In 1984, Tom McCutcheon recorded his first earnings in the National Reining Horse Association while competing in an event in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2006 he passed one million dollars in lifetime earnings, and then in early August 2022, crossed the next million-dollar milestone.
That achievement was reached at the North American Reining Stakes, held at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The Aubrey, Texas, trainer piloted Gold Star Gunner (Gunners Special Nite x Belle Starr Dun It), a horse he owns with his wife, Mandy, to the Level 3 Open Championship and a fourth-place finish in the Level 4, collecting more than $28,000. Those earnings alone would have been enough to pass two million, but McCutcheon also finished in the money on his and Mandy’s other entry, Best Jac (Jacs Electric Spark x Snip O Chex), for an additional $3,771.
“What makes this accomplishment special to me is that the majority of money I have won has been on horses we’ve bred, raised, or are by stallions we stand,” McCutcheon shared.
McCutcheon grew up in the horse business, but his was not a world filled with elite athletes like it is today. Back then, McCutcheon’s father, Bob, and brothers Scott, Jimmy, and Terry were always training and showing. Bob McCutcheon was known for being able to salvage horses that others couldn’t make work.
“We trained everything that was marketable at that time. If barrel horses were hot, we trained barrel horses. If rope horses were hot, we trained rope horses. We rode a lot of cutters,” he recalled.
The youngest of the McCutcheon brothers by 10 years, Tom rodeoed from an early age and qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals in calf roping, bull dogging, and cutting. When he was just 18 years old, McCutcheon went into business for himself, renting his own place. He chose to focus on reining because “anything that involved cattle seemed too expensive.”
McCutcheon eventually moved to Italy to train for several years, joining friends who made the same move, including Duane and Dean Latimer, Dale Harvey, Jim Kiser, and Mike Davis, as well as his brother, Jimmy McCutcheon.
When McCutcheon returned to the United States, he relocated to North Texas. He knew he wanted to focus on good horses, so in 1993, when NRHA Professional Gary Putman showed him a two-year-old named Lil Ruf Peppy (Peppy San Badger x Rufas Peppy), it was a quick sale. Tom’s customers Antonio and Lia Foti purchased the colt, and McCutcheon bought him from them a year later.
Advancing to the Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Finals in 1994, McCutcheon and Lil Ruf Peppy hit their stride in 1995, earning the NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Championship and winning the Limited (Level 2) Open.
Lil Ruf Peppy went on to become an NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire. That was the start of McCutcheon’s breeding program, and he, along with Mandy, are both NRHA Million Dollar Owners.
The couple operates Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses out of Aubrey, Texas. Their training facility is home to several respected NRHA Professionals, including son Cade, also an NRHA Million Dollar Rider, Debbie Brown, Jeremy Gates, Dakota Guthridge, and Antonio Aramburo.
Supplementing the training aspect of the farm is an Equine Spa & Rehabilitation Center and, of course, the breeding program which features 10 resident stallions. Stallions currently standing at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses include NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite, Lil Dreamin Magnum, NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash, Rufanicki, Gunners Tinseltown, Mr Fahrenheit, NRHA Million Dollar Sire Smart And Shiney, Super Marioo, and Blo Gun.
McCutcheon’s biggest wins include:
2001 NRHA Futurity L4 Open 3rd place – $74,877 on Sailin Ruf
2016 NRBC L4 Open Reserve Championship – $51,000 on The Wizster
2001 NRBC L4 Open Championship – $50,000 on Smartest Chic Olena
2019 The Run For A Million 7th place – $35,000 on Gunna Cash Ya
2013 NRHA Futurity L4 Open 7th place – $33,434 on Dont Miss My Guns
2006 NRHA Futurity L4 Open 7th place – $30,047 on Lil Ruf Gay Badger
2018 NRHA Futurity L4 Open 8th place – $29,589 on Gotta Good Nite
2006 NRBC L4 Open 8th place – $25,037 on Major Jesse
2013 NRBC L4 Open 8th place – $22,000 on Dun Git A Nicadual
2015 NRHA Futurity L4 Open 9th place – $21,601 on Sunglasses At Nite
In the Spring of 2021, the NRHA Executive Committee began discussions on updating the current Animal Welfare & Medications policy. Since then, the executive committee, board of directors, and staff have consulted with experts in the field, committee members, and current competitors. There have been countless conversations aimed toward developing a revised policy to ensure fairness of competition by leveling penalties to those who knowingly violate NRHA rules, regulations, and policies.
