2021 WCHA Hall of Fame Inductees
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By Laura Boynton
The World Conformation Horse Association honored their 2021 Hall of Fame inductees at the WCHA Breeders Championship Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas on the organization’s 10th anniversary.
Don Falcon has been involved in the WCHA since 2012. As of 2018, he carries the title of Executive Director. Falcon says that his love of horses, judging, breeding, and showing has driven his horse passion, even though he isn’t in the show pen as an exhibitor or as a judge anymore, due to his position within the WCHA. “It’s a very rewarding career for me,” he says. “I enjoy being involved with the WCHA, and I believe it provides meaningful opportunities and growth that benefits and supports our horse industry.”
This year, the WCHA created a new tradition for the Hall of Fame Banquet and live auction. “We invited past Hall of Fame inductees in attendance to gather together on stage to welcome the new 2021 inductees into the club and celebrate their efforts and successes. Every year, we plan on continuing this custom as a ritual for all our honored WCHA Hall of Famers. It’s a way for us to show the individual, their families, and their horses that the determination, strength, and purpose that we all share will never be forgotten.”
Legendary Breeder Inductee: APHA Breeder R.B. Shield
Born in 1932, R.B. Shield was a long-time Texas cattleman who started at the age of 11 by helping his father, Burt Shield, a cattle buyer at the Texas Stockyards. At the age of 15, Shield took over his dad’s job when Burt died in a car accident. He worked roughly eight hours after school to help support his family. His mother would pick him up around midnight to bring him home to ensure he was getting some sleep before school the next morning.
