Category: History

After the dust settled on a Saturday night at South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Best Shine topped the leaderboard of The Run For A Million’s Million Dollar Competition. Not only did the stallion add half a million dollars to her lifetime earnings (LTE), but he also helped National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Professional Jason Vanlandingham cross the NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider mark and made his mother, Best Stop, the newest NRHA Million Dollar Dam.

Best Stop is by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Custom Crome and out of Rest Stop. Breeder and owner, Marc Wagman of Wagman Ranch Inc., trained the 1999 mare himself, and the pair had a successful career in the showpen. In total, Best Stop amassed nearly $43,000 in NRHA LTE—most of which came with Wagman at the reins. The duo’s top finish came during the 2002 NRHA Futurity, where they took seventh in the Level 4 Non Pro finals.

“Bob Loomis is, in my opinion, the greatest breeder of reining horses, and he’s a close friend who I love dearly,” said Wagman. “When I moved from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma, I would go down to stay and ride with him as much as possible. When Best Stop was a two-year-old, I took her down to Bob’s to get help. He said, ‘Never sell her, she will be the new Rest Stop. You need to keep her because she will be a great mare.’ Prophetic Bob, he was correct. There were several times I almost sold her, and I am so glad she stayed with me— I love her so much. I trained her myself with a lot of help from Bob and Duane [Latimer], and they were instrumental in helping me. We are great friends to this day.”

The mare’s first foal licensed with NRHA was in 2003, a filly named Lil More Rest. Since then, Best Stop has added 31 more offspring to her NRHA records, with 19 having earnings in the association. Her most accomplished progeny is fittingly the horse that helped her cross this historic milestone. Best Shine is a 2017 mare by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine. With Jason Vanlandingham at the reins, the Robert Santagata-owned horse has more than $686,000 in NRHA LTE.

“One thing about her that is really was striking to me is that I bred her to four different studs, and each foal went on to win more than $100,000,” said Wagman. “She crosses on so many studs, which shows just what a remarkable mare she truly is.”

Wagman Ranch Inc. is not only the breeder and owner of Best Stop but is also the breeder of all the mare’s money-earning offspring. Those offspring include:

• Best Shine (Shine Chic Shine) owned by Robert Santagata and earning $686,036
• Hey Joe (Smart Spook) owned by El Picadero, LLC and earning $135,375
• Late Night Stopper (Jacs Electric Spark) owned by Mark and Kathy Gordon and earning $101,637
• Stop Like A Dream (Magnum Chic Dream) owned by Toyon Ranch, LLC and earning $101,097
• Best Stops Belle (Spooks Gotta Whiz) owned by Wagman Ranch Inc. and earning $35,355

Best Stop has had multiple high-selling fillies in the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales, showing the industry’s desire to have one of her special offspring in their barn.

“She’s been a big part of my life. The friendships that I have forged through her and the people that I have in my life because of her truly makes this so, so special.”

It is safe to say Best Stop has earned the right to be considered one of the association’s top producers after etching her name into the history books as only the eighth NRHA Million Dollar Dam. With amazing athletes in her lineage, there is more to come from this incredible mare and her owner and breeder, Wagman Ranch Inc.

This time of year is peak show season for the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA). With many Affiliate Regional Championships and exciting reining events held across the country, it is a great opportunity for riders to add to their lifetime earnings (LTE) and reach new goals for themselves. NRHA Professional Justin “Gunny” Mathison was one competitor looking to hit an association milestone and achieved it during the 100X Reining Classic and South Central Affiliate Regional Championship, where he became the newest NRHA Million Dollar Rider.

At 12 years old, Mathison competed in his first NRHA competition during the Saltgrass Roundup in Rosenberg, TX. It was safe to say he was hooked from then on—as the now NRHA Professional has a show record spanning 29 years within the association. He has shown across the United States and has piloted a wide variety of horses.

Mathison began training professionally in 2001. He and his wife, Monica, live in Tioga, TX, and run Mathison Reining Horses and Just Stitch It, the official retailer of NRHA Outfitters. Outside of his reining endeavors, Mathison has spent time making bits and spurs, including a special set for the Night Stalker Association’s auction at the 2022 The Run For A Million (TRFAM). Additionally, he is a co-host on “The Show,” a podcast run by NRHA Professional and Two Million Dollar Owner and Rider Tom McCutcheon.

