Category: History

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to announce Americasnextgunmodel as the association’s tenth Million Dollar Dam. This prestigious achievement recognizes Americasnextgunmodel’s exceptional breeding influence within the reining community.

During her time in the show pen, Arcese Quarter Horses USA’s Americasnextgunmodel (Gunner x Cee Dun It Do It) earned nearly $290,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE), all with NRHA $4 Million Rider Casey Deary at the reins. The duo reached the pinnacle of success in 2012 when they rode to the NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Championship, earning $165,000. They also had remarkable finishes at other premier reining events, including the NRHA Derby, the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), and the High Roller Reining Classic.

While the David Silva Sr.-bred mare undoubtedly had a successful show career, her true legacy lies in the remarkable achievements of her offspring. Twelve talented reiners sired by various stallions boast her bloodlines, collectively earning more than $1 million in NRHA competition. This accomplishment places Americasnextgunmodel amongst the elite company of NRHA Million Dollar Mares, a distinguished group of females who have demonstrably shaped the future of reining horses.

The 2009 mare’s most renowned offspring, Americasnexttopgun, has added nearly $426,000 to the dam’s offspring earnings. And, just like his mother, all earnings came with Deary at the reins. Together, they won championships at both the 2020 NRBC L4 Open and the 2022 NRHA L4 Open Derby. Their top check came during their third-place finish at the 2022 The Run For A Million’s Million Dollar Competition.

Americasnextgunmodel’s top-earning progeny include:

• Americasnexttopgun (by Walla Walla Whiz), owned by Puno Performance Horses LLC and Jody Puno, bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, earning $425,893
• Americas Supermodel (by Walla Walla Whiz), owned by Witmarsh Arcese Partnership, bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, earning $231,254
• Americasnextcovrgirl (by Walla Walla Whiz), owned by Maria Fiorucci, bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, earning $101,160
• Live N On A Prayer (by In Like Flinn), owned by Neiberger Performance Horses LLC, bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, earning $75,651
• Americas Gunslinger (by Walla Walla Whiz), owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, earning $56,094

NRHA extends its heartfelt congratulations to Americasnextgunmodel’s owners and breeders for their dedication and foresight in recognizing her remarkable potential. Americasnextgunmodel’s journey to becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Dam is a testament to her unique qualities and a source of inspiration for breeders and reining enthusiasts worldwide.

To read more about this remarkable achievement, check out the September issue of the NRHA Reiner magazine.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to announce Wind Her Up Chic has officially joined the esteemed ranks of NRHA Million Dollar Dams. This exceptional milestone marks a significant achievement in the world of reining and solidifies Wind Her Up as the ninth Million Dollar Dam in NRHA history.

Owned by Tim Anderson of NRHA Corporate Partner 21 Ranch, Wind Her Up Chic has consistently demonstrated exceptional talent, athleticism, and versatility in her offspring. The David Nogle-bred mare also boasts an impressive performance record of $102,711 in NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE) all with NRHA $2 Million Rider Todd Bergen and NRHA $3 Million Rider Jordan Larson at the reins.

“It is a huge honor for me that she is in our life,” said Anderson. “Most people around the industry would say I show stallions and geldings, and I am not a purchaser of mares. But I come from a family whose respect was mainly for mares. When mares have this accomplishment, it is huge. They can only have so many foals, so the odds are so slim to reach this milestone, not to take away from the stallion’s accomplishments.”

“Windy,” by NRHA Hall of Famer Smart Chic Olena and out of Wind Her Up Doc, is a half-sibling to another NRHA Million Dollar Dam, Wind Her Up Shiner—further showcasing her royal lineage.

“What is really amazing about this story is that she and Wind Her Up Shiner are two of nine Million Dollar Dams,” said Anderson. “I cannot imagine it will happen again. Wind Her Up Doc [dam of both] was a treasure of a mare. To produce two million dollar producing mares is major and, to me, makes her the most important mare ever in reining.”

