Horse · 1988
NRHA Hall of Fame · Inducted 1988
Continental King
First Horse HOF Inductee · The Horse That Started NRHA · 1988
Continental King holds a singular place in reining history — he is the horse that inspired the founding of the NRHA. Owned by James and Mickie Glenn and trained by Dale Wilkinson's assistant Bill Horn, Continental King won a pivotal jackpot reining class on October 30, 1965, in Dayton, Ohio. Mickie Glenn called Wilkinson immediately: they needed a dedicated association for horses like this. The following year, 1966, the NRHA was born. Dale Wilkinson also won the 1975 NRHA Futurity on Continental King's son, Clene Continental. The first horse inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame — a fitting tribute to the horse that made reining a sport.
Career Highlights
- The horse that sparked the NRHA's founding — his 1965 jackpot win inspired Mickie Glenn to contact Dale Wilkinson, who guided her through forming the NRHA in 1966
- Trained by Bill Horn under Dale Wilkinson — both Wilkinson (People HOF 1986) and Horn (People HOF 1992) were instrumental in the early NRHA; Horn rode Continental King to that historic 1965 win
- First horse inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame (1988) — owners James and Mickie Glenn (People HOF 1988) are also inducted; son Clene Continental won the 1975 NRHA Futurity with Dale Wilkinson
Class of 1988