Heading into the 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mathison was less than $10,000 away from crossing this career milestone, which he knew and had tracked very closely. Throughout the course of the event, he and his three mounts took home checks in over ten classes—earning more than enough to surpass the NRHA Million Dollar Rider mark.

“I was in the make-up pen, and there were 129 that showed that day, and I was draw 128 on the horse that I cracked it on,” said Mathison. “My wife was texting show management to find out how much money I won, and she is actually who gave me the news!”

His most notable title at the show came aboard Shes Reddy On Line, a 2016 mare owned and bred by Mary Jansma. Together, the duo scored a 224 in the Level 4 Elementa Open Derby, were the ancillary Intermediate Open division high point champions, and won the class earlier in the week. Crossing this milestone on Shes Reddy On Line is fitting for the NRHA Professional who is part owner of her sire, Shine On Line.

“That was very special actually to cross on that mare,” he said. “I was responsible for buying the sire and dam, so she was a direct result of two decisions that I made. To do it for the people I did it for was probably the most exciting part – we met 20 years ago, and very soon after I went out on my own, they were customers. To be so involved in the decision-making that created that mare and for her to be such a special horse is really amazing.”

During the Shine On Line’s show career, the stallion and Mathison garnered $107,692 in LTE. The duo’s highest earning performance came during the 2012 National Reining Breeder’s Classic (NRBC) where they took 4th place and a check of $33,000.

Mathison is eager to push Shes Reddy On Line over $100,000 in NRHA LTE, which she is only $1,500 away from, and looks forward to getting his great group of 2-year-olds into the show pen.

Mathison’s most notable wins on his journey to the million include:

• 2015 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity 4th Place aboard Reddy Aim Shine On (Shine On Line x Guns R Reddy), bred and owned at the time by Mary Jansma, earning $52,636
• 2015 NRHA Level 4 Open Derby Reserve Champion aboard Snap Dun The Bases, bred and owned by Lewisville Development, LP, earning $37,545
• 2012 NRBC Level 4 Open 4th Place aboard Shine On Line (Shining Spark x Oaks Little Diamond), owned by Mary Jansma and Justin Mathison and bred by Carol Rose, earning $33,000
• 2013 NRBC Level 4 Open 4th Place aboard Snap Dun The Bases, bred and owned by Lewisville Development, LP, earning $26,875
• 2021 NRBC Level 4 Open 5th Place aboard Shes Reddy On Line, bred and owned by Mary Jansma, earning $22,500

Photos courtesy of 100X

It’s no secret the name Fappani is synonymous with greatness within the reining community. As the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) all-time leading rider, Andrea Fappani continues to set the standard within the sport and shatter records. Recently, he stamped his name in the history books once again by becoming the first NRHA Eight Million Dollar Rider. In addition, he accomplished yet another rare feat by adding his name to the list of NRHA Million Dollar Owners.

The further you investigate Fappani’s history, the more impressive he gets. Hailing from Bergamo, Italy, the now 46-year-old professional grew up on a dairy farm. His love for reining blossomed from a horse-riding hobby shared between him and his father. That passion grew until Fappani finally moved to the States to pursue a career in the sport and eventually went out on his own in 2003. Three years later, the young professional surpassed his first NRHA million and has only continued to grow from there.

During his climb to $8 million, three owners seem to have found the formula for success with NRHA’s all-time leading rider at the reins: Rancho Oso Rio LLC (owned by Pat Warren), Tim Anderson, and Marilyn Overgaard. Of Fappani’s top 10 earning performances on his way to this milestone, nine were aboard a horse owned by one of these elite NRHA members.

Fappani entered the 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, less than $12,000 away from this historic milestone after amazing performances at The Run For A Million (TRFAM) and Reining By The Bay. Only three days into the competition, he more than surpassed his needed earnings after snagging the Level 4 Open Futurity Championship aboard Bill Coburn’s Vintage Chex for $14,879 and fourth place on Hypnotyze owned by Overgaard, earning an additional $9,565.

