By When talking with Kim Fordham of Aberdeen, her passion for horses is clear as she recounts her family’s journey, starting with sale barn ponies, moving on to riding quarter horses and eventually competing in world horse championships.
During their lives, Don and Linda Fordham of Aberdeen established a distinguished legacy characterized by dedication, hard work and community service. In recognition of the family’s contributions, the South Dakota Quarter Horse Association will present the family with the 2025 Show Legacy Award at its banquet on Jan. 10, 2026, in Pierre.
The Fordham family’s commitment endures through their three daughters Kim, Kris, and Kara.
Don Fordham and his stallion Sunsational Shadow at the 1991 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show. The Fordham family is being honored for its contributions with the association’s 2025 Show Legacy Award. Courtesy photo.
Kim said the recognition feels both humbling and deeply meaningful. The family is grateful, and she said, “I’m really thankful for the SDQHA organization that’s so relevant and proactive. They do an amazing job of recognizing people from a broad spectrum, from ranching to rodeo.
“My dad grew up on a farm near Britton,” Kim said. “He bought our place just north of Aberdeen in 1970. I’d say my dad had a soft spot for horses his whole life. We started with a couple of ponies and horses bought at the sale barn, and then we were off to the races.”
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She said one of her first horses was a funny little pony named Cinnamon. Kris is close to Kim in age, and they often shared a horse and competed against each other pretty seriously. Kara is four years younger.
“When we started showing, we did everything. We were the kids that loved the all-round competitions, and we’d show all day long,” Kim said.
She shared that when they first started, they didn’t have a horse trailer, so Wendy Guthmiller would park her truck in the ditch, and they’d jump the horse in the back and off they’d go to shows. They’d often ride their horses to the Brown County Fairgrounds and back home.
Competing was always a lot of fun since the family passion showed through raising and showing American Quarter Horses.
Their dad, Don, bred halter horses. Because of his daughters’ intense interest in riding, he built an indoor riding arena on their property so they could practice. Through the years, he enjoyed competing and even went to the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show.
Linda, shared the love of horses and supported her family by hauling the girls and horses to shows and cheering them on. Eventually, she competed at the American Quarter Horse Association Select World Show and she received the South Dakota AQHA rookie of the year award.
Linda Fordham and her horse Roger Renegade at the 2005 American Quarter Horse Associated World Championship Show. The Fordham family is being honored with the association’s Show Legacy Award. Courtesy photo.
Don died in 2012, and Linda in 2023. Kim lives on the home place and said, “In a way, I still feel like my mom is with me when I’m out doing chores each day.”
The Fordham young women started out with the Brown County 4-H horse program, advanced to the quarter horse shows in the state and progressed, as they got older, to regional shows and eventually the world youth shows.
“We specialized as we got older. But we started off competing for the all-around awards,” Kim said.
“If it weren’t for my mom, none of it ever would have happened,” she said. “She worked hard and was always our biggest cheerleader. My mom loved her horses and the friends she made through them. She was a tiny lady with a huge presence and such an advocate for everyone. She was a remarkable person.”
Kim said, recalling her early days, “We were hooked once we started riding horses. I can remember being in awe when we showed at the Hippodrome at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron. It was so big! Nancy Mitchell took me down there. I still have the little belt buckle won at that event.”
Through the years, the Fordham commitment led to many successes.
Kris earned multiple national titles, including a reserve championship at the Congress in 2001 and a world championship at the American Buckskin Registry Association’s World Show in 2008. Kara won the title of Miss Rodeo South Dakota in 1996 and later won two world championships in reining and ranch riding at the 2015 Palomino Horse Breeders of America World Show.
Kim has continued to show and raise horses, competing in National Reining Horse Association and regional shows, with wins as the South Dakota amateur all-around and open all-around in the 2012-2013 show season on two different horses.
Kris doesn’t show anymore, but accompanies Kim to shows to cheer her on. Kara hasn’t competed in a while, but continues her support. The next generation includes Kris’ daughters, KaraLynn and Addison, and Kara’s girls, Alli and Kiana, who have all shown in youth and NRHA events.
Ranch riding
Kim competes in a relatively new class called ranch riding on her 12-year-old gelding named “Mud Flap” Dualena Bonanza. The event features the abilities of the rider and horse in handling the jobs on a ranch. The course offers obstacles to ride through or gates the pair must navigate successfully. Horses have to be good movers with a lot of physical ability as well as have high visual appeal. Judges award confirmation points (body structure, muscling and balance) as well as performance points in various ranch classes.
