Month: October 2023

Fans of reining and members of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) alike have seen NRHA Professional Casey Deary holding a top spot among leaderboards this past year, which led to his latest accomplishment, becoming an NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider. Deary passed this milestone just over one year after becoming an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider.

A multiple-time NRHA Futurity Champion, NRHA Derby Champion, and World Champion in the American Quarter Horse and American Paint Horse Associations, Deary is no stranger to the winner’s circle. His incredible journey to this accomplishment is a testament to his unwavering dedication, exceptional talent, and numerous wins within the reining industry, specifically over the past year.

In 2023, Deary has notched a series of sensational victories that have solidified his position as one of the most dominant riders in the reining world. These wins include The American Performance Horseman (TAPH) Reining Champion, National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Championship, 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Championship, and third in the Million Dollar Competition at The Run for a Million (TRFAM).

The titles alone are impressive, but the fact that he earned all of them within six months on the same stallion adds to the prestige. Deary and Down Right Amazing (Gunner x Shesouttayourleague) added $383,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE) to their names this year. The pair were simply unstoppable. Owned by DAG Ventures LLC and bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, the stallion has over $600,000 in NRHA LTE, all with Deary at the reins.

Deary was also the 2022 Level 4 Open Reserve Futurity Champion on Customize My Dream, owned and bred by Devin Warren. Deary and ‘William’ have earned more than $200,000 in NRHA LTE, further pushing Deary to this milestone.

Not only does Deary find himself at the top of his game inside the show pen, but he also found time outside of the show pen to become Texas Christian University Equestrian Team’s newest assistant coach, showing his commitment to the future of reining.

Deary resides in Weatherford, Texas, with his wife, Nicole, and their kids, Wyatt, Owen, Joy, and Olivia.

Congratulations to Casey Deary on this latest milestone and the exceptional rate at which it was achieved.

Deary’s top wins that pushed him to become NRHA’s newest Four Million Dollar Rider:

• 2022 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Champion – $150,000– Customize My Dream, owned and bred by Devin Warren
• 2023 TAPH Reining Champion – $100,000 – Down Right Amazing, owned by DAG Ventures LLC and bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC
• 2023 NRBC Level 4 Open Champion – $100,000 – Down Right Amazing, owned by DAG Ventures LLC and bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC
• 2023 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – $100,000 – Down Right Amazing, owned by DAG Ventures LLC and bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC
• 2022 TRFAM, Million Dollar Competition, 3rd Place – $80,000 – Americasnexttopgun, owned by Jody Puno/Puno Performance Horses LLC and bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA

The futurity season is in full swing for the reining industry. With many impressive shows featuring record-setting payouts, many reiners are achieving success and climbing milestones at an astounding rate. Among that group is NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz—the newest NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire.

Spooks Gotta Whiz is a 2007 stallion by Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes. Bred by Clint Haverty, ‘Baby’ had an incredible career in the show pen for owner Michell Anne Kimball, where he amassed over $345,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. In 2010, he and NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson won the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity. In 2012, NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida took the reins. The duo won the Level 4 Open Championships at the NRHA Derby and the National Reining Breeders Classic that same year. They capped off an impressive career by taking home a team and individual gold medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

Baby has now become an elite sire within the reining world. He currently has 475 money-earning offspring with NRHA and many more waiting to snag their first paychecks. Many of his progeny have achieved success on reining’s biggest stages, including new events like The American Performance Horseman.

Performances at the 2023 100X Reining Classic helped push Baby over the six-million-dollar mark. The stallion had 27 offspring competing in the Open and Non Pro Stakes, who earned over $444,000. Most notable were NRHA Million Dollar Owner and Eight Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani and Mic Dropp (out of Dun Dry Whiz). The pair topped the competition and won the 100X Level 4 Open Championship. Fappani and the Tim Anderson/Clark Reining Horses LLC-owned stallion added nearly $130,000 to Baby’s offspring earnings in 2023 after helping push the sire over the $5 million at the 2022 NRHA Futurity.

