In just a couple of days, the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be rocking when 16 National Reining Horse Association Professionals vie for a piece for the more than $1,000,000 payout. The Champion will take home a half-million dollars, and this year’s competition is stacked with both veteran riders and up-and-comers.
Take a look at the stats of the riders who will be competing on Saturday, August 20, and let us know who you’d wager on! If you are not in Las Vegas and want to see behind the scenes footage of the riders, the event, and the winning runs be sure to tune into The Last Cowboy.
**Lifetime earnings as of 8/10/2022
Shawn Flarida
Springfield, Ohio
LTE – $6,978,989
Top 10 Wins:
- 2004 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Smart Spook – $175,000
- 2002 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Wimpys Little Step – $150,000
- 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Tinseltown Fly Guy – $135,596
- 2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Co-Champion – Shine N Spook – $132,635
- 2009 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Gunnatrashya – $125,000
- 2007 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Wimpys Little Chic – $125,000
- 2005 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – KR Lil Conquistador – $125,000
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Shine Colt Shine – $105,215
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Whiz Gata Prize – $104,362
- 2021 TRFAM Reserve Champion – Spooks Gotta Spark – $90,000
Notes: Shawn Flarida took home reserve honors at the 2021 The Run For A Million after an exciting runoff. He is NRHA’s second All Time Leading Rider and was inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 2011. He has ridden and trained several horses that went on to become NRHA Million and Multi-Million Dollar Sires and Dams, including NRHA $12 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step, Reining Triple Crown Winner and NRHA Million Dollar Dam Wimpys Little Chic, NRHA $7 Million Sire Gunnatrashya, and NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine.
Known for his signature green show shirts, Shawn is also a five-time World Equestrian Games Gold Medalist.
His son, Sam Flarida, is following in his father’s footsteps and as a Youth and Non Pro rider has accumulated more than $252,000 in lifetime earnings.
Shawn and wife Michelle live in Springfield, Ohio.
Follow Shawn on Facebook.
Casey Deary
Weatherford, Texas
LTE – $3,058,233
Top 10 Wins:
- 2021 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Ten Thirty – $332,500
- 2012 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Co-Champion – Americasnextgunmodel – $156,750
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Co-Champion – Shesouttayourleague – $142,500
- 2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd – Americas Supermodel – $96,764
- 2020 NRBC Level 4 Open Champion – Americasnexttopgun – $75,000
- 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – Americasnexttopgun – $71,250
- 2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd – Down Right Amazing – $69,122
- 2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th – ARC Gunna Sparkya – $59,690
- 2017 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – Shesouttayourleague – $57,000
- 2016 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – Magnum Starlights – $57,000
Notes: Casey Deary is coming off a big win at this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, winning the title on Americasnexttopgun. He’s also the reigning NRHA Futurity Champion, taking home the 2021 title on Ten Thirty.
Casey Deary grew up in Texas riding horses, taking low-cost colts, training them, and reselling them, allowing him to grow his training business.
Casey and his wife Nicole now live in Weatherford, Texas, where he coaches youth and amateur clients. The couple’s four children – Wyatt, Owen, Joy, and Olivia – can always be found around the reining events and in the show pen.
Casey competed at the inaugural TRFAM in 2019, finishing eighth.
Follow Casey and his team on Facebook.
Nathan Piper
Pilot Point, Texas
LTE – $1,059,785
Top 10 Wins:
- 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th – In Like Flinn – $65,750
- 2019 NRBC Level 4 Open Co-Champion – Patriot – $63,000
- 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Patriot – $45,193
- 2021 TRFAM 7th Place – Patriot – $40,000
- 2019 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open 3rd – Patriot- $24,788
- 2020 NRBC Level 4 Open 6th – Patriot – $21,000
- 2022 NRBC Level 4 Open 8th Place – Patriot – $18,500
- 2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 8th – Independencedayspook – $30,504
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 12th – High Rolling Spook – $19,292
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Dun Gotyer Guns Up – $18,872
Notes: Nathan Piper was born in Bryan, Texas, where he grew up showing reining horses as a youth. During his junior year of college at Texas A&M University, he decided to forgo his Non Pro status to become an NRHA Professional. Nathan graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 and married his wife Jean in 2000.
After college, Nathan moved to Whitesboro, Texas, to work for two-time NRHA Futurity Champion Todd Sommers as an assistant trainer. In 2004, Nathan and his wife Jean purchased a training facility in Madisonville, Texas, where they successfully built Nathan Piper Reining Horses.
Piper Reining Horses now operates out of Selah Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas. Nathan and Jean have two daughters, Millie and Etta.
