National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Sire Chocolate Chic Olena was laid to rest on January 22.
NRHA Million Dollar Sire Chocolate Chic Olena. Photo by Cam Essick.
The 29-year-old stallion, by Smart Chic Olena out of Jae Bar Felcia, left his mark on the industry. With his owner Carter M Smith, he finished third at the 1996 NRHA Futurity, then the pair came back the following year to win the NRHA Derby and Super Stakes. NRHA Professional Darren Stancik and NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani also piloted the stallion to numerous titles. Those included an American Quarter Horse Association World Championship in Senior Reining, and four AQHA Reserve World Championships in Amateur and Junior Reining.
Chocolate Chic Olena’s offspring passed the million-dollar mark in earnings in 2017, with his highest money-earner, Chic Magnet, accounting for more than $139,000.
Chic Magnetic (out of Shiners Crystal) $139,507.25
Ghirardelli Chic (out of Full Sail Sue) $75,313.57
Mr Chocoholic (out of Lady Bee Great) $65,889.98
Mistresses Milky Way (out of Shiners Mistress) $62,615.91
Smart Coco Chic (out of Star Dust Dun It ) $45,785.77
On January 29, Smith posted on social media, saying,
One week ago, Chocolate Chic Olena was laid to rest at the age of 29. I’ve been trying to find the words all week to express what this horse means to me. He was my heart horse…. My once in a lifetime horse. He was my first real reining horse and he set the bar very high. He had a huge heart and the athletic ability and mind to match. Max, I hope you are up in heaven with Darren. He will be happy to see you.
Thank you, Tish, Jeremy, Luca, and Andrea Fappani, for taking care of Max for almost two decades. He was able to live out retirement being treated like the King he was.
Chocolate Chic Olena meant a lot to so many people. I want to thank everyone that helped us along the way. XOXO
The NRHA family sends our sincerest condolences to Carter and all of Chocolate Chic Olena’s connections.
The reining and equine industry lost an incredible horseman on January 18. Clark Bradley, Ohio, was a two-time NRHA Open Futurity Champion, winning those coveted titles in 1968 and 1974. He was inducted to NRHA’s Hall of Fame in 1994.
Two Time NRHA Open Futurity Champion Clark Bradley
Clark also served as President of NRHA, as President of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association and as a National Director for the American Quarter Horse Association.
The accomplished horseman collected numerous All-American Quarter Horse Congress wins in western pleasure, reining, roping and cutting, and was an AQHA, NRHA and NSBA judge.
Bradley was an instructor at the University of Findlay for 26 years, and became an active coach with the University’s western equestrian team in 1996. He has helped coached several national championship teams and two reserve national championship squads.
The NRHA family sends our sincerest condolences to Clark’s loved ones and friends.
Full Obituary:
Clark Rickard Bradley
July 30, 1945 – January 18, 2022
Clark passed away at his home in Newark, Ohio, where he and his wife of 25 years, Bonnie Bradley, had recently moved.
Clark was born in Hilliard, Ohio to Bailey “Stretch” Bradley and Betty Rickard Bradley. He graduated from Hilliard High School and from the Texas Christian University Ranch Management Program. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, completing boot camp training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC.
He spent his life dedicated to the training of horses, showing horses, teaching, judging and mentoring future horse trainers.
For over 30 years Clark was an instructor in the University of Findlay Western Equestrian Studies Program and was Assistant IHSA Coach, winning multiple IHSA National Championships. He represented AQHA, NRHA and NSBA as he judged horse shows all over the world. He judged the AQHA World Championship Show 4 times and the NRHA Derby 3 times. He conducted horse training clinics throughout the US and Canada as well as youth and adult horsemanship and reining schools for over 40 years.
Clark was honored by the horse industry as the 2001 AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year, NRHA Hall of Fame in 1994, All American Quarter Horse Congress Hall of Fame in 2008, the recipient of the Southern Belle Living the Mission Award in 2013 and in 2015 was presented the AQHA Most Valuable Professional by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association.
Clark served the NRHA as President, member of multiple committees, was on the board of Directors for over 25 years and a NRHA Futurity Live Webcast commentator. He won the NRHA Reining Futurity 2 times. He served the OQHA with 2 terms as President, Director for over 40 years and became an Honorary Director in 1988. AQHA was a large part of Clark’s professional life. He served on the Show and Contest Committees for 31 years and was past Chairman for the Show Committee and the Show Council. He was a member of the Professional Horsemen Council and Chairman for the Animal Welfare Committee.
