Tri-State horsemen’s Association

TRI-sTaTe hORseMen’s assOCIaTIOn, InC.

Lifetime Achievement Award -- 2021 Sally Frones

As presented by Tom Tweeten and Joleen Waalen, LTA Committee

Joleen and I are pleased to again Cochair the Tri-State Committee that honors not only what our members have accomplished in the show ring but also what our members have contributed to our horse industry as a whole. Tri-State have honored 28 outstanding individuals over the 21 years that we have presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s recipient has been involved with gaited horses for nearly 50 years. She has held the office of President of her horse association for multiple terms. She has chaired the Futurity Program, and she has been responsible for putting together breed horse exhibitions and coordinating the Horse Demonstration Team for the Minnesota Horse Expo. She has hosted various clinics and trail trials/challenges at her farm. Most recently she has been co-chair of the Minnesota Celebration Horse Show for the last several years. She currently is the Mentor Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Walking Horse Association, matching new MWHA members to others in the association with experience in those areas in which they have interest.

Beyond her MWHA activities, our awardee has been a trainer of gaited horses and has had a very successful breeding program dedicated to enhancing the quality of the walking horses in the state of Minnesota for over 40 years.

She has been a carded judge with IJA for many gaited breeds beyond the Walking Horse, including Rocky Mountain horses, Kentucky Mountain horses, Foxtrotters and Racking horses, for over 30 years. In addition, our awardee was also instrumental in introducing the THWBEA Versatility program in Minnesota, successfully campaigning or developing three horses to their National Supreme Versatility status.

Our awardee’s latest and perhaps most important focus has recently been in trying to develop the youth program within the state. She gives lessons and mentors youngsters to introduce them to the showring, including adding several walk-only age classes in our local shows. She realizes the importance of teaching the next generation about horse care, proper training and riding and fostering the love of the horse.

All these accomplishments could not have been achieved without her family. In 2011, she was jointly awarded the MWHA Horseperson(s) of the Year with her husband Dale, for the many contributions they have made to the Walking Horse Association.

It is indeed an honor as part of the Tri-State Horsemen’s Association to present the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award to Sally Frones in recognition of her contributions to TriState Horsemen’s Association, the Minnesota Walking Horse Association and our upper-Midwest horse industry. Congratulations Sally!