Dan Lopez ~
2003
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In this age of high speed Internet, satellite television
and the multitude of media outlets certain names in the
horse world have risen to legendary status in relatively
short periods of time. Most of these trainers, breeders,
and show people are associated with the world's top events
or with horses that have left audiences and judges dazzled
at the sight of 'performance perfection.'
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We in the Appaloosa world have most assuredly
had our fair share of legendary stars that have earned their
fame the old fashioned way, through many years of dedication
and loyalty to the breed. They've proven time and again in
the highly competitive, all-breeds arena, that they should
never count those spots out!
No star in our Appaloosa world
has proven the point more consistently or over a longer
period of time than our own Dan Lopez. 'Danny' to his many
friends has had a lifelong love of the Appaloosa. He has
bred, trained and shown Appaloosas for most of his 69 years.
Currently semi-retired and residing in Ojai, California,
Dan has had a dramatic impact with Appaloosa horses both
in top all-breed competition, and in breed sanctioned events
that have run the gamut from local regional shows to international
venues such as the Canadian Calgary. Whether it's cutting,
reining, working cow horse, roping or penning, the all breed
crowd knows that when soft spoken, quiet mannered Dan Lopez
pulls onto the show grounds all bets are off!
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He always appears the consummate Appaloosa ambassador whether
he's riding with the U S Marshals Posse aboard his home
bred Oak Trees Gold or one of the stars of the Appaloosa
contingent riding past the television cameras that are
beaming the Rose Parade to the world on New Years Day.
In 1984, his presence was requested by the U S Olympic committee
to be one of the five representatives to ride and present
the Appaloosa horse during the welcoming parade viewed by
millions the world over as Los Angeles hosted the summer
games.
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Aboard the great mare TV
Writer, Dan Lopez had the spectators on their feet and
cheering wildly as he turned
this
agile bovine in a Lopez signature run down the fence.
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L-R: Dan and Virginia Lopez with
Betty & Paul Pumpian
accepting the 2002 Cal-Western Appaloosa Show Horse Association
Hall of Fame award for the great mare, TV Writer. Dan exhibited
'TV' exclusively for the Pumpians during her entire show
career.
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The Appaloosa Horse Club knows him well. Dan has earned 9
National Championships, 3 Reserve National titles, 12 World
Championships and 8 Reserves, along with 2 year end high point
medallions. These championships were earned in such diverse
classes as Trail, Working Cowhorse, Cutting, Team Penning,
and the roping events of Heading and Heeling.
In 1994 Dan was
awarded a most prestigious honor by the ApHC, when he was
selected as their Trainer of the Year. |
A long time Cal-Western Appaloosa Show Horse Association member,
Dan has had a dramatic impact on C-WA, as his clients have purchased
Appaloosas and gone on to become members and exhibitors on the
C-WA circuit. Always a staunch supporter of Cal-Western, he has
continued to be involved and highly supportive of the association
that he represents to potential members, as the association that
has always best represented the Appaloosas of our past, present
and hopes for the future.
Even though Dan became semi-retired due
to a serious bout of ill health in 2001, nothing could keep him
off his favorite spotted horses. In 2003 Dan turned into the
comeback kid, and qualified for the ApHC World show in 3 performance
events and he accomplished this at a mere 2 shows.
Those in the
Appaloosa world have always known to never count spots out, and
on that you can rely, but this saying holds especially true when
you see Dan Lopez pull his trailer onto the show grounds; smile,
your competition has arrived!
Story by: Patti Ansuini 2003
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