Category: History

The National Reining Horse Association announces the newest members of the NRHA Hall of Fame and Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award honorees.

The NRHA Hall of Fame—reining’s highest honor—recognizes individuals and horses whose extraordinary contributions have shaped the sport.

This year’s inductees include:

Cheryl Cody — With over four decades of dedicated service, Cheryl Cody has been a pivotal force in the growth, promotion, and advancement of reining. A lifetime NRHA member, Cody’s leadership spans serving on committees, chairing special projects, and developing innovative programs benefiting youth, members, and the broader reining community.

Her passion for horses and the western lifestyle led to a prolific career as a writer, photographer, and promoter. As co-founder and president of Rein In Cancer, Cody has helped raise millions to support cancer patients within the horse industry. Through her company, Pro Management Inc., she provides management and marketing services for top reining events, supporting exhibitors and promoting the sport worldwide. 

Cody’s commitment extends beyond events to mentoring others and fostering community growth, always emphasizing a people-first philosophy. Her enduring impact on NRHA and reining stands as a testament to her integrity, creativity, and passion.

Best Stop (Owned by Wagman Ranch Inc.) — Best Stop is one of only 13 mares to produce offspring with earnings exceeding $1 million, underscoring her lasting influence on reining. Her legacy includes two The Run For A Million Million Dollar Competition champions: her son Best Shine and grandson Gunnastop. Gunnastop’s dam, Stop Little Sister, is poised to become a million-dollar producer as well.

Best Stop has produced 19 NRHA money earners, including multiple finalists in the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and National Reining Breeders Classic across various divisions, as well as successful European competitors. Several offspring have earned over $100,000, including Stop Like A Dream, Late Night Stopper, Hey Joe, and Best Shine.

With a pedigree featuring five NRHA Hall of Fame inductees—including her sire Custom Crome and dam Rest Stop—Best Stop’s profound and continuing impact on reining is undeniable.

Chexanicki (Owned by Toyon Ranch LLC) — Chexanicki has earned over $86,000 in NRHA competition, winning multiple Non Pro titles during her career. Previously owned and shown by leading figures in the reining community—Sam Smith, Rick Ford (Cinder Lakes Ranch), and Kelle Smith—the mare now thrives under NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC’s care, who has promoted her extensively over the last decade. Her legacy shines through both her outstanding performances and her success as a prolific producer, with offspring like Alpha Jac Sparrow, Chexi Chic, Rufanicki, Alpha Black, Boujee, and Extra Vodoonicki collectively earning over $1 million. Chexanicki’s lasting impact continues to excite competitors and spectators alike, solidifying her status as one of the most impressive mares in NRHA history.

The NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2007 and named after the “father of modern-day reining,” honors individuals whose lifelong contributions have profoundly shaped the sport. Dale Wilkinson, a founding NRHA member, multiple NRHA Futurity champion, and the Hall of Fame’s first inductee, set the standard for excellence, education, and mentorship within the reining community.

The award recognizes those who have significantly impacted reining through passion, leadership, and dedication to introducing new people to the sport. Recipients’ achievements are celebrated for their lasting, positive influence on NRHA and the sport at large.

This year’s honorees are:

Jeff Petska — A lifelong horseman, Petska began training horses at age 13 and continued riding until shortly before his passing in 2022. Known as the “winningest” Chef d’Equipe of the U.S., he led five consecutive World Equestrian Games gold medal wins and championed junior and young riders on the world stage.

Beyond competition, Petska served on the NRHA Judges Committee, Board of Directors, and Professionals Committee, always upholding the sport’s integrity. Alongside his wife, Lisa, he founded Whitesboro Equine Therapy, dedicating himself to horse care and foundational training. Known for his generosity, humor, and faith, Petska touched countless lives through mentorship and philanthropy.
Lisa, his wife, shares:

“Jeff lived his faith and passion fully, inspiring many. His poem ‘On the Backs of Horses’ beautifully captures the heart of reining and his lifelong journey.”

Larry Kasten — With a lifelong dedication to the reining community, Larry Kasten has made an enduring impact through both competitive success and decades of mentorship. After earning his B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and his M.S. in animal nutrition from Kansas State University, Kasten pursued doctoral research in horse nutrition at Texas A&M University. He taught horsemanship at West Texas State University before joining the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in 1973.

In the show pen, Kasten has been a finalist in the NRHA Futurity and won the Limited Open division of the NRHA Super Stakes. Horses he has trained and students he has mentored have gone on to achieve national prominence, reflecting his skill as both a horseman and educator. As an American Quarter Horse Association and NRHA judge, Kasten has shared his expertise on the sport’s biggest stages, leaving a lasting legacy on reining’s growth and excellence.

