Legendary horseman Dick Pieper was honored at the 15th Western States Horse Expo as an inductee into the event’s prestigious Hall of Fame.
Joining the ranks of the Hall of Fame
Although Pieper has competed for decades at the highest level of reining and cutting competitions, being a clinician headliner at the Western States Horse Expo was a first for this extraordinary horseman.
Pieper, whose awards could completely line the walls of a huge barn, was truly pleased to be selected for the award. “I was pretty surprised by this Hall of Fame presentation,” smiles Pieper. “The list of former recipients is impressive, and I’m honored to be counted among these people. I saw a lot of my friends and fellow competitors at this Western States Horse Expo, including some Magnificent 7 stock horse competition participants, so getting this award in front of these folks was a particularly special moment. I am truly, truly honored.”
Former WSHE Hall of Fame recipients include Frank Vessel, Ray Hunt, Robert Miller DVM, Pat Parelli, Linda Tellington-Jones, Richard Shrake, John Lyons, Bob Avila, and the Western States Trail Foundation (Tevis Cup).
Even though Pieper has competed for decades at the highest level of reining, cutting and reined cow horse competitions, being a clinician headliner at the Western States Horse Expo was a real first for this extraordinary horseman. “This is a time in my life,” reflects Pieper, “when I want to pass along some of the things I’ve learned about horses."
"Teaching people how to understand horses, and how to develop, train and ride a horse in a safe and kind manner is now a big focus in my life. It’s time to pass along what I’ve had the privilege to learn. Horses have given me so much, and I want to help people understand the true nature of horses and how to think and live in harmony with them.”
“Dick Pieper is certainly deserving of this Hall of Fame award,” says Miki Nelsen, owner and president of the Western States Horse Expo. “He’s won so many top competitions, and has also given back by participating in the nuts-and-bolts management of a number of associations and by judging events."
"Besides that, he’s owned some of the best Quarter Horses in the business. In fact, I was in Dick’s booth when three teenaged girls came up to Dick and started chanting, “Playgun! Playgun!” in honor of Dick’s stallion! Dick has put his whole life in the horse industry and has accomplished so much."
"He’s truly a living legend, and I’m thrilled that not only was he inducted into the Western States Horse Expo Hall of Fame, he also wow’ed the Expo audiences with his presentations on a gorgeous horse he hauled to California all the way from Texas. I’ve heard from lots of people who attended his demonstrations that they loved how he made techniques easy to learn, how they enjoyed his humor, and how he made it simple for them to understand the message.”
Pieper is a Past President of the National Reining Horse Association, NRHA Futurity Champion and member of the NRHA Hall of Fame. He is an American Quarter Horse Association Professional Horseman, has won multiple World Championships and has held judges’ cards in the NRHA, AQHA, National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), and the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA).
He has judged some of the most elite shows in the performance horse industry, including the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, AQHA World Show, AQHA Youth World Show, and the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. He also currently sits on the board of directors for both the Ranch Horse Association of America and the American Stock Horse Association.
Pieper and his wife, Brenda, oversee their Pieper Ranch in Marietta, Oklahoma. Their ranch is home to famous stallions Playgun and Texas Kicker. Playgun, whose lineage reads like the “Who’s Who” of AQHA breeding, has offspring earnings of more than $8 million. Texas Kicker, a son of Colonel Freckles, is an AQHA Reining World Champion.