Cat Zimmerman
Catherine Zimmerman (Cat Z) began riding at Seaton Hackney Stables right before it officially opened and when she was only three years old. Her passion for horses began truly before she could walk. She became a permanent fixture at the barn and even “bought” Elvis the pony from the owner, Marc, for a quarter and a dime when she was five years old:
In 2015, at the age of 12, Cat was accepted into the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition, a national program where young trainers are given a wild mustang to tame and train and, after 90 days, they compete. She began working with her first mustang, Comancheria (“Monche”) and went on to place fourth overall in the competition.
Since then, Cat has continued working with mustangs. She has won numerous Youth Extreme Mustang Makeovers (Massachusetts, Kentucky, Texas, Nevada, Georgia), Open Mustang Competitions (Georgia, Kentucky, Texas), won Fan Favorite for her Freestyle Performance (Midwest Horse Fair), and was Reserved Champion in numerous makeovers. She won her first Adult TIP Mustang Challenge (Georgia) and came in fourth in her first Adult Extreme Mustang Makeover (Oklahoma). Today, she resides in Florida and trains horses full-time. People send her horses to train from all over the nation. When she isn’t training, she travels the country performing with her mustangs and conducts clinics. In 2019, her dedication to mustangs was recognized when she was named the first ever Official Youth Ambassador for the Mustang Heritage Foundation. She also co-founded the CZ Mustangs Rescue & Sanctuary.
To say that learning how to ride horses at Seaton Hackney Stables changed her life is an understatement.
You see, horses saved her.
On the outside, Cat might have appeared like a privileged young girl. However, unbeknownst to many people, she was a typical teenager facing many of the same hardships that other young people encounter but often hide from others. Her parents had just gotten divorced, her mother was fighting breast cancer, another family member was battling addiction, and her world felt like it was falling apart. Her time with horses helped to heal those wounds and keep her grounded.
In 2016, at 13 years of age, Cat created this inspiring video that describes her own struggles and determination to overcome many of the social obstacles and life hardships that other young people are forced to deal with: school or cyber bullying, lack of self-esteem, parental divorce, disease, substance abuse, and depression. Her video shows the power that horses have to heal people. It just takes a dream and hard work to overcome the hardships that so many of us face.
Both Cat and Seaton Hackney Stables dedicate this video to all young people and adults who might find themselves in a similar place. It is our heartfelt hope and mission to be able to help anyone, young and less young, overcome adversity, find comfort and joy in our environment and achieve their potential. Let the healing power of horses help you find who you can be.
You can now watch Cat and her progress through 501c3 non-profit mustang training and rescue facility, CZ Mustangs Rescue & Sanctuary and see how many Mustangs are rescued, retrained and rehomed thanks to Cat and her mother’s efforts, the support of Seaton Hackney stables and friends and customers like you.
Video: Rewards of Working with Mustangs
VIDEO: Cat Z won the Las Vegas 90 Days TIP Challenge in2019, with Indie, a yearling filly from the Nevada Mustang Range:
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