The first thing people notice about Cattitude when he enters the arena is how beautiful he is. With his long, flaxen mane and tail, and compact, muscular body, the sorrel stallion looks like the perfect reining horse. High expectations often accompany such good first impressions.
But Cattitude isn’t just another pretty face; he delivers a solid performance every time he steps into the spotlight. Among his other accomplishments, he is currently leading the nation in Open Reining on the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) circuit, and he’s won around $55,000 in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) events. Recently, he was the Senior Reining Circuit Champion at the AQHA Firecracker Circuit Show in Temecula.



Even as a youngster, “Cat” showed his potential by being an NRHA Open Futurity Finalist, and in 2001, he was a United States Equestrian Team (USET) Silver Medalist at the Festival of Champions.
In 2005, Tom Foran was looking for a well-bred stallion that he could promote in both open and limited non-pro events. When Frank Bolea offered Cat for sale, Tom didn’t have to think twice about buying him for client Laura Day.
“I went out and rode him, but it was really just a courtesy ride,” he explains. “I knew what the horse could do, and I liked what his bloodline would bring to our breeding program. I also had a good idea that he could be gentle enough for Laura to compete in the limited non-pro classes.”
Tom wasn’t disappointed. The 11-year old stallion is not only good at his job, he’s a gentleman, too.
“There’s nothing not to like about him,” Tom says. “He’s extremely athletic, and can do every maneuver. Some horses can do a great rundown but have a problem with spins, or have a weak side, but Cat doesn’t have any weaknesses. He’s solid across the board.”
And as for any temperamental behavior, Tom adds, “You’d never know there was a stud in the barn. When we get him out to work him, he never lays his ears back, or acts like he doesn’t want to do the job. He just puts his head down and goes to work.”
Tom sums up his feelings about the stallion with one simple sentence: “He’s just a cool dude.”
They’ve barely started Cat’s breeding career, although he has a couple of yearling daughters at his previous ranch and some new foals at Tom’s place. Although none of them has started their reining careers, Tom reports that they all look good and are coming along well.
Apart from the breeding program, what does the future hold for Cattitude?
He’s not ready to retire yet, according to Tom. Next year he plans to slow down showing him in the open divisions, but Laura will be campaigning him more as an amateur, with her eye on going to the Select World. After that, it’ll depend on Cat.
“We think of him as being semi-retired after next year.”
When Cat isn’t on the road, he relaxes at Foran Performance Horses in the beautiful North Middle Ranch equestrian facility, in the foothills of the San Fernando Valley. Information about Cattitude’s pedigree, show records and breeding fee is available at www.foranperformancehorses.com, or by calling 818-890-1300.