Ralph Seekins

The American Quarter Horse entered Ralph’s life when his daughters, Beth and Andrea, asked their parents for horses. In 1993, the Seekins Family Quarter Horses at the Lazy S Ranch was created. Breeding, raising, training and showing horses was fun for the family, but they wanted to share that blessing with others. So in 1996, they started Helping Hooves, a therapeutic riding program in which their show horses also serve as the mounts for children, adults and soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or with disabilities. The family also started “Ride with Ralph,” which is a regular Wednesday night event during which the family offers riding lessons free of charge to 4-H’ers and other Quarter Horse owners.

Ralph served as AQHA’s 68th president from 2017-2018. Highlights from his year as president include: AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses competing for nearly $115,000 in the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; the addition of seven 13-&-Under world championship core classes to the 2018 AQHYA World Championship Show; the American Quarter Horse Foundation awarding more than $365,000 to AQHYA members through scholarships; Ellexxah Maxwell and Zips Bossy Chip smashing the 30-year record for all-time leading youth horse by points; and AQHA Professional Horseman Ross Roark winning his 100th AQHA world championship title at the 2017 AQHA World Championship Show.

Some of Ralph’s member-focused objectives as the president of the world’s largest equine breed included ensuring the availability of organized competition for exhibitors of all financial needs and skill levels; ensuring the high standards and consistency in creating and enforcing AQHA rules and regulations; ensuring a level playing field for all exhibitors in AQHA competition; and increasing opportunities for recognition and rewards for those investing their time and money in formal AQHA competition.

He lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with his family.

Biography updated as of July 2023.