2022 Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award

In 2021, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) established the Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award to honor the late NRHA member whose support contributed immensely to the association and the future of the industry.

The second recipient of the award is NRHA $8 Million Sire Gunnatrashya (Gunner x Natrasha), who also received the inaugural award last year.

At the 2022 NRHA Futurity, the stallion owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA and bred by Katarina Dorminy had ten offspring in the Open Finals and five in the Non Pro Finals. In total, the offspring earned $613,444 in both finals for an average of $40,896.

The perpetual award is presented annually at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel in June. The Mehl Lawson Bronze, which represents the award, will remain in the NRHA office in Oklahoma City.

A member of the NRHA since 1966, Phinny was raised in Fremont, Michigan, and lived most of his life in the Glen Arbor area. He will be remembered as a solid citizen, devoted to family, and always kind and generous with friends, associates, and worthy causes.

To learn more about Peter Phinny, visit here.

The Teams Have Been Chosen for the American Performance Horseman

The Teton Ridge American Performance Horseman gets prepared for the bright lights of Arlington, Texas, at the home of the Texas Rangers MLB team, Globe Life Field. The American Western Weekend will kick off with the Top Five professionals from the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), and National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Each team will include a reining professional, reined cow horse professional, and cutting professional. This highly anticipated competition will open with cutting, then move into the reining, and close out with the reined cow horse competitors. The performance horse industry will witness history with the first team concept competition battling for $1 Million in prize money.

Each NRHA professional announced their two equine athletes of choice to ride for this inaugural event during The American Performance Horseman Team Selections event held on February 6th. The horsepower will be off the charts, and riders must declare their official decision by March 8th at noon.

First up, NRHA $7 Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida selected Alpha Jac Sparrow, owned by Fritz Leeman. This is a stallion sired by NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Chexanicki, with lifetime earnings (LTE) of $126,953. He chose Shiner On My Eye as well, with a lifetime earnings of $169,999 and owned by Bob Santagata. The stud is out of Flashy Lil Step and sired by NRHA $3 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr.

Second up, NRHA $3 Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary, with his choice of Down Right Amazing, a stallion owned by DAG Ventures LLC with lifetime earnings of $224,250.

The 2022 Run for a Million Shootout Champion is sired by NRHA $13 Million Sire Gunner and out of Shesouttayourleague. His other pick is lifetime earner of more than $369,059, the 2021 NRHA Futurity Champion Ten Thirty, owned by Rancho El Fortin and sired by Gunnatrashya and out of Dainty Little Step.

Next in line, NRHA Professional Fernando Salgado chose Gunnabeabrightstar, owned by Neiberger Performance Horses, carrying a lifetime earnings of $157,017. This stud is out of the mare Abbie Be Tuff and sired by ARC Gunnabeabigstar. Salgado’s other option is Pale Dun Star, owned by Ian and Kristen Cantacuzene. The stud with $78,208 in NRHA LTE is sired by NRHA $3 Million Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of the mare Get Ya Some Stars.

Next, NRHA $7 Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani plans to pair up with Trash Talkin Spook with $154,770 NRHA LTE owned by Marilyn Overgaard. A stud sired by Gunnatrashya and out of I Spook. Fappani, in addition, chose a stud owned by Teton Ridge, Starjac Vintage, with a lifetime earnings of $172,769. The stud is an NRHA $3 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of Starjac Miss.

Last to draw, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Matt Mills electing to pilot Guns And Dynamite sired by NRHA $5 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Chic Olena Starbuck. The stallion chosen is proudly owned by Tim and MaryBeth Ruckman and has an LTE of $250,424. He also elected Stopping In Jersey owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses, lifetime earner of $96,864. The stud is out of Stop Little Sister and sired by Yellow Jersey.

Burnt Orange Team

Cutting: Austin Shepherd, Summerdale, Alabama

Reining: Matt Mills, Weatherford, Texas

Reined Cow Horse: Lee Deacon, Marietta, Oklahoma

Racing Green Team

Cutting: Lindy Thorn, Claremore, Oklahoma

Reining: Casey Deary, Weatherford, Texas

Reined Cow Horse: Chris Dawson, Perrin, Texas

Royal Blue Team

Cutting: Adan Banuelos, Weatherford, Texas

Reining: Fernando Salgado, Gainesville, Texas

Reined Cow Horse: Sarah Dawson, Perrin, Texas

Imperial Purple Team

Cutting: Wesley Galyean, Claremore, Oklahoma

Reining: Andrea Fappani, Scottsdale, Arizona

Reined Cow Horse: Corey Cushing, Weatherford, Texas

Regal Red Team

Cutting: Lloyd Cox, Marietta, Oklahoma

Reining: Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio

Reined Cow Horse: Justin Wright, Santa Maria, California

The American West Weekend is one you won’t want to miss. The American Performance Horseman event will commence at 6:45 p.m. CST on Friday, March 10. The evening will conclude with a concert featuring Darius Rucker and Sheryl Crow, which is included in your admission fee. The American Rodeo will be held at Globe Life Field on Saturday, March 11, with admission to a Cody Johnson concert included. For a 25% discount on your tickets for the weekend, use code NRHA23 at checkout.