At the August 21, 2022, NRHA Board of Directors meeting held in Las Vegas, a revised Welfare & Medications Policy was voted on and approved.
“The NRHA Medications Policy has been reformatted to make it easier to understand and contains amended definitions and examples to fall in line with our industry peers. It is important to have a policy that will allow our horses to be shown safely without creating an unfair advantage,” said NRHA President Rick Clark.
According to Clark, it was a goal of all who contributed to the recommended policy changes that the policies and penalties should align with other western performance industries. Another goal was simplification.
The penalty chart and classification system have been restructured to include increased penalties such as publication of offenses, suspension and disqualification. The updated policy is easier to understand and more transparent to the NRHA membership – even those who are just getting started in reining.
Exhibitors will notice increased testing at leading events and NRHA-owned events, as well. An official change in the Welfare & Medications Policy that has already been implemented is plasma-only testing, which has a quicker turnaround time.
“The NRHA Executive Committee and staff have worked to learn new and better practices to keep our horses healthy. We invested both time and research to better understand medications that can help our horses in a safe manner, and also to find what is best for the industry and horses using today’s knowledge and technology,” noted Clark.
“I am proud of the NRHA Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and staff for their work and leadership in taking this step toward presenting reining at its best on the world stage,” Clark added.
The complete, revised Animal Welfare and Medications policy, which will go into effect at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel in June, can be found here.
Answers to common questions about the Revised Animal Welfare and Medications policy can be found here.
The American Performance Horseman, a first of its kind competition, to be held in Arlington, Tex. on March 10, 2023
Arlington, Tex. (August 22, 2022) – Expanding upon its commitment to elevate and positively impact the western industry, Teton Ridge unveiled an unprecedented new event – The American Performance Horseman that will make its debut on Friday, March 10, 2023 in Arlington, Tex. during The American Rodeo.
For the first time ever, the top five year-end money earning professionals in cutting, reined cow horse and reining will come together to compete for $1,000,000 in prize money in a competitive exhibition format. The American Rodeo will provide a global stage for the athletes of each western equine sports discipline to compete not only for individual prize payouts, but also a first of its kind team format as well. The American Performance Horseman is a prestigious competitive exhibition that is supported by AQHA, APHA, NRHA, NCHA and NRCHA, with all associations excited for their respective communities to be celebrated and showcased to the world in this unparalleled and innovative format.
The American Performance Horseman will consist of the top five riders from each discipline, with the highest show earnings from the 2022 show season as tracked by each association. Standings will be finalized and announced following each discipline’s 2022 Futurity event.
Fusing the elements of history and competition, “The American Performance Horseman” is an ode to the past, present and future of the western performance horse sports. Riders will compete for team and individual prize money but most importantly the prestigious title of champion as part of the American Rodeo weekend festivities in Arlington, Texas.
“The American Rodeo is an unrivaled celebration of the American West and represents the richest weekend in all of western sports,” said Joe Loverro, President of Teton Ridge Sports. “As Teton Ridge continues to make great strides to bring the iconic events in the western industry to a broader audience on an elevated platform, it was only natural to create an event to pay homage to the most prestigious competitors in western performance sports and their incredible equine athletes.
The American Performance Horseman is the creation and vision of Teton Ridge. It exists to elevate western equine sports through multiple platforms, with innovative and interactive technology. “The American Performance Horseman isn’t another horse show, it’s a celebration of western horse sport and our athletes at the highest level,” stated Anna Morrison, NRCHA Executive Director. “With a shortened format showcasing the top five riders of the year in each discipline, it will pack the excitement of our industry’s top talent in an hour-long production that will bring the sports we love to an entirely new audience.”
The American Performance Horseman will offer fans a groundbreaking new way to embrace and support the legacy of the American West on the eve of The American Rodeo as a celebration the 10th anniversary of the world’s richest rodeo.