One admirer shared:
“Larry’s lifetime of accolades cannot be overstated, but his true impact lies in the personal mentorship and warmth he extends to everyone he meets. From riding with him as a young adult to sharing life’s milestones, Larry’s guidance has been a grounding force. His horses adore him, and his welcoming spirit ignites passion in new learners. He embodies the spirit of the Dale Wilkinson Award through his lasting impact on the sport and the people in it.”

The Hall of Fame is a special project of the Reining Horse Foundation. All inductees and honorees will be formally recognized at Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch on Wednesday, December 3. Tables and individual tickets are available at reiningfoundation.com/sno.

Colonels Shining Gun, known in the barn as Jojo, has joined the ranks of NRHA $4 Million Sires.

The 2007 stallion, sired by NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Gunner and out of Shining Little Peach, continues to leave a lasting impact on the reining industry with his remarkable show career and exceptional offspring. Bred by Trend Horses LLC and owned by Katarzyna Roleska, Jojo boasts NRHA lifetime earnings of nearly $113,000, highlighted by major European victories including the 2014 NRHA European Level 4 Open Derby Championship with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Cira Baeck and a team silver medal for Belgium at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Nearly 400 of Jojo’s offspring have earned money in NRHA competition, a testament to his strong and consistent influence as a sire. His progeny continue to shine in high-level competition, most recently at the North American Reining Stakes, where NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay piloted NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Graduate CC Rumor Has It to Level 4 Futurity Co-Reserve Champion and Level 3 Futurity Co-Champion honors. The stallion, out of Chics Mainattraction, is owned by Amy Ackerman and was bred by Mary Anne Hall, adding another impressive chapter to Jojo’s legacy.

Top-performing progeny by Jojo include:

• Plus Me Im Shiny (out of Plus One Chex); bred by Upstream, Inc.; nominated by Layla Choate; owned by 2Star Investments LLC; $273,029 NRHA LTE
• Hosss (out of Brennas Dream); bred and nominated (N.A.) by Loren Booth; nominated (Euro) and owned by Nancy Wheeler and Jimmy Nichols; $255,129 NRHA LTE
• Wish I Was Yours (out of Whizzen For Chex); bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Tamarack Ranch LLC; nominated and owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owners Andrea and Tish Fappani; $151,502 NRHA LTE
• HS Marshal (out of Dun Its Dirty Secret); bred and nominated by Gerardo Arturo Fernandez Sanchez; owned by Hacienda Sonador LLC; $116,178 NRHA LTE
• CSG Wisemanfear (out of Tejana Chic); bred by Brent Loseke; nominated by Katarzyna Roleska; owned by Dor Cohen; $101,593 NRHA LTE

With each milestone, Jojo strengthens his place among the most celebrated sires in NRHA history. As he surpasses the $4 million mark, Colonels Shining Gun’s legacy continues to grow, shaping the sport’s future through the success of his offspring.

Photo Credit: Veronika Equine Photography

The National Reining Horse Association is proud to welcome DAG Ventures LLC to the elite group of NRHA Million Dollar Owners. This achievement reflects the dedication and impact of Deborah Good of Crowley, Texas, whose passion for the sport has quickly made waves within the reining community.

Good became an NRHA member in 2014 and began her journey as a Non Pro competitor, earning her first check that same year at the FSRHA Reining in the Spring event. While she has enjoyed time in the show pen, her greatest success has come as an owner. With 22 horses listed under DAG Ventures LLC in ReinerSuite™—nearly half of which yet to reach competition age—this milestone is a testament to the quality and vision behind her growing program.

DAG Ventures LLC crossed the million-dollar threshold in grand fashion at the 2025 The American Performance Horseman. NRHA $5 Million Rider Casey Deary piloted Down Right Amazing to a historic third consecutive victory in the Individual Reining competition, marking a score of 229 and earning $100,000. The win not only pushed DAG Ventures LLC past the $1 million mark in NRHA ownership earnings, but it also solidified Down Right Amazing’s place in history as the first horse to reach $1 million in NRHA lifetime earnings.

“It had never ever, ever, ever, ever dawned on me that he [Down Right Amazing] would leave me as a million-dollar owner, because I have been so focused on him and his career, and making the best presentation of him that I could,” remarked Good of this achievement. “It was so important to me that he reached this milestone.”

Down Right Amazing, a 2017 stallion by NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Gunner and out of NRHA Million Dollar Dam Shesouttayourleague, was bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC and is a standout in every sense of the word. His dam, Shesouttayourleague, adds even more prestige to DAG Ventures LLC’s record. The 2012 mare is by Walla Walla Whiz and out of NRHA Hall of Fame mare Wimpys Little Chic. Bred by NRHA $3 Million Owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Shesouttayourleague was purchased by DAG Ventures LLC in 2021 from Rob Curtis and continues to contribute to the program’s success.

