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For fifty years, Buster Welch has inspired cutters by his example, his vision, and his boundless sense of adventure. His achievements in the show arena are legendary. And now he has been recognized for his service to the industry through leadership, integrity, and service.
Buster Welch was born in Sterling City, Texas on May 23, 1928. His mother died when he was three weeks old, so Buster was sent to the home of his grandfather, a retired West Texas sheriff, and grandmother to be raised
His grandfather once advised him to "treat all men alike, and if a man's a dog, his tail will stick out from under the tent."
Before he had reached his teens, Buster's love of horses and his ability to ride had already established him as a hand. As a young boy, he would stand outside the Scharbauer Hotel in Midland holding his bedroll and saddle, waiting to be hired for day work. Often, the youngster would be among the first hired, over the older, more experienced cowboys.
Life on horseback, among cattle and cowmen, was addictive to Buster and by the time he was 13, he left home with an old bronc named Handsome Harry to follow his dream of becoming a cowboy and rancher. He started on a ranch near Midland owned by the Proctors, and later worked at some of the most famous ranches in Texas: The Four Sixes, Matador, X's, Pitchfork, and many years later, the King Ranch.
"Of anything we do on horseback today, cutting comes nearest to keeping the spirit and freedom of the open range," says Buster. "When I was a little kid, they didn't have many contests, but they talked and bragged about cutting horses constantly."
His achievements in the show arena are legendary. He has won four World Championships, with Marion's Girl in the 1950s, and with Mr San Peppy in the 1970s. He has won a record five NCHA Futurities with Money's Glo, Chickasha Glo, Rey Jay's Pete, Dry Doc, and Peppy San Badger.
Whether or not they have ever met him, Buster has touched the lives of everyone who competes in cutting today. He has left indelible tracks in the course of Quarter Horse history, not only as the trainer and rider of some of cutting's greatest champions, but as a student and teacher of our Western heritage.
No one understands the link between the mounts of pioneer cattlemen and today's Quarter Horses better than Buster Welch, and no one has inspired more people to take up the reins.
Today's cutters ride saddles built around a Buster Welch design, and his innovative use of the round pen has become the standard for modern trainers. He was one of the architects of the first NCHA Futurity, which quickly became the sport's showcase event.
He has been featured in articles in Life Magazine and the Wall Street Journal, in addition to countless horse and livestock publications. He is an avid reader and historian, and is passionate about preserving the history, legend and lore of the cutting horse.
Buster was the first to conduct organized schools for cutting horse riders. For fifty years, he has inspired cutters by his example, his vision, and his boundless sense of adventure.
"Cutting is like art," Buster says. "You can nearly take it in your hands."
Going on a round-up with Buster is like going to graduate school in cow culture. The alumni of Buster University come away with a much deeper understanding of the contribution the cow horse and cow hand made to the American west.
Those graduates include many of the men and women who stepped up to lead the next generation of cutting horse trainers.
The famous King Ranch photos of Buster cutting a Santa Gertrudis from a vast herd tell more about the man and his methods.
"I think a cutting horse comes nearest to keeping the spirit and feel of the open range of anything we do on horseback today," said Buster. "He was the early-day cowman's computer."
Buster Welch has been inducted into the NCHA Members Hall of Fame, the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame, and the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame.
We are proud to present him with the Zane Schulte Memorial Award for his tremendous contribution to the sport of cutting.
* Article written by: Alan Gold and Sally Harrison
(reprinted with permission from NCHA), photo of Buster Welch courtesy NCHA
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