For more information on The American Performance Horseman and to sign up for the 2023 ticket wait list, please visit americanrodeo.com.
Hailed as The Crown Jewel of Rodeo™, The American Rodeo is an unrivaled celebration of the pioneering spirit of the American West. The national sporting event offers fans a unique choice – to cheer on western sports’ finest, champion athletes, or root for the underdog “Contenders” chasing a $1 million bonus – through every rodeo, roping and riding effort. For the first time ever, a new competitive exhibition called The American Performance Horseman brings together the western equine sports disciplines of reining, reined cow and cutting for a $1 million prize. All combined with star-studded music, a western festival and more. Acquired by Teton Ridge in 2021, The American Rodeo is an annual western sports and entertainment celebration that matches professional rodeo’s top athletes against the world’s most aspirational cowboys and cowgirls, who have put up their own money to bet on themselves in this high stake’s showdown. For more information on The American Rodeo, please visit americanrodeo.com or @TheAmerican.TR on Instagram @TheAmericanTR on Facebook and Twitter.
About Teton Ridge:
Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to the iconic American western way of life and western sports. Teton Ridge’s Sports division was created with the singular focus of elevating classic Western sports and America’s western culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. In 2021, Teton Ridge acquired The American, the iconic event of the rodeo circuit, to continue to expand the audiences for rodeo sports and make it the world’s premier Western culture event. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit tetonridge.com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook.
The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for the information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests, or questions.
In just a couple of days, the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be rocking when 16 National Reining Horse Association Professionals vie for a piece for the more than $1,000,000 payout. The Champion will take home a half-million dollars, and this year’s competition is stacked with both veteran riders and up-and-comers.
Take a look at the stats of the riders who will be competing on Saturday, August 20, and let us know who you’d wager on! If you are not in Las Vegas and want to see behind the scenes footage of the riders, the event, and the winning runs be sure to tune into The Last Cowboy.
Notes: Shawn Flarida took home reserve honors at the 2021 The Run For A Million after an exciting runoff. He is NRHA’s second All Time Leading Rider and was inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 2011. He has ridden and trained several horses that went on to become NRHA Million and Multi-Million Dollar Sires and Dams, including NRHA $12 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step, Reining Triple Crown Winner and NRHA Million Dollar Dam Wimpys Little Chic, NRHA $7 Million Sire Gunnatrashya, and NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine.
Known for his signature green show shirts, Shawn is also a five-time World Equestrian Games Gold Medalist.
His son, Sam Flarida, is following in his father’s footsteps and as a Youth and Non Pro rider has accumulated more than $252,000 in lifetime earnings.
Shawn and wife Michelle live in Springfield, Ohio.
2017 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – Shesouttayourleague – $57,000
2016 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – Magnum Starlights – $57,000
Notes: Casey Deary is coming off a big win at this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, winning the title on Americasnexttopgun. He’s also the reigning NRHA Futurity Champion, taking home the 2021 title on Ten Thirty.
Casey Deary grew up in Texas riding horses, taking low-cost colts, training them, and reselling them, allowing him to grow his training business.
Casey and his wife Nicole now live in Weatherford, Texas, where he coaches youth and amateur clients. The couple’s four children – Wyatt, Owen, Joy, and Olivia – can always be found around the reining events and in the show pen.
Casey competed at the inaugural TRFAM in 2019, finishing eighth.
2016 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 12th – High Rolling Spook – $19,292
2016 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Dun Gotyer Guns Up – $18,872
Notes: Nathan Piper was born in Bryan, Texas, where he grew up showing reining horses as a youth. During his junior year of college at Texas A&M University, he decided to forgo his Non Pro status to become an NRHA Professional. Nathan graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 and married his wife Jean in 2000.
After college, Nathan moved to Whitesboro, Texas, to work for two-time NRHA Futurity Champion Todd Sommers as an assistant trainer. In 2004, Nathan and his wife Jean purchased a training facility in Madisonville, Texas, where they successfully built Nathan Piper Reining Horses.
Piper Reining Horses now operates out of Selah Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas. Nathan and Jean have two daughters, Millie and Etta.
