NRHA Celebrates Three Sires Reaching Multi-Million Dollar Milestones

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announces three of the industry’s leading sires have reached significant milestones, further solidifying their legacies in reining history. Gunners Special Nite, Spooks Gotta Whiz, and Gunnatrashya have each achieved new benchmarks through the extraordinary performances of their offspring.

Gunners Special Nite: NRHA $8 Million Sire

Gunners Special Nite, known as “Bailey” to those who love him, continues to shine in the reining world as an NRHA $8 Million Sire. The 2004 stallion, bred by Kim and Debra Sloan and owned by Turnabout Farm Inc., crossed the $7 million mark in April of 2024 and reached $8 million during the 2024 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC). By NRHA Hall of Famer Gunner and out of Mifs Doll, Bailey himself boasts NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) of nearly $220,000.

The milestone was achieved through the efforts of his 530 NRHA money-earning offspring, highlighted by stellar performances at the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC. NRHA Hall of Famer Mandy McCutcheon rode two of Bailey’s progeny to success: Spookin At Nite (out of Spooks Little Princess) and Golden Nite Survivor (out of Golden Survivor), securing third and fourth places in the Level 4 Non Pro Finals and earning over $67,000 collectively.

Gunners Special Nite’s top-earning offspring include:

  • Modern Gun (out of Taris Modern Design), bred and nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc. and owned by MS Stables, $362,126 NRHA LTE
  • Guns And Dynamite (out of Chic Olena Starbuck), bred and nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc., owned by Tim and MaryBeth Ruckman, $297,851 NRHA LTE
  • All Nite Partier (out of Topsail Survivor), bred and nominated by Deana Nell, owned by Sotol Investments LLC, $281,183 NRHA LTE
  • CS Especially Moody (out of Judys A Little Moody); bred, nominated, and owned by NRHA $3 Million Owner Corrina Schumacher of XCS Ranch LLC; $229,059 NRHA LTE
  • Gunna Be Painted (out of Darlins Not Painted), bred and nominated by NRHA $2 Million Owner Tom McCutcheon, owned by Kevin Colston, $212,631 NRHA LTE

Spooks Gotta Whiz: NRHA $10 Million Sire

NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz, known as “Baby,” has achieved the $10 million sire milestone. The 2007 stallion, bred by NRHA Hall of Famer Clint Haverty and owned by Michell Anne Kimball, crossed the $9 million mark in August 2024. With NRHA LTE of $345,138, Baby is by NRHA $3 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes.

The 531 NRHA money-earning offspring of Spooks Gotta Whiz have consistently excelled, including Picture Perrfect (out of Isnt She Perfect), who played a significant role in this accomplishment. The talented horse and its NRHA Million Dollar Rider were crowned MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Champions at the 2024 NRHA Futurity, earning $150,000.

Baby’s top-earning offspring include:

  • Mic Dropp (out of Dun Dry Whiz), bred and nominated by Clark Reining Horses LLC, owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owners Tim Anderson and Clark Reining Horses LLC, $352,224 NRHA LTE
  • Alpha Jac Sparrow (out of Chexanicki), bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, owned by Fritz Leeman, $298,564 NRHA LTE
  • Spooks Gotta Spark (out of Dolittle Lena), bred and nominated by Bobby Lewis, owned by Kevin Truax, $215,585 NRHA LTE
  • Outta Yur League (out of Shesouttayourleague); bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC; owned by Frank Costantini Jr., Tim Anderson, Clark Reining Horses LLC, and Richard Vernon; $204,880 NRHA LTE
  • Spooky Whiz (out of Myo Starlight), bred and nominated by Spence Bell, owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, $186,043 NRHA LTE

Gunnatrashya: NRHA $14 Million Sire

Gunnatrashya (Gunner x Natrasha), an NRHA Hall of Fame inductee, has reached the monumental milestone of $14 million in sire earnings. Bred by Katarina Dorminy and owned by NRHA $3 Million Owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Gunnatrashya crossed the $13 million mark in August 2024. With NRHA LTE exceeding $218,000, the stallion’s success in the show morphed into an even more prestigious career as a sire.

