In Loving Memory of Robbie Schroeder
AQHA Publicity
Robert “Robbie” Lynn Schroeder, 62, died December 30. He was born December 17, 1958, in Beaumont, Texas, and was the youngest son of Ferdinand “Boots” and Jean Schroeder. He is survived by his wife Jennifer, son Ryan (Katie) Schroeder, grandchildren Kamryn and Rawson Schroeder, step-daughter Jenna (Jeremy) Barbour and numerous brothers, cousins, nephews, nieces and extended family.
Schroeder developed a passion for animals at a young age and was quickly known for riding anything with four legs that would not stand still. In Kindergarten, he trained his first horse–a Shetland pony named Chico. It wasn’t long after Chico, that Schroeder acquired Hannah, his pet turkey. By the age of 12, he was breaking colts and riding horses with his uncle Johnny. As a teenager, Schroeder rode bulls and rodeoed for several years. After high school, Schroeder and his cousin, Black Schroeder, competed on the amateur and professional bull riding circuit before moving to North Texas in 1978. Over the next years, Schroeder continued to grow his training career by working for some of the largest names and ranches in the industry. In 1989, Schroeder moved to Gainesville, Texas, and officially opened the The Schroeder Ranch where he produced and trained some of the best horses in western pleasure, western riding, reining, cow horse and roping.
Schroeder will forever be recognized throughout the industry as a true horseman for all disciplines. He has conquered every event and has a proven show record of 100+ world and reserve world championships in AQHA, American Paint Horse Association and Appaloosa Horse Club; the World’s Greatest Horseman reserve title, and National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity limited open and reserve champion titles. In 1999, Schroeder was awarded the AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year title.
Schroeder loved the horses he trained and the people he met along the way, but always had a passion for riding and raising bucking bulls. Throughout his life, Schroeder maintained many bucking bull partnerships; most notably Kid Rock, Uncle Cracker and the 2018 American Bucking Bull Inc. Derby Champion, Joker’s Wild.
Most recently, Schroeder worked and trained horses on movie sets and television shows such as “Magnificent 7,” “The Good Lord Bird” and the remake of “Walker Texas Ranger,” while continuing to build his herd of bucking stock at his ranch in Whitesboro, Texas.
Schroeder’s greatest joy and accomplishment was his family. He loved being Papa to Kamryn and Rawson, spending time on the ranch with his wife, Jennifer, and helping friends and family along the way. From penning cows, hauling bulls, building fences, loaning trailers and breaking show steers, Schroeder humbly gave of his time, expecting nothing in return and was never shy about saying how proud or how much he loved someone.
Schroeder will be remembered as a great horseman, a champion, and for living life to the fullest. The thousands of stories recently shared are a testament of his love for competition, toughness and resiliency. He will forever be an inspiration known for training great horses and helping to raise fine young men, but most of all, as one of the most caring and loving individuals to ever mount a horse or flank a bull.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer or fall of 2021.