Over the course of Clark’s career, he and his clients showed horses to wins in NRHA, the All American Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA from reining to cutting to ranch riding and many other disciplines. Clark was highlighted in several publications through the years such as the AQHA Journal, NRHA Reiner, Western Horsemen, OQHA News, Quarter Horse News, Performance Horse and University of Findlay Publications.
Clark is survived by his wife, Bonnie, son CR Bradley of Collinsville, Texas (wife Rose), stepdaughter Brianna Stone of Newark, Ohio (husband David), grandsons Cooper, Tanner and Austin. Sisters, Coralie Davis of Tyler, Texas, Mary Bradley of Granbury, Texas, Marilyn Kay Crowson of Louisville, Mississippi, and brother Bill Bradley of Mt Vernon, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, the family is honoring Clark’s request that donations be made to the AQHA Professional Horsemen Endowment. Gifts can be made securely online or be mailed to:
Early in 2022, the National Reining Horse Association’s Reining Horse Foundation announced the expansion of its scholarship program, and the deadline to apply for one of the scholarships is quickly approaching.
The RHF Board of Directors approved increasing the number of RHF scholarships from eight to 10, while at the same time growing the annual funding support for these awards from $13,000 to $28,000. In addition, several scholarship amounts are rising, including the three top awards, which will increase from $2,500 to $5,000 each effective this year.
The scholarships will be structured as three at $5,000; three at $2,500; three at $1,500 and one at $1,000. Selection is based on financial need, academic record, involvement in the school and community, a special essay, and references.
The scholarships can be used for college, trade, or technical schools, but to be considered, all applications must be postmarked by March 1.
To apply for a scholarship, an applicant must be a current NRHA member and must have been a member for at least 24 months prior to applying. The applicant must also be a senior in high school. A student selected for an RHF Scholarship as a senior may then reapply for a second scholarship if she or he meets all other criteria.
“One of the benefits of maintaining NRHyA membership is eligibility for these scholarships. RHF donors are pleased to support youth reiners, whether you are attending a trade or technical school, junior college or a university program,” noted Leslie Baker, RHF Executive Director.
The NRHyA now offers more than $60,000 in scholarships annually. In addition to the RHF Scholarships, members can earn NRHyA Affiliate Regional Scholarships and scholarships through the Varsity Reining Club and activities such as the annual CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest. “Continuing education is incredibly valuable, but at the same time can be costly. I encourage all NRHyA members to pursue any scholarship opportunities available, especially these that are dedicated to youth in the reining industry,” noted Sara Honegger, NRHA Manager of Youth, Professional, and Affiliate Programs.
The RHF Scholarship application can be found here.
More details about the numerous opportunities for NRHyA scholarships can be found here.
For details on contributing toward youth programs, contact Baker at (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or email rhf@nrha.com.
Cinder Lakes Ranch has long been a supporter of not only reining, but the western performance horse industry as a whole. The facility, which focuses on reproduction and horse sale services, has been a National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partner in the past. In late 2021, Cinder Lakes Ranch once again joined NRHA’s Corporate Partner family.
“It is an honor for NRHA to join with Cinder Lakes Ranch on a corporate partnership level, once again! Thank you to Rick and Jade for continuing to support NRHA in service and sponsorship,” noted Sammi Miller, NRHA Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Communications.
Cinder Lakes Ranch, located in Whitesboro, Texas, is owned by Rick Ford and ran by Rick and his wife, Jade. “Our primary focus is stallions, and we are a full-service management company. We export all over the world, and cover every continent. I think the only major country we haven’t shipped to is China,” Ford explained. “We also do mare management, sale fitting, and just try to be full service for our clients.”
In fact, Cinder Lakes Ranch shipped more than 750 shipments of frozen and just under 3,000 shipments of cooled semen in 2021. “It’s kind of funny, we had a meeting with FedEx recently and have an in-person account manager that came to visit.” He laughed, and added, “Apparently we bumped up to a higher shipping bracket.”
