KQHA 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee- Sherri Tearney

Kansas Quarter Horse Association
2019 Hall of Fame
Sherri Tearney

A lifelong love of horses, instilled by her mother, has defined and shaped Sherri Tearney’s life. On February 2nd, 2019, Sherri was inducted into the Kansas Quarter Horse Association’s Hall of Fame for her service to and promotion of the Kansas Quarter Horse Association.

Sherri’s early horse life included grade horses and ponies, which she shared with her siblings. As the popularity of sanctioned Quarter Horse Shows increased, her family purchased their first registered American Quarter Horse through an ad in the newspaper. Her second Quarter Horse was Skipper Reno, and their first show was the 1968 American Royal. They placed second out of 80 in Youth Western Pleasure class, and she was hooked on AQHA.

Working with Hall of Fame trainer, Denny Hassett, Sherri and Skipper entered the American Junior Quarter Horse Association World Championship show and won Western Riding class and placed 6th in Trail. They went on to win Western Riding at the Congress that year.

During the ceremony, Sherri reminisced about some of those early horse show days. “Amarillo was a long way away from Kansas City, and it was long to drive to when your furthest horse show had been Rose Hill, Kansas! My Mom, sister, and I barely had enough money for gas to get home because we bought ‘Indian jewelry,’ which we had never seen before.”

Sherri and her family began their small breeding operation after her father had promised her she could breed her mare to Two Eyed Jack if she won the Congress. Sherri and her husband, Phil, continue to breed a select few mares at their Louisburg, KS farm. Through careful selection, and a few risks, their program has produced numerous World Champions in a variety of events in Western, English and Roping classes. “For me, the breeding has been as rewarding as showing and winning.”

As youth and amateur rider accolades continued to come Sherri’s way, she eventually became a trainer. For 20 years, she held her AQHA judge’s card and was honored to judge at the Congress and World show during those years. She stepped out of that role when her daughter, Rachel, began showing. Rachel took to the show pen much like her mother, sweeping circuit awards in all her classes at her very first Gold Coast circuit. “One of my most proud moments was watching her win a 9-point triple judged Equitation class in Georgia.”

In 2005, Sherri began her tenure as an AQHA Director serving on the Amateur and World Show committees. She served as president of KQHA from 2012- 2013 and remains an active member of the Board of Directors. Sherri’s passion for the American Quarter Horse and AQHA is evident as she strives to make a positive impact through her service.

“I’m so proud to have been awarded this honor of the Kansas Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. I really owe it all to my family and the wonderful AQHA friends who got us started.”