Notable Non Pro: William Lewis

NOTABLE NON PRO

Non Pro William Lewis started at the bottom and worked his way to the top, making good friends and good horses along the way.

By Katie Frank

William Lewis has been on the top of the score sheet, and the bottom. Lately, the current Stock Horse Association of Texas president has had success at National Reined Cow Horse Association premier events, which is impressive considering he started competing just six years ago, first in SHTX and later in NRCHA.

Lewis grew up on his family’s cattle ranch in Magnolia, Texas. He says he and his two sisters would ride their family’s horses to gather cattle, but being horseback was more of a hobby.

“There was almost zero awareness about horsemanship,” he said. “Our horses would go left, right, forward and back, and with our experience level, we hardly knew how to even apply that to our cattle.”

ROPED IN

While in college at Texas A&M University, Lewis started team roping, which he continued when he went to work for his family’s custom metal fabrication business. He still runs the business with his dad. It was also the chapter in his life to focus on family, which included marrying his wife, Stephanie, and having two sons, Christopher and

Yet there was something about competing in judged events, as opposed to timed events, that gripped Lewis. He started training with NRCHA professional Ben Baldus, and for the past six years has dedicated himself to becoming a better horseman and showman.

“Learning more about horsemanship is like discovering you can use a ratchet to turn a bolt,” he laughed. “You’ve been using a crescent wrench your whole life and then you discovered a ratchet. You think, ‘Holy cow, where has this been my whole life?’ ”

Will. Lewis still did some day-working to stay horseback.

During that time, he often worked at his pal Jerry Moriarty’s 3M Ranch in Richards, Texas. Moriarty was an American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeder, and Lewis says he admired the quality of horses they rode. He eventually purchased Up Bach Rock, a 7-year-old gelding from the 3M and continued to work on roping and riding.

“One day Jerry called me and said, ‘Hey, you want to go to a Stock Horse of Texas Show?’ ” said Lewis. “We ended up at a show in San Angelo [Texas], and I had no clue—I mean, not a clue— what to do.”

Lewis, who lives in Anderson, Texas, says he not only showed in the Novice classes at SHTX shows, but also in the Open, because he wanted to rope in the cow horse classes. (In the SHTX Open division, riders can opt to circle or rope a cow.)

“I could stay on a horse and rope, but I didn’t have any idea about position on a cow or how to really turn one on the fence,” he recalled. “Hell, I thought boxing was demonstrating your horse’s ability to get a cow through a gate.”

KATE BRADLEY BYARS

In 2020, William Lewis won his first NRCHA premier event aboard Playin With Cher.

GOOD STRING OF HORSES

After his first horse, Lewis purchased Colonels Colonel, a 1993 gelding by Queens Colonel and out of Colonel’s Hot Reward, by Queen’s Colonel. He says the 18-year-old seasoned horse taught him the ropes of showing.

“He was one of those horses that did

the right thing most of the time. Even if I told him to do it wrong, he would generally do it right. I think we ended up third that year for the year end. About two years later, my oldest son, Christopher, started riding him and won the year end in the Youth,” he said.

“I climbed the typical ladder I think most riders climb; I started on one horse and then moved into something that’s seasoned. Then I eventually got to where I could ride younger, lessexperienced horses.”

Lewis started showing in SHTX events 12 years ago and in NRCHA five years ago. He has since been on an upward trajectory to success. His first big win was in 2020, where he was the Pre-Futurity Amateur Champion at the Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™, in Cordova, Tennessee. He rode to the title on Playing With Cher (Mr Playinstylish x Bella Cher x Peptoboonsmal), a 2017 filly bred by Kit and Charlie Moncrief.

Then, in 2021, Lewis rode Indelible Stylish (Mr Playinstylish x Lil Sally Cat x High Brow Cat) to a top 10 finish, placing fourth in all the subdivisions at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® , presented by Metallic Cat.

“I could have gone home after making the Finals and been happy,” he said. “But we ended up having the top cow score in the Finals, not only in the Non Pro but for the rest of the day, which included the Level 1 Limited Open. It was the best cow run of my life. It’s been such a journey from where I started six years ago.”

VERSATILE LESSONS

Lewis credits roping with getting him in the arena, but reined cow horse and stock horse events gave him a new appreciation for riding versatile horses.

COURTESY OF WILLIAM LEWIS

William’s two sons, Will and Christopher, both share his love of competition and have competed in SHTX and NRCHA events. Serving at the Stock Horse of Texas president keeps Lewis on his toes and deeply involved in the horse industry.

With the Non Pro high cow score, William Lewis placed fourth in multiple divisions for the 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity® , which was nearly as good as winning in his mind.

COURTESY OF WILLIAM LEWIS

PRIMO MORALES

“I can go home and use roping as a skill, but the reined cow horse stuff grabbed me,” he said. “It forces you to work on your horsemanship because it’s a judged event. It forces you to face the truth in everything you do horseback, and it [increases] your accountability and ownership to a level that I don’t think anything else does.

“Honestly, it pours over into your life, which is what I find unbelievable,” he added. “It’s completely changed my life. Showing horses has changed how I treat people and my horses, how I look at my family, my business, my employees, my children—everything I do has been impacted by competing. Because the show pen and the judges force you to be brutally honest with yourself.”

He admits it can be challenging being president of SHTX and simultaneously showing at the association’s events.

“One of the things that I found in my position with SHTX is it doesn’t really let me focus on my horse at show, which I don’t have a problem with, because I love SHTX,” he said. “When we go to an NRCHA show, it’s neat because all I have to do is show my horse. It’s all I have to focus on. The NRCHA has helped me get better because it allows me the one-on-one show time I need with my horse.”

He remembers all too well what it was like being a newbie in the show pen and encourages newcomers to jump into the show pen with both boots.

“Everybody has gone through being the new kid. And the folks who have done it want to help you! That’s what’s cool about the Stock Horse of Texas and NRCHA,” Lewis said. “I remember what it was like to have an entire year of not winning and placing last. Sometimes showing horses is like chasing a carrot on a stick. But don’t quit! There are people who want to help you succeed. The right people want to beat you at your best.

“I’ve made some really good friends in the horse industry. Some good, honest friends at the beginning told me, ‘Heck, you’ve got to brush your horse’s tail and give your horse a bath,’ ” he chuckled. “And those are the same friends I compete with today.”

As for what’s next for Lewis, he humbly says, “I don’t really have a longterm goal, other than just keep riding and grinding away at it.”

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