Category Archives: History

For Immediate Release – December 31, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – It was a night chock full of million-dollar accomplishments during the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals on Friday, Dec. 4. With a first-place finish in the CINCH Non Pro Level (L) 3 Futurity, Tish Fappani solidified her NRHA Million Dollar Owner status aboard Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes).

Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, Fappani is no stranger to million-dollar milestones. She’s the wife of NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani. Partners when it comes to the business of horses and reining, the couple shares the workload at home and the limelight when it shines in their direction.

The team dynamic has been a longstanding strategy for Tish, but it first began with her parents, Bob and the late Sue Wood.

“My mom had me on horses before I could even walk,” Tish said. “My mom used to do a lot of the American Horse Show Association (AHSA) and stock horse events. When I was 6, I went to ride with Glenn Gimple. It was cool because my mom rode with him, and he was ‘The Man’ when it came to equitation and stock horses.”

From Covina, California, Tish’s family always had around 10 horses at home. Tish remembers feeding and cleaning stalls every morning before school, and she would help her mom get horses ready for lessons in the afternoon. Those hours in the barn funded Tish’s time in the saddle in Arizona where her affinity for reining blossomed.

“When I was 15, I was lucky enough to start riding with Brett Stone and John Slack in Arizona,” Tish remembered about her official entrance into the world of reining. “That was the year Boomernic won the Futurity.”

It was those long, sliding stops that initially caught Tish and Sue’s attention for reining. The style and finesse sealed the deal for Tish and is perhaps the reason she’s now an NRHA Million Dollar Owner.

“My mom was a huge part of my life with horses; she always made sure I had the best opportunities and she put me with the best trainers,” Tish said. “I was very lucky to have both of my parents in my corner.”

Today, Tish finds partners in Andrea and their oldest son Luca. The three have been swapping horses in the show pen for the past few years. Titles in the open, non pro, and youth, all on the same horses, speak volumes about the caliber of horses in the Fappani reining program.

“I’m really proud of raising horses that we can all ride and compete on,” Tish said. “I remember the first horse Andrea and I bought together–Lean With Peppy Chex–we bought him as a 2-year-old before we were even married. Andrea showed him at the 2002 Futurity and then we sold him as a 4-year-old.”

Eight years later, the Fappanis bought that gelding back, and now ‘Scooter’ is a permanent resident in the retirement pasture. If it were up to Tish, she’d keep them all.

“I get sentimental and think we need to keep all of them,” she said with a laugh. “Andrea isn’t a huge fan of all these geldings in our backyard, but we’ve had a lot of special horses together: Premier Diamond, Spooks N Jewels, Ice Cube, and Joes Genes, the mare I showed at the Futurity, just to name a few.”

Tish is excited to breed her mare and see what kind of foals she can throw for the Fappanis to show in all three levels in a few years.

“I always want all of our horses to do their best, but there’s something special when we own one and are able to get it shown,” Tish said. “I’m super shocked by this accomplishment. It’s huge. I’m proud to have raised and shown these horses, it’s super rewarding but it also takes a team to get it done.”

Photo by Carolyn Simancik

For Immediate Release – December 28, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – When Andrea Fappani won the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Level (L) 4 Futurity on All Bettss Are Off (Gunner x Wimpys Little Chic), the historic $250,000 first place check catapulted legendary sire Gunner to the top spot of both the NRHA All-Time Leading Sire and 2020 NRHA Leading Sire lists. Seven years after his death, the NRHA Hall of Fame inductee’s move to over $12.6 million in sire earnings exemplifies total domination in the reining world.

It was twenty-four years ago when Gunner, then an unknown floppy-eared sorrel with a white tail, was guided into the Jim Norick Coliseum in Oklahoma City by NRHA Professional Clint Haverty to compete at the 1996 NRHA Futurity. By the time the go-rounds were over, he had grabbed everyone’s attention by claiming the Open L 4 Futurity Reserve title and the hearts of reining fans everywhere.

By Colonelfourfreckle and out of Katie Gun, Gunner’s excessive white spots kept him from registering with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). He was initially registered Colonels Smokingun with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA). Bred by Eric Storey, Gunner was purchased by Pam and Paul Rohus, who took the colt to Haverty. With Haverty at the reins, he also won the Open Reining Futurity at the APHA World Championships. Gunner was then sold to Kim and Debra Sloan, and won another APHA World Championship, finished as Reserve Champion at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), and won a gold medal for the United States Equestrian Team with the late Bryant Pace.

