Tracey Scheltinga

Region: North Central

Tracey is the owner of “It’s All About Horses!”, a tack store in Apex, NC. She has been a NC Real Estate Broker since 1997 and currently owns Olive Branch Farm in Apex. Tracey started riding with her first pony, Jimmy, when she was 5 years old. After that, her grandparents bought her her first horse, a quarter horse, named Tobias Hand (Toby). Toby was kept near Tracey’s parents’ home in North Raleigh. Tracey did everything with Toby, including trail riding. She even boarded him at Triton Stables in Raleigh for a while. While at Triton, Tracey and Toby trained with Mrs. Welles and Shep Welles, and was even privileged to share the same ring with Jeffrey Welles! After graduating high school and while studying at NC State University, Tracey “accidentally” bought an American Saddlebred horse from a friend. This led her to a long show career with American Saddlebreds that spanned close to 20 years. Tracey proudly rode the “A” Circuit with Ingleside Farm of Raleigh (now in Franklinton) and was trained by Sue, Ken and Heather Boodey. Tracey showed in several 3-gaited divisions and also in the pleasure driving classes. During this time, Tracey and her husband, Mark, bought a farm in Wake County in the Apex Area. An avid trail rider, she has always enjoyed hauling her quarter horses and paint horses to the NC Mountains. After moving to Apex, it became increasingly hard for Tracey to drive to Franklinton to ride her show horses, so she decided to focus on her “at home” horses.

Around 2004, Tracey started competing in the world of barrel horse racing and still competes to this day. A proud member of NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association), Tracey also competes in various other associations. She teaches beginner barrel racing lessons several days a week on her farm in Apex. In 2007, Tracey decided that the Apex area needed a tack shop that would not only cater to Hunt Seat riders, but that would cater to Western riders (trail and show) and also to Saddleseat riders. For eight years, Tracey has enjoyed meeting the riders of many different disciplines and the horsey neighbors of Apex.