2019 The Run For A Million Invitational Co-Champion – Custom Made Gun – $307,500
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Super Marioo – $142,500
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Guns And Dynamite – $105,215
2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel L4 Open Reserve Champion – Super Marioo – $40,479
2021 TRFAM 6th Place – Modern Gun – $50,000
2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th – Gunners Town – $42,147
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Super Marioo – $29,858
2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Non Pro Reserve Champion – Starbucks Finale – $27,665
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Guns And Dynamite – $22,632
2019 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open Champion – Shes Got Good Guns – $21,271
Notes: Cade, along with fellow 2021 TRFAM competitor Craig Schmersal, was co-champion of the inaugural event in 2019. Custom Made Gun, on who McCutcheon won his Level 4 Non Pro Championship in 2015, was shipped from Italy to Texas to train with Cade for a shot at the big money. The gamble obviously paid off with the co-title
Later that same year, Cade won the Level 4 Open of the NRHA Futurity on Super Marioo, securing his spot as the youngest NRHA Million Dollar Rider in history.
Cade comes from a family of top competitors. His father Tom McCutcheon, who is also competing in this year’s TRFAM Invitational, is an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider and Owner. Cade’s mother, Mandy McCutcheon, is an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider as well as a Million Dollar Owner. Cade’s grandfather is NRHA Hall of Fame Member Tim McQuay, an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider and Million Dollar Owner, while his grandmother, Colleen McQuay, is also in the NRHA Hall of Fame.
Cade’s younger sister Carlee is an accomplished equestrian in both reining and English events.
2021 High Roller Reining Classic Stakes L4 Open Reserve Champion – Electric Whizkey – $18,534
2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Special Made Whiskey – $15,120
2016 NRBA Level 4 Open 8th – Gunners Special Glo – $16,625
2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 14th – See U Saturday Night – $15,873
Notes: Arno Honstetter grew up in Liggeringen Germany, which is in the southern part of Germany in the Bodensee on the Lake of Konstanz. When he was 16 years old, he met National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Famer Ken Wold and spent several years working with Ken in the United States. He moved home to Germany for a while before returning to the United States, where he worked for great trainers such as Andrea Fappani and Randy Paul.
Arno, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Lauren and daughter Tatum, is now the resident trainer for Brenda Joyce and Rick Christen’s Story Book Stables.
2002 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th – Commanders Nic – $52,352
2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th – Dunits Shining Sun – $51,628
2014 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Reserve Championship – What A Wave – $51,000
Notes: Craig Schmersal won the inaugural TRFAM Co-Championship in 2019, tying with Cade McCutcheon. He won the title on No Smoking Required (by NRHA Leading Sire Gunner), who has earned nearly a half-million dollars in competition.
Craig’s wife, Ginger, has won numerous titles and championships in reining competition, and her lifetime earnings are nearing a half-million dollars. Craig and Ginger’s teenage daughter, Addisyn, has also been racking up reining wins, and her lifetime earnings currently sit at $175,000.
Craig, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family, is a two-time FEI World Equestrian Games Team Gold medalist, as well as an Individual Silver medalist.
2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 11th – The Wizster – $22,800
2013 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – The Wizster – $21,899
2019 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 3 Open Champion – PS Mega Shine Chic – $21,370
2017 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 3 Open Champion – PS Mega Shine Chic – $20,589
2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 12th – Thug Life – $20,392
2021 TRFAM 9th Place – PS Mega Shine Chic – $20,000
Notes: Dany Tremblay surpassed $1,000,000 in lifetime earnings during the 2021 The Run For A Million during the Open Shootout, and he’s looking to continue his success in the South Point Arena this year.
Dany and his brother Fred relocated from Canada to the United States in 2014. Expanding upon their Canadian experience, Tremblay Performance Horses has become one of the most successful reining horse training, coaching and marketing programs in the industry.
Dany has trained and worked with some of the best horsemen available today, including Mike Flarida, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks and Two Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer, with whom he keeps a close relationship.
2017 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – All American Vintage – $113,936
2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Spook Off Sparks – $113,176
2005 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Big Chex To Cash – $109,633
2003 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – NQH Little Jac – $104,342
Notes: Andrea is the winningest rider in NRHA history and the only competitor to ever pass $7,000,000 in lifetime earnings. When Andrea first became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider in 2006, he was the youngest rider to reach that milestone.
