Faces of the NRCHA

The smile adorning Elizabeth Ellis’ face as she watches National Reined Cow Horse Association Youth of all ages throw loops during the DT Horses Roping School at the DT Horses Western Derby is as bright as the arena spotlights. Creating positive experiences is part of Ellis’ job with NRCHA as programs manager. It’s a title that encompasses many different roles. encompasses many different roles. As a youth competitor showing in American Quarter Horse Youth Association American Quarter Horse Youth Association shows in her home state of Georgia, Ellis shows in her home state of Georgia, Ellis jumped in to help with special programs. jumped in to help with special programs. “I was an AQHYA regional director for two years and was president of the Georgia two years and was president of the Georgia Quarter Horse Youth Association,” she Quarter Horse Youth Association,” she said. “That’s where my love for association said. “That’s where my love for association and member programs started, and now I and member programs started, and now I get to do that at NRCHA. It’s a heck of a lot get to do that at NRCHA. It’s a heck of a lot of fun!” of fun!” Her love of horses started when she was 5 years old, when Ellis rode one of her was 5 years old, when Ellis rode one of her aunt’s three-day eventing horses. She was aunt’s three-day eventing horses. She was hooked on horses. “I fell in love with horses there and then. At my elementary school they offered then. At my elementary school they offered horseback riding lessons instead of [physical education] once a week,” Ellis said. “I was one of five kids in my school that took lessons; I did that from first to third grade. I was ready to find something else to advance my riding. I did local shows around Georgia on a little Appaloosa mare. My mom’s best friend showed in AQHA {shows] in hunter under saddle, so I started showing in that in 2009, when I was 14.” Studying at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia, Ellis rode on the school’s equestrian team, competing in horsemanship and reining. After graduating with a degree in animal science with a chemistry minor, Ellis completed a marketing internship with AQHA. It gave her have a firsthand look at producing major events. In February of 2021, Ellis stepped into her role with NRCHA following an upward-moving series of positions with AQHA that included serving as the AQH Foundation marketing and annual giving coordinator, and then director of marketing, communications and museum programs.

Interview and photograph by Kate Bradley Byars

Reined Cow Horse News: What is your role with NRCHA? Elizabeth Ellis: At premier events, I coordinate awards and present them to the winners. I also coordinate the trade show and vendors at our premier events. Our Youth involvement in various activities and programs is so important, and I enjoy coordinating those special events.

When I am not at an NRCHA premier event, I am working on several tasks in the office, including an online judges’ education portal, entering show results and member communication.

RCHN: What hooked you on reined cow horse? Ellis: The run that stuck out to me the most was when I watched Sarah Dawson win the Junior Working Cow Horse on Shiney Outlaw at the AQHA World [Championship] Show in 2017. That is the most electrifying memory I have of the class before starting at NRCHA—it was a wicked cool run! My first NRCHA event was the Snaffle Bit Futurity® in 2020, where Sarah won it, again. Those are my two ‘firsts’ with reined cow horse. There’s nothing like it!

RCHN: What do you enjoy most in your multi-faceted

Ellis: I enjoy working with and getting to know all the Youth members. Getting all ages of Youth involved, from the young ’uns in the leadline to our Youth officer team that has big goals in the industry, it’s great getting to know everyone and seeing the enthusiasm for the shows. I’m headed to my first National High School Finals Rodeo this summer [in July], and it has been so exciting to work on that. It shows reined cow horse in another industry.

Working with the awards and trade shows at premier events has allowed me to connect with a lot of our members and meet people. That’s enjoyable for me, meeting new people.