In a time before live-streamed video, it was easy to tell when Gunner was about to go. The stands would fill, a buzz would build, and the anticipation became palpable. The cheering started as he moved into sight–long before he ever reached the arena gate. Haverty, in typical understated fashion, noted then, “They love Gunner, don’t they?”

He was right. Horsemen and horsewomen everywhere loved Gunner and they exalted in the charisma and excitement he brought to the show pen. All totaled, Gunner earned $173,000 and was immortalized as a Breyer model horse in the early 2000s, but that was only a small part of the legacy he was beginning to create.

His impact upon the APHA world was landmark, not only in his exemplary performance in APHA competition but in how he carried the paint horse name, presence and look to other venues and agendas. APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said, “The APHA would not have had the high-quality reining horses we have today if not for Gunner. His impact and legacy are incalculable at this point because he is that once-in-a-lifetime individual that was not only able to produce great performers, but also to produce sons that throw great performers. That has created an exponential impact that literally changed the industry.”

Ultimately his footprint grew even larger. When the AQHA changed their registration requirements in 2004, Gunner registered as Colonels Smoking Gun and began to rewrite the record books for yet another association.

Gunner was purchased by NRHA Hall of Famers Tim and Colleen McQuay in 2005, following the passing of their stallion NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Hollywood Dun It. The McQuays had followed Gunner’s career and even hoped to buy him as a 3-year-old. Tim had ridden several Gunner colts, which cemented his decision to buy the horse. “I loved him when he was showing, but what got me going was that we had some colts of his to ride, and I liked them a lot. Stopping was easy for them and they did it with style. They always let you train them, and then they got better and better and better,” McQuay said.

Although Gunner was laid to rest in 2013, his legacy continues to grow. First becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2007, he became a Two Million Dollar Sire just three years later. Since then, his offspring have earned a million dollars annually, subsequently moving Gunner to a new milestone each year. He crossed the $12 Million Dollar threshold in September of 2020 and his 959 foals now have average earnings of $13,183.

Gunner’s topearning offspring include:

• • Tinker With Guns (out of Tinker Nic): $344,000 NRHA LTE
  • Gunners Tinseltown (out of Miss Tinseltown): $305,000 NRHA LTE
  • Americasnextgunmodel (out of Cee Dun It Do It) $289,486 NRHA LTE
  • All Betts Are Off (out of Wimpys Little Chic): $281,000 NRHA LTE
  • NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite (out of Mifs Doll): $219,000 NRHA LTE
  • NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya (out of Natrasha): $218,000 NRHA LTE
  • No Smoking Required (out of Icing Required): $185,000 NRHA LTE

NRHA incoming President Rick Clark has owned both sons and daughters of Gunner and is quick to credit his impact on the industry and to applaud the management of his breeding career by the McQuays. “We may never have a sire like him come along again for many, many years. They guided his path so well. Losing him was a setback but we are all thankful they had the foresight to make it so that he’s still part of the industry. It’s amazing, really. Gunner has made a lot of people happy. Everyone’s happy when they have a Gunner baby!”

For Immediate Release – Dec. 7, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – In the last 54 years of National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history, only 11 owners have surpassed the million-dollar mark in earnings. Such a momentous achievement is only possible because of teamwork, dedication, and, of course, incredible horsepower, all of which Tammye Hutton’s Hilldale Farm has in spades.

In early November, Hilldale Farm unofficially became the Association’s twelfth million dollar owner, after Hutton’s daughter, Jessicah Keller, piloted Its Snippin Time (Shine Big Time x Snip O Satellite), to a third place finish in the Amateur Reining at the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show.

“This is really great. It’s nice that NRHA recognizes the owners along with the riders, breeders, sires, and dams,” Hutton shared. “I think it’s amazing that there is that much money in the sport we can win, and that it’s tracked. I never thought we would reach this milestone.”

Hutton and her family first became involved with reining in the late 1990s, and Hilldale Farm, still family-owned and operated, became official NRHA members in 1997.

“The first year we just did some local NRHA shows, and 2001 was when Jessicah hauled for the youth world titles,” Hutton recalled. “I remember the first significantly larger NRHA event we went to was the Illinois State Fair, and when we were done for the day we got a check. I thought, ‘Wow, we won $4,200! Holy smokes, we need to do this more!’”

