Month: May 2024

The NRHA Hall of Fame is the sport’s most prestigious honor. Induction is awarded to individuals and horses who have profoundly impacted the association and sport through lasting accomplishments and significant contributions.

The Hall of Fame is an official project of the Reining Horse Foundation, and honorees are recognized each year at Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch.

Honorees are presented with a gold Lawson Trophy and medallion as they are recognized with their esteemed NRHA Hall of Fame class. 

NRHA Hall of Fame members gather for a photo at the 2023 Sliders Nite Out presented by Toyon Ranch

NRHA members are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals and horses that meet the criteria for induction.

“We count on our members for their feedback on who they believe should be in the Hall of Fame,” said Hall of Fame Committee Chair and current Director-at-Large Rick Clark.

“Over the years, Sliders Nite Out has grown to be the can’t-miss event of the year, and it is the most fitting venue to honor these incredible people and horses,” Clark continued.

You can read more about the criteria and the nomination process here.

Nominations are also due for the Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the “Father of modern day reining,” who was also the first inductee into the NRHA Hall of Fame.

The recipient should exemplify the qualities and characteristics of the award’s namesake, with one key difference from the Hall of Fame- they do not have to be a current member of the association.

To read more on the award and the nomination criteria, visit here.

Nominations for both awards can be submitted directly to Liz Kelsey at lkelsey@nrha.com.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to announce a monumental achievement for Gunners Special Nite, who has officially become an NRHA $7 Million Dollar Sire. This historic milestone solidifies Gunners Special Nite’s position as one of the most influential sires in reining history and is a testament to his exceptional qualities that are consistently passed on to his offspring.

Bred by Kim and Debra Sloan and raised by Tim and Colleen McQuay, Gunners Special Nite is a flashy sorrel stallion sired by NRHA $13 Million Dollar Sire Colonels Smoking Gun (Gunner) and out of Mifs Doll (by Mifillena). Later purchased by Turnabout Farm Inc., Gunners Special Nite enjoyed a successful show career, earning nearly $220,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings and gold medals in the individual and team competition at the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

However, Gunners Special Nite’s true legacy is cemented through his offspring. His progeny have consistently dominated the reining pen, as showcased earlier this year during the Cactus Reining Classic, where NRHA $2 Million Rider Duane Latimer and CS Especially Moody (out of Judys a Little Moody) rode to championships in both the Open Derby and The Run For A Million Qualifier with an impressive 225.5 score.

Most recently, National Reining Horse Youth Association Northeast Region Delegate, Alea Lasaponara, and Tagin Stiletto Chics (out of Stiletto Tag) helped push Gunners Special Nite past the $7 million mark after earning nearly $16,000 in non pro competition at the National Reining Breeders Classic.

Gunners Special Nite’s top-earning performers include:

• Modern Gun (out of Taris Modern Design), owned by MS Stables, bred by Turnabout Farm Inc., $362,126 NRHA LTE
• Guns And Dynamite (out of Chic Olena Starbuck), owned by Tim and MaryBeth Ruckman, bred by Turnabout Farm Inc., $297,756 NRHA LTE
• Baileys Not Painted (out of Darlins Not Painted), owned by Jenny Booth, bred by Turnabout Farm Inc., $ 147,443 NRHA LTE
• All Nite Partier (out of Topsail Survivor), owned by Sotol Investments LLC, bred by Deana Nell, $138,592 NRHA LTE
• Lenas Shining Gun (out of SL Lenas Chick), owned by Jackie Redish, bred by Roxanne Koepsell, $ 135,665 NRHA LTE

With his name now etched in NRHA history as an NRHA $7 Million Dollar Sire, Gunners Special Nite’s impact on the breed transcends generations. Breeders and reining enthusiasts alike can look forward to his influence shaping the future of reining champions for years to come. NRHA extends its heartfelt congratulations to Gunners Special Nite and all those who have contributed to his remarkable journey.