NRHA congratulates DAG Ventures LLC and Deborah Good on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to the continued impact of her horses in the show pen for years to come.

Gunnatrashya has joined an elite class as an NRHA $15 Million Sire, tying with his legendary sire Gunner at the milestone mark. The 2023 NRHA Hall of Fame inductee continues to cement his legacy as one of the most influential sires in the sport, with a pedigree and record that set him apart. Bred by Katarina Dorminy of Georgia, the 2006 stallion is out of Natrasha and has been owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Arcese Quarter Horses USA since the start of his career, achieving remarkable success both in the show pen and in the breeding shed.

Though his time in the arena was brief, Gunnatrashya left an indelible mark. With NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Shawn Flarida in the saddle, he earned nearly $220,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. The pair’s most notable triumphs came in 2009 and 2010 when they captured the Level 4 Open Championships at the NRHA Futurity and the subsequent NRHA Derby.

Gunnatrashya’s success as a sire is defined by the consistent excellence of his offspring. Thirty-four of his foals have earned more than $100,000 each in NRHA LTE. At the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, seven of his offspring advanced to the Non Pro Finals, and 16 competed in the Open Finals. NRHA Million Dollar Rider Martin Muehlstaetter and Good Time To Trashya (out of Good Time Gota Shine) claimed the Level 3 Open Derby Championship, adding $35,000 to Gunnatrashya’s progeny earnings. Good Time To Trashya, owned by Jamie Walters, was bred by nominator Redhead Reining LLC.

Gunnatrashya’s highest-earning offspring include:

• Gunnabebigtime (out of Big Time Jazzy); bred, nominated, and owned by Tami Nelson; $864,903 NRHA LTE
• Gunna Stop (out of Stop Little Sister); bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC; owned by Amber Gokey; $672,762 NRHA LTE
• NRHA Markel Sale Graduate Andiamoe (out of Wimpys Little Chic); bred, nominated, and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA; $438,139 NRHA LTE
• Ten Thirty (out of Dainty Little Step); bred and nominated by Brooke Wharton; owned by Rancho El Fortin; $418,788 NRHA LTE
• Super Marioo (out of HA Chic A Tune) bred and nominated by Hillis Akin Family Partnership; owned by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon; $338,891 NRHA LTE

Gunnatrashya and Gunner now stand as the only father-son duo in NRHA history to both surpass the $15 million sire mark. Their combined influence has reshaped modern reining bloodlines, producing generations of elite horses known for their athleticism, style, and heart. This milestone underscores not only Gunnatrashya’s dominance as a sire but also the lasting impact of his lineage on the sport.

Photo Credit: Cam Essick

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to recognize Gina Schumacher of Gordonville, Texas, as its newest $2 Million Rider. The 28-year-old Swiss native reached the milestone during the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

Schumacher earned more than $20,000 at the event, including a seventh-place finish in the Colston Paving Inc. 4-Year-Old Non Pro Stakes and qualifying two horses for the Level 4 Non Pro Finals. Entering the Derby needing less than $11,000 to cross the $2 million mark, she delivered another standout performance to secure her place in the NRHA record books.

A member of NRHA since 2006, Schumacher earned her first check that same year by winning the Youth 13 & Under at the Swiss Slide aboard her gelding, Top Jac Boy. Since then, she has evolved into one of the sport’s most accomplished non pro riders, capturing major wins at the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, National Reining Breeders Classic, 100X Reining Classic Stakes, and more. In 2023, she proved she could compete with the best in the world when she placed third in The Run For A Million’s Million Dollar Competition, going head-to-head with top NRHA Professionals.

Schumacher’s top-earning finishes in the show pen include:

• 2023 100X Reining Classic Level 4 Non Pro Stakes Champion aboard CS Nifty Sailor earning $100,000
• 2023 The Run For A Million – Million Dollar Competition third place aboard Gunnastepya earning $75,000
• 2024 100X Cowtown Classic Level 4 Open Stakes Champion aboard Take Out The Trash earning $71,000
• 2022 The Invitational Level 4 Non Pro Champion aboard CS O Bingo earning $65,000
• 2022 NRHA Level 4 Non Pro Futurity Champion aboard Gunnin For The Nite earning $60,000

Schumacher became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider in 2022 and continues to ride horses owned by her mother, NRHA $2 Million Owner Corinna Schumacher. With a career built on talent, determination, and a deep passion for the sport, Gina Schumacher’s latest achievement reflects her passion for reining.