Allen Crouch has been named as the recipient of the 2008 Zane Schulte Award to be presented at the NCHA Futurity in December, according to trainer, clinician and author Barbra Schulte. The cutting horse industry award honors the memory of Tom and Barbra Schulte’s son Zane, who died in 2000 at 16, after a battle with bone cancer.

NCHA members are invited to nominate potential recipients, who must be professional trainers and who exemplify “the character by which Zane Schulte is remembered: integrity, service, values, respect of peers, contribution to the cutting industry and excellence in the arena.” The final selection is made by a committee approved by NCHA.

Crouch, 43, who lives with his wife Lauryn in Noxapater, MS, has trained cutting horses for over 20 year. A member of the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame, Crouch was 2005 NCHA reserve world champion riding Show Biz Pep for Lee Garner, Batesville, MS. He also won the 2000 NCHA Eastern National Championship on his own horse, Freckles Poco Dot, and won the NCHA World Finals in 2001 and 2002 on Harriot Playgirl, owned by Garner.

Crouch’s most recent accomplishments include placing as reserve champion of the 2008 Augusta Futurity aboard CDs Starlight Ms, owned by George Moore, Jr.

In addition to Crouch, the 2008 Award nominees included Bob Boyce, Casey Crouch, John L. Dublin, Paul Hansma, Ed Krauss, Tom Merryman, Sam Shepard, Craig Thompson, Chubby Turner and Larry Vance.