Category: History

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.

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.

Manuel Cortesi, a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Professional from Forlimpopoli, Italy, has officially earned a spot in the prestigious NRHA Million Dollar Rider club. This remarkable milestone underscores his dedication to the sport of reining and his extraordinary success in the arena.

Cortesi’s journey with NRHA began in 2003 when he joined as a Youth member. Two years later, he earned his first NRHA paycheck at the Italian Reining Horse Association Futurity (IRHA) Show, competing in the Limited Non Pro ancillary class aboard The Slide Surprise (ARC Sparkle Surprise x Rulerita Pride). After signing his NRHA Professional card in 2015, Cortesi steadily rose through the ranks, becoming one of reining’s top competitors.

His recent accomplishments include amassing $527,235 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) over the past two years alone, a testament to his talent and consistency in the show pen. He also finished ninth in the 2024 NRHA Top 20 Professionals and qualified to compete in the 2025 American Performance Horseman by finishing sixth in the standings.

A significant portion of Cortesi’s success is attributed to his partnership with July Joe Snap. Bred by Giacomo Ronchi, the horse is sired by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Master Snapper and out of San July Jo Magnetic. Owned by NRHA Hall of Famer Eleuterio Arcese and Impresa Agricola Cuoghi, July Joe Snap, and Cortesi have earned nearly $250,000 together. The pair’s crowning achievement came at the 100X European Classic, where they scored a 231 to win the Level 4 Open Derby Championship.

In poetic fashion, Cortesi crossed the million-dollar threshold with an impressive string of performances at the same show at which he earned his first check nearly 20 years ago—the IRHA Futurity. Riding MC Millenium Falcon, he won the 3-Year-Old Level 4 Open Futurity, adding nearly $70,000 to his earnings. He also claimed the 4-Year-Old Level 4 Open Futurity title aboard Frozen Sven and secured reserve honors on Knockin On Ice, collectively amassing over $18,000 in NRHA LTE.

NRHA is proud to celebrate Cortesi’s achievement and looks forward to his continued contributions to the sport. His talent, work ethic, and partnership with exceptional horses like July Joe Snap are a testament to the spirit of reining.

Cortesi’s top-earning finishes include:

• 2024 100X European Classic Level 4 Open Derby Champion aboard July Joe Snap, earning $75,000
• 2024 IRHA Level 4 Open 3-Year-Old Futurity Champion aboard MC Millenium Falcon, earning $69,304
• 2024 NRHA European Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Champion aboard Frozen Sven, earning $59,061
• 2022 IRGA Level 4 Open 3-Year-Old Futurity Champion aboard July Joe Snap, earning $44,741
• 2023 NRHA European Level 4 Open Futurity Champion aboard July Joe Snap, earning $40,604

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announces Jessicah Keller of Sumner, Texas, as an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. Keller reached this milestone at the Heart of Dixie Reining Horse Association (HDRHA) Wicked Slide in McDonald, Tennessee.

A dedicated reining competitor, Keller became an NRHA member in 1998 and began her career in Youth competition, excelling in the category until 2003. She transitioned to Non Pro competition and steadily built her success over the years, earning top placements at NRHA Futurities and Derbies. Among her most notable achievements was her victory at the 2008 Bill Horn Shootout/Single Shot Derby, where she claimed the Level (L) 4 Non Pro Championship aboard Helluva Chex, a horse owned by Keller’s family at NRHA Million Dollar Owner Hilldale Farm. Together, the duo added $20,000 to their NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE).

One of her most cherished partnerships was with Snips Shining Gun, a mare also bred and owned by Hilldale Farm. Together, they accumulated more than $92,550 in NRHA LTE. Their standout performances include placing fifth in the L4, third in the L3, and earning Reserve Champion in the L2 at the 2019 NRHA Non Pro Futurity.

Keller’s impressive career continued into 2024, where she amassed over $42,600 in earnings, solidifying her spot in the NRHA history books as a Million Dollar Rider. Her final push to the million came at the HDRHA Wicked Slide I, where she clinched the L1 Novice Horse Non Pro title and Reserve Champion honors in the L2 Novice Horse Open Non Pro aboard Gunna Be Rich. She then finished 17th in the 2024 NRHA CINCH Level 4 Non Pro Futurity Championship on Nu Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Snips Shining Gun) owned by Hilldale Farm. The pair also finished 10th in the L3.

Keller’s top-earning finishes include:

• 2008 Bill Horn Shootout/Single Shot L4 Non Pro Derby Champion aboard Helluva Chex earning $20,000
• 2019 NRHA L4 Non Pro Futurity fifth place aboard Snips Shining Gun earning $15,009
• 2008 NRHA L4 Non Pro Futurity fifth place aboard Plus One Chex earning $14,130
• 2008 NRHA L4 Non Pro Derby Reserve Champion aboard Helluva Chex earning $11,361
• 2019 NRHA L3 Non Pro Futurity third place aboard Snips Shining Gun earning $11,213

Read more about Keller’s journey to the million in the March issue of NRHA Reiner.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) proudly announces Chexanicki is the unprecedented fifth horse to achieve Million Dollar Dam status in 2024. With only 13 Million Dollar Dams in NRHA history, Chexanicki is one of the most influential and consistent producers in the sport, contributing to the advancement and popularity of reining on an international scale.

The 24-year-old mare by Bueno Chexinic and out of Ds Fancy Footwork was bred by Seneca Way Inc. and is owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC. With $86,292 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) garnered with the late Kelle Smith and Rick Ford at the reins, the mare showed great consistency earning titles such as the 2004 NRHA Level (L) 4 Non Pro Derby Champion and National Reining Breeders Classic L4 Non Pro (NRBC) Reserve Champion, both with Smith at the reins.

Chexanicki’s highest-earning offspring, Alpha Jac Sparrow, has earned $298,564 with Katsy Leeman Flarida, NRHA Professional Sam Flarida, and NRHA Hall of Famer Shawn Flarida at the reins. The 6-year-old stallion won the 2024 All Star Reining Stakes L4 Open Derby with Shawn at the reins and also took reserve in the L4 Non Pro with Katsy. Additionally, the stallion won the 2022 High Roller Reining Classic L4 Open 4-year-old Stakes and the 2023 NRBC L4 Open and has many additional titles to his name in addition to participating at the 2023 The American Performance Horseman under Shawn.

Known for passing on both talent and a distinctive athleticism, her progeny have displayed a unique blend of skill, style, and durability that continues to excel in the show pen with NRHA Professionals and non pros alike.

Chexanicki’s top-earning offspring:

• Alpha Jac Sparrow (by Spooks Gotta Whiz), bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, owned by Fritz Leeman, $298,564 NRHA LTE
• Chexi Chic (by Wimpy Chic), bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, owned by Lauren Love, $159,088 NRHA LTE
• Rufanicki (by Lil Ruf Peppy), bred by Sam Smith, owned by Shaunda Blinzler, $144,656 NRHA LTE
• Alpha Black (by Wimpy Chic), bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, owned by Circle Y Ranch, $96,066 NRHA LTE
• Smokin Something (by Gunner), bred and nominated by Cinder Lakes Ranch, owned by Amy Potts, $58,654 NRHA LTE

Read more about Chexanicki’s journey to becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Dam in the January issue of NRHA Reiner.