The winning continued in 2002, when Keller and Nu Chex To Cash won World Championships in the Intermediate and Limited Open, and also took reserve World Championships in the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro. That same year, Nu Chex To Cash burst onto the scene as a major sire for Hilldale Farm, when his son Wimpys Little Step (out of Leolita Step), won the NRHA Futurity Open Championship.

In addition to Wimpys Little Step, Nu Chex To Cash sired several other major earners, including Lil Joe Cash (out of RS Lilly Starlight) and NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash (out of Snip O Gun). Nu Chex To Cash is now an NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire, while Wimpys Little Step is an NRHA Eleven Million Dollar Sire.

Nu Chex To Cash, an NRHA Hall of Fame inductee in 2010, would also sire Hilldale Farm’s biggest money earner, Heavy Duty Chex, who won back-to-back National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Non Pro Classic Championships with Hutton’s younger daughter Sarah Locker.

“Nu Chex [To Cash] is the one that really got us where we are,” Hutton said. “It was pretty amazing, and it just exploded our business.”

A year ago, Hilldale Farm’s blue hen mare, Snip O Gun, became only the third NRHA Million Dollar Dam during the NRHA Futurity. It was a fitting accomplishment, as the gorgeous bay mare was also inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame as part of the 2019 class.

“There have been so many people who have helped us over the years, and gone above and beyond for me, my daughters, and our program,” she shared. “I know if I tried to list each one individually, I would accidently leave someone off the list.”

To learn more about Hilldale Farm, visit HilldaleFarm.com.

For Immediate Release – November 12, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The name Fappani is synonymous with the winner’s circle and this fall was no different for the Italian-born reiner. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) unofficially congratulates NRHA Professional Andrea Fappani for becoming the newest NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider.

Fappani is only the second NRHA Professional in history to reach this monumental milestone. As soon as the 2020 show season resumed, Fappani hit the ground running and he’s been on a hot streak ever since.

At the 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, Fappani rode Spooks Gotta Outfire (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Black Custom Chex) for owners Clemerson Gomes Barbalho and Mark Weissman to a 225.5. This was enough to take third place in the Open Level(L) 4 Finals and was the first chunk of change that inched Fappani closer to his six-million-dollar rider status.

Several top tier finishes at the rescheduled 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) sent Fappani home with over $70,000 in his pocket. This trend continued at the High Roller Reining Classic and the Friends of Reining Futurity in Tennessee where Fappani made his $50,000+ payday look easy. Here are some of Fappani’s top finishes in 2020:

• NRBC Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity L4 – First place: $12,720
• NRBC Open Classic Finals L4 – Fourth place: $25,000
• Friends of Reining Open Futurity Finals L4 – First place: $30,000; third place: $13,306; and fifth place: $9,504
• AzRHA Best of the West Yellowstone Open Futurity L4 – First place: $20,072; and second place: $12,218

Originally from Italy, Fappani trains reining horses in Scottsdale, Arizona, at Rancho Oso Rio, LLC. He became an NRHA member in 1994 and traded in his non pro card to become a professional just three years later. In 2006, Fappani became one of the youngest NRHA Million Dollar Riders in history.

“When I came to the states in 1997, my dream was to win the Futurity,” Fappani said. “In 2001 I was lucky enough to do that. I had to ask myself what next because that was my lifetime goal.”

The humble showman has never solely focused on chasing his LTE, it’s always been about progressing his horsemanship. Fappani is especially proud of the consistency he’s displayed in his career year after year.

“I’ve always been scared of having a great year and following it up with a not so great one,” Fappani said. “It’s never been about winning, it’s always been about consistency in my training program and showing that I can make the same things happen again and again.”

Many of Fappani’s current clients have stuck with him since the first year he ran his own program. The trust Fappani has built with his clients is on full display each time he performs.

“When you have people behind you that trust you and don’t question the decisions you make as a trainer, it gives you a lot of freedom to treat their horses as your own,” Fappani explained. “Having clients like that behind me as a trainer has been one of my greatest assets in my career so far. And then I have a great team who keep me in a position where I can concentrate on my training and just get better every year.”

In the race to seven million, Fappani isn’t far behind NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida. Congratulations to Andrea Fappani on this monumental accomplishment!

