Yellowstone Reining Horse Association History
1985-1988
The organization was begun in 1985 by a group of individuals who were horse enthusiasts. The original members included: Jay Dee and Janis Anderson, Max and Sue Berg, Jim and Gwen Handl, Don and Jeanie Smith, Don and Donna O’Connor, and Arnold and Lee Svensrud. Within a year, C.R. and Alice Morrison, Jerry and Mary Fries, Steve and Jeane Aller, and Bill and Peggy Strong also joined the club. Membership dues were set at $15 for an individual and $20 for a family. (Dues remained the same until 2007.) Club jackets and colors were silver w/black.
As there were no horse shows specifically dedicated to reining at that time, members put together fun days, participated in AQHA shows, and local open shows. There were 6 year end awards presented, based on participation in these various shows, and included Senior Horse, Junior Horse, Rookie, and Youth. Funds to purchase these awards were raised at the annual potluck/awards presentation. Jay Dee was the auctioneer in the early years…until we discovered that C.R. was a certified auctioneer at which time C.R. became the designated auctioneer with Jay Dee moving into the position of bid caller. C.R. remains a very important part of our annual auction and still serves as auctioneer!
Because of the enthusiasm and influence of Jay Dee and Jan Anderson, the YRHA decided to branch out and bring in someone with national recognition within the reining community to conduct a clinic. The first clinician was Joe Hayes from Gainesville, TX. Joe made the trip to Montana several times to conduct clinics - sometimes in the sunshine but more often than not he taught in the cold. The early years also saw Craig Johnson and Doug Milholland serving as clinicians. An estimated 95% of the clinics were held at Anderson Training Stables (ATS), Wilsall, Montana. Jay Dee and Jan were always very accommodating in making their facility available to the club. The club tried to help offset costs by providing free spectator fees for their family and buying sand for the arena.
As the focus of the club became more defined and centered more on the reining venue, the club began to produce one show per year. The first show was held at the Anderson Training Stables. There were 27 entrants in the first show and the added money was approximately $800 for all classes combined! The Strongs, who owned Strong and Bradley Implement, would bring a tractor up to help prepare the arena. They also brought 50-gallon drums that we tied bright “flag ribbon” to and the combo defined the perimeter of the arena. Jay Dee provided poles to create “entry” areas. All willing and able members were also asked to go to the ATS the week before the actual show to help with painting, cutting weeds, and general tidying before the show. (That continued until 2003.) Food service consisted of one of the members cooking hot dogs or hamburgers, serving brownies, coffee and sodas, etc. Members donated the food and it was sold to participants as a source of fundraising. Members also volunteered and served as scribes, announcer, show secretary, bit judges, etc.
1988-1991
In 1988 the Montana Reining Horse Association was formed. Its focus was on becoming an organization that would serve the state as a whole rather than focusing on a part of the state as YRHA had done (YRHA’s focus is the south central part of the state). Individuals instrumental in the formation of the MRHA included some of the same early members of the YRHA: C.R. and Alice Morrison and Jay Dee Anderson and Shawn McClurg. In 1991, under the leadership of C.R. Morrison and Jim Benshoff, MRHA organized and sponsored the first Big Sky Classic. As it was a big undertaking, financially and physically, C.R. approached the YRHA for support. Gwen Wagner was serving as YRHA President at the time. She recommended to the BOD that the YRHA support this endeavor with a $1000 sponsorship as the BSC had the potential to have a very positive impact on reining in this area. The BOD voted in favor and the first “Classic” was a success. It continues to be an important part of Montana reining events to this day.
1992-1996
By the annual dinner and awards presentation held in December of 1992, the officers and directors of the YRHA were weary after years of demanding service in a volunteer organization and questioning whether or not there was still desire and/or need to continue with the existence of the YRHA. It was a bitter cold night, icy roads, and not fit to be out, however, Peggy Strong brought homemade cider, other members brought hors d’oeuvres and approximately 19 individuals ventured forth to meet at the Trail Ride Inn for the no-host dinner and to receive their awards. The discussion was split between abandoning the association or finding new individuals to step in and assist as Peggy Strong was no longer willing to serve as Secretary, Gwen (Handl) Wagner had served as President 5 of the 7 years of the club’s existence and could no longer serve, and Jeane Aller was unwilling to continue as Treasurer. Jane Wagner finally spoke up and said, “Well, hell, I can balance a checkbook.” She became the club secretary and treasurer that night and served in that capacity until her untimely death in 1995. (In spite of her cancer, she served as the show secretary at the 1993 and 1994 shows and did so with her usual wit and smile.) Brent Walker said he would be willing to serve as President. Because of the volunteer efforts of the new leadership and the continued support of the early members, YRHA remained viable.
