In summer 2006, I was traveling around North Texas picking up stories for the Journal.

John Hoyt during his Journal interview the summer of 2006. (Journal photo)

This area is a treasure trove for us with its concentration of trainers, breeders and exhibitors.

One story I was to get was at Pete Kyle’s place in Whitesboro. It was on John Hoyt, whom Pete had recently invited to move to a house on his place. I’d heard John was one of the founders of the Arizona Sun Country Circuit and was held in high regard by the horse community.

Curious about the assignment, I asked my reining trainer, Dean Latimer, whether he had heard of John.

“Yes,” he said, looking at me like I was dim-witted. “Hasn’t everyone?”

“Well, no,” I admitted sheepishly. “I haven’t.”

“He’s probably one of the greatest horsemen ever,” Dean told me. “Many trainers today have him to thank.”

OK. Now I was really curious about this man many called the “John Wayne of horse training.”

I arrived at Pete’s place early the next morning, and John had yet to arrive. Pete’s wife, Tamra, told me it wouldn’t be long and it wasn’t before John came shuffling into the living room.

It was obvious he was in a lot of pain. John had been through a series of surgeries to try to repair nerve damage he received during a knee replacement several years ago. Since that initial surgery, he hasn’t been able to get back on a horse.

“When I ride now, my leg kind of turns in,” he told me. “I can’t put any weight in the stirrup.”

As I asked John about his life and his love of the American Quarter Horse, his eyes lit up and the stories began. And what wonderful stories – some of which I was able to tell in my February 2007 Journal article and several that couldn’t be printed … anywhere.

John Hoyt particpated in the very first AQHA World Championship Show in 1974, winning the western riding title with San Benito Bob. (Journal photo)

I spent several hours with John and could see why so many people held him in such high regard. For the story, I asked some of today’s top names in AQHA their thoughts on John.

“John was whispering to horses before that even had a name,” AQHA Judge and Pro Horseman Al Dunning told me.

“John Hoyt helped a lot of people move their level of training up,” multiple World Show champion and AQHA Pro Horseman J.D. Yates added.

“I saw him ride a horse once that wasn’t broke yet, and John could make that horse do tricks you can’t imagine,” AQHA Pro Horseman Nancy Cahill said.

I still see John regularly selling his handmade tack at Quarter Horse shows like the Redbud Spectacular and Texas Classic as well as at National Reining Horse Association events like the Futurity and Derby. I always say hello and ask him how he’s doing. I’m not sure he remembers me, but he is always willing to talk for a little while about how his life is going.

On April 18, I was at the National Reining Breeders Classic and saw a flier that John was having an 80th birthday party at the McQuay stalls. Of course, I had to attend to shake John’s hand and wish him a happy birthday. I also picked up a pair of red suspenders, much like the ones that John always wears.

With many of the other Quarter Horse legends gone, like Greg Ward, Jack Kyle and Leroy Webb, it was wonderful seeing John able to celebrate such a milestone and still be so revered and loved by the horse community. We need to remember it’s men like John who made the Quarter Horse what it is today and whenever possible, we need to give them a BIG thank you.

To read the February 2007 Journal article on John Hoyt, click here.

Tonya Ratliff-Garrison
Field Editor
American Quarter Horse Journal

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