Yvon Mathieu Passes Away

Yvon Mathieu, a reining and cow horse trainer from Descanso, Calif., passed away Monday evening, Oct. 17, at the age of 65. In April of this year, Mathieu was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a disorder also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Among his performance accolades as a reiner, Mathieu won the 1994 NRHA Futurity Non-Pro Championship aboard Penguino Jessie Jack, the 1993 NRHA Futurity Non-Pro Reserve Championship with Tuaca Tucker, and the 1990 and 1991 All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity Non-Pro Championships.

After being encouraged to enter cow horse competition by Todd Crawford and Don Murphy, Mathieu won the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open Hackamore Championship with Cat So Fine 005. Mathieu had a total of $115,443 on his Equi-Stat performance record.

Mathieu, originally from Quebec, Canada, trained horses for Jamieson Performance Horses in California. Mathieu had also traveled to New Caledonia in the South Pacific to give clinics, and he brought a young horseman, Nicolas Barthelemy, to the United States to compete in reined cow horse events. Barthelemy has lived and worked alongside Mathieu in Descanso for the last 5 1/2 years and has competed at such events as the National Stock Horse Association Futurity and the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. Mathieu's last big event to attend was the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, Nev., in early October.

Arizona horse trainer Al Dunning, a good friend of Mathieu's, posted the following remembrance on his Facebook page:

"Yvon was well loved and respected by all that knew him. He was a good soul and great man. Besides winning the NRHA Futurity, he loved cutting, cow horses, and helping riders. His last big trip was to the NRCHA Futurity which he watched from his wheelchair. Poncie and Larry Gimple have been by his side during his struggle and did what most have no time for. They shared their lives with the rest of his! That is really what love and friendship is about. May Yvon rest in peace knowing his memory, kindness, and enthusiasm left this a better world."

QHN will provide information regarding funeral arrangements once it is received.