Bill Horn

To those who watched him ride he was legend. To those he mentored, coached and supported, he was a hero. To everyone who knew him, he was loved. He was “BH.”

When BH won a 1965 run-off reining on Continental King in Dayton, Ohio, it inspired the creation of the National Reining Horse Association. There’s no way to know how many people he inspired to rein and get involved in the sport as a trainer, non-pro, owner and/or breeder, but we do know that every time Bill Horn showed a reining horse, he lit that fire.

The first NRHA Futurity was held in 1966. BH won the event four times: Mr Poco Luis (1967), Eternal One (1972), Aces Command (1981) and Spirit of Five (1987).

Bill earned the NRHA Futurity Reserve Championship six times:  Miz Liz Dodson (1968), Glenda Echols (1971) Continental Charo (1973), Enterprise Velvet (1983), Trashadeous (1990) and  Mifillena (1994).

From 1966 through and including 1996, Bill Horn took at least one of his Futurity horses to the finals. That didn’t change at the turn of the century. He brought 3-year-olds to the 2001 and 2002 finals and in 2005, at age 67, he brought one more.

Bill Horn was also a multiple NRHA Derby and Super Stakes Champion and he won three NRHA Open World Championships: Walkaway Rene in 1978, White Is in 1980 and Trashadeous in 1992.

Bill Horn aboard Be Aech Enterprise

Bill was inducted into the NRHA Hall of fame in 1992. Through the years, 10 horses he rode or was associated with were also inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was named NRHA’s first Million Dollar Rider.

Bill Horn served on the NRHA board from 1966 through 1994. He was president of the association in 1977. He helped guide NRHA through its formative years to its present worldwide success.

Bill Horn was a modest, humble man. You never heard him boast of his accomplishments, but when you saw him show a reining horse, you knew you were watching the ultimate partnership between horse and rider.

For five decades he set the standard and raised the bar in the reining horse industry and in the process, he touched many lives in and out of the show pen.

Although plans have not been finalized, Kim Horn is planning a Celebration of Life in at their home in Ocala, Fla. She asked that friends send her their fondest recollections of Bill, so that those cherished memories might be shared with the reining community. Please send them to: Kim Horn, 12932 SW 41st St. Pl., Ocala, FL 34481-4126.

A Celebration of Life, in honor of Bill Horn, will take place Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, 2 p.m. at Horns Ranch, 12932 SW 41st Place, Ocala, FL 34481-4126. Kim Horn requests that anyone who wishes to attend to respond on her Facebook page at Kimberly Horn.