Aug. 4, 2005, Findlay, Ohio—The University of Findlay will dedicate the indoor equestrian arena at the Center for Equine and Pre-Veterinary Studies on County Road 40 in recognition of Dale E. Wilkinson on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

After the ceremony, the Ohio Cutting Horse Association, which is holding a show that day at the arena, will host a reception in his honor.

The arena is named in recognition of Wilkinson’s leadership in the field of western equestrian competition and horse training, and his role in the founding of UF’s equestrian studies program. He also received an honorary doctorate from UF in 1997.

Wilkinson helped found the western equestrian studies program at then Findlay College in 1976. He provided the use of his 72-acre farm and indoor arena located on County Road 40 for hands-on training of students. He served as the program’s first supervisor of riding, a position he held until 1984 when he sold the farm to The University of Findlay and moved his horse training business to Waynesboro, Ga.

Raised on a farm near Tiffin, Ohio, Wilkinson is a legend in western riding, where he is known as a trainer, showman, judge and teacher. Called the “Father of Reining, ” he created many of the horse training techniques and helped write the original reining horse competition guidelines. Wilkinson is the only professional horse trainer to win both the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) championships.

Wilkinson was the first person to be inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame, and he also was named to the Halls of Fame of the NCHA and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, the largest horse show in the world. In 2001, he was the first person to be awarded the Zane Schulte Memorial Trainer of the Year Award.

Wilkinson continues to ride and train horses in Waynesboro, Ga. For more information, contact the Center for Equine and Pre-Vet Studies at 419-434-4656.