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.

NRHA to Unveil New Branding Campaign

During his address at the Annual General Membership meeting held in conjunction with the Leadership Gathering, NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith is set to reveal a sneak preview of the association’s new branding campaign, “This Right Here is Reining.”

Last year, NRHA partnered with the Cornett Agency, an award-winning advertising agency whose portfolio includes clients such as Keeneland, A&W, Lego, and General Electric.

To prepare, the agency did significant research, including interviewing our members, fans, staff, and leadership.

“Their proven track record within the equine industry was a no-brainer, and the insight we gained from their data collection was invaluable. The direct feedback from our members on what tools and resources they desired were directly incorporated into the campaign,” Smith said.

The full campaign, set to be unveiled in March, will feature a complete overhaul of NRHA’s social media, website, and promotional materials, including videos that will appear on television across the United States of America.

“The main goal of this campaign was to capture that segment of the market we were missing- while increasing value for our members and sponsors,” Smith continued. “Expect a modern refresh of our brand while remaining true to our western roots.”

The association’s current Strategic Plan was a driving force behind the campaign, with leadership acknowledging that it was imperative that NRHA create a true marketing strategy to help achieve its objectives.

“A huge thank you to our executive committee, board of directors, and the NRHA Professionals Advisory Committee in their support of this campaign,” Smith added. “The Association has never seen anything like this before. This has been a long time coming, and we look forward to sharing more with the membership soon.”

The Annual General Membership Meeting will be held on February 2 during the Leadership Gathering. Go here to register and learn more.

Gunners Tinseltown Makes a Million

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announces Gunners Tinseltown as an NRHA Million Dollar Sire. The milestone solidifies the stallion’s impact on the sport as a competitor and sire.

Gunners Tinseltown, a 2009 stallion bred, owned, and nominated by David Silva Sr., boasts an elite pedigree (Gunner x Miss Tinseltown), with both parents being NRHA Hall of Famers. With such lineage, Gunners Tinseltown’s success comes as no surprise.

During his competitive career, Gunners Tinseltown amassed $305,307 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE), showcasing his undeniable talent. Ridden by NRHA Professional Sam Schaffhauser and NRHA Hall of Famer Tim McQuay, his standout performance came at the 2012 NRHA Futurity. With McQuay, the stallion claimed Reserve Champion honors in the Level (L) 4 Open, earning $143,473.

As a sire, Gunners Tinseltown has 99 offspring with NRHA LTE, collectively pushing him into the million-dollar ranks. His top performer, Setting Off To Town, exemplifies his influence. Bred and nominated by NRHA Hall of Famer Rosanne Sternberg and owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, the gelding boasts an impressive $153,186 in LTE. Setting Off To Town’s accomplishments include a tenth-place finish at the 2020 NRHA L4 Open Futurity with NRHA $5 Million Rider Craig Schmersal, earning $20,657. In 2024 alone, the gelding added nearly $40,000 to his record.

Gunners Tinseltown’s top-earning progeny are:

  • Setting Off To Town (out of Setting Off Smart), bred and nominated by Rosanne Sternberg, owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, $153,186 NRHA LTE
  • Blueyedgirl (out of Shining Survivor), bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, owned by Bruna Bertolani, $108,145 NRHA LTE
  • Guns Required (out of Icing Required), bred by Carluccio Orse, nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC, owned by Tim Roper, $73,840 NRHA LTE
  • CBKtinseltownsparty (out of HR Wright On Cash), bred, nominated and owned by William and Corliss Kellogg, $42,371 NRHA LTE
  • MMB Chic Gun Renda (out of Lil Chic Balou), bred and nominated by Margarita Arietti, owned by Jenna Webb, $41,614 NRHA LTE

For more on Gunners Tinseltown’s journey to becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Sire, read the March issue of NRHA Reiner.