Spotlight on Our Member!

Reigning President Bobby Lord, 58, of Gainesville Texas established Lord Performance Horses in 1999, together with his son Ben, 23; their training programs focus on roping events, working cow horse and cutting. Born in Olean, New York, Bobby’s first exposure to horses was play days with his brother Dick and sister Leatha.  As he grew older his interest in horses increased, leading to the introduction to roping.

In 1966 he joined the Marines; this followed with Boot camp, advanced training then on to Viet Nam, proving to be a “life changing experience”.   Bobby went to Viet Nam weighing 185 lbs with hopes of Rodeo Championships only to return to New York City for six months of recovery time at the St. Albons Naval Hospital.  During the recovery he was introduced to Bill Sellers, a Quarter Horse Inspector.  With his encouragement Bobby moved to Ballinger Texas in the fall of 1968 to advance his roping skills.  Mr. Sellers sent Bobby along with a friend from the Marines to the former roping Champion Royce Sewalt.  Mr. Sewalt, his wife Myra and son Ronny became close friends and a good source for training tips.  Also influencing him was Bobby Seals, a prominent roper and trainer in Ponder, Texas.  Mr. Seals gave Bobby an opportunity to work alongside him for the next five years, turning his focus to training rather than Championship Roping. Although Bobby had been a member of the R.C.A. (forerunner to the P.R.C.A) since shortly after moving to Texas.

Bobby’s favorite horse during this period was a little bay horse named “Shorty”, a grandson of J.B. King.  Ropers such as Bill Pursel and Jr. Meek were given the honor of riding “Shorty”. Coming across a Palomino mare sired by “Fred M.”, Coke Roberds’ last stallion, led Bobby to one of the bigger influences in his carreer, Warren Shoemaker.  After studying her pedigree Bobby found out a great deal about these horses.  With this acquired knowledge he was able to train horses for people such as Walter Arnold and Junior Garrison.  In 1977, he sold a super horse to Dan Eddleman, Warren’s grandson.  This brown horse was the grandson of “Lightning Bar.”  Then in 1978, Dan was ready to pursue his career in Rodeo, leaving Warren needing help.  Bobby in search for a job took this opportunity.  During his stay at the Shoemakers he spent countless hours with Warren talking about horses.  Although Warren did most of the talking, Bobby was grateful for the knowledge and hospitality shown to him, not only from Warren but from Billie as well.  The Shoemaker’s made him feel like one of the family, making it important to Bobby to remain in contact with Joanie and her mother.

In 1980 Bobby left the Shoemaker’s to return to Rodeo again, it was late fall when he married Agnes Stably and returned to Ballinger, Texas.  Together they trained horses for the public until January 1982, when they moved to California to work for Don and Adel Nesbitt.  There they were in charge of the breeding program along with breaking and training their colts.  However, this stay was brief and they soon returned to Ballinger to continue their training efforts.

In 1984 they move to Aubrey, Texas and started a new career of shoeing horses’ full time.  This was working really well for them until 1991 when Bobby was diagnosed with throat cancer.  Due to the diagnoses Bobby was unable to work for almost a year, allowing him to pursue another interest: baseball.  Bobby was able to coach his son, as well as do some amateur scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Which brings us to 1999 when Bobby and his family moved to their current residence in Gainesville, Texas.  Now he and his son Ben are pursuing the original plan to train outside horses and maintain a first class breeding operation.  Their stallion is Skips Taker, who was purchased from Bill Wilmeth when he dispersed his horses, and after all these years he is Bobby’s all time favorite horse.  He has been successful not only as a performance horse but a halter horse as well.  Although “Nick” is mainly used as a calf roping horse, he won the working cow horse, calf roping, and barrel race at the 2003 Skipper W Show.  He also sired the 2003 Skipper W Yearling Halter Futurity Champion “Lords Lady Stockings”, a 2002 filly, also owned by Bobby and his family. This filly is currently being trained by Ben for cutting and working cow horse. 

Together Bobby and his wife Agnes have three sons; Philip, Jeremy and Ben, and one daughter, Terri.  They also have been blessed with five grandchildren; Ty, Stormy, Cole, Hannah, and Maddison.