Shatner has cultivated a career spanning more than 50 years as an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist and author. Not only is he one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, he also is a longtime, dedicated horseman. It's for his contributions as a horseman, horse industry promoter and philanthropist that the National Reining Horse Association is honoring him with its Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2007, the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame Committee initiated the Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, supported by the Reining Horse Foundation. Each year, the NRHA Board of Directors and past Hall of Fame inductees vote to approve a worthy candidate for recognition.

The "Star Trek" actor will be recognized with this year’s class of National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame inductees at Sliders’ Night Out Nov. 28 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City during the NRHA Futurity. The event will recognize new and previous NRHA Hall of Fame inductees, according to a news release.

William Shatner has been named the recipient of the Oklahoma City-based National Reining Horse Association's Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo provided

Shatner’s passions for horses and philanthropy were united through his involvement with AHEAD With Horses, a charity organization that gives physically and mentally challenged children the thrill of riding a horse — and boosts their confidence and self-esteem, often with life-changing results. For more than two decades, he has hosted the Hollywood Charity Horse Show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. The event benefits AHEAD With Horses and other Los Angeles-based charities.

Additionally, he has been a high-level promoter and fundraiser for the sport of reining, participating in a host of charity events for the Reining Horse Foundation. When the FEI World Equestrian Games came to U.S. soil, he and his wife, Elizabeth, supported the event at a high level and cheered on reining teams from around the globe, according to the release.

Not only has he raised thousands of dollars for various charities, he has introduced reining to other celebrities, as well. Tim Allen, Willie Nelson, Sarah McLaughlin and Neal McCoy are just a few of the people who have performed at the reception with the Hollywood Charity Horse Show and have been exposed to reining thanks to Shatner’s devotion to the sport, according to the release.

Shatner also has been successful as a horse breeder and exhibitor. A longtime dedicated breeder of American Quarter Horses, he has had smashing success with the American Saddlebred, developing and riding world champions “Sultan’s Great Day” and “Revival.” He has won numerous world championships in several equine events.



Shatner continues his involvement with film and television while working with charities and furthering his passion for the equestrian sports. He and his wife and three adult children live in Los Angeles.



The lifetime achievement award is named after the legendary reining horse trainer known as the “father of reining,” Dale Wilkinson, the first inductee into the NRHA Hall of Fame. Wilkinson is a multiple NRHA Futurity champion and one of the founding members of National Reining Horse Association. In addition, during his lifetime, he was an educator, promoter and mentor to all reiners – professional and non-pro – exemplifying how a rider should conduct themselves, train and exhibit a horse.