Since becoming the first NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider, Fappani’s highest earning performances on his way to eight million include:

• 2022 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition Reserve Champion aboard Trash Talkin Spook, owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $100,000
• 2022 NRHA Futurity 4th Place aboard Gunna Run N Slide, owned by Tim Anderson and bred by Toyon Ranch LLC, earning $78,620
• 2023 The American Performance Horseman Reserve Champion aboard Trash Talkin Spook, owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $75,000
• 2022 NRHA Futurity 5th Place aboard Mic Dropp, owned by Tim Anderson/Clark Reining Horses LLC and bred by Clark Reining Horses LLC, earning $64,159
• 2023 National Reining Breeders Classic Reserve Champion aboard Trash Talkin Spook, owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $60,000

In addition to an impressive career in the showpen, Fappani has found great success as an NRHA owner. Much of that success has been a family affair, with nearly all his owner earnings coming from the success of the people closest in his life. In fact, over 20% of Fappani’s owner earnings are from Spooks N Jewels (Smart Spook x Whiz Jewels), whom he; his wife, Tish; and sons, Luca and Jeremy, rode to a combined $200,285 in lifetime earnings (LTE).

The Fappani family has combined earnings on several other horses, including Icecube, whom Tish and Luca piloted to more than $176,000 in LTE when Fappani owned the 2015 gelding. Icecube’s most notable win came when Tish and the SG Frozen Enterprize x Taris Designer Genes bred Quarter Horse won the 2018 NRHA Level 4 Non Pro Futurity.

In addition to the aforementioned horses, top performers contributing to Fappani’s NRHA owner earnings are:

• Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes) bred by Rancho Oso Rio LLC and contributing $155,438
• Sharp Dressed Spook (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena) bred by Bobby Lewis and contributing $100,891
• Gotta Get Diamonds (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Tinker With Diamonds) bred by Rancho Oso Rio LLC and contributing $66,953
• Litn Up Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Aleena Starlight) bred by Cache Performance Horses LLC and contributing $44,296
• Gunna Chic Dream (ARC Gunna Sparkya x Magnum Chic Dunit) bred by Rabboni Reining Horses and contributing $41,207

Fappani has flown through the milestones within reining and earned the right to call himself one of the greatest riders in NRHA history. Now, he is also considered one of the greatest owners and is one of the few able to call themselves a multi-million dollar rider and a million dollar owner within the association. And, considering his competitive drive and fierce passion for the sport, this impressive NRHA Professional certainly has more to come.

When NRHA Professional Craig Schmersal pulled into Las Vegas for The Run For A Million (TRFAM), he was sitting at around $5,000 away from crossing his next NRHA milestone. When the dust settled, Schmersal had slid his way to more than three times that amount—earning the title of NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider.

In 1988, Schmersal won his first check and added $61.38 to his lifetime earnings. Since then, the NRHA Professional has built a successful reining business in Scottsdale, AZ, with his wife, Ginger, and children Chris, Nick, Brendyn, and Addisyn. Having won many of the sport’s major events, his riding experience has helped pave the way to this new milestone and maintain his status as the association’s third all-time leading rider.

No stranger to pressure, Schmersal piloted two horses to checks during TRFAM’s Open Shoot Out and surpassed the $5 million mark before the show’s final event even began. It was icing on the cake when he earned another $5,000 during the Million Dollar Competition aboard No Smoking Required (Gunner x Icing Required)—a mount the NRHA Professional has ridden to great success on his journey to this milestone.

No Smoking Required is a 2013 stallion owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi. Together, ‘Ice’ and Schmersal have earned more than $458,000 since becoming an NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider in 2018. Most notably, the pair scored an impressive 229.5 to win the inaugural 2019 TRFAM Invitational, although the $307,500 in earnings did not count toward Schmersal’s road to $5 million, making this milestone an even larger achievement.

A seasoned trainer, coach, and horse owner, Schmersal’s passion for reining and NRHA is apparent to all he meets as he continues to impact non pros, youth, and the industry as a whole.

