Bob
Avila

A California Horseman — Born into the Industry

Robert Charles Avila was born in November 1951 in California and grew up in a family deeply connected to horses and western riding. Growing up around horses provided Avila with early exposure to horsemanship, horse training, and the western performance industry.

As a young man, Avila became involved in a wide range of western horse disciplines. At approximately age twenty, he went to work for respected National Reined Cow Horse Association horseman Tony Amaral. This period became an important stage in his professional development and helped establish the foundation for his future career as a trainer and competitor.

More Than 35 AQHA World Championships Across Multiple Disciplines

Avila eventually established his own training operation in California and gained recognition for his ability to prepare horses for elite competition in multiple disciplines. During his career, he earned more than 35 AQHA World and Reserve World Championships according to industry publications. His accomplishments extended across organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA).

One of the defining characteristics of Avila's career was his success in both reining and reined cow horse competition. In the NRCHA, he won the Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship three times (1988 on Smart Little Calboy, 1999 on Smart Zanolena, and 2003 on Chics Magic Potion) and the World's Greatest Horseman twice (2000 on Paid By Chic and 2007 on Light N Fine). He was also recognized as an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, a designation awarded to riders surpassing one million dollars in NRCHA earnings.

In reining competition, Avila won the NRHA Open Futurity Championship in 1994 riding Lenas Wright On. He became one of only two individuals to win the open futurity championships in both the NRCHA and NRHA, reflecting his uncommon versatility as a trainer and rider.

• 35+ AQHA World and Reserve World Championships
• 3× NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion — 1988, 1999, 2003
• 2× World's Greatest Horseman Champion — 2000, 2007
• NRCHA Million Dollar Rider
• 1994 NRHA Open Futurity Champion — Lenas Wright On
• One of only two riders to win open futurity championships in both NRCHA and NRHA
• First AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year — 1995
• NRCHA Hall of Fame inductee
• AQHA Hall of Fame inductee — 2020

Clinician, Author, and Pioneer of Corporate Sponsorship

In addition to competition, Avila became highly respected as an educator and clinician. He conducted clinics throughout the United States and contributed extensively to horse training publications and educational programs. He authored training materials and instructional content focused on horsemanship, reining, cow horse training, and horse development. His educational work reached both professional trainers and recreational riders.

Avila was also a trendsetter who pioneered having western performance horse trainers secure corporate sponsors in the same manner as professional rodeo contestants — a model that helped professionalize the industry and opened doors for future generations of trainers to build sustainable careers.

Avila also became known for mentoring younger horsemen entering the western performance horse industry. Numerous trainers and competitors publicly credited him with influencing their careers and horsemanship approaches. Industry articles frequently referenced his professionalism, attention to horse care, and willingness to share knowledge with others in the horse community.

Scottsdale, Mentorship, and a Life Ended Doing What He Loved

Avila operated Avila Training Stables in Temecula, California, alongside his wife Dana Avila and their family. Beyond competition, his program included horse training, breeding, coaching, and youth mentorship. In 2020, after 18 years in Temecula, he and Dana relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they continued developing and marketing saddles, tack, and bits, and he downsized his training operation.

Bob Avila died on November 9, 2024, at the AQHA World Show — doing what he loved. Following his death, tributes from across the horse industry recognized his influence on western performance horse training, education, and professional horsemanship. His legacy continues through the horses he trained, the riders he mentored, and his longstanding impact on reining and reined cow horse competition.