Category: History

Winning big in Las Vegas took on a new meaning for the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) newest Million Dollar Owner, Tami Nelson.

When the dust settled at the 2024 The Run For A Million, Nelson’s stallion, Gunnabebigtime, and NRHA $4 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham took home the championship worth $500,000. This propelled Vanlandingham past the $4 million milestone, Gunnnatrashya past the $13 million milestone, and ushered Nelson into the NRHA Million Dollar Owner ranks.

Gunnabebigtime is by NRHA Hall of Famer Gunnatrashya and out of Big Time Jazzy, a mare that Nelson owns. The 7-year-old stallion now has over $862,903 in NRHA LTE, including this year’s The Run For A Million Championship, the 2023 The Run For A Million $100K Shootout Reserve Championship, the 2023 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Derby Reserve Championship, and the 2020 NRHA L4 Open Futurity Reserve Championship.

Nelson and Big Time Jazzy had their own success in the show pen, including the 2015 NRHA Futurity L2 Non Pro Reserve Championship and Top 5 in the L3 and L4. Out of the mare’s $51,617 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE), $48,519 came with Nelson at the reins.

“I feel like this has not even soaked in, really,” said Nelson. “We have been breeding horses for over 20 years, so we think they are all special. We raised Gunnabebigtime’s mother and her [Big Time Jazzy’s] mother. It has been an amazing line, and he is so special.”

Nelson’s dream after earning a Master of Science in Equine Reproduction was to work on a big breeding farm. She ended up in the Texas Panhandle, where she and her husband raised their family with no large horse breeding operations in sight.

“When I met my husband, I raised cutters, and he raised cattle,” she said. “We had friends who brought us to the NRHA Futurity for the Open finals, and I watched it and thought, ‘That looks easy!’ Everyone knows the feeling, and it is so much harder than they make it look. Once I started reining, I didn’t want to do anything else.”

After Nelson had success on her first non pro mare, the family decided to start raising horses instead of trying to purchase additional mounts.

“The horses are amazing athletes and give us so much. I just love them – they are the ones who get all the credit for this accomplishment.”

Significant performers owned by Nelson:

• Gunnabebigtime (Gunnatrashya x Big Time Jazzy), bred, owned, and nominated by Tami Nelson, $862,903 NRHA LTE
• Big Time Jazzy (Shine Big Time x Skippin Whiz), bred, owned, and nominated by Tami Nelson, $51,617 NRHA LTE
• Plus Me Big Time (Shine Big Time x Skip The Hick O Lea), owned and bred by Tami Nelson and Jan Fleet, $50,800 NRHA LTE
• Mr Masota Star (Wimpys Little Step x Cee Another Masota), bred and nominated by Carol and Geroge Bell, now owned by Andrea Weekley, $99,384 NRHA LTE
• Crackerjac Sailor (Cee Blair Sailor x Crome Plated Jackie), bred by David Connor, now owned by Wagman Ranch Inc., $13,027 NRHA LTE

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) recognizes the youngest dam to reach the NRHA Million Dollar Dam milestone, Shesouttayourleague, who reached this accomplishment three years faster than any previous dam and with only five NRHA money earners.

Shesouttayourleague is a 12-year-old mare by NRHA $4 Million Sire Walla Walla Whiz and out of NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpys Little Chic. She was bred and nominated by NRHA’s only $3 Million Owner, Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The Arceses also bred and owned Wimpys Little Chic, who passed earlier this year, and called her “Lexi.” Shesouttayourleague was lovingly called “Little Lexi” by their family.

Her illustrious show career made her original mark on NRHA history with $252,470 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE). Shesouttayourleague earned both the 2015 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Championship and the 2017 NRHA L4 Open Derby Championship with NRHA $4 Million Rider Casey Deary at the reins.

Her owner, DAG Ventures LLC, also owns her top-earning offspring, Down Right Amazing (by Gunner). After finishing third in the L4 Open Finals at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, the stallion became NRHA’s No. 1 leading horse of all time with more than $949,000 NRHA LTE, including 2024 The Run for a Million earnings.

“This has not been a planned journey, and all of my greatest gifts were those I didn’t dare to dream,” said Debbie Good of DAG Ventures LLC. “She was part of that. Part of it is having the opportunity to say yes when an opportunity crosses your path. Both Shesouttayourleague and Down Right Amazing were those opportunities, and I am lucky Rob [Curtis, former owner of both horses] gave me that opportunity.”

“Amazing” boasts a third-place finish in the NRHA L4 Open Futurity, two L4 Open wins at the National Reining Breeders Classic, an Open Shootout Championship at The Run For A Million, and back-to-back wins at The American Performance Horseman.

“It was really important to me to keep him and keep her,” said Good of Down Right Amazing and Shesouttayourleague. “She has more foals to come—four beautiful foals this year—and is still producing.

“They are a family of champions and heart,” said Good.

