Five stand-out pros set the bar high for the reining industry, from youth riders to the highest-level open competitors.
By Jennifer Paulson
Being an NRHA Professional holds you to a high standard in your horsemanship, your showmanship, your customer relations, and your business management. Annually, NRHA recognizes various Professionals of the Year who exemplify excellence in all that they do, in and out of the arena. The pool of candidates comes from the general membership—your customers. The final selections are made by your peers—anyone with an NRHA Professional membership in good standing had the opportunity to vote online for who was most deserving of these distinctions. Then the NRHA Professionals Committee validates the selections before they’re shared with the world.
2023 Youth Coach of the Year
Name: Shane Kelly
Hometown: Lampasas, Texas
What It Means: “I was very excited to receive the award,” Kelly shares. “I’ve been nominated before, and it was exciting to get the award this year. Adding youth riders to my program was a natural fit. I started with a few and then it grew to more. I enjoy challenging the kids and seeing what they can do. Most of them take to it very well. Teaching them life skills with horses wi so rewarding. It’s great to see how they conduct themselves and become young adults. Winning prizes is icing on the cake.”
Advice to Pros: “Let the kids do the work—they want to do it themselves,” he advises. “Give them opportunities to make mistakes and learn. That’s how they get the most out of riding horses and find the most confidence.”
