Empty Saddles: Ronnie Richards

EMPTY SADDLES

NRCHA Hall of Fame member Ronnie Richards passed away in September.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association lost past NRCHA Director of Judges and Hall of Fame horseman Ronnie Richards on September 16, 2022. Richards, also a former NRCHA board of director, was long committed to the success of the cow horse industry and a staple in the West Coast cow horse community. Originally from Davenport, Iowa, Richards was 8 years old when his family moved to Sacramento, California. He was 12 when he obtained his first horse, “Nita,” a Standardbred-Thoroughbred cross that had been used for racing. Richards began his path toward a reined cow horse career when he won his first stock horse class on the mare. It wasn’t until he was 18 that Richards hung his shingle as a trainer in Irvine, California, showing in American Horse Shows Association-sanctioned open horse shows that included stock horse, pleasure horse and hunter-jumper events. In California, Richards saw success early on and won the 1961 California’s Richest Stockhorse Event on Lucky Libra. He was a fixture in the show ring at West Coast events, like the Cow Palace. Through the years, he was a 17-time finalist in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® and won Reserve Champion in 1981 aboard Me O Lena (by Doc Olena).

Additionally, Richards served as a judge in multiple associations and the NRCHA Director of Judges, and was crowned the 1997 NRCHA Stock Horseman of the Year. He continually gave back to NRCHA and in 2001 was honored with induction into the NRCHA Hall of Fame.

He passed away September 16. During the Reno Futurity, his longtime friend, Bobby Ingersoll, paid tribute to Richards, who he called “Double R.”

“Double R showed back when we called it the California Reined Cow Horse Association and later the National Reined Cow Horse Association, always a threat in the arena. He was one you had to beat not only in a futurity but in the hackamore and bridle divisions. I don’t know anybody who had a better eye for a horse than him … He was not only my best friend, but he was my mentor. He helped so many young trainers and riders; he loved helping them,” he said. “We loved you, Ronnie. God bless you and your journey; you will be missed.” Richards has two daughters, Susie and Laurie, and with his wife, Karin operated Double R Ranch in Paso Robles, California. The NRCHA offers condolences to all who knew and loved Richards.