National Cutting Horse Association Unveils "The Finalist"
(Fort Worth, TX) --The National Cutting Horse Association added its own piece of fine art to Forth Worth's cultural district when the life-size bronze statue "The Finalist" was unveiled on Friday, July 29. Sculpted by renowned artist Jim Reno and presented by Anne Marion, "The Finalist" portrays the athletic grace and beauty of a cutting horse during its finest moment of working a cow.
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, artist Jim Reno
and Glen Blodgett, DVM, manager of the Horse Division of Mrs. Marion's famed
6666 Ranches, each addressed the crowd prior to Friday morning's unveiling. NCHA
President Mike Mowery was horseback to perform the actual unveiling,
which was
met with cheers of enthusiasm from the crowd. With the introduction of "The
Finalist," NCHA joins an elite list of locations that feature Reno monuments.
Reno has also sculpted life-size bronzes for the American Quarter Horse
Association, the Kentucky Horse Park, Texas A&M University, the Houston
Astrodome and Sea World of Texas, among others.
Mayor Moncrief spoke of the history and the strong bonds that link cutting horses and the City of Fort Worth. "Today is a special time to celebrate and unveil this new statue," he said. "It's one more example that we have the most exciting, dynamic city in the United States. I'm excited about one more home run for our city."
"The National Cutting Horse Association deeply
appreciates the generosity shown by Mrs. Anne Marion in providing this statue,"
said Jeff Hooper, Executive Director of the NCHA. "Jim Reno's sculpture captures
the essence of the cutting horse, and will be appreciated by our members, as
well as the citizens of Fort Worth and its visitors."
Reno, a former cutting horse trainer, is one of America's foremost sculptors, and has gained a reputation as the "Horseman's Sculptor." An Artist of the Year for the state of Texas, Reno's ability to capture a horse's action as well as its personality has made him the choice portrait sculptor of many owners of champion horses. His first-hand experience with horses has allowed him to understand the anatomy and mind of his equine subjects, a unique combination that results in equine art that can only be created by a keen horseman and genuine artist.
"The cutting horse business has been wonderful for me," said Reno, who took one year to complete "The Finalist." "Being a Past President of the NCHA, I'm very proud to be able to do this sculpture. I sincerely thank Mrs. Anne Marion for commissioning it."
"The Finalist" is being presented by Anne Marion. Marion is president of Burnett Ranches Ltd., which includes the 6666 Ranches in Texas and Montana, and is also president of the Burnett Foundation and Burnett Companies and chair of the Burnett Oil Company Inc. The Burnett Ranches in Texas represent the largest individually-owned ranch property in the state.
Throughout her life, Marion has been dedicated to western heritage, ranching and the arts. She was the driving force behind the newly designed Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and is chairman and founder of the Georgia O'Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Presenting "The Finalist" to NCHA perfectly blends Marion's love of horses, cattle, ranching and fine art.
The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of 16,500 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $35 million in prize money awarded. To learn more about the National Cutting Horse Association and the sport of cutting, call 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.