His 812 NRHA money-earning offspring have achieved exceptional results worldwide. Notable among them is Shift N Gears (out of Snip O Gun), bred and owned by Hilldale Farm. Under the guidance of NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jessicah Keller, Shift N Gears claimed the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress Non Pro Freestyle Reining Championship and the Open Freestyle Reserve Championship, contributing significantly to Gunnatrashya’s milestone achievement.

Gunnatrashya’s top-earning offspring include:

  • Gunnabebigtime (out of Big Time Jazzy); bred, nominated and owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Tami Nelson; $864,903 NRHA LTE
  • Gunna Stop (out of Stop Little Sister), bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC, owned by Amber Gokey, $672,762 NRHA LTE
  • Andiamoe (out of Wimpys Little Chic); bred, nominated and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA; $438,139 NRHA LTE
  • Ten Thirty (out of Dainty Little Step), bred and nominated by Brooke Wharton, owned by Rancho El Fortin, $418,788 NRHA LTE
  • Super Marioo (out of HA Chic A Tune), bred and nominated by Hillis Akin Family Partnership, owned by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, $338,891 NRHA LTE

In Memory of Joe Wolfe

Joe Wolfe of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, died February 3, 2025. He had a deep passion for horses and the reining community. He was elected to the Reining Horse Foundation Board of Directors in 2022. At the time of his passing, Joe was chairing the RHF Crisis Fund Review Committee and serving on the Scholarship Committee. He previously served on various committees for the National Reining Horse Association.

Joe was a reining breeder, owner and competitor. As an NRHA non pro, he amassed nearly $137,000 in lifetime earnings.

Joe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Emmy Wolfe. His full obituary and service arrangements can be found here.

In Memory of Marty Roth

The Reining Horse Foundation and NRHA mourn the passing of Martin F. “Marty” Roth in January 2025.

Martin F. Roth, most recently resided in Grant Park, Illinois. He was known to friends and family as “Marty.” Martin was an avid enthusiast of hunting, target shooting and vintage cars. He had a special love for NRHA reining shows, where he enjoyed spending time watching his wife, Becky Roth, showcase her horses.

You can read his full obituary here.

Services are private and will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Reining Horse Foundation.

Quarter Dream SRL Turns Dreams Into Reality as NRHA Million Dollar Owner

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announces Quarter Dream SRL, based in Puglia, Italy, has joined the elite ranks of NRHA Million Dollar Owners. This prestigious milestone celebrates the tremendous success and dedication of owner Pietro Marseglia, whose family’s equestrian legacy dates back to the 1930s.

Quarter Dream SRL’s remarkable journey to becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Owner culminated after the 2024 NRHA Season. Significant contributions to this achievement include standout performances by three of their horses Hollys Hijackers, Sugar Little Step, and Colonels Dancing Gun. Quarter Dream also acknowledges the broodmares Dance Little Spook, Gunna Be Majestic, and Sugar Little Step, which helped them reach this milestone.

“NRHA Professional Nico Sicuro, current Quarter Dream Trainer, [NRHA Million Dollar Rider] Franco Bertolani, Marcus Gebert, the Italian [NRHA Million Dollar Rider] Gennaro Lendi, [NRHA Million Dollar Rider] Ann Fonck and Rudi Kronsteiner are the ones who piloted Quarter Dream Horses to build what Quarter Dream is today.”

Additionally, Colonels Dancing Gun, a 10-year-old stallion bred, owned, and nominated by Quarter Dream SRL, earned $1,270 with NRHA Professional Nico Sicuro in the Run for a Million Qualifier, contributing to his impressive lifetime earnings of $240,230. Colonels Dancing Gun’s illustrious career includes victories such as the 2018 NRHA European Level 4 Open Futurity Championship, the 2020 NRHA European Level 4 Open Derby Championship, and the 2023 World Reining Championships Open Senior Individual Championship. Colonels Dancing Gun and Sicuro also earned the 2024 NRHA Open World Championship.

