Garter Cat was a mare born from a cross that Corey Holden had complete faith in from the beginning. Sired by Smooth As A Cat and out of the exceptional mare Spinning Garter, she represented a breeding decision built on both instinct and experience. Corey had seen Smooth As A Cat in America and was immediately impressed by him as an individual and performer. He believed the stallion had a unique presence and ability, which led him to breed him to Spinning Garter. The first result of that cross was the exceptional mare Asa Cat, now owned by Steve and Stacy Smith, who accumulated lifetime earnings of $46,092.10 and has continued adding to her influence through her own successful progeny. Asa Cat proved the cross worked exactly as Corey had hoped, so the decision was made to repeat the breeding, and that decision produced Garter Cat.
From the beginning, Garter Cat showed all the qualities they had hoped for. She was exceptionally smart on a cow, naturally talented and incredibly easy to train. Corey quickly realised she was the type of mare they needed to retain within their own program as a future replacement for Spinning Garter in the breeding herd. Corey trained her throughout her early career, while Trudy campaigned her during her futurity year, and together they formed a partnership that would become one of the most memorable of their careers.
Known around the property as “Fox,” because Trudy always thought she looked like a foxy lady, Garter Cat possessed a beautiful presence that naturally drew attention. She was a mare people noticed, not only because of her appearance but because of her quiet confidence and softness. Trudy always loved her and found she naturally clicked with the mare. Corey originally campaigned Garter Cat in the Open Futurity, however things did not quite fall into place and they were unable to make the final. Following that, they made a last-minute decision to purchase Trudy a slot for the Non Pro Futurity the following week. Trudy had already been riding her at home and had always gotten along with her exceptionally well, and what started as a last-minute opportunity quickly became one of those decisions that can shape a horse's career.
Their futurity season became something special. Garter Cat won three of the five futurities she competed in and Trudy consistently found success aboard her. She claimed the NCHA Limited Non Pro Futurity Championship, placed 4th in the NCHA Non Pro Futurity, secured victories at the Victoria Futurity and Comet Cutting Club Futurity and, remarkably, Trudy and Garter Cat became the only futurity combination that year to make every final at every show they attended.
Her Derby year produced one of the most memorable moments for the Holden family. Corey finally had the opportunity to show her again and at the biggest stage of the year he captured the Tamworth NCHA Open Derby Championship. Trudy remembers sitting in the grandstand watching Corey finally get his chance to enjoy the mare and showcase her with that level of success. She was nervous, excited and proud all at once. Then the very next day Trudy returned to the pen herself and received 3rd place in the Non Pro Futurity. She remembers riding Garter Cat across the timeline afterwards with the biggest smile on her face, thinking how lucky they were to own such an incredible mare and how blessed they were to share moments like that together. For Garter Cat to come back and back up her performance on consecutive days spoke volumes about the mare's heart and determination.
Corey often described Garter Cat as one of those mares that almost tricked you into underestimating her. He said she always seemed quiet and almost half-drowsy when walking through the herd, as though she was not really paying much attention. Then as soon as the cut came down to the last cow, her ears would prick, her body would tighten and you could see her come alive. She genuinely loved her job. Corey always said the harder you pushed her, the more she thrived. She had tremendous horsepower, was naturally strong through a long rein and stayed incredibly correct on a cow. She was smart with how she used her body, staying tight and inside her cow without becoming emotional or flustered. Her sensible mind gave both Corey and Trudy complete confidence every time they walked into the pen.
That consistency followed her throughout her entire show career and across all her aged events. Garter Cat accumulated lifetime earnings of more than $72,000, highlighted by victories and major placings across some of Australia's biggest events. Her performance record included winning the 2017 NCHA Derby with Corey Holden, winning both the 2016 NCHA Non Pro Futurity and Limited Non Pro Futurity with Trudy Holden, claiming the 2019 National Finals Open Classic Challenge, along with multiple victories and major placings at events including Southern Cross, Pretty Pine, Victoria Futurity and the National Finals. Even throughout the later stages of her career she remained exceptionally competitive and continued proving her consistency at elite level competition.
She remained sound throughout her entire show career and competed through all of her aged events. Because Corey and Trudy did not have many horses of a similar age at the time, they would occasionally continue showing her at weekend events with Trudy after her aged event career had finished. Eventually, when she was retired, they decided to breed a few foals from her. Years later, after she had spent considerable time out of work, a client expressed interest in showing her in Rookie competition and Corey and Trudy gave them the opportunity. Remarkably, she returned to the show pen and performed as though she had never left, stepping back into competition effortlessly and reminding everyone of the quality she possessed. Since then, she has firmly secured her position in the paddock as a broodmare.
When the time came for Garter Cat to transition into her role as a broodmare, she continued proving her value to the Holden breeding program. Her first breeding was to Tuff Lover, a stallion Corey admired for his type and pedigree. The resulting foal was a stunning liver chestnut filly with a flaxen mane and tail that immediately attracted attention. Offered through the Led Yearling Sale, she sold for an impressive $67,000, an incredible achievement for Garter Cat's first foal to enter the sale ring. She was then bred to Don't Stop Believin', producing a gelding currently competing in the 2026 NCHA Futurity season. Following that she was bred to Araguaney and is now carrying a foal by Bama Jelly.
Corey particularly liked Bama Jelly because he believed his pedigree offered something different to many of the popular bloodlines currently being used in America. He has often said that if this cross results in a filly, she could potentially become the horse that eventually replaces Garter Cat within their breeding program. Corey has always bred with a long-term vision, constantly looking for opportunities to produce daughters capable of improving on their mothers and strengthening the future of the program.
Moving forward, Garter Cat has secured her place as one of the key producing mares in the Holden breeding barn. The plan from here is to allow her to carry her own foals while selectively incorporating embryo work later in her breeding career. Their focus remains on producing a quality filly capable of carrying her legacy forward.
For Corey and Trudy, however, Garter Cat's significance extends far beyond earnings and titles. During a period in their lives when they were navigating the emotional journey of trying to conceive their son Cash Holden, Garter Cat became a source of happiness and positive memories. She brought joy to their family through a very special time in their lives and created moments they still reflect on today. She has become far more than an exceptional performance mare and broodmare, she has become part of their family's story, and now they look forward with excitement to seeing the next chapter of her legacy unfold.
