at the Makeover - placing 11th in a very competitive field for dressage and 2nd for his freestyle routine.
All three of my horses were successful on the track - Cricket and Cheddar earned upwards of $375,000 and Tomcat won more than $150,000. I have found that a lot of people shy away from horses with a lot of races under their belt, thinking they might be high-strung or worn down - but I’ve found the opposite to be true of my three War Horses. They’re all as level-headed as they come. And Cricket (with 191 starts) has been the soundest horse in my barn!
On my social media channels, I try to post a variety of content - from my horses out competing to vlogs around my barn, and some how-to videos on clicker training. You can follow along with me and my horses below.
Ambassador: Colleen Nolan-Tran
New Vocations Graduates: Determine This, Tidewater Tomcat and Evaluator
Youtube: @ColleenNolanTran
TikTok: @colleennolantran
Facebook: Lucky Cricket Farm NJ
Instagram: @nolancolleen