Spooks Gotta Whiz’s top-performing offspring include:

• Alpha Jac Sparrow (out of Chexanicki), owned by Fritz Leeman and bred by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, earning $237,664
• Mic Dropp (out of Dun Dry Whiz), owned by Tim Anderson/Clark Reining Horses LLC and bred by Clark Reining Horses LLC, earning $215,927
• Spooks Gotta Spark (out of Dolittle Lena), owned by Kevin Truax and bred by Bobby Lewis, earning $215,585
• Spooky Whiz (out of Myo Starlight), owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC and bred by Spence Bell, earning $186,043
• Gotta Twist It Up (out of Make It With A Twist), owned and bred by Sandra Bentien, earning $183,837

After crossing his first million in 2018, Baby has flown through the milestones at a record pace. And while the Hall of Famer has already solidified his place in the NRHA history books, it seems inevitable that the stallion will continue reaching new milestones. Congratulations to NRHA’s newest Six Million Dollar Sire, Spooks Gotta Whiz, and owner Michell Anne Kimball.

On October 18, 2023, the reining community lost a legendary mare, Wimpys Little Chic.

National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Hall of Famer, ‘Lexi’ earned more than half a million dollars in four short years in the show pen, all with NRHA Hall of Famer Shawn Flarida at the reins. The pair are the only ones in reining history to win the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) consecutively.

Lexi (Wimpys Little Step out of Collena Chic Olena) was bred by Double Run Farm and purchased by Arcese Quarter Horses USA in 2007. She is currently NRHA’s leading dam and is nearing two million dollars in offspring earnings, demonstrating that her impact on the industry will continue both in the show pen and in the lives of many.

“The reining world loved Lexi so much,” said Michele Flarida. “We could literally write chapters on this special horse and her bond with Shawn, Mr. Arcese, Monnie [Monica] Watson, and Jeff Oswood. We will make sure that she is never forgotten and that she shines through the legacy she leaves.”

Shawn Flarida shared the following in processing this great loss:

“Wimpys Little Chic is simply the greatest reining horse to ever draw a breath. I have asked Michele to write a book about our journey in this life together. She said the chapter on Wimpys Little Chic (Lexi) would be entitled, “A Love Story.” I won’t remind the world of all her tremendous accomplishments inside the show pen and as a producer. Instead, I will tell you about the beautiful little blonde filly, born in the same hallowed pasture as her daddy (Wimpys Little Step) on a beautiful farm in North Carolina (Double Run Farm) to a beautiful woman (Miss Monnie Watson) who fell in love with her immediately.

This was her first home and Miss Monnie never once doubted her abilities. Lexi grew and got strong and made her way to her next home in Springfield, Ohio with me and my family. Like her first home, Lexi’s next home had seen its many champions and great ones as well. She didn’t care. She was different than all the rest and she damn sure knew it. Particular and quirky, like all the greats, but with a confidence that was boundless. Our bond was one of true love. She expected my undivided attention and got it.

Recognizing her enormous talent, I introduced Mr. Arcese to Miss Monnie and our Lexi. Now anyone who knows Mr. Arcese, knows that part of the fun for him is the deal. He is a master at negotiations. He stood in silence as he watched Lexi and I work. I brought Lexi over to him. She put her head in his hands and without hesitation, he hugged Miss Monnie and said she was now his. Simply put, Lexi had her effect on him, and he fell in love. Lexi had her three…her breeder, her rider, and her owner. She had everything she needed to rise to her destiny.

First the 2007 futurity. As great as she was in the go rounds, she was still doubted. A good friend stopped to tell me good luck and the fact that no futurity champion sire had yet produced a futurity champion himself. I didn’t know that. Neither did she. We didn’t care. We won.

NRBC Derby time, 2008. She drew up early but her three (breeder, owner, and rider) never doubted her courage and determination. In fact, Lexi was just now growing into herself as a 4-year-old and an athlete. Her confidence gave me confidence and I gave her the knowledge and room to be great. We won with a 233.5.

