PHOTO COURTESY BAR H PHOTOGRAPHY

DES MOINES – The Iowa Quarter Horse Association (IQHA) held its annual awards banquet in Des Moines on January 10, 2026 to honor their year-end award winners from their 2025 show season. The evening included the induction of RL Styling Rey, owned by Gary and Tracy Thede of Reinbeck into the IQHA Hall of Fame.

The Thedes purchased the American Quarter Horse stallion in 2016. He competed in National Reined Cow Horse and American Quarter Horse competitive arenas, with Tracy showing him in the amateur division alongside their trainer in the open division. The stallion earned nearly $20,000 in earnings and qualified for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show 18 times.

At the 2017 AQHA World Show he was named the Level 2 Reserve Champion Junior Team Roping – Heading and Level 2 Reserve Champion Performance Halter Stallions.

After a successful competitive career, the stallion affectionately known as “Dozer” retired to stand at stud to produce the next generation of champions.

With his offspring successfully competing in AQHA shows and AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse (VRH) events, they have added up $90,000 in earnings. In 2024, both the AQHA High Point VRH Junior Horse and High Point VRH Senior Horse were sired by RL Styling Rey.

At the 2025 Iowa Quarter Horse Association Ranch Horse Futurity held in Des Moines, his winning offspring earned him the title of Reserve High Money Stallion for the futurity event.

The Thedes continue to raise, sell and show offspring of RL Styling Rey to carry on his legacy.

Tracy Thede reflected on their journey with Dozer.

“Our goals breeding him were conformationally-correct, good-minded athletes. We are blessed and amazed at the consistency in his foals. And the friendships that is IQHA. We would not be here today without the amazing people in this association.”

Background

The Iowa Quarter Horse Association established the Hall of Fame in 2001 to honor the individuals and horses who have had an impact on IQHA through their contributions to the association or to the American Quarter Horse in Iowa. Since its creation, 38 individuals and 24 horses have been inducted.

The IQHA Hall of Fame resides on the association website, iowaquarterhorse.com where their stories and photos can be found.

For more information on the Iowa Quarter Horse Association visit their website iowaquarterhorse.com or email iqhanews@gmail.com.