Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association
HALL
OF
FAME
Nominate!
The history of RMRHA is filled with amazing members that have contributed to the association in a multitude of ways and made it what it is today. Now is your chance to nominate a current or past RMRHA member. Please click on the Nomination Form button below and download the form. Once the form is completed, save your changes and e-mail it. Nominations must be received no later than March 31.
The Roberts Family
The Karl Roberts Family (Karl, Jeannie, Karl Jr.(Chip), Teri, and Paige) have been supporters of the RMRHA since its inception in 1985. They had a futurity horse in the inaugural RMRHA Summer Slide and have continued to support reining in the Rocky Mountain region ever since- Both financially and through their participation. It is easy to say that they were instrumental in the success of reining in this area. The Roberts family owns Majestic Metals in Denver and has supplied Little Kids trophies since the beginning. That support has continued through today and is greatly appreciated.
Steve Schwartzenberger
Steve was a founding member of the RMRHA and his support and enthusiasm for the sport of reining continues today. Steve is a veterinarian and horse trainer in Longmont, with his wife and two daughters. He has served as president of RMRHA for over 8 or so years, was a director of the NRHA , an NRHA Judge and past judges committee member, and served on the initial affiliate committee. He has been a manager of the Summer Slide for most years and was instrumental in the bringing the Dodge Invitational Freestyle to the Stock Show.
Ray Secor & Richard Thomas
These two gentlemen were inducted into the Hall of Fame together as they worked as a unit in serving the association and at shows. Richard (Dick) and Ray were founding members of the RMRHA, always on hand to take care of any issue that arose, while showing and volunteering at the shows. Both were Non-Professionals but were responsible for starting and executing the development of the RMRHA Sire and Dam program. Both would attend major shows only to spend much time soliciting stallions to the program. The current program would not exist, at least as prominently as is does today, without Dick and Rays’ efforts. Dick passed away several years ago but Ray still lives in Ft. Collins.
Terry Wegener
Terry was a founding member of RMRHA, being instrumental in the formation of RMRHA, and was said to be the heart of the Association. Terry’s enthusiasm was contagious, and he was an innovator with many ideas on how to promote reining in this area. Terry was an exhibitor in the initial Freestyle reining, held in St. Paul, MN. And helped bring freestyle to Denver. Terry now resides in Idaho, working on a reining facility but his absence from this area is greatly missed. Terry was an NRHA Judge and served as RMRHA president several times.
Dwayn Hoelscher
Dwayn Hoelscher was a horse trainer, living in Berthoud, CO. who served as a president of RMRHA for several years, an NRHA Director, helped start the NRHA Professionals Committee and loved and enjoyed the sport of reining. Dwayn came from the breed industry, riding pleasure and all-around horses, and had ridden cutting horses, but as reining blossomed in this area he trained reining horses exclusively. Dwayn was instrumental in the growth and success of Reining in this area. Dwayn currently resides in Texas, after he sold his ranch and retired.
Jon LaBreche
Jon was a Non-Pro, riding with Terry Wegener., who was active in sponsoring and participating in RMRHA. Jon was president of RMRHA and helped manage the Summer Slide for several years.
He served as treasurer of RMRHA for a number of years and had the pleasure of watching it grow from the first show at Gamble Oaks to the fairgrounds in Henderson and then on to the National Western Complex. Thanks to all the members for making it the great organization it is today.
Gary Pipkin
Gary is a past president of RMRHA and notably helped write the Associations By-Laws, assisted in establishing the formal status for tax purposes and working on issues in the Sire and Dam Program. He was an active exhibitor in reining. Gary also helped NRHA with re-writing their By-Laws and with many of their association issues. Gary currently resides in Kiowa where he is retired with his wife Jean.
Gary’s service to the equestrian industry continued with serving as Vice President and then President of RMQHA in 1999-2002 while simultaneously on the board of RMRHA where he was elected President of RMRHA for 1999-2001. Gary is the first person to have served simultaneously as President of both RMQHA and RMRHA. Gary was instrumental in developing the first “low-tech” websites for both organizations and purchasing software for handling horse shows.
Guy Vernon
Guy Vernon worked as a young trainer for Terry Wegener and brought the same enthusiasm and spirit to RMRHA that Terry did. Guy was an NRHA Judge, NRHA director and a Freestyle guru, particularly remembered for his rides on Endeavor Doc at Gladstone and Denver. He trained out of his facility in Kiowa. He participated at every Denver Freestyle and always brought something special to his performances, He was known for trying to involve the youth in freestyle and promote the sport in general, his generosity to others in times of distress, and putting on shows in Castle Rock. Guy showed Arabians as a young trainer, promoting reining as a multi-breed sport. Guy was always on hand to offer his talents to performances in the area as the ultimate showman. Sadly, we lost Guy in 2022, leaving behind his lovely bride, Valerie, and daughter Lacey to carry on the Vernon spirit. His loss is greatly felt by all he left behind.
Mike Craig
Mike graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. I was recruited by Hallmark Cards as an artist/illustrator; while there I trained horses after hours. I wanted to show horses for a living. (What was I thinking?) Moved back to Colorado and trained and showed successfully for 40 years in the AQHA, APHA, Appaloosa, and Morgan breeds. Spent 15 years as an APHA judge, also spent 15 years managing horse shows for APHA and NRHA in Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Learned the basics of silversmithing in college and then developed my own design style and techniques. I designed and made the trophic buckles for the RMRHA Futurities for 16 years. I have sold my sterling silver creations all over the world.
