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The letters that poured into the NCHA office to recommend Don Strain for the NCHA Members Hall of Fame were full of phrases like “a man of integrity,” “quality of character,” successful showman and judge,” “committed to NCHA,” willing participant and supporter of cutting,” and “a true promoter of our sport.” The accolades aren’t surprising to those who know Strain and understand the commitment he has made to cutting.
Strain was born and raised in South Dakota, where his first job, at age 12, was riding colts and checking cattle. He was in his early 20s when he saw his first cutting horse at the Denver Stock Show. From that day on, he was determined to own a cutter.
To accomplish his goal, Strain sent a mare to trainer Phil Williams, who promptly told him that the mare just didn’t have enough cow in her to cut. Instead, Williams let Strain ride Dun Gone, a horse tht had won the Houston Stock Show under Jim Calhoun. Due to a reputation for being a bit broncy, Dun Gone was offered for sale at the bargain price of $1,000.
“That was the first really good cutting horse that I had been on. When I got off that horse, the insides of my legs were raw,” said Strain. “I was 22 years old and didn’t have a lick of sense and less money. So I took him home and entered a cutting with him, and I was second in the cutting. I took him to another and won the cutting, took him to another and was third, and at the end of two months, I had won about $1,000 with him. I just sent (Phil) a check.”
Unfortunately, Dun Gone died shortly thereafter. When Williams heard the news about Dun Gone’s untimely death, he was the first to contact Strain, offering him the chance of a lifetime – 1952 World Champion Little Tom W.
“He said I’ll take $5,000…and I knew he had been offered $10,000 for him. So I went to the bank and borrowed $5,000 and bought the horse,” recalled Strain. “He was just so smart. I tell everybody, the best thing I could do was never work the horse, because I didn’t know how to work the horse. I’d just leg him up and take him to a cutting. In 1959, I hauled him to 39 shows and picked up 33 checks.”
As his cutting involvement blossomed, Stain became an NCHA Director for South Dakota in 1960, and helped to establish the South Dakota CHA. He became an NCHA and AQHA judge in 1962. He has served on several NCHA committees through the years, including the Judges Rules, Open Show and Long Range Planning committees. He served six years on the Executive Committee, from 1999-2005.
“For and organization to be successful, it must be supported and promoted,” Strain said in 2004. “I think the first responsibility of the NCHA is to our membership, which is quite diversified. We have to keep a fair and honest balance to meet the needs of so many different members.”
Jonathan Foote, who served in the NCHA Executive Committee with Strain, notes that Strain was integral in developing the Amateur division, changing the World Championship program, and restructuring the association’s governance to have fair representation around the country.
“(Don) never lets us forget that the grass roots are where cutting began and where it will continue to grow,” said Foote. “He has been absolutely true to the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, quality of judging, quality of competition, and what’s for the ‘little guy.’ He has been able to do this without compromising the tremendous success of the ‘Great Events’ which crown our sport.”
Perhaps it is because Strain, himself, started at the grass roots level that he has worked so hard to protect cutting’s beginnings. He has completed at every level – from weekend shows to limited age events – and has been a show producer, affiliate president and cutting horse breeder.
“I firmly believe that the future and success of our organization lies with the grass roots cutter and their support group – volunteer secretaries, cattle handlers, ground workers, panel movers, etc. – that produce all the cutting across the United States and Canada,” said Strain. “The success of weekend cuttings can only lead to more and bigger aged events and an increase in demand and price for our horses.”
And Strain knows his horses. He has bred the earners of more that $1 million, including two NCHA Futurity finalists. Strain and his wife Kathy have four children, all of whom were active in high school rodeo at the state and national levels. Now, Strain is watching his grandchildren compete in the cutting arena.
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