The next few years saw George and Shar Stone, the “Townsend Ladies” (consisting of Jackie Sorenson, Sharon Gelhaus, Kay Johnston, Debbie Thorpe, Vicki Dagnall, Donna Green and others), Rane and Carol Baker, Kurt and Lottie Stabenau, and other familiar names become reining enthusiasts.
With Jane Wagner’s death, the position of Secretary/Treasurer was filled by Lottie Stabenau and Jay Dee stepped in as President when Brent Walker could no longer serve. By the 1996 banquet, held in November 1996, the club was again struggling from a lack of volunteers and there was some question as to whether or not there were adequate funds in the checking account to pay the bill for the banquet and year end awards. Fortunately, there were funds although very little remained to begin 1997.
Following the Futurity in December of 1996, Arch Wagner and Gwen (Handl) Wagner, who were both serving on the MRHA BOD at the time, discussed the important role that YRHA had played in so many peoples’ lives and felt that it was very important to not only revive the YRHA but to put the YRHA on a sound structural and financial footing. As neither of them felt it was fair to either organization to serve on both boards simultaneously, they resigned from the MRHA BOD in April of 1997 although they continued to be financially and physically supportive of MRHA.
Arch and Gwen began the process of reviving the YRHA immediately upon their resignation from the MRHA board. A mission statement was drafted, by-laws prepared, potential officers and directors contacted, fundraising begun and a meeting set. It was evident that, in order to survive and become viable, the club had to take more funds in than it was expending! Familiar names once again appeared: Steve Aller, Jay Dee and Jan Anderson, Sharon Gelhaus, Jackie Sorenson, Dave Leithead, Jan Lukenbill, C. R. and Alice Morrison, and Kurt and Lottie Stabenau.
1997-2001
The November 1997 auction and awards banquet was well attended with over 60 folks enjoying the evenings’ festivities. Over $2400 was raised at the auction, the ’97 show had shown a profit due to the sponsorship/fundraising efforts, and the treasury was on solid footing. 1997 was also the first year that Gwen organized the “Montana Reiners” box seat section at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City. In 1998, jackpot reinings were introduced which were held at ATS and the Brokaw Ranch. Participants and spectators were encouraged to bring potluck dishes, their appetites, their musical instruments and plan on having a good time with their horses. It was a wonderful, non-threatening environment for old and new reiners alike to school their horses and have a fun day! Jackpots welcomed new reiners: Bill Crain, Meredith Brokaw, Nan Newton, Reed Aller, Carl Larson and Nicki Larson, Lawson Drinkard, Casey and Sherry Austin, Edgar and Sharon Icenoggle, and many, many others.
Due to a change in ownership of the host motel, the 1999 year end awards banquet was moved to Chico Hot Springs in March. It proved to be a huge success and continued to be successful through 2007. 1999 was also the first year for the Golden Reiner award, an award presented in memory of Jane Wagner. The award was initiated by Arch and Gwen to honor a person who experienced difficulty, endured those difficulties with dignity and good cheer, and was helpful to the YRHA and fellow reiners. The award was not tied to arena performance nor year end standings. The award was discontinued in 2006.
As Alice Morrison moved into the role of President and Show Chairman, a number of the newer members also began to serve: Wendy Deans, Lynn Dee Melvin, Karen Forkus, Lawrence Martin, and Jim Gelhaus. The shows continued to grow in added money and entries. Added participation at the shows necessitated the club’s revisiting the number of days scheduled for a show, securing bit judges, having predictable food service available at the shows, providing compensation for those working the shows, stalling, increased fundraising for the increased expenses, continuing to grow the treasury, and moving the club into the computer age. Gwen Wagner began an aggressive fundraising campaign and long-term program so the club could cope with the added demands on the club finances.
2002-2004
In 2002, NRHA began to encourage a broader participation in the Affiliate program. Arch Wagner put considerable time and effort into formulating a plan to implement a YRHA Affiliate Circuit, as our membership was concentrated predominantly in the area from Butte to Billings and that membership was having to haul considerable distance if they wanted to compete to be one of the 4 MRHA Affiliate qualifiers. (The top 10 qualifiers are now accepted at the regional Affiliate finals.) NRHA required that all Affiliates hosting a circuit endorse a minimum of 3 shows, one of which had to be put on by the Affiliate. Difficult times ensued and it was questionable if the YRHA was going to embrace the Affiliate concept. Concerns revolved around the YRHA’s ability to produce 3 shows, economically and physically, and how it was going to impact MRHA. It was eventually decided that the club could not only put on 3 shows, but could do it well. The reiners who rode for the YRHA in 2004 were presented with vests, stall placards, pewters/plaques, and were honored at a Sponsor Appeciation Day initiated by Arch Wagner, Affiliate Representative, and held at Anderson Training Stables. One of the YRHA members recognized that day was Rae Ann Svedberg, the NRHA Horse and Rider Rookie of the year. She stated that she could never have qualified if it hadn’t been for the YRHA Affiliate. It was held in the newly constructed facility at ATS and was a wonderful day of celebrating new beginnings.
