Person · 2018
NRHA Hall of Fame · Inducted 2018
Vaughn Zimmerman
NRHA $2M Owner · Breeder of Not Ruf At All · Inducted 2018
Vaughn Zimmerman of Springfield, Missouri, discovered reining through Kenny Eppers in the 1990s and built one of the sport's most respected ownership and breeding programs. Though he never showed himself, his eye for talent produced 2013 NRHA Open Futurity Champion Not Ruf At All — a stallion that became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire — and pushed Zimmerman to $2 Million Owner status in 2021. He served on the NRHA and Reining Horse Foundation boards and was a longtime NRHA Corporate Partner.
Career Highlights
- Owner/breeder of Not Ruf At All — 2013 NRHA Open Futurity Champion with Jason Vanlandingham; $456K career earnings; became a Million Dollar Sire; the foundation of Zimmerman's program
- NRHA $2 Million Owner (2021) — NRHA Million Dollar Owner since 2013; longtime NRHA Corporate Partner; entire family — sons Matt and Justin, grandchildren Jacob and Taylor — active in reining
- NRHA and RHF Board member — served in governance roles at both the association and Foundation levels
- Zimmerman Performance Horses, Springfield, Missouri
Class of 2018