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“I think of it as a privilege and think how lucky I am to live this life. And to do what I love to do,” Kim said of winning events. “The pressure at an event comes from me, wanting my reining to be correct because I’m the one sending the cues and pushing my horse to finesse in the maneuvers. My horse can’t do what he can do unless I do my part. The pressure is on me. It’s quite a thrill when it all comes together.”
She said when she reviews her score sheet and sees she’s earned points for difficult maneuvers she knows she’s on the right track.
Lifelong learning
To prepare for competitions, Kim continues to take lessons.
“I rely heavily on my professional trainer. Learning is a lifelong process. I believe you can just ride or you can improve. I work to improve the way I guide my horse, which is like steering. In competition, every maneuver has a score, and we’re working on our ability to set up the maneuver and finish it properly,” she said.
Kara Fordham on her horse Stackin Chex in 2005. The Aberdeen-based Fordham family is being honored with the American Quarter Horse Association’s 2025 Show Legacy Award. Courtesy photo.
“It’s a lot like figure skating. You’ve got your elements that you have to perform and a scoring system for it,” Fordham said. “Adequate gives you a zero score, and you can get a plus or minus. You build on each maneuver and the degree of difficulty to get a higher score. You are really competing against yourself.”
Unlike figure skating, where spins and jumps are key, ranch riding scores focus on skills like managing gates, handling ropes or dragging logs. Reining plays a significant role — riders might need to go slowly and then suddenly speed up. Many spectators find it to be one of the most entertaining events to watch.
Of all her honors, Kim said the American Quarter Horse Open Champion Award is the one she’s proudest of since it came from the national organization. She rode Dualena San, who is now retired and lives at the ranch.
Quarter horses are pretty amazing animals and very versatile, Kim said.
“I guess what’s so fun for me in the reining competition is the maneuverability. People are much more aware of what I’m doing when I mention it’s like horse scenes on the TV show ‘Yellowstone.’ The horses spin and slide as we work together to handle tough maneuvers. It’s really fun to see how connected you can be with your (horse) partner,” she said.
Continuing Fordham bloodlines
Through the years, the family’s horses, like the beloved mare Illuminated Lady and gelding Hobbys BlackVelvet, became part of the Fordham family’s story.
“Back then, those horses did everything for us,” Kim said. “We were all very competitive. Lady, for instance, was roped off and shown English and Western in the open and youth. She did it all.”
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Currently, Kim focuses on breeding quality working and reining horses. She and her fiancé Randy Hapney raise cattle near Pierre. The horses from Aberdeen go to the ranch where they learn to work the ranch cattle.
The Fordham horse bloodline has produced really nice horses that perform well. Kim is looking forward to the birth of a colt in February from her mare called CJ Lightsparkboom. The mare has competed in amateur and youth shows. She’s bred to Gonna Stop. Kim said he’s probably one of the top five money-earning horses in the nation in reining. She said they look for genetic matches that will enhance the characteristics of the mare, be a money earner and have quite a few performance points.
With breeding, sports medicine and bodywork, the horses can live long, productive lives.
“I believe I have a collection of 12 horses that are over 20 years old, and not all of them are ridden,” Kim said. “We showed a horse last year that was 21; the oldest is 27. I have quite a retirement home for horses. They deserve a good life. Mom wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Giving back
According to Kim, anyone interested in competing with horses can find opportunities as there are events at all levels for newcomers.
Kris Fordham at the 2000 American Quarter Horse World Championship Show. The Fordham family is being honored with the association’s 2025 Show Legacy Award. Courtesy photo.
“If you set clear goals, you’ll find people willing to help you achieve them. Not only can you pursue your passion, but you’ll also make friends. This is true for every horse association across the state and even at the national level. Whether you’re an older rider, a beginner or have years of experience, there’s a place for you,” she said.
Kim said she’s a huge supporter of the horse programs in Brown County, reaching out to a number of kids to encourage riding and showing horses. That includes hauling them and their horses to the state horse shows. It’s a good start for them and eventually will encourage them to go to breed shows and Quarter Horse shows.
Several years ago, Kim said she started one young gal riding on an older, reliable horse that was 27. After she got used to the horse, the girl started doing flag races and barrels. As her skills improved, Kim put the girl on faster and faster horses, and she’s now successfully competing at local barrel races.
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Through the years, Kim said she’s been blessed to work with her family and has come to treasure the friends she’s made and the lessons she’s learned from riding and raising horses.
Looking to the future, her advice for people is, “You need to choose a path and take the reins.”
Connie Sieh Groop of Frederick is a veteran journalist and writer who has focused on all aspects of the agriculture industry during her career.