Andrea, originally from Italy, currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. His wife Tish, an avid Non Pro competitor with more than $678,000 in lifetime earnings, is an NRHA Million Dollar Owner. His son, Luca, seems to be following in his father’s footsteps and has already won more than $404,000.
Fappani’s other son, Jeremy, is a successful National Amateur Motocross Racer.
2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Not Ruf At All – $156,750
2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $150,000
2021 North American Reining Stakes Level 4 Champion – Excessive Ruffness – $100,000
2021 TRFAM 3rd Place – A Vintage Smoke – $80,000
2016 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Champion – Not Ruf At All – $75,000
2019 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $75,000
2021 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Co-Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $62,500
2019 TRFAM Invitational – A Vintage Smoke – $60,000
2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $57,000
2014 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion – Not Ruf At All – $57,000
Notes: Jason and his wife Adrienne live in Whitesboro, Texas, where they keep a small but select group of horses in training. Jason’s son, Dalton, and daughter, Emma, also compete in reining.
Jason is one of an elite group of riders to ever win reining’s unofficial Triple Crown, which entails winning the NRHA Futurity, the NRHA Derby, and the National Reining Breeders Classic on the same horse. He accomplished that feat not once but two times with standout stallions Not Ruf At All and A Vintage Smoke.
2021 TRFAM Open Shootout Champion – Gunnarickashay – $30,642
2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Gunnarickashay – $30,297
2021 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 9th place – My Special Sidekick – $10,023
2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open 7th Place – Gunna Outshine Ya – $5,399
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open 6th Place – Lanas Lil Joe – $5,386
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 1 Open Reserve Champion – Lanas Lil Joe – $4,523.51
2021 APHA World Championship Show Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Gunnarickashay – $4,389.
2019 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 2 Open 3rd Place – Baileys Sidekick – $4,262
2021 High Roller Reining Classic Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Xtra Dun Step – $4,147
Notes: Josh Tishman started riding English from a young age, jumping horses in the Northeastern portion of the United States. Originally from Jefferson, Maine, Josh attended college in Montana, rodeoing for Rocky Mountain College. According to Josh, the rodeo coach begged him to ride for them. He agreed, under the stipulation, he could ride the reining horses.
Josh has since worked for multiple NRHA Professionals but has worked at Casey Deary Performance Horses the longest – more than six years. His wife, Layton, is an accomplished barrel racer and has been getting her feet wet in reining in recent years.
The Tishmans make their home with their one-year-old daughter, Emma Grace, at Deary Performance Horses in Weatherford, Texas.
2013 OVRHA Blue Grass Reining Stakes Wimpys Little Step Derby Level 4 Open Champion – Legends Lil Squeeze – $9,146
2019 NRBC Level 4 Open 15th Place – Spitfire Spook – $7,833
2019 NRBC Level 3 Open 5th Place – Spitfire Spook – $6,504
2009 Carolina Classic ABI Derby Level 4 Open Champion – Whale Of A Whiz – $6,275
2016 NRBC Level 4 Open 20th Place – Dun Alotta Chics – $5,500
2013 OVRHA Blue Grass Reining Stakes Level 4 Open Champion – Legends Lil Squeeze – $5,450
Notes: Matt Palmer was raised in the horse industry by his parents Guy and Joan Palmer. He has competed since childhood, but reining wasn’t his only interest. While simultaneously competing in the horse world, Matt also dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. He played through high school and college, getting as far as signing with the Minnesota Twins before an injury sidelined that dream. Those years would not go to waste, as the discipline learned along with the mental strength it takes to compete would follow Matt into his career as an NRHA professional.
Matt is a two-time USEF Gold Medalist. In addition to being the youngest member of the USEF team, he would join the WEG team. He is a five-time NRHA World Champion and consistently ranks as an NRHA Top 20 Professional.
Matt also coaches Non Pro and youth riders and has helped them earn AQHA and NRHA titles, make the finals at major NRHA events, and has helped eight of his students earn college riding scholarships.
