It's always a tough decision to make each year. There continue to be so many worthy nominations for the Western States Horse Expo Hall of Fame, and certainly the four previous inductees, Frank Vessels, Ray Hunt, Dr. Robert Miller, and Pat Parelli, are outstanding figures in the horse industry. To explain how special this award is, perhaps the wording on the perpetual trophy says it best: "In honor of those who have made a significant, meaningful difference in the world of horses."
This year an exemplary horsewoman was nominated, and she got "the nod" unanimously from the selection committee. The nomination form that heralded Linda Tellington-Jones's accomplishments and contributions listed her numerous presentations, lectures, awards, television appearances, videos, books and an explanation of her work that has helped horses and horse people around the world for decades.
An innovator in the horse world since the 1960s, Linda's background includes an amazing variety of riding accomplishments, from hunters, jumpers, dressage, steeple chasing, combined training, competitive trail riding, English pleasure, Western pleasure, Top Ten places in the world-renowned Tevis Cup 100 mile ride, to a world record in endurance she set in 1964 on a 100-mile race that remained unchallenged for seven years. Her unique background with horses includes directing the Pacific Coast School of Horsemanship in California, a 9-month residential page Page 2