Quarter Dream SRL’s partnership with NRHA extends beyond the arena as an NRHA Corporate Partner since 2020, underscoring their commitment to advancing the sport of reining worldwide. With over 120 horses contributing to their NRHA records, the team’s dedication to excellence is unmatched.

For Pietro Marseglia, Quarter Dream SRL’s success is rooted in a singular vision. “We build in the years an excellent breeding program and we are proud of that.”

The family’s equestrian tradition began during a time of war in the 1930s, when Pietro’s grandfather served as the chief of the royal horse soldiers, and before during 1830 Giovanni aka “La Fata” was in the beer transport of course using horses.

Today, Quarter Dream SRL carries on this legacy, blending heritage with a commitment to innovation in the reining industry. The NRHA congratulates Quarter Dream SRL and Pietro and his wife Helena on this remarkable accomplishment and looks forward to their continued contributions to the sport. Read more about Quarter Dream SRL’s journey to the million in the April issue of the NRHA Reiner.

PS Mega Shine Chic Achieves NRHA Million Dollar Sire Status

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announces PS Mega Shine Chic, fondly known as “Crush,” as its newest Million Dollar Sire. This significant milestone comes after standout performances by his offspring at the 2024 NRHA Futurity, solidifying the 2013 stallion’s place among reining’s elite sires.

Bred and nominated by Patsy Shelton Schutz and owned by Adh-Mor Ranch, PS Mega Shine Chic is the product of NRHA $3 Million Sire Shine Chic Shine and Megas Sugar Baby. With NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) of $239,655, the stallion’s reputation as both a fierce competitor and a proven producer continues to grow.

Crush’s own impressive career showcased his immense talent and athleticism. Under the reins of NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay, he claimed the reserve championship at the 2017 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open and won the 2019 The Run For A Million Open Shootout. Notably, 94% of Crush’s LTE came with Tremblay at the reins.

Now, PS Mega Shine Chic’s legacy lives on through his exceptional offspring. To date, 53 of his progeny have amassed NRHA LTE, with several becoming standouts in the reining arena. Crush seems to pair particularly well with the dam All Guns On Deck, as three of his top five earners share that bloodline. Leading his offspring in earnings is All Guns On Crush, a standout with $145,340 in NRHA LTE. Out of All Guns On Deck, All Guns On Crush was bred and nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch, owned by Fred Tremblay, and ridden exclusively by Dany Tremblay. All Guns On Crush most recently earned fifth place in the Level 4 Open at the 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel with an impressive score of 228.

It was the 2024 NRHA Futurity that pushed PS Mega Shine Chic over the million-dollar threshold. Among his offspring’s notable performances was Colonel Crush, ridden by Elisabeth Bourassa Carter. The duo earned over $46,000 with the following finishes: Level 1 Non Pro Futurity Champions, Level 2 Non Pro Futurity Reserve Champions, third place in the Level 3 Non Pro Futurity, and 10th in the Level 4 Non Pro Futurity. Colonel Crush, a 2021 stallion out of Shining Hit Girl, was bred and nominated by Brent Loseke and is owned by Bourassa Carter.

The top-earning offspring of Crush include:

  • All Guns On Crush (out of All Guns On Deck), bred and nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch, owned by Fred Tremblay, $145,340 NRHA LTE
  • Snap My Crush (out of Snapbacks), bred and nominated by Dean Latimer, owned by James Pirtle Jr., $133,885 NRHA LTE
  • Pawn Stars (out of All Guns On Deck), bred and nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch, owned by Cooper Smith, NRHA LTE $101,281
  • High Caliber Crush (out of All Guns On Deck), bred, nominated, and owned by Adh-Mor Ranch, $71,146 NRHA LTE
  • Colonel Crush (out of Shining Hit Girl), bred and nominated by Brent Loseke, owned by Elisabeth Bourassa Carter, $59,599 NRHA LTE

Read more about PS Mega Shine Chic and the journey to this milestone in the April issue of the NRHA Reiner.