2022 NRBC Level 4 Open 13th Place – Smoking Trash – $11,125
2014 IRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd Place – DJ Ruf – $10,774
2020 NRBC Level 4 Open 13th Place – Smoking Trash – $9,875
2019 NRHA Level 4 Open 24th Place – Smoking Trash – $9,838
2018 All American Quarter Horse Congress Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – MMB Spook Gotta Girl – $7,546
2021 The Run For A Million Open Shoot Out 7th Place – Smoking Trash – $7,327
2021 NRBC Level 3 Open 5th Place – Smoking Trash – $7,133
2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open 11th Place – Smoking Trash – $7,086
2013 NRHA European Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Rambo Bo Sun – $6,410
Notes: Francesco Martinotti is originally from Italy and grew up riding reining horses with his sister, Valentina, until he was given the opportunity to work professionally with one of Italy’s most renowned horse owner, Claudio Risso. It was there he started working as an assistant while training two-year-olds.
Once on his own, he became one of Italy’s top NRHA professionals. In 2015, after winning the FEI European Championship Team Gold medal for Italy, he was approached by NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon with a job opportunity in America to learn from the industry’s top professionals such as NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer and Tom himself.
Since arriving in the US in January of 2016, Francesco has been either a finalist or top 10 finisher in every major open derby or futurity. In the fall of 2017, Francesco decided it was time to start his own business and Martinotti Equine Services LLC was born.
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Smoke In Whizkey – $16,639
2021 NRHA 6666 Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – No Mans Whizkey – $13,415
2021 NRBC Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – No Mans Whizkey – $13,315
2016 High Roller Reining Classic Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Gibsons Finest – $10,010
2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open 10th Place – No Mans Whizkey – $7,968
2015 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 10th Place – Sparklin Whizkey – $7,738
2021 The Run For A Million Open Shootout 7th Place – No Mans Whizkey – $7,327
2016 High Roller Reining Classic Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd Place – Gibsons Finest – $6,215
2017 Reining By The Bay Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Waitin On A Diamond – $5,620
2015 High Roller Reining Classic Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Waitin On A Whizkey – $4,872
Notes: Wife of fellow TRFAM competitor Sean McBurney. Jordan began showing reining horses in 2009, although she has barrel raced competitively for years. She got started in reining after working a job exercising and grooming reining horses.
She and her husband, Sean, are the resident trainers of Rhodes River Ranch, so typically the couple show horses by Rhodes River Ranch stallion Whizkey N Diamonds, an NRHA Million Dollar Sire.
Keep up with Jordan on Rhodes River Ranch Facebook.
Sean McBurney
Arlington, Washington
LTE: $493,367
2015 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Rsure Shot Of Whizkey – $26,934
2014 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Guns R For Shootin – $15,563
2018 High Roller Reining Classic Level 4 Open Stakes Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $13,976
2018 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 3 Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $12,025
2021 High Roller Reining Classic High Roller Reining Futurity Level 4 Reserve Champion – Xtra Stone Cold – $11,155
2018 High Roller Reining Classic Stakes Level 3 Open Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $9,731
2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open – Lil Gun Affair – $8,945
2018 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 2 Open Champion – Tinker With Dreams – 8,428
2018 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 4 Open 4th – Tinker With Dreams – $8,379
Notes: Husband of fellow TRFAM competitor Jordan McBurney. Sean is the manager and head trainer at Rhodes River Ranch, where he has worked for more than two decades. Jordan is also a trainer at Rhodes River Ranch.
Sean grew up with thoroughbreds and jumpers, but reining seemed like a bigger challenge, and he liked how broke reiners were.
Sean’s biggest win to date came in 2015 when he won the NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Championship on Rsure Shot Of Whizkey. Rhodes River Ranch owns NRHA Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds, and both Sean and Jordan can regularly be found showing the stallion’s offspring.
Notes: Brazilian-born Fernando Salgado was raised in a performance horse family, with both of his older brothers training professionally. He had already proven himself as a successful trainer and showman in Brazil, with several prestigious wins while working for his brother Eduardo prior to coming to the US.