Schmersal’s top earning performances on his way to $5 million include:

• 2021 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition 4th Place aboard No Smoking Required, owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi, earning $65,000
• 2019 NRHA L4 Open Derby 4th Place aboard No Smoking Required, owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi, earning $40,545
• 2019 NRHA L4 Open Futurity 8th Place aboard Starjac Vintage, owned by Teton Ridge and bred by Petra Zeitler, earning $29,791
• 2019 NRHA L4 Open Futurity 11th Place aboard Pale Whiz, owned by Thorsport Inc. and bred by Hickory Creek Ranch LLC, earning $20,316

When NRHA Professional Casey Hinton stepped into the arena during the Million Dollar Competition at this year’s The Run For A Million (TRFAM), more was up for grabs than the half-a-million-dollar first prize. Hinton was sitting less than $15,000 away from becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. In the end, he and his own Magnums Custom Dream marked an impressive 225.5 and tied for eighth place—earning $20,000 and officially making Hinton NRHA’s newest million dollar rider.

“I don’t think you ever start out with targets, but I think it is really special one that I reached because my era didn’t have the kind of money you have nowadays,” said Hinton. “I get to do something I really love, and to have it work out for you in this way is really special. Having this happen at The Run For A Million, it was so special and exciting, and the crowd felt like it does on Saturday night at the [NRHA] Futurity finals. It is the most exciting thing we do. I had a very big support group and family there that doesn’t often get to see what we do, so it made it very special.”

Hinton is no stranger to the NRHA history books. In 2021, he marked his name among the extraordinary list of NRHA Million Dollar Owners. This accolade was the natural next step for the NRHA Professional, who can often be seen riding his own horses in the show pen—a testament to the strong breeding and training program Hinton has created with his wife, Kathy. Together, the duo established Cedar Ridge Stallion Station, which they saw to great success before handing the reins over to Josh and Kelsey Crawley in 2021.

Growing up in Ohio, Hinton began showing horses through the local 4-H program. His riding career further bloomed at Findlay College where he worked with NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Dale Wilkinson. Later, he worked with horsemen Doug Lilly and Al Dunning. Eventually, Hinton ventured out on his own and now owns Casey Hinton Reining Horses in Whitesboro, TX.

“I have to thank my wife, Kathy. It is a team thing,” he said. “It was me riding, but it has always been a team thing with us. I have passed the million dollar owner milestone, and there’s only a few of us that have crossed as both riders and owners. My next goal is to reach it as a breeder and to make it the trifecta. I plan to keep enjoying this as long as I am able to compete and keep doing it!”

There have been many horses over the years helping push Hinton to a million in earnings. If you look at the list, you’ll find several horses sired by NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream, owned by Viola Scott. In 2004, Hinton rode Magnum Chic Dream in the 2004 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show and took home the Senior Reining title.

One of Hinton’s successful Magnum Chic Dream-sired mounts is Magnums Custom Dream (by Gunna Be Custom), who he rode to the 2022 Level 3 Open NRHA Derby Championship, 6^th in the Level 4 that same year, and who ended up giving him the final push across the million at this year’s TRFAM. He earned his highest paycheck to date on his own gelding (now owned by his wife, Kathy). Hinton rode Lil Magnum Jessie (Magnum Chic Dream x Lil Ruf Jessie) to the Level 4 Open Reserve Championship at the 2009 NRHA Futurity and added $117,478 to both his rider and owner earnings.

Hinton’s other top performances and paychecks on his road to the million include:

• 2022 Level 3 NRHA Derby Champion aboard Magnums Custom Dream earning $33,250
• 2017 Level 4 NRHA Derby 8^th Place aboard Mega Mag earning $30,546
• 2007 Level 4 Open National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) 11^th Place aboard Smarty Starlight earning $21,500
• 2017 Level 3 Open NRHA Futurity aboard Mega Mag earning $20,849
• 2021 Level 4 Open NRBC 13^th Place aboard Lil Magnum Jesse earning $20,000

Few in NRHA history have earned the right to call themselves both an NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Owner. Hinton’s addition to this prestigious list is a testament to his talent and passion for reining. His legacy is one that many admire and is certain to be built upon in the years to come.