Windy’s first foal, Wound Up Wimp, was born in 2009 and was sired by NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpys Little Step. The mare went on to earn $40,284 in NRHA LTE and launched Windy’s offspring record for the history books. At 21 years old, Wind Her Up Chic has already produced an NRHA Level 4 Open Derby Champion, a National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Level 4 Open Champion, and an NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Champion.

Wind Her Up Chic’s journey to become the ninth million-dollar mare is a testament to her extraordinary capabilities, the dedication of her trainers, support team, breeders, and successful crosses that led to outstanding offspring.

Wind Her Up Chic’s leading offspring:

• Jerseys Baby Driver (by Yellow Jersey), owned by Janice Laney, bred by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, earning $250,253
• Winding Inferno (by Inferno Sixty Six), owned by Teton Ridge Ranch, bred by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, earning $218,038
• Starfire Sixtysix (by Inferno Sixty Six), owned by Kevin Corcoran, bred by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, earning $79,539
• Wimpys Slidewinder (by Wimpys Little Step), owned by Ben Hirschfeld, bred by Oldenburg Farm LLC, earning $67,751
• Gunners Chic Magnet (by Gunner), owned by Josef & Tamara Ahorner, bred by Oldenburg Farm LLC, earning $60,926

Wind Her Up Chic joins the prestigious club of NRHA Million Dollar Mares with 23 offspring having NRHA earnings in the show pen. This achievement not only highlights her exceptional talent but also underscores the importance of breeding, training, and nurturing top-tier reining horses.

NRHA extends its heartfelt congratulations to Wind Her Up Chic, Tim Anderson and Kim Niven, and everyone involved in her incredible journey. We look forward to witnessing the continued success of her offspring and the lasting impact she will have on the reining community for years to come.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to announce NRHA Professional Marco Ricotta as the newest NRHA Million Dollar Rider. Originally from Tuscany, Italy, Ricotta joins an elite group of reining professionals who have achieved this milestone in their NRHA career.

Ricotta’s passion for reining began when he would ride a scooter to the barn at 14 years old. That passion led him to become an NRHA Professional, a role in which Ricotta has consistently impressed audiences with his talent and horsemanship. Throughout his career, he has ridden numerous champions and claimed victories across various NRHA divisions.

Ricotta’s impressive resume includes recent success on Savage Love (SG Frozen Enterprize x Miss Whizzletown), a horse that holds special meaning to the Ricotta family. The Ricotta-bred, -owned, and -nominated 2020 stallion is out of a mare nominated and owned by Ricotta’s wife, Jenny. Miss Whizzletown’s NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) of $104,940 were earned exclusively with the Ricottas at the reins.

“I came from Italy, so I was dreaming, and those dreams came true,” said Marco. “To be a little trainer, this means a lot. I say all the time, ‘We got lucky.’ We raised this mare [Miss Whizzletown] from day one, and she was an orphan. We both showed the mare, and we were successful, and she produced some babies, and it all looks like it is working. Overall, they are all show horses and winning, and that doesn’t happen often.”

Savage Love, known as ‘Lucifer’ because he is devilishly handsome, and Marco earned ninth place in the Level (L) 4 Open and third place in the L3 at the 2023 NRHA Futurity. Recently, the pair scored a 225.5 to finish third at the 100X L4 Open Cowtown Classic Stakes to help push Marco over the NRHA Million Dollar Rider mark. His ability to build successful partnerships with the horses he breeds, trains, and competes with, including Savage Love, has been instrumental in his achievements and makes the journey even more meaningful to him.

“With all the prize money coming up lately, becoming a million-dollar rider is something you can achieve quicker than compared to the past. I am old school and achieved it check by check,” said Marco. “With Savage Love, I don’t have the clients to provide me what I need to compete at this level compared to the larger trainers who are overloaded with horses, so we decided to keep him, and it has worked out.”

