NRHA Announces 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees & Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Recipients
As the reining industry reaches new audiences and continually breaks records, it becomes even more important to acknowledge and celebrate those who helped pave the way for success. Since 1986, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has been doing just that with the NRHA Hall of Fame and, more recently, the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. With the help of the Reining Horse Foundation (RHF), these individuals, their achievements, and their contributions to the industry are celebrated and remembered.
Following the August presentation of the NRHA Hall of Fame Committee’s recommended nominees, the Board of Directors and past Hall of Fame inductees voted to approve Dell Hendricks, Robert “Bob Mac” McDonnell and Gunnatrashya for induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame.
Longtime member and judge Dave Belson and the dynamic duo of Jenifer Reynolds & Chris Cook of Sandbur Productions were also announced as the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for 2023.
“As committee chair, I believe this group is one of the strongest we have put forward,” said Rick Clark, NRHA Past President and current Director-at-Large. “Our committee was unanimous on every one of them as a selection to put forward, and I can say I have had the pleasure of knowing each of them personally. What they have meant to our industry, whether it was showing or owning a horse, and what they give back to the association is priceless and has shaped where we are today.”
These honorees will be recognized on Wednesday, November 29, during Sliders’ Night Out, presented by Toyon Ranch, held at the OKC Fairgrounds during the 2023 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.
“I had the honor of contacting each one of the recipients, or their family members, to share the news, and they were absolutely thrilled,” said Clark. “They all have their own legacy with NRHA, and we look forward to hearing from them at Sliders’ Night Out. We hope you will buy tickets and join us for a great night!”
Read more about the following industry icons in the November and December issues of the Reiner Magazine.
Dell Hendricks
NRHA Professional Dell Hendricks, widely known for his success in the show pen, has won every major event, including the NRHA Futurity, and is a multiple NRHA Derby and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Champion. Hendricks is also the only individual to have won the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Open five times. In 2005, he represented the USA at the World Equestrian Games, bringing home individual and team Gold medals, and became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider later that year.
“Dell Hendricks served on the executive committee and traveled internationally to host clinics on his own time to give back,” said Clark. “He is as deserving as anybody for what he gave to our industry, and I thought it was so exciting that he is finally part of this elite group.”
However, his contributions to the reining industry have spanned far past his $1.8 million in NRHA lifetime earnings. Hendricks has been a long-time committee and board member and served as the association president in 2006.
A graduate of Lamar College with a degree in Horse Training & Management in 1992, Hendricks continued to give back to the equine community. Whether this was through a nationally known breeding program of 25 years or holding fundraisers to benefit the youth membership and RHF, he always found ways to stay involved.
Through his accomplishments and long-time dedication and service to the reining industry, Dell
Hendricks deserves to receive reining’s highest honor.
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