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July 6, 2001
Big Bucks for
the Big Country
By Jerry Lackey
Carolyn and Pat Gully sorta backed into the cutting horse business. But lucky for Abilene, Texas they did!
The annual Abilene Spectacular Carolyn started 10 years ago brings millions of dollars in economic impact to the queen city of Big Country and ranks in the top five cutting horse events across the nation.
From her kitchen table in their ranch home near Novice, Carolyn recalls those early days.
"Pat was a cattle trader from Rowena in Runnels County when we married," she says. "He started furnishing the stock for some jackpots around the area while I organized the events. Next thing I know, I received a call from the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) to coordinate a few events."
In no time, Carolyn was traveling the USA six months out of the year promoting cutting horse events. She worked as an independent contractor for the NCHA and remained in the fast lane for 10 years.
"I got tired of traveling and leaving my family, so I put my creative mind to work on ways I could turn my talents and energy into a more local situation," she says.
Carolyn went to the Abilene Chamber of Commerce with the idea to put together a cutting horse event for the Big Country that would not only get her off the road but give her a local income and bring new dollars to the community. She received a "lukewarm" reception but far from the motivation she needed to press on.
Determined and focused, she continued her presentation to business leaders.
"Finally, a man in one of the banks saw the big picture and lent support," she recalls. "Between him and the Chamber, I learned that the period between Christmas and New Year was almost dead with plenty of vacancies in local motels."
The first Abilene Spectacular took place in January, 1993. Every year since has been more and more successful. In the past couple of years the cutting show has climbed to one of the top five in the nation. With that rank, the show paid out $725,000 in prize money last year.
"And that doesn't count the money it brings to Abilene between Christmas and New Year's when all those contestants and their families fill all the motels, eat in the restaurants, shop the stores and so on," she adds. "This event lasts 15 days and brings millions of dollars to Abilene and West Texas."
Not only has the annual Abilene Spectacular grown, the Gully family stay busy year around with Labor Day roping events, a monthly Big Country Cutting Horse Association event in nearby Sweetwater, plus "Summer and Winter" Cutting Circuit events.
"Everything we do involves the family," Carolyn smiles. Husband Pat continues to furnish stock for all events plus others when he has cattle available. That number sometimes will total 30,000 head per year.
Son Matt helps his Dad with the livestock and ranch as well as train cutting horses and conduct ropings around the country. He also is a professional roper.
Daughters Coleta and Ginger help their mother with promotions and operations of each event. Also, one daughter and her husband formed a video business and travel the country recording cutting horse events.
The Gully Ranch not only participates in the cattle business, but raises cutting bred horses.