Follow Nathan’s journey on Facebook.
Cade McCutcheon
Aubrey, Texas
LTE: $1,440,879
Top 10 Wins:
- 2019 The Run For A Million Invitational Co-Champion – Custom Made Gun – $307,500
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Super Marioo – $142,500
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Guns And Dynamite – $105,215
- 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel L4 Open Reserve Champion – Super Marioo – $40,479
- 2021 TRFAM 6th Place – Modern Gun – $50,000
- 2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th – Gunners Town – $42,147
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Super Marioo – $29,858
- 2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Non Pro Reserve Champion – Starbucks Finale – $27,665
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Guns And Dynamite – $22,632
- 2019 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open Champion – Shes Got Good Guns – $21,271
Notes: Cade, along with fellow 2021 TRFAM competitor Craig Schmersal, was co-champion of the inaugural event in 2019. Custom Made Gun, on who McCutcheon won his Level 4 Non Pro Championship in 2015, was shipped from Italy to Texas to train with Cade for a shot at the big money. The gamble obviously paid off with the co-title
Later that same year, Cade won the Level 4 Open of the NRHA Futurity on Super Marioo, securing his spot as the youngest NRHA Million Dollar Rider in history.
Cade comes from a family of top competitors. His father Tom McCutcheon, who is also competing in this year’s TRFAM Invitational, is an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider and Owner. Cade’s mother, Mandy McCutcheon, is an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider as well as a Million Dollar Owner. Cade’s grandfather is NRHA Hall of Fame Member Tim McQuay, an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider and Million Dollar Owner, while his grandmother, Colleen McQuay, is also in the NRHA Hall of Fame.
Cade’s younger sister Carlee is an accomplished equestrian in both reining and English events.
Follow Cade on Facebook.
Arno Honstetter
Scottsdale, Arizona
LTE: $933,944
Top 10 Wins:
- 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Show Me The Buckles – $113,176
- 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th – Hollier Than Thou – $50,947
- 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th – Chicsdundreamin – $47,642
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Whizkey Chaser – $28,061
- 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Chicsdundreamin – $23,789
- 2014 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Colonels Splashy Gun – $22,302
- 2021 High Roller Reining Classic Stakes L4 Open Reserve Champion – Electric Whizkey – $18,534
- 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Special Made Whiskey – $15,120
- 2016 NRBA Level 4 Open 8th – Gunners Special Glo – $16,625
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 14th – See U Saturday Night – $15,873
Notes: Arno Honstetter grew up in Liggeringen Germany, which is in the southern part of Germany in the Bodensee on the Lake of Konstanz. When he was 16 years old, he met National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Famer Ken Wold and spent several years working with Ken in the United States. He moved home to Germany for a while before returning to the United States, where he worked for great trainers such as Andrea Fappani and Randy Paul.
Arno, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Lauren and daughter Tatum, is now the resident trainer for Brenda Joyce and Rick Christen’s Story Book Stables.
Follow Arno on Facebook.
Craig Schmersal
Scottsdale, Arizona
LTE: $4,814,971
Top 10 Wins:
- 2019 TRFAM Invitational Co-Champion – No Smoking Required – $307,500
- 2017 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Championship – Face The Attitude – $142,500
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Championship – Cashing Black Chex – $88,305
- 2005 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd – Wrangle Whiz – $81,384
- 2010 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Championship – Boom Shernic – $75,000
- 2021 TRFAM 4th Place – No Smokin Required – $65,000
- 2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th – Ladysdreamofblueeyes – $53,913
- 2002 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th – Commanders Nic – $52,352
- 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th – Dunits Shining Sun – $51,628
- 2014 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Reserve Championship – What A Wave – $51,000
Notes: Craig Schmersal won the inaugural TRFAM Co-Championship in 2019, tying with Cade McCutcheon. He won the title on No Smoking Required (by NRHA Leading Sire Gunner), who has earned nearly a half-million dollars in competition.
Craig’s wife, Ginger, has won numerous titles and championships in reining competition, and her lifetime earnings are nearing a half-million dollars. Craig and Ginger’s teenage daughter, Addisyn, has also been racking up reining wins, and her lifetime earnings currently sit at $175,000.
Craig, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family, is a two-time FEI World Equestrian Games Team Gold medalist, as well as an Individual Silver medalist.
Follow Craig on Facebook.