For Immediate Release ­– November 7, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – At just 12 years old, Martin Muehlstaetter knew he wanted to train reining horses for a living. He is now, unofficially, the newest National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Rider.

Originally from Villach, Austria, Muehlstaetter’s first official mount was a warmblood on a lunge line. As the years passed, he would continue riding everything from warmbloods to haflingers and all other breeds in between until he became an assistant trainer for NRHA Million Dollar Rider Rudi Kronsteiner in 1999.

After three years of tutelage under Kronsteiner, Muehlstaetter was set to become an assistant trainer in Italy. Fate had other plans and he ended up in Texas before working for some of NRHA’s founding fathers: Bob Avila, and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks, and Todd Sommers.

“When I told my mom I wanted to be a reining horse trainer, she told me there was no such thing,” said Muehlstaetter who now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Ever since then I’ve always been focused on reining horses. That’s where my heart and soul is at.”

In January 2007, Muehlstaetter moved to Scottsdale to be with his future wife, Kim, and then stepped out on his own as a professional. One of the first horses Muehlstaetter trained from the ground up as his own boss was Country Custom (Custom Crome x Calatrava).

“We bought Custom as an early yearling and I did all the work from there until he hit the show pen,” Muehlstaetter said. “He was a special horse and now he’s living out retirement in our front field.”

Together, Muehlstaetter and Country Custom finished in the top ten at major NRHA events across the country in both the Open Level(L) 3 and 4. Muehlstaetter’s biggest payday to date came at the 2014 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC). Marking a 226, Muehlstaetter and Blue Collar Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex x Kachina Oak Olena) finished in the number one spot for both Open L3 and 4.

Another one of Muehlstaetter’s top finishes was at the 2017 NRHA Futurity where he placed fourth in the Open L4 finals riding Seven On Seven (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Anne Get Your Gunner). Muehlstaetter humbly credits his success in the reining industry to his team standing on the sidelines for every run.

“I want to thank everybody who’s been part of this journey, from my family and my wife to all the shoers, vets, grooms, assistant trainers,” Muehlstaetter said. “Without the right people in your corner, a trainer can only reach a certain level. And it doesn’t matter how good you are if you don’t have clients to supply horses. I’ve been especially lucky in that regard.”

Muehlstaetter’s wife tracked the numbers closely for her husband as he made his way to the million-dollar milestone. During the 2020 Arizona Reining Horse Association (AzRHA) Best of the West show, Muehlstaetter reined Spooks Grand Slam (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shiney Diamond Lady) to a 224. This was the top score in the Open L4 Friends of Reining Horse Foundation Open Derby.

“Reaching this goal was so emotional,” Muehlstaetter said. “Being such a crazy year, achieving this accomplishment felt good. I’m really proud of my wife and my whole team because without them I couldn’t have done it.”

For Immediate Release – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – November 2, 2020 – Two million is the lucky number for many National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) riders, owners, and horses as 2020 winds down. Pale Face Dunnit is unofficially the newest NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire.

Fondly referred to as “Gold Digger,” this 2007 palomino stallion is by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Lena Dun It. Bred by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rancho Oso Rio, LLC, this prolific stallion is now owned by Schmersal Reining Horses and Silver Spurs Equine of Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Gold Digger is a big part of our family and we couldn’t be more excited for this monumental achievement at such a young age,” said owner Ginger Schmersal. “I have loved that horse since the first time I saw him. For Craig to get to show him and win and then go on to win the Futurity on one of his babies [Face The Attitude] is just phenomenal. And now Addi is showing that mare as a non pro.”

Boasting over $70,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE), Pale Face Dunnit was an open Level (L) 4 finalist at major NRHA events across the country. He also finished in the top ten at the AQHA World Championship Show in Junior Reining and is a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Open Reserve Champion.

After a star-studded reining career, first under the guidance of NRHA Million Dollar Rider Randy Paul and later NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal, Pale Face Dunnit retired to the breeding shed. He’s sired 628 foals to date and 170 of those are competing, but his top-earning offspring is Face The Attitude (out of Miss Lil Addy Tude).

