AQHA Professionals of the Year Announced

From AQHA:

The American Quarter Horse Association is proud to announce the 2024 Nutrena Don Burt AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year, Nutrena AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year, and Most Valuable Professional award winners.

Bruce Walquist
The 2024 Nutrena Don Burt AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year award goes to the late Bruce Walquist of Cleburne, Texas. Walquist dedicated over 30 years to the American Quarter Horse industry as trainer, breeder, coach and judge. A lifetime AQHA member and AQHA Professional Horseman for over 20 years, he trained and showed multiple AQHYA and AQHA world, All American Quarter Horse Congress and Honor Roll Champions in a large range of events. As a 30-year AQHA breeder, he managed and operated breeding farms standing some of the industry’s leading sires.

With passion, Walquist remained active in training and showing American Quarter Horses until his passing in May 2023. He volunteered for AQHA’s Professional Horsemen clinics, supported 4-H programs and mentored collegiate and youth judging teams. Known for his kind spirit and dedication to helping others, Bruce’s passion for the welfare of horses and the growth of the industry was unwavering. Bruce put God first, family second, American Quarter Horses third and himself last. Walquist was an AQHA Professional Horseman since 2002 and an AQHA member since 1983. It is a privilege to recognize his accomplishments and honor his memory.

Deborah Kail
The 2024 Nutrena AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year is Deborah Kail of Scottsdale, Arizona. Kail has spent her career as a trainer dedicated to the American Quarter Horse and the clients she and her husband, Bob Kail, serve. She continues the long-lasting legacy created by her parents Greg and Mary Whalen through her lifetime association with AQHA.

She has trained many world champions in various divisions and has participated in Nutrena Ride the Pattern Clinics as a clinician. Kail is always willing to help wherever and whenever needed. She has been an equine insurance specialist with Markel since 2000. Today, she has passed her immense knowledge and experience in the training and care of the American Quarter Horse to her son Ryan Kail and daughter-in-law Andrea Kail who have picked up the reins of Kail Quarter Horses. The family legacy of dedication to their horses and their craft, and their business remains strong to this day.

Kail has been an AQHA Professional Horsewoman since 1994 and an AQHA member since 1991. She received her AQHA judges card in 1993. She is also a member of the National Snaffle Bit Association Hall of Fame and an NSBA judge.

Cynthia Cantleberry
The 2024 Nutrena Most Valuable Professional is Cynthia Cantleberry of Paso Robles, California. Cantleberry has been an AQHA Professional Horsewoman for 30 years and has spent a lifetime in the industry.

Cantleberry has trained numerous world champions over the years and has won 14 AQHA world champion titles . She has spent a portion of her time training youth competitors to be the next generation of talented horsemen and several of her students have gone on to secure their own world championship titles. Cantleberry is revered by all who know her as a person of integrity, kindness, enthusiasm and, most of all, love for the horse.

Cantleberry was the 2001 AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year. She has competed in 49 of the 50 AQHA World Shows and won her first AQHA world championship in trail in 1975 at the second AQHA World Show.

About the Nutrena AQHA Professional Horsemen of the Year and Most Valuable Professional Awards
Being named a Nutrena AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year or Most Valuable Professional are the top awards an AQHA Professional Horseman can receive in the equine industry. Each year, individuals are nominated by AQHA Professional Horsemen for the prestigious honor of being named a Nutrena AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year. From these nominations, the slates of nominees for the Nutrena Don Burt Professional Horseman of the Year and Nutrena Professional Horsewoman of the Year awards are compiled by the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Council and approved by the AQHA Executive Committee. All AQHA Professional Horsemen then vote to determine the Nutrena AQHA Professional Horsemen of the Year award recipients. The Most Valuable Professional is nominated by their home affiliate and then voted on by their fellow AQHA Professional Horsemen.

Learn more about AQHA Professional Horsemen.

Nutrena supports AQHA Professional Horsemen by sponsoring the Ride the Pattern clinics at AQHA championship events. During the clinics, donations are accepted for the Professional Horsemen’s Endowment Fund, which Nutrena matches.