Shesouttayourleague’s Top Earning Offspring:

• Down Right Amazing (by Gunner), bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, owned by DAG Ventures LLC, $874,134 NRHA LTE
• Need I Say Mor (by Gunnatrashya), bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, nominated by Brooke Wharton, owned by Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC, $87,451 NRHA LTE
• All Eyes Adore Her (by Gunnatrashya), bred, nominated and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, $22,311 NRHA LTE
• Shesnaleagueofherown (by Inferno Sixty Six), bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, owned by Jen Pamer, $11,328 NRHA LTE
• Hesouttayourleague (by Gunnatrashya), bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, owned by DAG Ventures LLC, $5,003 NRHA LTE

Read more about Shesouttayourleague’s journey to a million in the October issue of the NRHA Reiner magazine.

The list of National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Sires nears 60 as Yellow Jersey adds his name to the roster.

Yellow Jersey was bred by the late Peter Phinny. Known for his exceptional decisions when looking at crosses, he chose to breed NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpys Little Step, the second all-time leading sire in NRHA, to Ms Clara Melody. In 2019, Yellow Jersey was purchased by now-owner Maria Fiorucci of NRHA Corporate Partner Elementa.

Throughout his years in the show pen, the stallion garnered $137,617 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) with multiple NRHA Hall of Famers at the reins. After competing in the NRHA Futurity with Brent Wright, the stallion went to Europe. Owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Arcese Quarter Horses USA at the time, Yellow Jersey was piloted by NRHA Professional Stefano Massignan to an Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Derby Co-Championship, an IRHA Maturity Co-Reserve Championship and was in the Top 10 of the NRHA World Standings.

Yellow Jersey then returned to the United States, where he and NRHA Hall of Famer Andrea Fappani won the $100,000-added NRHA World Champion Shootout.

The stallion then competed in the 2013 Kentucky Cup with NRHA Hall of Famer Tim McQuay, then his daughter, NRHA Hall of Famer Mandy McCutcheon, took the reins in 2014. She and the stallion competed in the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. The duo finished the event with a gold medal with Team USA and a bronze in the individual, pushing Mandy over the NRHA $2 Million Rider milestone and adding to the owner earnings for McQuay Stables.

“I feel very proud to have owned him and to have been a part of his life,” said McQuay. “He was just very easy to be around and ride. He was always the same, and whatever level you wanted to be at, he said, ‘OK.’

“We are very proud and happy to be competitive on any horse, but to do what we were doing with him, and to make him a top sire to breed to, winning those events really helped him solidify that career. When we are part of a horse like that, you hope and pray that everything goes like it did.”

The palomino stallion went on to have a successful career in the breeding shed, producing 137 NRHA money-earning progeny to date. Topping the list of his offspring is Jerseys Baby Driver, who has over $250,000 in NRHA LTE. With NRHA Million Dollar Rider Trevor Dare at the reins, the duo won the NRHA Level 4 Open Derby in 2021 and the National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open the subsequent year.

Yellow Jersey’s top earning offspring include:

• Jerseys Baby Driver (out of Wind Her Up Chic), owned by Janice Laney of NRHA Corporate Partner 7 Lakes Ranch, bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, $250,253 NRHA LTE
• Stopping In Jersey (out of Stop Little Sister), owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC, $136,753 NRHA LTE
• Mello Yello Jersey (out of Smart Okie Lena), owned by Kay Schroeder, bred and nominated by Lucie Houde), $85,775 NRHA LTE
• The Star Jersey (out of Nicastar Lite), owned by Ashley Wilson-Hammer, bred and nominated by Jerry Kimmel, $61,052 NRHA LTE
• Bamn Bam (out of Fabulous Guns), owned by Sarah McMahon, bred and nominated by David Silva Sr., $54,301 NRHA LTE

Read more about NRHA Million Dollar Sire Yellow Jersey and this remarkable achievement in the October issue of the NRHA Reiner.

Two stallions combine for over $6 million in offspring earnings as they surpass National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) historic milestones.

Lil Joe Cash

The impressive progeny of Lil Joe Cash helped the stallion cross the NRHA $3 Million Sire mark. The 2008 stallion bred and nominated by Curt and Angie Harris is owned by Lil Jo Cash Inc. His impressive parentage (Nu Chex To Cash x RS Lilly Starlight) passed down characteristics leading to a successful career in the show pen totaling nearly $280,000 in NRHA LTE.

NRHA’s newest Hall of Fame Inductee, Andrea Fappani, led the stallion to his top finishes, which include the 2011 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Championship and the 2012 National Reining Breeders Classic L4 Open Championship.

