You could say renowned trainer Bill Riddle did a thorough job cleaning up during the awards ceremony at the 2015 National Cutting Horse Association Convention.
But he didn’t have a broom and trash bags in his hands, he had a microphone!
A long-time ambassador for the sport, Bill was the emcee for the Banquet night that saw 23 people and 3 horses inducted into the NCHA Hall Of Fame.
Cleaning up? You ask?…. They were Bill’s own words about the theme behind this year’s inductees. He told the audience of more than 400 people that the NCHA really wanted to make sure they had no glaring gaps in their Hall Of Fame of people who had been inadvertently passed over and those who had given their time, energy and ideas to cutting, the association and helping others.
It was the mighty efforts of three men, Sam Shepard from Verbena, Al, James Hooper, Decatur, Al, and Chubby Turner, Weatherford, Tx, that were recognized with the Association’s highest honors, the Members Hall of Fame.
Others were inducted for their competition achievements, but even some of those had been overlooked in decades past, like Milt Bennett, Jim Calhoun, Greg Ward and Jim Gideon to name four open riders who have since passed away.
Bill told a story or had personal connection on almost every cutter inducted and spoke warmly and openly about his friendships with the three Member honorees: Sam, James and Chubby.
Cutting Horse Training Online caught up with Bill on the last day of the convention, who told us what a joy it was for him to honor all those people. Press play to watch.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E_RJdVWZQlw%3Frel%3D0
Bill Riddle has been showing, training and teaching cutting for more than 30 years. He has amassed lifetime earnings in excess of $4-million and given clinics around the world.
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Did you attend the awards ceremony? What did you learn about those inducted that you never knew before? If not do you know anyone back in the day you think should be named in the Hall of Fame also? Let us know what you think by posting your comments below….
