It takes a dedicated individual to do the right thing, even when no one else is looking.  It takes an empathetic individual to place the welfare of the horse above the desire to win. Clark Bradley is one of those individuals.

Once a year, outstanding professional trainers who demonstrate character, integrity and stewardship in their life and business practices are recognized by the Southern Belle Invitation “Living The Mission” award at the annual All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.

Likely, the only person surprised during the award presentation this past October was the recipient himself, Clark Bradley, professional trainer, instructor and coach at the University of Findlay.

“I had no idea I was nominated and gave no thought to being in contention for it,” he says, “I remember when they gave the award last year. It’s a really great award.”

Inspired by greatness

The horse industry has been an integral part of Clark Bradley’s entire life.  Raised in Hilliard, Ohio, Clark grew up on a dairy/horse farm with his parents, three sisters and one brother.  As a youngster he heeded his father’s advice to avoid riding a bicycle because it was too dangerous and to instead ride his pony anywhere he needed to.

His father, Bailey, “Stretch” Bradley, was influential in both the Quarter Horse and Reining Horse industries.

“My father unofficially had the first registered Quarter Horse in Ohio,” Clark says.

Stretch, a horse trader by profession was always buying and selling horses.

“It’s what we did,” Clark explains, “we got home from school and worked with the horses.  I  always loved it.”

Thanks to his father, Clark was surrounded by good quality horses and prominent horseman, including legendary Dale Wilkinson, fondly known as the “father of Reining.”

After high school, Clark left Ohio to attend the Texas Christian University Ranch Management program and then to serve in the United States Marine Corps.  When he returned to Ohio, he and Stretch went into business together training horses.

Before long, Dale invited Clark to come work with him as an instructor at the newly founded western equestrian program at the University of Findlay.  In 1975, Dale offered the University use of his private facility as a training center to teach aspiring trainers.

“I was showing all-around and pleasure horses at the time, but thought a steady check every month would be good,” he says.

Eventually, Dale sold the facility to the University and relocated his business to Georgia to escape the cold Ohio winters.  Ready for a return to full time professional training, Clark left the University of Findlay in 1985 and started a professional training business in Indiana.

After 10 years on his own, he decided it was time to get back into the classroom.

“I was going to 50 shows a year,” he says. “I wasn’t sick of it, but I was wishing I didn’t have to do that many shows a year.”

He rejoined the staff at University of Findlay in 1996 and has been inspiring young trainers in the school’s Equestrian Studies program as an instructor an coach of the IHSA western team ever since.

A unique approach

“The college doesn’t have a lot of school horses,” he explains. “The students do the actual training on the horses.”

Incoming freshman typically ride the few school horses available.  By their sophomore year, students are assigned colts of their own to train and only work with one horse throughout the semester.

“Our students get more actual riding time,” he emphasizes.  By the time a student reaches their junior and senior year, they are assigned three or four horses and are expected to spend every day caring for, working with and training each horse in their string.”

This approach has earned the University of Findlay recognition for producing talented, top-notch riders, competitors and professional trainers.  The school’s equine majors include the animal science/pre-veterinary medicine program, the English equestrian program and the western equestrian program.

Students can also participate in the school’s highly regarded English or western Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Team.  The English IHSA Team has won one IHSA national title, several reserve championships and numerous individual honors.

Over the past decade, the western IHSA team has garnered five IHSA national championships as well as numerous individual honors.  “I think that one reason our team is so successful is because of the number of hours our riders spend on the horse,” he says.

Inspiring greatness

A true leader generously shares their knowledge and passion while motivating others to achieve their goals.  Through his involvement in prestigious positions such as president of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), president of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, a current National Director for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and as a judge for AQHA, NRHA and NSBA competitions across the United States and around the world, Clark leads by example.

“I enjoy training horses and teaching people,” he says, “I have had the opportunity to have a lot of influence on people at the college and personally in my horse business.”

The impact he has had on the lives of others was apparent in the nomination letters submitted in support of his selection for the 2013 Living The Mission Award.

Students wrote, “Clark Bradley has been an inspiration to his students not only in the classroom, in the show arena but also in life.  He and his wife have been role models that have served all of his students well when life’s stress creeps up on you as it does for all of us at one time or another”

Another fondly wrote of Clark’s home being opened to them (the students) at all times and that “He is our surrogate parent.”

One particular student penned, “ While I would not want my name revealed publically, I feel moved, compelled, led (whatever you want to label it) to send in this nomination for Clark Bradley.  I am a Findlay graduate and there were times in my life during those years that I made some bad choices.  Clark could have given up on me, a lot of people would have, my own family did, at times give up on me.  He never “sugar coated “anything for me, he talked to me like an equal and his experience and wisdom has made me the successful professional that I am today.  I owe my happy marriage, my intact family and my successful training business to the experiences I had from one of the greatest mentors in this industry, Clark Bradley.”

Like father, like son

Success is a long-standing tradition for the Bradley family.

Like his father, Stretch, Clark has tallied countless championship titles in Western Pleasure, Reining, Roping and Cutting.  Clark is a two-time NRHA Futurity Champion and in 2001 he was awarded the distinction as the AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year.

Today, they are the only father/son duo inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Hall of Fame.

Clark’s son, CR Bradley, also a professional horseman, is continuing the family legacy.

“He is very successful in the cattle events,” Clark beams.  Based in Collinsville, Texas, CR has racked up 18 AQHA World Championships and Reserve World Championships, 30 All-American Quarter Horse Congress Championships and has qualified for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association National Finals Rodeo.