Doug Williamson: A Lifelong Learner, Horseman and Friend
Doug Williamson was renowned as a fierce competitor, willing teacher, talented horseman and above all a friend and ally to many.
Williamson, who died on August 14, was a two time National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, an NRCHA Hall of Fame Inductee and an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider. His career in the saddle began at a young age on his family’s ranch in Oregon. In his younger years he was a racehorse jockey, a calf roper, high school wrestling champion and managed the family’s cattle operation every summer. Eventually, he settled on making a living riding horses, a choice that would lead him to Idaho, California and finally Arizona.
“He was a worker, that’s what he lived to do was work, his play was work,” NRCHA trainer Brad Barkemeyer said.
Friend and AdversaryDoug’s legacy in the reined cow horse and cutting communities is one that will live on for many years to come. But why was Doug Williamson so influential?
He mostly showed Open-caliber horses for their owners but had a few non-pros, and was willing to give tips to other trainers or ask them questions if he was stuck on something.
“I know a lot of people think about the horse showing, his accolades, and everybody knows that he’s been an icon, a legend in our world,” fellow trainer Ron Emmons said with a crack in his voice. “The friendship he gave me was hard to describe. I don’t have many friends that close and I think truthfully a lot of people don’t have that close of friends. So there’s a lot of people that have a lot of accolades. What’s more important than anything at this point in my life, it’s more about family and friends. This is the job [showing horses], and we do the best we can at it, but I cherish friendship too.”
Many people met Doug at horse shows and grew to know him well outside of the arena too.
Doug Williamson and Jake Gorrell at the NSHA Futurity in 2010. * QHN File Photo
“He was a fierce competitor but always friendly,” Barkemeyer said. “He always wanted to win first no matter what, but at the same time he would help you try to beat him.”
Lifelong LearnerDoug’s friendly demeanor and willingness to teach or learn contributed to his success and his legacy. He was often seen at horse shows wearing a red pearl snap shirt, a wild rag and a smile upon his face. His horse show career spanned six decades and touched the lives of many in the warm up pen. Those who didn’t attend shows near him became fans through his podcast interviews, countless magazine features and his presence in the documentary film Down The Fence.
Horses that Doug bred earned $17,542 according to EquiStat. Horses owned by Doug and Carol earned $78,228, a hefty portion of that can be attributed to Doc At Night (Mr San Olen x Docs Hickory Nut x Doc’s Hickory) and High Brow Shiner (Shining Lil Nic x High Brow Meow x High Brow Cat). As a rider, he earned $1.6 Million. His first recorded earnings totaled $958 in 1985, which was the year EquiStat began tracking earnings. His most recent earnings were posted to EquiStat just two years ago in 2022, when he was 80.
Doug Williamson on High Brow Shiner in 2015. * Photo by Primo Morales
“He was always wanting to be progressive as time went on and he would say to me, he says, ‘When I quit learning, I’ll be done.’ He was always asking and watching. He got a lot out of watching people work their horses. He stayed pretty much with his style, but added things to it that made his horses competitive throughout the years. He could always see what was happening, and he’d either ask, or he would figure it out on his own,” Emmons said.
Carol Williamson, Doug’s wife shared that sentiment.
“He was always open to having one of the younger guys tell him what he needed to do,” Carol said.
Trainers, judges and fans could tell that Doug had a specific way he rode and trained horses in his program.
“He didn’t really change his style that much, even though everything else around him was modernized and it still worked. He was still a contender,” Barkemeyer said. “He would change just enough to stay modern but not enough to sacrifice his own beliefs and style.”
Doug Williamson on ARC Sparkin Chics in 2019. * Photo by Primo Morales
He loved good bridle horses, but was always striving to make the best futurity horses. He rode stallions more often than not.
“We’d tease him because he’d say about his 2-year-olds ‘I could win the Futurity on this one.’ He thought they all had potential,” Carol said with a laugh.
A Riders RetirementIn Arizona, Carol “the little blonde” as Doug called her tried to push him towards retirement. However, the cowboy and horseman was rarely content unless he was on the back of a horse.
“We’ve only been on about three vacations in 20 years,” Carol said. “We went to Hawaii and we really only did the vacation thing for half the week and then we went to Charles Stevens’ ranch and did branding for half of that vacation.”
Doug’s kindness and cheerful personality set him apart from other riders outside of the arena. In the arena, his accolades speak for themselves.
A list of Doug’s major accomplishments include:
- 1961 & 1963 AQHA High Point Working Cow Horse on Baldy C (King Clegg x Triangle Lady 27 x Unknown)
- 1988 Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association (PCCHA) Open Classic Champion on Montana Lynx (Doc’s Lynx x Miss Montana Sugar x Sugar Bars)
- 2x NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion 1992 & 2002 on Mr San Olen (Peppy San Badger x San Lenita x Tenino San) and Doc At Night
- 2007 NRCHA Western Derby Champion, Stallion Stakes & Hackamore Classic Reserve Champion on Docs Soula (Soula Jule Star x Docs Hickory Nut x Doc’s Hickory)
- 2008 NRCHA Western Derby Co-Reserve Champion on Docs Soula and Hes Wright On (Lenas Wright On x Shesa Lotta Nic x Reminic)
- 2009 National Stock Horse Association (NSHA) Derby Champion on Cattys Dual Doc (Cattin x Dual Docs Starlight x Grays Starlight)
- 2009 & 2010 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Champion on Smart Miss Merada (Leo Merada x Uno Smart Lady x Smart Little Uno)
- 2010 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman Reserve Champion on Hes Wright On
- 2010 NSHA World’s Richest Stock Horse Champion on Hes Wright On
- 2011 NRCHA Open Bridle World Champion on Hes Wright On
- 2012 Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity Champion on High Brow Shiner
- 2013 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Hackamore Champion & Open Hackamore Reserve World Champion on ARC Sparkin Chics (Chic Please x Sailing Spark x Shining Spark)
- 2014 NRCHA Western Derby Open Hackamore Champion on High Brow Shiner
- 2015 NRCHA Open Hackamore World Champion on High Brow Shiner
- 2019 NRCHA Derby Open Bridle Spectacular Champion on ARC Sparkin Chics
- 2020 & 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open finalist on Meradas Holly Time (Hickory Holly Time x Smart Miss Merada x Leo Merada) and Karbon Copy Cat (Shiners Voodoo Dr x LCR Catty Wampus x Cats Merada)
Few reined cow horse titles escaped him. He competed many times at the World’s Greatest Horseman but was never able to capture that championship. He also tried for many years to win the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity on offspring of Doc At Night, hoping to be the first person to win that event on three generations of horses from the same family.
His quick wit and constant smile will be missed at many horse shows and a handful of barns, but none feel the loss deeper than his wife Carol.
“I am feeling a huge void, but also comfort knowing that he is now free and no longer suffering. He has told me for months that he ‘had a great life’ and he was ready to go,” Carol said.
Click here for Doug’s obituary.
Doug Williamson on Docs Soula in 2007. * Photo by Primo Morales