The 2014 mare was the Open L4 champion at the 2017 NRHA Futurity with Craig Schmersal at the reins. And her hot streak has continued in the non pro arena with Craig and Ginger’s daughter, Addisyn Schmersal. During the 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), Addisyn reined Face The Attitude to a $25,500 payday after winning the Non Pro L3 and taking reserve in L4. The NRBC proved pivotal for Pale Face Dunnit’s two-million-dollar status when his offspring earned more than $60,000 combined.

The trend continued for Pale Face Dunnit’s progeny at both the High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC) and the Arizona Reining Horse Association (AzRHA) Best of the West show.

“His foals won a lot in Arizona, well over $20,000,” Ginger Schmersal said. “I knew we were close to the two million after the NRBC and High Roller.”

First named an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in late 2018, Pale Face Dunnit reached his two-million-dollar milestone in just two short years. Pale Face Dunnit’s top-earning offspring include:

• Face The Attitude (out of Miss Lil Addy Tude) – $197,390 NRHA LTE
• Phantom Face (out of Gorgeous Like A Star) – $140,198 NRHA LTE
• Pale Face Whiz (out of Lady Naskiia Whiz) – $106,159 NRHA LTE
• Pale Black Gun (out of Blazing In Black) $99,010 NRHA LTE
• Gold Digging Dunnit (out of Dun It Reining) – $92,012 NRHA LTE

For Immediate Release – October 22, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Amidst a fall show schedule packed to the brim, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to announce NRHA Professional Matt Mills is unofficially the newest NRHA Million Dollar Rider. This accomplishment comes after top-tier finishes at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) and the High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC).

This Scottsdale, Arizona, native was introduced to horses by a Shetland pony named Dizzy in a small round pen at the Lakewood Equestrian Center in Long Beach, California.

“My mom had horses as a kid and, for whatever reason, she took me for a riding lesson when I was 8 years old,” Mills said. “I showed in almost every discipline except for reining until I was about 18.”

Growing up, the hour-long trip via city bus was never a deterrent for Mills when it came to attending riding lessons. He headed to the barn every day after school and usually finished his homework on the bus ride.

The day after high school graduation, Mills was Arizona bound for what was supposed to be only a summer internship with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks. That summer of 1997 internship stretched out for five years and essentially launched Mills’ career as a reining horse trainer.

“Easy Otie Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Miss Poco Easy) really improved the trajectory of my career,” Mills said of the late 1999 stallion who stood at Out West Stallion Station. “I made a lot of open level 4 finals on him and also attained my all-time highest score under five judges.”

Together, Mills and Easy helped win a gold medal for Team USA at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany. Easy is just one of many horses who helped carry Mills to his latest monumental accomplishment.

“I’m going out in the arena as an individual, but this is a team sport,” Mills said. “I can’t stress enough how important the horses, owners, my family, and everyone on my team is to me. My team is really the key to my success.”

Although Mills is savoring reaching a goal he set for himself when he was just 21 years old, his competitive spirit compels him to begin focusing on his next million.

“I always stress the importance of setting goals,” Mills said. “But I also want to enjoy the journey along the way.”

For Immediate Release – October 4, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) proved to be a pivotal event for riders, owners, and equine athletes. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce that both a rider and owner unofficially crossed the two-million-dollar mark after the dust settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Casey Deary

When NRHA Professional Casey Deary scored a 226.5 on Americasnexttopgun (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel), his four kids cheered extra loud for the “puppy dog” horse affectionately known as Maverick. Winning the 2020 NRBC Open Level (L)4 finals clinched Deary’s status as an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider.

“I knew I was close, but I wasn’t exactly sure how close,” Deary said. “I had three horses that could all potentially win the deal. It wasn’t stressful, it was exciting. That’s what we all work for at a show. I did the best that I could to get them shown and keep them out of trouble, let them do what they do best, and I just stayed out of their way.”

Deary also tied for second with a 224.5 riding Americas Supermodel (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel). Both scores propelled Deary well over the two-million-dollar mark. His reining career hasn’t always been the one-two punch that it was recently, but this Weatherford, Texas, trainer has seen his fair share of the winner’s circle.

“It seemed like it took a lifetime to earn the first million,” Deary said. “Americasnextgunmodel was kind of my first elite athlete, not that I didn’t have good ones before that, but she got me to the level that I wanted to be at.”

By Gunner and out Cee Dun It Do It, Americasnextgunmodel and Deary won the 2012 NRHA Futurity Open L4 Championship together. This talented mare proved herself in the show pen and is now showing her stripes as a broodmare.

