NSPRA member John Bassett – Terry Rhodes
story by Terry Rhodes
John Bassett is in first place in the 50’s heeling competition and sitting in second place in the 60’s heeling competition going into the SNRF. But he’s been there before and has a championship and reserve championship titles from 2013 and 2005, respectively to show for it. He’s been the NSPRA since he was in his 40’s and enjoys the competition and camaraderie that goes along with the association. “It gives us guys that are a little long in the tooth a place to go and rodeo. I like the social aspect of it, and we get to go to all these places around the country.” He’s also a PRCA Gold Card member
John is retired from a 40-year-long career as a racing Quarter Horse trainer, and quite a successful career at that. He’s had two horses, Ausal Suspect (1999), and A Delightful Dasher (2001), that he trained that have won the prestigious All American Futurity; the richest race for two year olds in the world. “In 2011 I was inducted into the Quarter Horse Racing Hall of Fame. I’ve trained horses all over the country. I really enjoyed taking a yearling that didn’t know anything and making them into a World Champion. In my career I had 10 World Champions.” Out of all those great horses there is that one that resonates with John. “The horse that really opened doors for me was Hesa Fast Man. I ran him in the ’93 All American Futurity and got beat by a nose. He wasn’t the fastest horse I ever trained, but he sure did some things for me and introduced to people that I had just read about.”
Self described as “ranch raised”; John was born into the cowboy world. “My father, Joe Bassett was the 1942 World Champion in the Turtles; before the RCA and PRCA came about. I started in junior rodeo. I played football in college until I was drafted into the service. When I got out of the service, my father had passed away so I took over his race horse training business.” He says that his father was the most influential person in his life. “He taught me about horses and how to read the personality of a horse. What they like; what they don’t like. I owe all of my career to him and what he taught me. I also owe my wife for all that she has done for me. If it wasn’t for her I probably wouldn’t be much.” His vast experience and knowledge of horse training fits right into rodeo competition. “I ride big sorrel cow-bred horse with a big motor. If I’m a little late, I know I’ve got enough horse to get me there.”
John and his wife, Ann lives in Dewey, Ariz. and they have three grown children. “Ann runs barrels and has won a barrel racing World Championship.” John’s retirement meant a big change in his daily schedule. “After 40 years of training horses and getting up at 4:00 in the morning, it took a little getting used to.”
Leisure time is spent playing golf and as John says, “…not very good golf, but I play golf.” Goals for the future are to continue to rodeo and stay active. “I want to keep rodeoing. I watch some of my friends that are locking up; I think you have to keep trucking every day, and don’t stay in that chair too long.”