2005
2005 was our 20th Anniversary and it was a grand year. Bill Bradley, 2005 NRHA President, attended the banquet, a record $12,500 was raised at the auction, and our shows had record attendance.
Again, new faces appeared on the Board: Anne Kent, Harvey Lewis, Shar Stone, and Elise Donohue. Kim Alberda, Cindy Good, Chanelle Zimmer, Roberta Martin, Sarah Blackburn, and Bruzzy and Polly Cooke were some of the new volunteers who manned the gates, scribed, hung banners and helped with the web site. Wendy Deans took over fundraising and proceeded to do a very good job. Alice retired from the presidency but agreed to continue to serve in the capacity of Show Chairman.
2006-2007
2006 saw Elise Donohue move into the position of President. Alice stepped back in to serve as Vice President and Show Chairman. George Stone was appointed to fill a vacancy on the BOD. In addition to the repositioning on the board, a proposal was made in the fall of 2006 to the BOD as the result of a recommendation concerning class designations coming out of the show committee meeting. With the adoption of the proposal, considerable conflict erupted between members of the BOD, some of the membership, and the MRHA. The conflict continued into 2007 and lay just below the surface at YRHA shows. In spite of the differences, folks rallied at the annual awards banquet and auction and fences began to be mended. $5700 was raised for the club treasury and $4750 raised for our youth member, Katie Holland, who was severely injured in a skid steer accident.
General fundraising showed a steady increase under the enthusiastic guidance of Wendy Deans in 2007, yet the YRHA treasury declined for the first time in 10 years. Contributing to the decline was a decrease in the number of participants in YRHA shows; this in spite of an increase in awards given at the shows, nationally recognized judges, and additional stalling and improvements made to the facility. Again, we faced change, with the BOD voting to sponsor 1 show for 2008 rather than 3 as had been done the past 4 years. To make up the Affiliate circuit in 2008, the BOD voted to endorse 2 MRHA-approved shows, the Rusty Slider and the Crazy Mountain Slide, both sponsored by Brackett Creek Quarter Horses, and the Hole in the Wall Slide, held in Thermopolis, Wyoming, and sponsored by the Cowboy States Reining Horse Association (CSRHA). The Yellowstone Slide was in turn endorsed by both the MRHA and CSRHA as one of their respective Affiliate circuit qualifying shows.
2008-2009
George Stone was elected president at the general membership meeting in April 2008, but stepped down six months later and handed the reins to Jan Anderson, who had been serving as Vice President. More new faces joined the board in 2008: Mike Carlson, Jean Keffeler, Nicole Mather, John and Chandra Morris, and Lanette Frye. Lawrence Martin rejoined the board to fill the vacancy created when Mike Carlson moved into the vice presidency. In addition to serving as VP and Arena Drag Master, Mike was appointed Show Chairman for 2008 and 2009.
Relations and communications with MRHA steadily improved in 2008 and there was a renewed spirit of cooperation and shared energy between the clubs. The Yellowstone Slide, held in July of 2008, was well attended and turned a modest profit, enabling the BOD to once again plan for more shows in 2009.
Following a survey of the members, in which the majority requested the YRHA to put on 3 shows and maintain its Affiliate, the board scheduled 3 shows, 1 in May and 2 in July for 2009. The NRHA's first 3 Million Dollar Rider, Shawn Flarida, will return to Montana and the ATS for a clinic in May, again sponsored by YRHA.
The 2009 show season will see the introduction of changes made at the NRHA level, including the dividing of the rookie class into 2 levels, addition of new novice horse classes, and changes in the maximum earnings limitations for limited and intermediate non pro riders.
Glancing Back
There have been many great times and wonderful experiences as a result of YRHA. One such highlight from "way back when" was the memorable night when riders showed in the headlights of cars as the show ran so late!
To quote Steve Aller after the headlight show: “I’ve been to a sheep ridin’, two goat ropin’s, and a county fair and I ain’t never seen nothin’ like this!” The YRHA is a unique organization with an enduring history.
Excerpted from a Strategic Planning document prepared for the YRHA by Gwen Wagner, January 12, 2008