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The Zane Schulte Award is given annually to a professional trainer who exemplifies the character by which Zane Schulte is remembered: integrity, service, values, respect of their peers, contribution to the industry and excellence in the arena.
Taking a place among the Zane Schulte Award winners this year is Chris Benedict, of Weatherford , Texas . Besides being a successful cutting horse trainer, Benedict has worn many other hats. Over the years, he has distinguished himself as an innovative show producer, a judge, a coach to successful non-pros, and a friend to the cutting horse industry.
Benedict grew up in Southern California and got his first pony at the age of 4. He began showing P.O.A.s when he was 8 years old, and went on to have world champion reining and trail ponies.
As a teenager, his school bus stopped next to local trainer Harold Ferrin's place. He watched Ferrin train horses in the morning, and began helping him after school. Through that relationship, he met other future trainers including Gary Bellenfant, Rod Kelley, and Jim McNulty, and his future wife, Vickie. During that time, Benedict also saw Buster Welch show the great cutting horse Little Peppy, and the seeds of his own future were planted.
As time went on, Chris trained in a variety of disciplines, including pleasure, jumpers, halter and cow horses, and even, for a short time, elephants.
"I love to watch jumping horses and dressage horses," Chris once said. "To me, a good horse is a good horse. I don't care what event it is. I just like good horses."
In the early 1980s, Benedict switched his focus to cutting. He has helped the sport grow ever since. He and Vickie hosted the popular DLR Ranch cuttings in California for many years. The shows were a proving ground for new formats like the novice non-pro class, and they offered the entertainment and extras that kept cutters coming back for more.
Prior to his move to Texas , Benedict was a director and youth advisor for the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. He has served as an NCHA Director for many years, and has played a leading role on many of the association's standing committees. A top-rated NCHA Judge, Benedict has judged the AQHA World Show six times, and has answered requests to judge on four continents.
Benedict firmly believes that non-pros and amateurs are the backbone of our industry, and offers them the patience, knowledge and support to achieve realistic, individual goals. He has mentored limited age event champions, and year-end award winners. His eye for cattle and his calm advice have helped countless cutters.
"If not for Chris, I never would have made it through that run!" is a familiar refrain at shows.
"You know if Chris is around that things are handled," said one cutter. "It may be knowing every cow in the herd, or loaning you a bridle, or making room in his barn (for another horse). He goes above and beyond for his friends and clients."
Another cutter added, "Chris is just a caring person. He'll help anyone and never expect anything in return."
Chris can sum up his philosophy in a few words: "We believe in treating people as we would like to be treated."
Benedict gives special support to the youngsters he sees as the future of our industry. The early DLR cuttings included scholarships, and his commitment to youth has carried through as a three-time judge of the AQHA Youth World Championships.
Benedict has also achieved the final criteria for the Zane Schulte Award—excellence in the arena. He made his first NCHA Futurity appearance on Benito Lynx in 1985, and finished sixth in the Open World standings in 1995 with Marcellena, who went on to produce Wholly Cats. Some of his top aged events horses have included Raks Freckled Son, Uno Palomino, Miss N A Marc, Dos Palomino, JR Colord Termite, Miss Sadie Lena, Creamy Cat, Wholly Cats, Playin By Five and Jazzy Lil Gunner.All told, Benedict has ridden the earners of $778,437 (as of Nov. 30, 2007).
For his contributions to the people and the sport of cutting, Chris Benedict is the 2007 Zane Schulte Award winner.
*Article reprinted with permission by the National Cutting Horse Association.
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