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Amidst the wild game and lush river bottom land on the South Canadian River in Oklahoma on his family’s historic Bar X Ranch, Leon Harrel learned to respect the land and animals alike. His father and grandfather were farmers and cattlemen; they put Leon in a saddle as soon as he could walk. They instilled in Leon the intrinsic principles of life and the value of the hard work it takes to maintain it, along with the worth of true friendships.

After moving to California at age 16, Leon became involved in rodeo for a while and developed a natural ability in many sports. He then began training race horses, but missed the western element of the horse world that he loved so much.

Leon then discovered the mesmerizing grace and beauty of the cutting horse, and he turned his focus to this discipline. In 1968 he devoted himself exclusively to the cutting horse industry. The strength and cunning intelligence of these athletic horses challenged Leon and fueled his dreams. In 1971 Leon purchased his first training facility in Oakdale, California. In 1983 he made the move to Kerrville, Texas where he and his family set up a ranch in the hill country.

Leon then began developing many aspects of education by utilizing western lifestyle philosophy, cutting horse training, and horsemanship skills. His programs included Leon Harrel Cutting Clinics, Old West Adventures, personal coaching with his “One Mind and Beyond” program, and professional team coaching. He has perfected and promoted his education, mentoring, consulting, team-building and apprenticeship programs across the United States as well as Australia, Canada, Italy and Germany. Leon authored a book titled “Cutting,” published by Western Horseman. This popular book, printed in English and several foreign languages, was the first step-by-step guide to this popular family sport. Leon has produced successful instructional videos since 1982. He has been the headliner at leading equine expos and has appeared in television specials on RFD-TV. Leon continues to share his vast knowledge today through cutting clinics, show teams and professional coaching.
Leon has realized his dreams many times over with five World Championships and has accumulated a remarkable list of achievements, some of which include:

OFFICES HELD
• NCHA - President 1981
• NCHA – Lifetime Honorary Vice President Induction 1982
• NCHA – Executive Member1974-1981
• NCHA – Lifetime Director Inducted in 1981
• PCCHA – President 1974-1975
• PCCHA – Executive Member 1970-79
• PCCHA – Lifetime Director Inducted in 1975

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
• AUGUSTA Futurity Open 1997 Championship – Flip’s Angel
• NCHA WORLD CHAMPION – OPEN – Doc’s Playmate
• NCHA WORLD FUTURITY CHAMPION – Doc’s Yuba Lea
• NCHA WORLD CHAMPION MARE – Doc’s Playmate
• NCHA WORLD CHAMPION MARE – Fizzabar
• NCHA CLASSIC CHAMPION – Oak’s Doll
• NCHA CHALLENGE CHAMPION – Nu & Sassy
• NCHA WORLD FUTURITY CHAMPION
• NCHA 1997 OPEN CHAMPION – Colonel Flip Incentive Program
• NCHA 1997 OPEN CHAMPION of Augusta Futurity
• AQHA World Champion Junior Cutting Stallion – NuBar
• PACIFIC COAST FUTURITY – Gal O’Nu Bar
• WEST TEXAS AMARILLO FUTURITY – Doc Red Lynx
• LOUISIANA FUTURITY – Pav’s Playmate
• GREAT WEST FUTURITY – Doc’s Nina and Oakie Poo Bar

NCHA HALL OF FAME
• Leon Harrel – Inducted 1989
• Doc’s Playmate – Inducted 1979
• Fizzabar – Inducted 1971

TODAY'S HALL OF FAME REQUIREMENTS ARE BASED ON MONEY EARNED. USED TO BE...

Dec 1989 Chatter: The NCHA established the riders Hall of Fame with 10 qualifying categories:
Riders must meet at least one of the following categories:

1. Ride 2 different horses to NCHA World Championship (1 NCHA and 4 AQHA World Championships)
2. One NCHA World Champ (Doc's Playmate) + One NCHA Futurity Champion (Doc's Yuba Lea / Smart Date)
3. Two Futurity championships (Doc's Yuba Lea 1978 / Smart Date 1987)
4. Futurity / Derby / Classic Challenge on the same horse
5. Derby Classic or Challenge three times
6. Ride 7 top ten horses or 5 top five horses, earning at least 90% of that horse's money (4 horses in top ten: Playmate, Nu Bar, Fizzabar, Doc's Tule Lu)
7. One Futurity Champion (Doc's Yuba Lea / Smart Date) and 2 reserves (Nu Niner Bar / Cal's Cindy Ann)
8. One World Champ and 2 reserves One World Champ (Doc's Playmate)
9. 2 Futurity Reserve champs (Nu Niner Bar / Cal's Cindy Ann)
10. A combination of points based on placing in finals at NCHA limited age events