Reining Dan Huss Abby Lengel Dave Moore


2018 NRHA PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR NAMED Each year, the National Reining Horse


Association (NRHA) affiliates are invited to nominate their favorite NRHA Profession- als for top honors. Nominees must exemplify excellence in the reining community and are chosen based on their mastery and contribution to promoting the sport of reining and NRHA. Below are the winners for each category, who will receive their award at the NRHA Conven- tion & Awards Banquet, February 6-9 in Okla- homa City.


Horseman of the Year - Dan Huss


Dan Huss’ career in the saddle began over 30 years ago. Pursuing his passion, he double majored in science and equestrian studies at the University of Findlay, where he stayed to teach for 20 years. It was in the ear- ly 2000s when Huss and his wife, Wendy, de- cided to instead pursue the training process he had developed at Findlay (breaking down each maneuver into a few steps, allowing a client to master it, and then moving on to the next). Their first stop was Double Run Farms in NC, where Huss trained Wimpys Little Step, a well- known sire in the reining industry who went on to win the 2002 NRHA Futurity. The adventure didn’t stop there; Chicago, IL was where they then spent the next three years, developing a successful training program for non pro rider, Jose Vasquez. In 2006, Dan and Wendy Huss were able to set up Even Odd Farms, their own training facility. Here, they made a name for them- selves before moving to Scottsdale, AZ for its potential to grow their business in the reining industry. Huss continues to coach top level non pros and youth riders at Huss Performance Horses while also bringing home big NRHA


12


titles himself. His NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) exceed $550,000 with many champi- onship titles and finalist qualifications in the NRHA Derby, NRHA Futurity, All American Quarter Horse Congress, and many more. He also helped the U.S. Reining Team bring home a gold medal in the FEI World Equestri- an Games (WEG) in 2018 where he also took home an individual silver medal. To top off his accomplishments, not only a reiner but also as a horseman, was his crowd-wowing, bridleless run on Ms Dreamy at the AQHA World Cham- pionship Show in the Senior Reining. That mo- ment will remain a part of reining history.


Horsewoman of the Year - Abby Lengel


Abby Lengel’s passion for reining was sparked by a chance lesson taken on a reining horse with Drake Johnson, a Colorado NRHA Professional. Since 2007, when her reining career got its start in youth 14-18 and rook- ie competitions, the Colorado native has had great success in the show arena as an assistant trainer and as a non pro coach.


Lengel graduated with a degree in Equine Industry and Business at West Texas A&M University. Shortly after she started working as an assistant trainer for Casey Deary. Between the trust Deary instilled in her early on with training high-end prospects and the passion she brings into the sport – from mucking stalls to training a horse off of the release of pressure – her talent is evident. She credits a great deal of success to the “corrective criticism” and en- couragement Deary has provided since 2014. She continues to excel, placing high in the big- gest NRHA competitions, all while keeping the trust of the horse as well as the horses’ mental health front of mind.


SouthWest Horse Trader February 2019


Non Pro Coach of the Year - Dave Moore


With over 20 years of experience and ded- ication to the sport of reining, Dave Moore has been said to “exemplify what NRHA stands for.” This is demonstrated through his promo- tion of reining from the local to national lev- els. Moore and his wife Kim live in Southwest Ranches, FL where their ranch, Sheridan Oaks Stables, exists as a hub to many reining clinics and lessons.


Moore has coached numerous youth, open, and non pro circuit champions; however, he “does not place emphasis on winning, but being the best that you and your partner can be on any given day.” His nomination said, “He teaches his students to respect the sport and their partner.” His talents extend past teach- ing the skills needed to be a good horseman and successfully show in reining. The passion Moore holds for horses and reining show every time he is with a student as “he has no clue what a one-hour lesson is.” The time spent with his students always exceeds the allotted


Dean Latimer


Waltenberry


Waltenberry


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28