Boyd
Rice

Ranch Roots and a Career Built Across Two Disciplines

Boyd Rice is an American horse trainer and competitor best known for his accomplishments in both National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) and National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) competition. Over the course of his career, Rice became recognized as one of the few horsemen to achieve elite success in both cutting and reined cow horse events, earning millions of dollars in competition while developing a reputation for versatility, consistency, and horsemanship.

Rice is based in Weatherford, Texas, and has spent decades training and showing western performance horses. Before becoming widely known in the show pen, he worked extensively outside the arena in ranching and practical horse work. Industry profiles have described him as a horseman whose background combined cattle work, ranch experience, and competitive horse training.

NCHA Victories, Finals Records, and a World Championship

Rice first established himself in the cutting horse industry through National Cutting Horse Association competition. In 2001, he won the Memphis Futurity aboard Can You Handle It, which became one of his first major NCHA victories. He later qualified for the NCHA Open Futurity Finals for the first time in 2002. Over the following years, Rice became a consistent finalist and champion at major NCHA aged events and world finals competitions.

One of the most successful periods of Rice's cutting horse career came in 2009, when he won both the NCHA Open Super Stakes Championship and the NCHA Summer Spectacular Open Championship. He later added another major title by winning the 2014 Mercuria NCHA World Finals aboard CR Sun Reys, posting an all-time record composite of 924 (231, 229, 231, 233 across the four go-rounds).

A Historic Partnership — First to Win Both NRCHA Majors on the Same Horse

Although Rice had already become established in cutting horse competition, he expanded into reined cow horse events during the early 2000s. Legendary horseman Dick Pieper encouraged Rice to enter his first World's Greatest Horseman competition. Rice later credited trainer Todd Crawford with helping him prepare for those early reined cow horse events.

Rice's breakthrough in the NRCHA came with the gelding Oh Cay N Short, often referred to as "Coyote." In 2007, Rice rode Oh Cay N Short to win the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship — one of the premier events in reined cow horse competition, showcasing elite three-year-old horses in herd work, reining, and fence work.

In 2014, Rice rode Oh Cay N Short again to win the NRCHA World's Greatest Horseman Championship in Fort Worth, Texas. By accomplishing both the Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship and the World's Greatest Horseman title on the same horse, Rice and Oh Cay N Short became the first pair in NRCHA history to achieve that feat. The World's Greatest Horseman competition requires competitors to demonstrate skill in herd work, reining, steer stopping, and fence work during a single finals format.

• 2001 Memphis Futurity — Can You Handle It
• 2009 NCHA Open Super Stakes Champion
• 2009 NCHA Summer Spectacular Open Champion
• 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion — Oh Cay N Short
• 2014 Mercuria NCHA World Finals Champion — CR Sun Reys (all-time record composite, 924)
• 2014 NRCHA World's Greatest Horseman Champion — Oh Cay N Short · Fort Worth, TX
• First pair in NRCHA history to win both the Snaffle Bit Futurity and World's Greatest Horseman on the same horse
• $6.2M+ combined career earnings across NCHA and NRCHA
• 2025 NRCHA Hall of Fame inductee

Judging, Committee Service, and the NRCHA Hall of Fame

Rice continued adding major accomplishments throughout the following decade. His later successes included championships and finals appearances in NRCHA hackamore, bridle, and two-rein competition, along with additional AQHA working cow horse achievements. Horses associated with his program included Royal Smart Fletch, Quahadi, and CR Sun Reys.

Rice also became recognized for contributions outside the arena through NRCHA judging, committee service, and leadership roles within the association. In 2025, the NRCHA announced Rice as a Hall of Fame inductee, recognizing his accomplishments and long-term influence on the sport of reined cow horse competition.