Richards Performance Horses


	Jason Richards was born in San Rafael, CA and grew up on the family ranch in Central Oregon, just outside of Prineville. As a youth Jason was heavily involved in athletics and many social organizations. While attending Crook County High School Jason achieved varsity letters in football, basketball, track, and cross country. As a senior he attained the highest honors including Class President, Sports Editor of the school paper, and many scholarships. After graduation Jason would attend Linn-Benton Community College and continued on to Oregon State University. Just short of his 21st birthday, Jason made a decision that would change his life forever; he made a bold leap of faith and became a horse trainer. It was February of 1992 when he swung a leg over a horse professionally for the first time at Cloverleaf Ranch. Jason was under the guidance of ranch owner and long time friend, Ron Derange. Jason was off pursuing an unforeseen dream of horse training. It was not long after his first trip down the fence that he knew he had found is calling. Jason believes if it was not for Ron and Ginger Deranges unwavering dedication and support he would not be where he is today, at the top of the Reining and Reined Cow Horse world. After leaving Cloverleaf he continued to perfect his craft and spent three and a half years as an assistant trainer at the Boyle Ranch. While riding for Michael (NRHA Past President and Open NRHA Futurity Finalist) and Barbie (AQHA Reserve World Champion) Jason mastered the art of teaching and coaching non-pros, "No one in the business does it better than Mike and Barbie, just look how their students get it done, they’re the best!" Jason has said about his former employer. In 1996 Jason stepped out on his own and with the help of his partners, Cherie Cross and Doug and Harolyn Caulfield, they opened Start To Finish Performance Horses in Shingle Springs, CA. Start to Finish made a great run from 1996 to

2000 winning many awards and coaching several very successful non-pro’s. Jason's first NRHA check came in 1996 aboard Peppys Lar Bar owned then by Scott Peterson, "Scott was the first owner who gave me an opportunity to show in the NRHA" Jason has said. Next came a Pacific Coast Cow Horse Championship on "a great grey mare" named Skeeta Dee Doc and followed by an AQHA World Show Senior Reining Finalist riding Pride of Topsail. "Pride's owners Rachel and Todd Kell were really my first customers who said lets hit the road and go as far as we can, "And let me tell you we did." Pride gave Jason the exposure he needed at the USET finals in Gladstone, New Jersey. His first big win on Pride was at the Cow Palace in 1997. After that, calls came from Cal Expo, Dressage in the Wine Country, AQHA and NRHA to go around the country to do freestyle demonstrations. Then in 1998 Jason hauled Pride to the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City, the pair would make the Senior reining finals, eventually finishing 12th. It was Jason's first time making the finals at a major event. By the time he was 28, the charismatic horseman had made his mark on the local reining scene with impressive victories all over the West Coast. At the 1999 NRHA Futurity Jason rode Peppys Shinning Spark to the Limited Open Finals in his very first year competing at the world’s largest reining event. Jason parlayed his good fortune into a 4th place finish in the auxiliary Limited Open and a Reserve Championship in the Open Freestyle. Jason recalls that show as his signature show, “I took three horses back to Oklahoma and won checks on all three, for the first time in my life I was like, WOW!” The years that followed would seem like a dream to the once summer camp wrangler turned horse trainer. In 2000 Jason Qualified for the USET and competed at qualifying events in Arizona, Oklahoma, and New Jersey. At the USET Qualifier in Scottsdale, AZ Jason went toe to toe with some of the industries “Big Boys”, with the likes of; Million Dollars Riders Todd Bergen, and Dell Hendricks, NRHA Futurity Champion John Slack and former NRHA President and mentor Mike Boyle. Jason held his own and made the Semi-Finals, finishing third in what he calls, “the best pen of horses I have ever showed against.” Jason went on to compete at the USET finals in Gladstone, NJ only to have his horse fall and be disqualified. What happened next would take the talented young man on the greatest adventure of his life. “I was down at the Hollywood Charity show when I got a call from GRC Horses of Bariano, Italy. It was a no brainer for me.” The young California native took his career international. Jason was recently engaged and set off for Italy to take on the European reining scene. While overseas Jason competed at every major event winning the European Congress and the Italian Paint Futurity. Jason’s then wife Mindy told him the fantastic news, his family would be expanding. And on February 25, 2002 Kaylie Austyn Richards was born. Kaylie’s birth proved to be a homecoming for Jason. In May he moved his family back to the States and tried a career change. U.S. Tobacco offered the well traveled Richards a sales rep position back in California. “I took the job because it was close to our family and I wanted to be around more for Kaylie.” It didn’t take very long before the love of training called Jason back to the horse world. In June of 2002 Jason interviewed to become the head trainer at King Equestrian Center in Idaho Falls, ID. “George and Robin flew us out here and we just knew it was the right place for us to call home. Since arriving in Idaho, Jason has become very active in the local community serving on the IdRHA board of directors, taking time to referee local football games and becoming a member of the Calvary Chapel. “Idaho’s been great, I have had some of the best owners here, it’s been an amazing ride.” In his short time in Idaho Jason has participated in helping many non-pros accomplish their goals. Jason has also coached an NRHA Youth World Champion, two NRHA Futurity Non-Pro Freestyle Champions, NRHA Non-Pro Futurity Finalist, NRHA Derby Non-pro Finalist, NRBC Non-Pro Finalist, NRCHA World Show Finalist, NAAC Intermediate Champion, and Northwest Affiliate Non-Pro Champion and many IdRHA and SRRA year end and futurity champions. That’s not to mention all the Open Awards Jason has accumulated himself. The list includes a 2004 NRHA Futurity finals, 2004 IdRHA Open Futurity Championship, 2005 NRBC Finalist, CMRHA Derby Championship, Two IdRHA Open Derby Champions (2008 & 2009), consecutive Luc McGregor Open Derby Champions (08 & 09), NRCHA World Show Hackamore Finalist and in 2009 Reserve Champion Novice Horse Open at the NRHA Futurity. What’s new for 2012? The first thing Jason would like to announce is that he will be training for Annie Reynolds at the Why Worry Ranch in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. And his future plans include competing at the NRHA Derby and Futurity, the NRBC, and all the local reining and reined cow events.