Rick has been involved with horses his whole life, beginning with 4H. “I guess I’m kind of old school with how I got into it. My first trainer was Darren Stancik when I was a youth. I kind of wanted to do something a little more, and then my parents actually got the breeding part of it going. When we moved to Texas, I took that over,” he recalled.
The Cinder Lakes Ranch business model has evolved over the years. “In the beginning, when we were first a Corporate Partner, we were more of a private operation. Now that we’ve come back, we’re more of a commercial operation. That has allowed us to better service our customers,” Ford explained.
Cinder Lakes Ranch stands several heavy-hitting stallions from the reining, cow horse, and barrel racing industry, headlined by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz, whose NRHA lifetime earnings exceed $346,000. Joining Spooks Gotta Whiz in the lineup are ARC Gunna Sparkya, PS Mega Shine Chic, Snip O Lution, Wimpys Littlecolonel, Hey Joe, Jacs Electric Spark, Reysin On The Rocks, Spatatino, What A Wave, and Shiners Voodoo. Other stallions in the lineup are A Dash Ta Streak, A Streak Of Fling, Al Cappone, Barue, Bullseye Bullion, Heavenly Firewater, Jets Smashin Cash, JKL Raynin Firewater, JL Dash Ta Heaven, and Tres Fortunes.
Learn more about Cinder Lakes Ranch, its services, and stallion line up at CinderLakesRanch.com.
At the urging of industry peers, White River Ag Products has joined the lineup of National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partners. White River Ag Products is owned by a trio of Vernon brothers: Richard, Todd, and Craig. Richard Vernon met Kevin Colston of NRHA Corporate Partner Colston Paving, and the two hit it off.
“Kevin asked me why we weren’t a Corporate Partner, and I said that I didn’t know enough about it and that I didn’t see anywhere it could benefit our businesses,” Richard explained. White River Ag is a grain and feed producer serving mostly Northern Wisconsin. He continued “After Kevin mentioned it to me, I discussed it with Frank Costantini [of Markel Insurance] who explained to me that there is much more to NRHA Corporate Partnership. Frank introduced me to Sammi [Miller], and that’s how it all went. My brothers and I had a sit-down and said, ‘let’s do it!’”
Miller, NRHA Sr. Director of Corporate Relations and Communications, said, “It is with joy that NRHA welcomes White River Ag as a new Corporate Partner. Richard Vernon’s solid attachment to our sport will make for a strong partnership. We look forward to growing with White River Ag!”
Led by their mother, Louise, a Western Saddle Clubs Association and 4-H judge, the Vernon brothers grew up showing pleasure horses and gaming, but once they discovered reining, they were hooked. Richard shared, “Larry Kasten introduced my brother, Todd, to reining when my kids were little. We followed his lead and fell in love with it. We like the competitiveness, and the way it is judged by points, but, mostly, we like the people. When you have a good ride, people cheer you on. They’re happy for you.”
Richard’s daughter, Allana Vernon-Michol, and daughter-in-law, Jenna Vernon, show reiners, as does Craig’s daughter and daughter-in-law, Paige Vernon-Zebzyck and Molly Vernon.
Through White River Ag Products, the Vernons now own more than 60 reining horses. “We have some with our resident trainers, Tanner and Christina Boyes. We also have some with Tom McCutcheon, Brian Welman, Dallas Cunningham, and Jeff Kasten,” Richard explained. “We put seven in the Futurity this year, and three made it back to the finals: one each with Tom, Tanner, and Christina. It was super exciting. We had a great year!”
The Vernons know that sponsorships are important. White River Ag Products has been a longtime supporter of their local North Central Affiliate shows including the derbies, futurities, and rookie shootouts. “We also sponsor some youth stuff, for the affiliate and for the club,” Richard added.
“I am looking forward to meeting more people and growing our network through this NRHA Corporate Partnership,” he said. “We are pretty excited about this sponsorship. I think it’s going to be fun, and I look forward to learning more about the industry.”
Located near the shores of Lake Superior, White River Ag Products is situated on 2500 acres of prime farmland where a wide variety of grains are harvested for energy and animal feeds. The business began in 2011 on 800 acres in Mason, Wisconsin, and was grown by the Vernon family to include a seed cleaning and packaging facility, complete equipment servicing shop, a machine storage building, straw storage facilities, and pellet mill factory, and a retail store. For more information about White River Ag Products, visit whiteriverag.com.
