Article by Kelsey Pecsek Hruska
After decades of dedication to the sport of reining, the late Bob Mac is worth remembering.
When life is filled with adventures that take someone across the country and include a myriad of experiences – from rodeo and boxing to product innovation and training horses – it is undoubtedly a life well lived. All these things are true of Robert John McDonnell, but to NRHA members, the late horseman is remembered simply as “Bob Mac,” an enthusiastic man enamored with the sport of reining.
McDonnell, who died in late June due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, was considered by most a pioneer of NRHA. A lifetime member with a four-digit membership number, the NRHA Professional was instrumental in helping to build the sport in the early years.
“He set an example when he was crawling up the ladder, then he got to the top of it and he shined pretty bright,” recalled veteran reiner James Morgan, DVM. “There was a period of time when he was a star for NRHA, and he encouraged a lot of people to get involved.”
To read more about Bob Mac’s life, both in and out of the reining industry, visit this link or flip to page 40 in the September 2020 Reiner.
