NCHA: Amy Bell Awards

In November, 2014, the board of directors of the NCHA established the NCHA Amateur Horse of the Year and NCHA Amateur Rider of the Year to be awarded annually during the NCHA Futurity in December. The first winners of these awards were announced in December 2015. Friends of Amy Bell, who are members of the NCHA, asked the NCHA board to consider naming these annual awards in memory of Amy Bell. Amy started showing an American Quarter Horse in NCHA competitions and shows in 2001. She loved showing a cutting horse and was a regular competitor in NCHA events throughout the southwest. She showed her horses in the NCHA Futurity, NCHA Derby, and the NCHA Super Stakes, as well as numerous other NCHA aged events shows. Amy was in Tulsa, OK, at the Breeders Invitational showing her home-bred horse, Dont Be Grabbin, when she passed away.

During a board meeting in early 2015, the NCHA executive committee and board of directors approved a resolution naming the NCHA Amateur Horse of the Year and the NCHA Amateur Ride of the Year awards as the Amy Bell Memorial Amateur Horse of the Year and the Amy Bell Memorial  Amateur Rider of the Year awards. Amy loved her cutting horses, her cutting horse friends and family, and raising her cutting horses. The Bell family is honored that the NCHA would choose to honor Amy in this special way. The Bell family has joined with numerous friends of Amy to provide perpetual funding for these awards, which includes a specially designed Gist Buckle to recognize each year’s winners.

2025

Boomereyious

Owned by:

Anderson Cattle Company

Victoria, TX

2024

A Lil Moore Spice

Owned by:

Ken Schultz

Sacramento, CA

2023

Cowboys n Hippies

Owned by:

Mike Rutherford Jr.

Brenham, TX

2022

Prince of Cat

Owned by:

Rob Kuiper

Mineral Wells, TX

2021

2020

Cat About Houston

Owned by:

Austria Arnold

Terrell, TX

2019

Sweet Toothe

Owned by:

June H Roberts McGee

Granbury, TX

2018

High Stylin CD

Owned by:

Blake Pattillo

St. Elmo, IL

2017

Two Time Dual

Owned by:

Jimmy Baros

Blanco, TX

2016

Let Georgie Do It

Owned by:

John & Rose Rockey Sr. Partnership

Palmdale, CA

2015

Mr Connerey

Owned by:

Barlow Livestock Inc.

Gillette, WY

2025

Tony Smith

York, SC

2024

Bella Michelle Anderson

Victoria, TX

2023

Mike Rutherford Jr.

Brenham, TX

2022

Rob Kuiper

Mineral Wells, TX

2021

2020

James Vangilder

Weatherford, TX

2019

John Rockey

Palmdale, CA

2018

Langston Pattillo

St. Elmo, IL

2017

Miller Wade Smith

Geary, OK

2016

Grace Ann Vangilder

Weatherford, TX

2015