The Loss of a Legend: Bob Avila Passes Away

The western performance horse community mourns the loss of legend Bob Avila, who passed away on November 9th at the age of 72.

Bob Avila, who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 9th, left a lasting impact on the western horse industry — especially in the reining and reined cow horse worlds. Over his career, he achieved a combined earnings of nearly 1.5 million in both disciplines. He amassed 37 AQHA World champion and reserve world champion titles, ranging from halter to performance horse classes. The two most coveted titles in the reined cow horse world are winning the Snaffle Bit Futurity and being crowned the World’s Greatest Horseman — Avila managed to do both.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity is a competition restricted to three-year-old horses which must compete in reining, cutting and fence work. The highest combined score between the three disciplines wins. Avila won this event three times in his career — in 1988, 1999 and in 2003, all on sons of Smart Chic Olena. Avila went on to win the Worlds Greatest Horseman twice — once in 2000 and again in 2007. Avila also is one of only two people to accomplish the feat of winning the snaffle bit futurity and the NRHA futurity.

He was inducted into the AQHA hall of fame in 2020 and was an AQHA judge for 19 years.

Bob Avila also was known as the “trainers trainer” and was an influential mentor to many big names in the reining and cow horse industries, including Todd Bergen and Duane Latimer. In his later years, he had focused on teaching — creating many great training videos and engaging in guest appearances on podcasts talking about his amazing career and training techniques. He was a wealth of knowledge and experience and was committed to making it available to the next generation of horsemen and women. He even made an appearance on Yellowstone as himself, doing what he did best — running down the fence.

Avila also partnered with Professional’s Choice for over 30 years, working to develop the “Avila Collection,” which brought his favorite tack and tools to the public.

Bob Avila dedicated his life to his craft and proclaimed himself as being addicted to Quarter Horses. He was truly a legendary horseman and his passing will leave a void in the industry for some time. Rest in peace, Bob Avila: 1952-2024.