Throughout his career, Marco’s top finishes are:

• 2009 NRHA Derby L4 Open Reserve Champion on Hollywoodstinseltown earning $33,848
• 2009 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) L3 Open Champion on Hollywoodstinseltown earning $28,854
• 2010 NRBC L4 Open fourth place on Hollywoodstinseltown earning $39,000
• 2017 NRHA Futurity L3 Co-Champion on Shine Plum Shine earning $21,946
• 2023 NRHA Futurity L4 Open ninth place on Savage Love earning $37,237
• 2023 NRHA Futurity L3 Open Futurity third place on Savage Love earning $26,190

NRHA congratulates Marco Ricotta on this well-deserved accomplishment. We look forward to seeing his continued success in the reining industry. To learn more about Marco’s trip to the million, check out the September issue of the NRHA Reiner Magazine.

In a landmark achievement, Arcese Quarter Horses USA has solidified its position as the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) first-ever $3 Million Owner, while their exceptional stallion, Gunnatrashya, has surpassed an impressive $11 Million as an NRHA Sire.

Arcese Quarter Horses USA has been at the forefront of excellence in the reining horse industry, consistently demonstrating a commitment to breeding and promoting top-tier reining horses. This milestone not only reflects the passion and dedication of Eleuterio Arcese and his team but also the quality of his breeding program.

Arcese became the first $2 million owner at the NRHA Futurity ten years ago. Now, they have rewritten history once again after surpassing the $3 million owner mark after a decade of breeding and owning many of reining’s top athletes.

One of the athletes making headlines for Arcese over the years was 2022 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Champion, Andiamoe (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic). The Arcese-bred and owned mare was destined for greatness with a championship-caliber pedigree and was one of reining’s greatest at the reins. Together, she and NRHA $7 Million Rider Shawn Flarida slid to an impressive 230 score and $350,000 during their open finals run.

Poetically, Arcese Quarter Horses USA’s leading stallion, NRHA Hall of Famer Gunnatrashya, simultaneously crossed a monumental milestone—becoming the fourth $11 Million Sire in NRHA history and the 2023 leading sire with 513 competing offspring, which earned $2.3 million in NRHA LTE (categories 1–12).

The 2006 stallion by Gunner and out of Natrasha was bred by Katarina Dorminy. With an impeccable pedigree and outstanding athleticism, Gunnatrashya was exceptional throughout his career in the show pen, all with Flarida at the reins. Together, they amassed nearly $220,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE) and championship titles at the 2009 All American Quarter Horse Congress L4 Open Futurity, the 2009 NRHA L4 Open Futurity, and the 2010 NRHA L4 Open Derby.

After retiring from the show pen, the sire has consistently produced offspring that excel at the most prestigious levels of competition. To date, Gunnatrashya has 700 NRHA money-earning offspring that have contributed to his journey to the $11 million.

At the 2023 Futurity, Marc & Kathy Gordon’s Electric Gunn (out of Electric Barbie) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gennaro Lendi added more than $50,000 to the sire’s earnings after placing 8th in the L4 Open. This, combined with the 11 other open finalists and 8 non pro finalists, gave Gunnatrashya a monumental push toward this latest historic milestone.

Gunnatrashya’s top five earning progeny include:

• Gunna Stop (out of Stop Little Sister) owned by Amber Gokey, bred by Toyon Ranch LLC, with $672,762 in NRHA LTE
• Andiamoe (out of Wimpys Little Chic) owned and bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, with $430,302 in NRHA LTE
• Ten Thirty (out of Dainty Little Step) owned by Rancho El Fortin, bred by Brooke Wharton, with $418,788 in NRHA LTE
• Super Marioo (out of HA Chic A Tune) owned by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, bred by Hillis Akin Family Partnership, with $338,891 in NRHA LTE
• Trash Talkin Spook (out of I Spook) owned by Marilyn Overgaard, bred by Vicki Dias, with $320,085 in NRHA LTE

NRHA is delighted to share the accomplishments of Arcese Quarter Horses USA and their impressive stallion, Gunnatrashya. Their contributions to the sport worldwide have made an irreversible impact that has changed reining for the better. We look forward to their continued success and future endeavors within all aspects of the sport.

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.