Fernando began his US career in 2010 when he became the first assistant trainer at the newly established Xtra Quarter Horses, home of Wimpys Little Step. Under the guidance of Thiago Boechat, he was mounted on some of the finest Reining horses in the industry, including Shiners Voodoo Dr. This talented trainer also rode under the renowned Andrea Fappani to further his training knowledge.
Along with his wife Sabrina, the NRHA Professional has his own training business at Fernando Salgado Reining Horses.
2015 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 8th Place – Gunnafoolya – $9,320
2015 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open 5th Place – Gunnafoolya – $8,918
2010 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 6th Place – Wimpys Lil Star – $8,485
2021 NRBC Development Division Reserve Champion – Tinkers Little Step – $7,628
2016 High Roller Reining Classic Stakes Level 3 Open Champion – Gunnafoolya – $6,986
2016 NRBC Level 4 Open 24th Place – Gunnafoolya – $5,050
2011 NRBC Level 2 Open 4th Place – Strawberry Tag – $4,527
2008 NRBC Level 2 Open 4th Place – Whiz N Starlight – $4,482
2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress 5th Place – Gunnafoolya – $4,263
2010 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open 4th Place – Wimpys Lil Star – $4,236
Notes: Billy placed 13th at the Cactus Reining Classic earlier this year just missing the call back for The Run for a Million, but received a call from Taylor Sheridan inviting him to compete in Las Vegas after another had to withdraw from the competition due to personal reasons.
Billy lives with his wife, Veronica, and son Weston in Aubrey, Texas, and owns and operates Williams Ranch. Billy serves on the Reining Horse Foundation Board and has held active roles in multiple NRHA committees.
In August 2021, The Run For A Million hosted the Raise A Million Auctions to benefit the Reining Horse Foundation. The event exceeded all expectations, with more than a half-million dollars raised for the charitable organization. The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge returns to the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, August 17-20, and will once again host the Raise A Million Auctions.
“In 2021, the first Raise A Million auction set an amazing record for support benefiting the reining community. People are still talking about that electric event made possible by The Run For A Million, Taylor Sheridan, generous donors and bidders,” said Leslie Baker, RHF Executive Director. “To be invited back and have such a terrific lineup of donations leaves us grateful and super excited. We cannot wait to see what an impact this event will have, and we invite everyone to come by the RHF auction display.”
As in 2021, there will be a Silent Auction that will be set up and open for bidding in the Western Trade Fair, August 17-20, and will close Saturday, August 20 at 4 p.m.
The excitement will ramp up Friday when the Live Auction will be held just prior to the Million Dollar Competition Draw Party. The Live Auction features six incredible items, ranging from a breeding package with special ties to The Run For A Million past champions to a Shorty’s Caboy Hattery custom Luxe mink hat and commemorative beaver box hat can.
The Run For A Million Draw is expected to be a standing-room-only soiree. Big bids are expected once again, as already the items donated are indicative of the potential impact of the event.
Live Auction Items include:
Sleipnir Trio Pave Diamond and Sapphire Pendant made and donated by MS Diamonds TX
One in a Million original glass trio acrylic painting made and donated by MJ’s Equine Art Studios, Maggie Leverett
Bit handcrafted and donated by Randy Paul along with his artist’s sketch
Custom Luxe Mink Hat with The Run For A Million Beaver Box hat can donated by Shorty’s Caboy Hattery
Napa Valley Wine Experience featuring a tasting for six, a two-night cottage stay, two magnums of wine and more. Donated by Spooks Gotta Spark and The Vineyardist Winery
Supreme Breeding Package featuring a breeding to Gunna Stop, a breeding to No Smoking Required and an embryo from Icing Required. Donated by Amber Gokey, Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and Toyon Ranch LLC
A complete list of Live and Silent Auction items can be found here.
Limited proxy bidding is available by contacting Leslie Baker, RHF Executive Director at (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or by emailing rhf@nrha.com.
Items are being added daily, and there is still time to donate. Donations of trips, unique experiences, services, training packages, artwork, jewelry, goods, and more are all welcome. Donors should submit the donation form to LBaker@nrha.com no later than August 16.
The mission of the Reining Horse Foundation is to care for and honor the reining community. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund to benefit reiners enduring hardships such as major illness, accidents, and disasters; youth leadership development and scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame.