With over 300 money-producing offspring, Lil Joe Cash’s top earners include:

• Joes Genes (out of Electric Genes), owned and nominated by Andrea and Tish Fappani, bred by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, $180,797 NRHA LTE
• NVR What A Lucky Joe (out of What A Lucky Hit), owned by Morris Kulmer, bred and nominated by Gary Vickrey, $176,593 NRHA LTE
• Whoz Joe Daddy (out of Miss Sunshine Annie), owned by Chandler Winard, bred and nominated by Bahn Quarter Horses LLC, $150,283 NRHA LTE
• This Joe Got A Gun (out of This Girls Got A Gun), owned by Jamie Walters, bred and nominated by Joseph and Sandra Paul, $85,638 NRHA LTE
• Gunna Cash Ya (out of Gunners Blonde Chic), owned by Story Book Stables, bred and nominated by Allison Sutton, $84,405 NRHA LTE

Inferno Sixty Six

Less than a year after crossing his last historic milestone, Inferno Sixty Six has surpassed the NRHA $3 Million Sire mark. By NRHA Hall of Famer Gunnatrashya (out of Snip O Gun), Inferno Sixty Six was bred by Hilldale Farm and is owned by Slide or Die LLC.

The 12-year-old stallion rode to over $205,690 in NRHA LTE with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Franco Bertolani at the reins. The duo earned their top finish during the 2015 NRHA Futurity, where they took the L4 Open Reserve Championship.

Inferno Sixty Six has 212 progeny with earnings on their NRHA records; the top earners are:

• Inferno Thirty Five (out of Madeof Pure Spangled), owned by Stephen Archer, bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, nominated by Mary Jansma, $284,529 NRHA LTE
• Winding Inferno (out of Wind Her Up Chic), owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Teton Ridge Ranch, bred and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, $218,038 NRHA LTE
• Surprizing Sixty Six (out of Dun With Surprizes), owned by Janiene Borror, bred and nominated by Valentin Rascon, $154,868 NRHA LTE
• FS Inferno (FS Smart Doc Chic), owned and nominated by Gilberto Leal, bred by Raul Leal, $142,026 NRHA LTE
• Gangsta Sixtysix (Rush N Cat), owned by Julio Hernandez, bred by Lorenzo Lotti, nominated by Slide or Die LLC, $136,356 NRHA LTE

To learn more about these impressive milestones and see a full list of NRHA Million Dollar Sires, Owners, and Riders, visit nrha.com/milliondollar.

Kim Muehlstaetter has had a summer of success competing as a non professional in the show pen. Now, she adds National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Owner to her list of accomplishments.

Muehlstaetter first became an NRHA member in 1991 and competed in youth classes. Since then, she has climbed the ranks of competition and has won two NRHA Derby Championships, including the 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Non Pro Co-Championship on Smoky Mountain Rein.

Muehlstaetter said she and husband Martin, an NRHA Million Dollar Rider, found Smoky Mountain Rein as a yearling. Martin trained the Texas Horse Power Ranch LLC-bred horse, who they purchased from Sleipner LLC in 2023 so his wife could take over the reins to prepare for the NRHA Futurity.

“It is special when we get to raise them, and we try to buy a few, too,” she said. “It has been a journey for our family, and now our 13-year-old daughter, Sydney, is also part of it. It has become a passion for our whole family. It is fun that we can all share in it and enjoy doing every part of it.”

She has co-owned many horses that she and her husband have earned top honors on, including the Bobby Lewis-bred and -nominated Spooks Grand Slam (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shiney Diamond Lady).

“We keep a handful of broodmares—a lot of them have been mares Martin and I show,” she said. “We breed, train them, and take them through the whole program. The really special ones are ones where we also rode their mom. Spooks Grand Slam would show for me and step up and be a 230 [score] for Martin in the open. His babies will be started at the end of the year.”

The first horse that hooked Muehlstatter on reining was Remedys Magic Potion (Remedys Reply x Remedys Magica.

“This was before there was a lot of money added. She got me hooked in reining,” she said. “Her son, Chics Magic Potion, was the highest-earning National Reined Cow Horse Association horse for years and won the NRCHA Futurity with Bob Avila. She was special and would still be special today.”

Muehlstaetter has had consistent success in the show pen and is $56,587 shy of becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider herself, with the goal of achieving that milestone by the end of the year.

Significant performers owned by Kim Muehlstaetter:

• Spooks Grand Slam (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shiney Diamond Lady), owned by Kim and Martin Muehlstaetter, bred and nominated by Bobby Lewis, $150,458 NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE)
• Smoky Mountain Rein (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Sprats Electricspark), owned by Kim and Martin Muehlstaetter, bred and nominated by Texas Horse Power Ranch LLC, $63,479 NRHA LTE
• Wimpys Little Buddy (Wimpys Little Step x All Thats Dun), currently owned by Madalyn Roberts, bred by Jenny Bertolini, earner of $285,358 NRHA LTE
• TR Baby Blues (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Spooks N Sparks), currently owned by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, bred and nominated by Tamarack Ranch LLC, $107,461 NRHA LTE
• Smokin Dually (Gunner x Diddy Boppin Dually), bred and currently owned by Allison Oseid, $68,567 NRHA LTE
• Daddy Day Care (Nic It In The Bud x Shiners Pretty Woman), currently owned by Copus Performance Horses Inc., bred and nominated by Carol Rose, $101,081 NRHA LTE