Gil Galyean Becomes NSBA’s First Million Dollar Rider

[Source: NSBA.com]

The National Snaffle Bit Association is pleased to announce that Professional Trainer Gil Galyean, of Purcell, Oklahoma, has become the first rider in the association’s history to record more than $1 million in lifetime earnings from competition at sanctioned association events.

Galyean reached the million dollar milestone during the 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress. A member of NSBA’s Hall of Fame, Galyean was inducted into NSBA’s Quarter Million Dollar Club in 2000. A long-time supporter of NSBA programs, Galyean served on several NSBA committees and is a past president of the association.

He earned his first AQHA world championships in 1982 with Tillie Shiek, and his first All American Quarter Horse Congress futurity win in 1996 with the AQHA stallion Dee Invitation. Just a few of the many horses he has trained and shown throughout his career include Cool Krymsun Lady, Cool Lady Lopin, Suddenly A Cool Lady, How Bout At Midnight, Onlygoodtilmidnight, Mac Dudley, Mr Rusty Zipper, Investment Creditor, Hot N Spicy Me, Hot N Blazing, Golden Moonlite, So Good Im Classic, Eazy Dayzie, Irish Invitation, Dont Skip Zips Lady, Sure Am Hot, Go Figer, Authentic Invitation and Chips Chocolate Star.

A native of Gravette, Arkansas, Galyean was born into a horse family. His father, Kenneth Galyean, is a member of the NCHA Hall of Fame and an AQHA judge who judged the very first AQHA World Championship Show. His mother, Bertena, was also heavily involved in the training business.

After graduating from Arkansas Tech University, the horses called him back. He came back to the industry in the early 1980’s as the Western Pleasure discipline was rising. After working in Arkansas and Missouri, he accepted a position at Paws Up Ranch in Purcell, Oklahoma. He found the area to be a great location for a training business, and remained there when he started his own training operation.

To read the full story on NSBA.com, click here.