At the 2015 NRHA Futurity, Deary sealed his first NRHA million when he won the Open L4 on Shesouttayourleague (Walla Walla Whiz x Wimpys Little Chic). Deary was again at the reins when this mare became the 2017 NRHA Derby Open L4 Champion.

“The team of people around me is what’s made all this possible, with my assistants at home, down to my farrier and vet,” Deary said. “And, of course, my wife pulls more than her share of the weight to keep the business going and taking care of the kids. It’s certainly a group effort to reach these milestones.”

After unloading from Tulsa, Deary took those same three horses to Las Vegas. He again rode Americas Supermodel to a 224.5 to tie with NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani for the 2020 High Roller Reining Classic Open L4 Championship.

Lance Griffin

“Any cowboy can make a horse go fast, but it takes a horseman to get a horse to go slow,” said the newest NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Lance Griffin. “I’m not a cowboy. I don’t look after cows. I’m a horseman. I look after horses. There’s a big difference between the two.”

Every employee who set foot on the Griffin operation heard those words. Not only does Griffin credit the horses for his recent milestone, but he also has an unending list of team members who helped propel the Griffin legacy to this point.

“To say I was gifted at picking a horse would be a huge exaggeration,” Griffin said. “Certain people, like Duane Latimer and Bob Loomis, got us started on this path. I’ve always had a fondness for quality mares, and I’ve believed that from the very beginning.”

Back in 2007, Griffin became the first NRHA Million Dollar Owner thanks to an unrelenting breeding program he built with his wife, Terry, and their daughter, Samantha Smith. Griffin Quarter Horses dispersed in 2013, but the legacy lives on as Griffin becomes the fourth NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner.

Leading up to the NRBC, Griffin was only $4,000 short of hitting the two-million-dollar mark. His daughter won more than $5,000 in the Non Pro finals between two horses: Drinkin Moonshin (Shine Chic Shine x Wimpy Little Girl) and Neverthoughtiwould (Pale Face Dunnit x Shine Tini).

Something Griffin might not divulge about his success as an owner is that he’s played a big part in it as a non pro competitor. He’s earned more than $400,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE).

“This isn’t a blind man’s game, but there’s enough luck to it that it plays a part and we took advantage of that luck when we got it,” Griffin said. “You get lucky and sometimes you get unlucky.”

Griffin found a majority of his luck in his mares. One of those was Pines BH (Great Pine x Ms Enterprise), also known as Shirlys Folly with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). One of her first foals to hit the ground running was The Great Whiz by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz.

“I walked into the futurity prospect sale and bought that mare [Pines BH] without knowing anything about her,” Griffin said. “Her first foal [The Great Whiz] that I bred and raised out of her won the Open Level 4 at the 2003 NRHA Futurity. Many horses don’t work out, but in strange ways, they do. Our biggest reason for success has been consistently trying to have good stock and good help.”

Congratulations to Deary and Griffin for joining an elite group of riders and owners!

For Immediate Release – September 4, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – After a slow start to the 2020 show season, it was unclear if any sires or dams would cross milestones this year. As COVID-19 restrictions were reduced in certain regions of the U.S. earlier this summer, shows resumed and entry numbers skyrocketed. As a result, sires and dams are making moves up the NRHA million-dollar ranks. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce two top NRHA sires have recently crossed major milestones.

Gunner

Commonly known as Gunner by the Western performance horse industry, the influential sire is registered as Colonels Smoking Gun with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Colonels Smokinggun with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA). Gunner recently made history when he became only the second NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire, just on the heels of Topsail Whiz who reached this accomplishment in 2018.

This legendary sire is by Colonelfourfreckle and out of Katie Gun. Before becoming a top sire for Tioga, Texas, owners Tim and Colleen McQuay of McQuay Stables Inc., Gunner saw his name in lights in the show pen. He was the 1996 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion, the 1998 NRBC Open Reserve Champion, and the 2001 United States Equestrian Team (USET) Festival of Champions National Reining Champion.

First becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2007, the snowball effect took over for Gunner in 2010 when he earned his two-million-dollar title. His offspring have annually earned a million dollars, subsequently moving Gunner to a new milestone each year.

Although Gunner boasts $173,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) of his own, he’s also the sire of more than 1,500 reiners. Many of Gunner’s offspring join him in the NRHA Hall of Fame and in the ranks as million-dollar sires themselves.

