Five Reining Legends Recognized

NRHA Hall of Fame Inductees and NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Announced

Oklahoma City, OK – September 9, 2009 – The National Reining Horse Association Board of Directors voted to induct two people, Jack Brainard and John Hoyt, and two horses, Nu Chex To Cash and Rest Stop, in 2010 into the NRHA Hall of Fame, as well as awarding the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award to C. R. Morrison.

NRHA Hall of Fame Inductees

Jack Brainard

Jack Brainard attended the NRHA foundation meeting and served as a director that first year. His NRHA membership number, 19, is indicative of just how long Brainard has been involved with NRHA.

Brainard is well-known for growing the sport of Reining through education; He has authored three training books that feature Reining and helped develop the University of Wisconsin at River Falls’ equine education program. He is credited as the mentor of some of today’s top trainers – Clint Haverty, Scott McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, and Kim Diercks as well as son Joel “Jody” Brainard. Jack’s held judge’s cards in AQHA, NCHA NRHA, various breed organizations, and six AHSA divisions. As a breeder and owner, Brainard is credited with being one of the first to ship reining horses to Europe and South America, promoting the sport internationally.

Larry Kasten, Associate Professor of Animal Science at UW-RF said, “Brainard’s life as a professional trainer, breeder, educator, author and ‘ideas’ man has resulted in him crossing paths with countless people in the equine and reining horse industries. To say that he has impacted the development of the reining horse industry in the Midwest, Texas, nationally, and globally may be an understatement.”

John Hoyt

In John Hoyt’s nomination form, Al Dunning wrote, “John (Hoyt) is the Dale Wilkinson of the West!” Greg Darnall said, “He’s the John Wayne of the horse training business. He backs away from nothing.”

Hoyt’s influence on the sport is evident in the numerous nomination letters submitted by many of the top names in Reining. Among his many distinguishing characteristics, his most important contribution is his ability to mentor others with blunt honesty and get extraordinary things out of ordinary horses.

His accomplishments include more than $49,300 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings, multiple AQHA world championships, and qualifying for 21 AQHA World Championship Shows in a row. He was the 1986 Limited Open Futurity Reserve Champion on Okies Sure Bet. Included with his nomination packet were seven pages of filled petitions for Hoyt’s induction to the NRHA Hall of Fame.

Nu Chex To Cash

Nu Chex To Cash, a 1990 palomino stallion by NU Cash out of Amarilla Chex (by Bueno Chex), became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2008. With Jessicah Keller-Torpey aboard, he won NRHA world champion titles in intermediate open and limited open divisions and reserve world champion titles in non pro and intermediate non pro divisions. He has more than $57,500 in NRHA earnings. In AQHA competition, he earned Superiors in reining and working cow horse, numerous high point titles in the two classes and a Performance Register of Merit (ROM).

As a sire, his offspring have earned more than $1,375,609, in NRHA competition. Top performing offspring include Wimpys Little Step ($185,700+ NRHA earnings, 2002 Congress and Futurity Open Champion, NRHA Million Dollar Sire of Wimpys Little Chic and RC Fancy Step), Hot Smokin Chex (2004 NRHA Futurity -3rd place with Mike McEntire, 2009 NRHA European Affiliate Champion – Intermediate Open with Uli Kofler) $166,547and Big Chex To Cash ($185,000+ NRHA earnings, Futurity, Derby, and NRBC open finalist).

Nu Chex To Cash is owned by Hilldale Farm of Princeton, Kentucky.

Rest Stop

Rest Stop, a 1985 buckskin mare by Topsail Cody and out of Villa Eddie (by Edmond Star), accumulated over $56,000 in NRHA earnings, including an open reserve championship at the 1988 Futurity with Doug Milholland and the 1990 Non Pro Reserve World championship with Marc Wagman. After her retirement, Rest Stop went on to produce 10 foals, all of which are performers accumulating more than $176,500 in NRHA earnings. On average, her offspring earned more than $17,600 each. Her top-earners include Better Not Rest ($58,000+ in NRHA earnings, open Futurity and non pro Derby finalist) and Best Stop ($42,000+ in NRHA earnings, non pro Futurity, Derby and NRBC finalist) and Tougher Than The Rest ($43,000+ in NRHA earnings, 2000 NRBC Non Pro Champion and Derby finalist).

Rest Stop passed away in 2005 and was proudly owned by Marc and Tami Wagman’s Wagman Ranch of Talala, Oklahoma.

NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

CR Morrison

CR Morrison, an NRHA member since 1987, is widely known as an artist and sculptor. Reiners around the world consider it a great honor and source of pride to win a Morrison NRHA bronze. Many of the industry’s most prominent figures supported his nomination based on his artistic contributions and character.

In 1990 Morrison designed a special trophy exclusively for NRHA competition. Then, in 2004 he updated his original and created two new bronzes for NRHA – one for the NRHA Sire & Dam Program and another for freestyle competitions with $1,000+ in added money. In 2006 he joined NRHA’s Corporate Partner family. C.R. has ridden reining horses for many years with the likes of Jay Dee Anderson, Joe Hayes, Noel Skinner, and Doug Milholland. CR and his wife Alice are also Reining Horse Sports Foundation Gold donors and strong supporters of NRHyA.

About RHSF and NRHA

The NRHA Hall of Fame became a reality in 1986 when Dale Wilkinson became its first inductee. The Reining Horse Sports Foundation provides financial support for both the NRHA Hall of Fame and the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition.

For more information on NRHA, RHSF, or their programs go to nrha.com or call 405-946-7400.