The weeks leading up to the 2008 NRHA Derby were some of the most fun that I have ever had as a horseman. I had my best girl and she had me. The greatest gift Lexi ever gave me was to know my worth as a horseman. She damn sure knew hers and the fact that she needed me to show it to everyone gave me such confidence and joy. Two weeks out from the show and Michele took my phone and the computer. I thought it was weird but had work to do so whatever. It wasn’t until after the Derby run that she told me why. The True Triple Crown of Reining hung in the balance. NO horse HAD Ever or HAS EVER won the NRHA Open Futurity, NRBC Open Derby and NRHA Open Derby consecutively. Literally thousands of emails, text messages, phone calls…most wishing Lexi and I all the best but plenty of doubters and critics as well. I didn’t know that. Neither did Lexi. We didn’t care. We won.

Lexi didn’t stop there. She went on to enjoy another 2 years of amazing success in the showpen. People from all over the world fell in love with this mare just like her original three did. She left her stall here…the same stall as all the other greats that came before her. It was time for her to show her worth now as a producer (what an understatement). She went to her home at Oswood Stallion Station where she met another man she made fall in love with her, Jeff Oswood. I missed her so much and her stall stood empty till a gorgeous colt named Spanky arrived. The world knows him as Gunnatrashya.

The legacy of Wimpys Little Chic is undeniably unparalleled. She always gave so much more than she took until today when she takes a piece of our collective hearts with her to her newest and final Home. The whole world knows your name baby girl. You shattered every record, forged relationships that we cherish, and made dreams come true. My turn to carry you on the rest of our voyage together. I will always love you.”

NRHA extends its deepest condolences to the Watsons, the Flaridas, the Oswoods, and all who loved Lexi.

When most picture New York, they think of big city lights and a bustling urban landscape. Few, however, know of the beautiful countryside native to places such as Campbell Hall—the location of Santa Hill Ranch. A training, breeding, and boarding facility, the picturesque Santa Hill Ranch is owned by Robert ‘Bob’ Santagata—the newest NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner.

Santagata joined NRHA in 2004 after catching the reining ‘bug’ when he purchased his first reiner, Mark Him Mighty. Since then, he has built Santa Hill Ranch to an industry success with his wife, Arlene, by his side. The ranch is an NRHA Corporate Partner and strives to elevate reining through its support of organizations and events within the industry. Santagata’s vision for success came to light when he stamped his mark in the NRHA history books as a Million Dollar Owner in 2021.

Over the years, Santagata has owned many successful horses but believes his purchase of The Kids Gotta Gun (Spooks Gotta Gun x Melimelo Kid) was a marquee moment in his career. The Tammi Julien bred stallion garnered nearly $105,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE) before retiring to the breeding shed. With his first set of foals stepping into the show pen only two years ago, ‘Kid’ is already proving to be a shining star for his owner. His highest earning offspring is SHR Hollywood Kid (out of Shinin in Hollywood), who has earned over $85,000 for owner NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham.

Vanlandingham & Best Shine

Vanlandingham played a large role in Santagata’s journey to the two million dollar mark. In the past two years, he and Best Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Best Stop) have added nearly $641,000 to Santagata’s owner earnings. Most notable was their first-place finish in the 2023 The Run For A Million’s Million Dollar Competition, where they earned a half-a-million-dollar paycheck. The win was fresh off a Level 4 Open Reserve Championship performance at the 6666 Ranch NRHA Derby presented by Markel for the NRHA Professional and the Wagman Ranch Inc. bred stallion.

Bob & Kyle

The final push to NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner status fittingly came with performances by Santa Hill Ranch’s head trainer, NRHA Professional Kyle Shaw. At the 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress, Shaw rode Hes Pretty Epic to the Level 2 Open Futurity Championship and SS Spooks Sequoia to the Level 2 Open Futurity Reserve Championship. These two runs amassed over $7,600 and pushed Santagata over the threshold to the NRHA milestone. Shaw and the two Silver Spurs Equine-bred stallions earned even more in the Level 3 and 4 finals—adding a cherry on top to a historic weekend for both the trainer and Santagata.

With a top-notch breeding program and great trainers and riders at the reins, Santagata has set himself and Santa Hill Ranch up for continued success. And with a goal to one day win the NRHA Futurity, there is little doubt the NRHA Two Million Dollar owner will drive his way to more NRHA milestones in the future.