Gunner’s top-earning offspring are:

Walla Walla Whiz

Walla Walla Whiz’s reputation precedes him in the simple fact that he’s by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz and out of Shiney Walla Wanda. Walla Walla Whiz is building his own legacy as he recently became an NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire. He crossed his first million-dollar milestone in 2015.

The 2003 stallion boasts an impressive show record that puts his NRHA LTE just over $187,000.  Ridden by NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida, Walla Walla Whiz raked in several top-notch finishes in a short amount of time. His show career started when he was 3 years old and wrapped by 2008.

Some of the most noteworthy placings Walla Walla Whiz earned include being crowned the 2007 NRHA Level (L)4 Open Derby Champion, the 2006 Tulsa Reining Classic L4 Open Futurity Champion, and taking third place in the 2007 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) L4 Open Derby.

Owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Walla Walla Whiz is the sire of more than 600 NRHA offspring. He’s still standing in Weatherford, Texas, at Oswood Stallion Station alongside many other influential NRHA sires.

Walla Walla Whiz’s top-earning offspring are:

• Shesouttayourleague (out of Wimpys Little Chic): $252,470 NRHA LTE
• Isnt She Perfect (out of Miss Silver Gun): $170,109 NRHA LTE
• Americas Supermodel (out of Americasnextgunmodel): $135,755 NRHA LTE
• Made In Walla (out of Hollywood Made): $133,077 NRHA LTE
• ARC Walla Dun Did It (out of Dainty Dunit): $114,180 NRHA LTE

Congratulations to Walla Walla Whiz and Gunner on these outstanding achievements!

OKC CVB head to receive honor from equine sport’s Oklahoma City-based organization

Following the presentation of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Hall of Fame Committee’s recommended nominees, the Board of Directors and past Hall of Fame inductees voted to approve the late Sally Brown and the late Jerry Kimmel for induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame, a project of the Reining Horse Foundation (RHF). Also announced was selection of Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau President Mike Carrier as the 2020 NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes people and horses who have contributed significantly to the sport or the NRHA. Nominees also must have a personal passion for the sport and have impacted reining in a positive way. They do not need to be NRHA members, active or former competitors, owners or breeders.

The award is named in honor of Dale Wilkinson, a multiple NRHA Futurity champion remembered as the “father of reining.” He was of the NRHA’s founding members, and an educator, promoter of the sport and mentor to reiners – professional and non pro – on how competitors should conduct themselves, and train and exhibit a horse.

The honorees will be recognized during the 2020 NRHA Futurity and then formally celebrated at a future banquet after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Mike Carrier

Impact on reining, passion for the sport, and a record for drawing people to the industry are all selection criteria for the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2020 recipient, Mike Carrier, checks all the boxes. It’s hard to imagine where NRHA would be in recent years had he not been an advocate for the sport.

Mike is not a reiner, doesn’t own horses, and only recently got a really great hat, but he has been a champion of the association as a whole. As President of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Mike promoted both NRHA and the reining horse. Over the years his face has become familiar to reiners from around the world and his ebullient spirit and engaging personality have endeared him to those who have come to know him.

Mike’s retirement in the fall of 2020 marks the end of an era, and he will long be remembered for understanding the importance and impact of reining, not only to Oklahoma City, but to the entire equine industry throughout his 13 years with the Oklahoma City CVB. Whether through a corporate partnership, the NRHA Futurity Freestyle sponsorship, assisting with the NRHA Convention, or simply advocating for the association and its members at the government level, Mike has always been loyal to the association.

He was instrumental in helping secure the new Coliseum to be built at State Fair Park, and several years ago, recognized NRHA as a “Hometown Hero,” an award proudly displayed in the NRHA Office. Most recently, Mike was vital in conversations with the city and Mayor David Holt regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and pushing for NRHA to be able to hold the 2020 NRHA Derby. That was not unusual – he has consistently been a resource to the association by sharing introductions and contacts to help position NRHA as a pillar of the business community.

On a personal level, Mike has supported the nonprofit RHF and is a member of its Reiners Club recognizing unrestricted gifts. He regularly attends reining meetings and events and loves introducing his staff, friends, and family to the sport.

His contributions will have a long-lasting impact after he steps away at the professional level.