The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) was delighted to announce Wendy Warne of Pageland, South Carolina as the 2024 Mary Kingsbury Amateur Sportsmanship Award Recipient. Warne will be presented with this award during the Amateur Finals of the 2024 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity on Dec. 4 at the Will Rogers Coliseum.
The Mary Kingsbury Amateur Sportsmanship Award is presented annually to an Amateur who exhibits integrity, kindness, honesty, respect, good sportsmanship, fairness, and compassion for people and horses in and out of the arena.
Warne has been in the cutting community for over 20 years but originally started riding pleasure horses.
“I have ridden horses all my life, and I ended up in the Carolinas….I ended up meeting a cutting horse trainer and he introduced me to cutting and that’s where I started,” Warne said.
In the NCHA, Warne currently competes in LAE Amateur and weekend Amateur and Non-Pro classes.
“First and foremost, it is a blessing that any of us get to do this and share in the sport and camaraderie. This is a big win and such a positive moment in today’s time. I’m especially grateful for this award because I knew Mary personally,” explained Warne. “She showed in our area. I saw her battle with cancer and we spoke a lot because I am a breast cancer survivor. To be awarded this award, years later, is in itself really really special. I am so thankful for the people that put me up for this award. I like to be positive and cheer and holler. We’ve got to bring cheer and passion to the world we live in right now.”
“Mary Kingsbury was a very very special lady and she inspired a lot of us,” Warne went on to say. “She was that horseman that got out there and cheered for every youth child, every open rider. It is really like a family.”
When asked who has inspired and helped her in the cutting pen, Warne would like to thank Bryon Griffon.
“He brought me into the sport and strives to make me better. Understanding the Mary Kingsbury story, and that she did not win that battle…it’s a blessing that I am still here. I thank God first and foremost,” Warne said. “Craig Thompson, Cullen Chartier, my help in the pen, Walt Erwin, Clay Johnson, and Johnathan Rogers have all played a part in my success.”
The Mary Kingsbury Amateur Sportsmanship Award is graciously sponsored by the Lackey Family.
“We are truly honored to present Wendy Warne with this award. Her attitude in and outside of the arena represents what the NCHA cutting horse community was built upon,” said Jay Winborn, NCHA Executive Director.
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