Jim Montgomery

    Jim has been part of the IRHA and the NRHA since the mid 1980's. He started reining after going to a reining demonstration with trainer, Hugh Gagen, he saw Dots Jessie Ridden by Noel Skinner. When he saw that horse perform he said, "That"s what I want to do, and Hughie went and bought a syndicate to Dots Jessie. Before starting into reining, Jim was training and showing all-around gaited horses. They showed a lot of halter, driving, western pleasure, and English riding. While making the transition away from the all-around horse, he came across an Andalucion Stallion named Laponio. Jim met Laponio at the place he was working. The horse was bucking his owner off, pulling back, rearing, and basically just causing as much havoc as possible. Jim watched this lady struggle for a while and then asked her if she would like him to top that horse off for her? Of course she said,oh would you. As time went on he got this horse broke (that was purchased out of the lipizon stallion show for $30,000) and went to the Andalucion Nationals in LA California where he won a National championship in English, Western, and Stock horse. After a short while of training and showing reining horses Jim thought it would be really nice to win a belt buckle. Back then they did not give them out at the year-end awards, only for special events. He had a little crooked legged mare named Lenas Doc Zimfandel owned by Geri Cottrell and Jim. He entered her in the Futurity in Richfield at the IRHA's futurity and Derby show. When he walked in the pen to show it was lightly raining and when he walked out it was hailing but the little mare performed well and won the futurity that year, in 1988, and the Derby the following year. From there on Jim has won numerous belt buckles for year-end awards, futurities, derbies, circuit championships. , and was able to go to training just reining horses. Jim does many things with his horses. He packs horses, and does guided hunting and fishing trips. He still drives some horse in parades, and in the past 15 years as added the Working Cow horse to his training. Last year in 2009 Jim qualified "Please Me Forever" for the AQHA World Show Senior Working Cow horse and this year has qualified three in Working Cow horse and Reining. Jim has trained trick horses and dogs for movies and commercials. Jim has helped many people get into the IRHA, many are still involved today. Jim is a past IRHA Vice President, past president, and on the board of directors as in Jim's words, "since the beginning of time." Jim has also coached many Rodeo Queens to local, state and national titles.