Buy your tickets TODAY by visiting americanrodeo.com/tickets, and be sure to download Teton Ridge + to stay in the know regarding all things American West Weekend at tetonridgeplus.com. We can’t wait to see you there! 

NRHA 4-Year-Old Nomination Program Approved

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Nomination Program summited a peak in January, welcoming the largest foal crops, in both North America and Europe, since the program’s inception. On the heels of this achievement, NRHA announces the official addition of a 4-year-old component to the North American program to begin with 2023 foals. For several years, NRHA has offered a 4-year-old division at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. This change helps to bring this division to a new level by generating a greatly enhanced purse for NRHA Nominated 4-year-olds.

The NRHA is proud to provide new and significant additional investment in the industry by committing $100,000 in added money for the next 3 years to elevate the 4-Year-Old Derby and to grow the entire event and add further value to our horses. When the 2023 foal crop is of Derby age and the nomination program funds the 4-Year-Old Derby, NRHA will continue to invest $50,000 in added money. Approximately $285,000 in total added money based on a 3-year average of nominated weanlings will be provided to the purse once the 2023 foal crop is of derby age. For the next 3 years, total added money will be $160,000.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity for this specific group of horses as they progress in their show career from futurities to derbies. The support of this program will also draw more participation in the NRHA Derby, creating supplementary event success.

“It is incredible to witness an informal conversation between friends become reality,” said NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter. “Our 4-year-olds deserve a chance to show what they can do among their peers without trying to compete against the strength and experience that the older horses have. They have a chance to mature and shine at the same time.”

The existing North American weanling fee will increase $100 to help supplement the 4-year-old purse. Based on an estimated $285,000 in added money, the following is the estimated purse payout for each class of the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel once the 2023 foal crop is of Derby age:

  • Level 4 Open = $106,000
  • Level 3 Open = $83,000
  • Level 2 Open = $47,000
  • Level 1 Open = $25,000
  • Level 4 Non Pro = $50,000
  • Level 3 Non Pro = $36,000
  • Level 2 Non Pro = $22,000
  • Level 1 Non Pro = $12,000

For more information on the nomination program, visit nrha.com/nomination.

Photo by Bee Silva

Pale Face Dunnit and Shiners Voodoo Dr Reach the $3 Million Milestone

Two stallions in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) have recently crossed a multi-million dollar milestone and have a first-class list of offspring in the industry. The two noticeably stunning palomino stallions, Pale Face Dunnit and Shiners Voodoo Dr, accruing more than $3 million in offspring earnings, have an extraordinary influence in the reining industry.

Pale Face Dunnit—$3 Million Sire

The 16-year-old stallion, Pale Face Dunnit, is sired by NRHA $13 Million Sire Gunner and out of Lena Dun It by Hollywood Dun It. Following in suit of his sire, he had many accolades in the show pen with NRHA Professionals piloting, such as NRHA Million Dollar Rider Randy Paul and current owner NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal.

Top Achievements include: 2013 USEF National Open Reserve Champion
2013 NRBC Open Classic Finalist
2012 HRRC Open Derby Top Five
2012 NRHA Open Derby: Top Ten
2011 AQHA Performance Register of Merit

Pale Face Dunnit’s top offspring:
(as of 1/24/23)

Face The Attitude (out of Miss Lil Addy Tude) $228,352
Phantom Face (out of Gorgeous Like A Star) $182,234
Pale Face Gunslinger (out of Lost In Tinseltown) $140,280
Pale Face Whiz (out of Lady Naskiia Whiz) $106,901
Pale Black Gun (out of Blazing In Black) $106,882

Pale Face Dunnit was bred by Rancho Oso Rio and is now owned by Schmersal Reining Horses and Silver Spurs Equine of Scottsdale, Arizona, where he stands at stud.

Find more information about the stallion here or on Facebook.

Shiners Voodoo Dr—$3 Million Sire

“Voodoo” is no stranger to the praises of the reining industry, winning more than $85,000 LTE in his show career. Notable winnings include the 2012 NRHA Derby Open Level 4 Open Championship with NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen aboard, the 2010 Tulsa Reining Classic L3-2 Open Championship, as well as making the finals in the NRHA Futurity Open Level 4 Finals.

Shiners Voodoo Dr, by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shining Spark and out of Voodoo Chic, is owned by Silver Spurs Equine LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was bred by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch and was one of the three stallions acquired when Silver Spurs Equine LLC made the purchase of Xtra Quarter Horses in 2017.

The respect only grew as the stallion entered the breeding barn. In 2019, Voodoo passed the million-dollar mark when his offspring earned more than $30,000 during the NRHA Futurity.

Shiners Voodoo Dr’s leading progeny include:
(as of 1/24/23)Shiner On My Eye (out of Flashy Lil Step) $169,999
Warlocks Last Step (out of SDP A Lasting Step) $86,181
Xtra New Pal Voodoo (out of Wimpys New Pal) $81,893
Shiners Voodoo (out of BR China Rose) $75,354
RFR Voodoos Fuego (out of Show N Tag) $68,266

Shiners Voodoo Dr presently stands at Silver Spurs Equine in Purcell, Oklahoma. Find more information about the stallion here or on Facebook.