I have enjoyed remarkable friendships through RMRHA and treasure wonderful memories.
Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association
HALL
OF
FAME
The Roberts Family
The Karl Roberts Family (Karl, Jeannie, Karl Jr.(Chip), Teri, and Paige) have been supporters of the RMRHA since its inception in 1985. They had a futurity horse in the inaugural RMRHA Summer Slide and have continued to support reining in the Rocky Mountain region ever since- Both financially and through their participation. It is easy to say that they were instrumental in the success of reining in this area. The Roberts family owns Majestic Metals in Denver and has supplied Little Kids trophies since the beginning. That support has continued through today and is greatly appreciated.
Steve Schwartzenberger
Steve was a founding member of the RMRHA and his support and enthusiasm for the sport of reining continues today. Steve is a veterinarian and horse trainer in Longmont, with his wife and two daughters. He has served as president of RMRHA for over 8 or so years, was a director of the NRHA , an NRHA Judge and past judges committee member, and served on the initial affiliate committee. He has been a manager of the Summer Slide for most years and was instrumental in the bringing the Dodge Invitational Freestyle to the Stock Show.
Ray Secor & Richard Thomas
These two gentlemen were inducted into the Hall of Fame together as they worked as a unit in serving the association and at shows. Richard (Dick) and Ray were founding members of the RMRHA, always on hand to take care of any issue that arose, while showing and volunteering at the shows. Both were Non-Professionals but were responsible for starting and executing the development of the RMRHA Sire and Dam program. Both would attend major shows only to spend much time soliciting stallions to the program. The current program would not exist, at least as prominently as is does today, without Dick and Rays’ efforts. Dick passed away several years ago but Ray still lives in Ft. Collins.
Terry Wegener
Terry was a founding member of RMRHA, being instrumental in the formation of RMRHA, and was said to be the heart of the Association. Terry’s enthusiasm was contagious, and he was an innovator with many ideas on how to promote reining in this area. Terry was an exhibitor in the initial Freestyle reining, held in St. Paul, MN. And helped bring freestyle to Denver. Terry now resides in Idaho, working on a reining facility but his absence from this area is greatly missed. Terry was an NRHA Judge and served as RMRHA president several times.
Dwayn Hoelscher
Dwayn Hoelscher was a horse trainer, living in Berthoud, CO. who served as a president of RMRHA for several years, an NRHA Director, helped start the NRHA Professionals Committee and loved and enjoyed the sport of reining. Dwayn came from the breed industry, riding pleasure and all-around horses, and had ridden cutting horses, but as reining blossomed in this area he trained reining horses exclusively. Dwayn was instrumental in the growth and success of Reining in this area. Dwayn currently resides in Texas, after he sold his ranch and retired.
Jon LaBreche
He served as treasurer of RMRHA for a number of years and had the pleasure of watching it grow from the first show at Gamble Oaks to the fairgrounds in Henderson and then on to the National Western Complex. Thanks to all the members for making it the great organization it is today.
Gary Pipkin
Gary is a past president of RMRHA and notably helped write the Associations By-Laws, assisted in establishing the formal status for tax purposes and working on issues in the Sire and Dam Program. He was an active exhibitor in reining. Gary also helped NRHA with re-writing their By-Laws and with many of their association issues. Gary currently resides in Kiowa where he is retired with his wife Jean.
Gary’s service to the equestrian industry continued with serving as Vice President and then President of RMQHA in 1999-2002 while simultaneously on the board of RMRHA where he was elected President of RMRHA for 1999-2001. Gary is the first person to have served simultaneously as President of both RMQHA and RMRHA. Gary was instrumental in developing the first “low-tech” websites for both organizations and purchasing software for handling horse shows.
Guy Vernon
Guy Vernon worked as a young trainer for Terry Wegener and brought the same enthusiasm and spirit to RMRHA that Terry did. Guy was an NRHA Judge, NRHA director and a Freestyle guru, particularly remembered for his rides on Endeavor Doc at Gladstone and Denver. He trained out of his facility in Kiowa. He participated at every Denver Freestyle and always brought something special to his performances, He was known for trying to involve the youth in freestyle and promote the sport in general, his generosity to others in times of distress, and putting on shows in Castle Rock. Guy showed Arabians as a young trainer, promoting reining as a multi-breed sport. Guy was always on hand to offer his talents to performances in the area as the ultimate showman. Sadly, we lost Guy in 2022, leaving behind his lovely bride, Valerie, and daughter Lacey to carry on the Vernon spirit. His loss is greatly felt by all he left behind.
Mike Craig
Graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Recruited by Hallmark Cards as an artist/illustrator; while there I trained horses after hours. I wanted to show horses for a living. (What was I thinking?) Moved back to Colorado and trained and showed successfully for 40 years in the AQHA, APHA, Appaloosa, and Morgan breeds. Spent 15 years as an APHA judge, also spent 15 years managing horse shows for APHA and NRHA in Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Learned the basics of silversmithing in college and then developed my own design style and techniques. I designed and made the trophic buckles for the RMRHA Futurities for 16 years. I have sold my sterling silver creations all over the world.
I have enjoyed remarkable friendships through RMRHA and treasure wonderful memories.