Person · 2011
NRHA Hall of Fame · Inducted 2011
Bob Kiser
Inventor of the DragMaster · Father of Modern Arena Footing · Inducted 2011
Bob Kiser, an Illinois corn and soybean farmer, solved one of reining's most persistent problems — terrible arena ground. When the NRHA moved the Futurity to Oklahoma City in 1986 the footing was disastrous. The NRHA called Kiser, and his 40 years of soil and moisture management knowledge transformed the sport. He invented the DragMaster arena drag, founded Kiser Arena Specialists (1988), and has managed footing at the NRHA Futurity for 35+ years. Over $100 million in prize money has been awarded on ground he prepared.
Career Highlights
- Inventor of the DragMaster arena drag — the most widely used arena grooming tool in performance horse competition; redesigned it repeatedly through his own perfectionism until it set the industry standard
- Prepared footing for 4 World Equestrian Games (2002, 2006, 2010, 2018) — also manages AQHA World Show, NCHA Futurity, NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity; built arenas in 42 states and 13 countries
- Over $100 million in prize money awarded on Kiser-prepared ground — the sport's "good ground, good reining" era began with Kiser
- Kiser Ranch Development, Valley View / Sanger, Texas
Class of 2011