Dany Tremblay
Overbrook, Oklahoma
LTE: $1,077,295
Top 10 Wins:
- 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Co-Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $62,500
- 2017 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – PS Mega Shine Chic – $41,000
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 8th – Spooksgottachicolena – $32,110
- 2019 TRFAM Shootout Champion – PS Mega Shine Chic – $26,337
- 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 11th – The Wizster – $22,800
- 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – The Wizster – $21,899
- 2019 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 3 Open Champion – PS Mega Shine Chic – $21,370
- 2017 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 3 Open Champion – PS Mega Shine Chic – $20,589
- 2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 12th – Thug Life – $20,392
- 2021 TRFAM 9th Place – PS Mega Shine Chic – $20,000
Notes: Dany Tremblay surpassed $1,000,000 in lifetime earnings during the 2021 The Run For A Million during the Open Shootout, and he’s looking to continue his success in the South Point Arena this year.
Dany and his brother Fred relocated from Canada to the United States in 2014. Expanding upon their Canadian experience, Tremblay Performance Horses has become one of the most successful reining horse training, coaching and marketing programs in the industry.
Dany has trained and worked with some of the best horsemen available today, including Mike Flarida, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks and Two Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer, with whom he keeps a close relationship.
Follow Dany on Facebook.
Andrea Fappani
Scottsdale, Arizona
LTE: $7,198,649
Top 10 Wins:
- 2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – All Bettss Are Off – $237,500
- 2001 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – RR Star – $150,000
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Spooky Whiz – $142,500
- 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Lil Joe Cash – $142,500
- 2021 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Winding Inferno – $118,750
- 2021 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Mr Farenheit – $118,750
- 2017 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – All American Vintage – $113,936
- 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Spook Off Sparks – $113,176
- 2005 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Big Chex To Cash – $109,633
- 2003 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – NQH Little Jac – $104,342
Notes: Andrea is the winningest rider in NRHA history and the only competitor to ever pass $7,000,000 in lifetime earnings. When Andrea first became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider in 2006, he was the youngest rider to reach that milestone.
Andrea, originally from Italy, currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. His wife Tish, an avid Non Pro competitor with more than $678,000 in lifetime earnings, is an NRHA Million Dollar Owner. His son, Luca, seems to be following in his father’s footsteps and has already won more than $404,000.
Fappani’s other son, Jeremy, is a successful National Amateur Motocross Racer.
Follow Andrea on Facebook.
Jason Vanlandingham
Whitesboro, Texas
LTE: $2,675,118
Top 10 Wins:
- 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Not Ruf At All – $156,750
- 2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $150,000
- 2021 North American Reining Stakes Level 4 Champion – Excessive Ruffness – $100,000
- 2021 TRFAM 3rd Place – A Vintage Smoke – $80,000
- 2016 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Champion – Not Ruf At All – $75,000
- 2019 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $75,000
- 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Co-Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $62,500
- 2019 TRFAM Invitational – A Vintage Smoke – $60,000
- 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Champion – A Vintage Smoke – $57,000
- 2014 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion – Not Ruf At All – $57,000
Notes: Jason and his wife Adrienne live in Whitesboro, Texas, where they keep a small but select group of horses in training. Jason’s son, Dalton, and daughter, Emma, also compete in reining.
Jason is one of an elite group of riders to ever win reining’s unofficial Triple Crown, which entails winning the NRHA Futurity, the NRHA Derby, and the National Reining Breeders Classic on the same horse. He accomplished that feat not once but two times with standout stallions Not Ruf At All and A Vintage Smoke.
Follow along with Jason on Facebook.
Josh Tishman
Weatherford, Texas
LTE: $231,448
- 2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Champion – Gunnarickashay – $33,250.00
- 2021 TRFAM Open Shootout Champion – Gunnarickashay – $30,642
- 2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Gunnarickashay – $30,297
- 2021 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 9th place – My Special Sidekick – $10,023
- 2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open 7th Place – Gunna Outshine Ya – $5,399
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open 6th Place – Lanas Lil Joe – $5,386
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 1 Open Reserve Champion – Lanas Lil Joe – $4,523.51
- 2021 APHA World Championship Show Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Gunnarickashay – $4,389.
- 2019 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 2 Open 3rd Place – Baileys Sidekick – $4,262
- 2021 High Roller Reining Classic Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Xtra Dun Step – $4,147
Notes: Josh Tishman started riding English from a young age, jumping horses in the Northeastern portion of the United States. Originally from Jefferson, Maine, Josh attended college in Montana, rodeoing for Rocky Mountain College. According to Josh, the rodeo coach begged him to ride for them. He agreed, under the stipulation, he could ride the reining horses.
Josh has since worked for multiple NRHA Professionals but has worked at Casey Deary Performance Horses the longest – more than six years. His wife, Layton, is an accomplished barrel racer and has been getting her feet wet in reining in recent years.
The Tishmans make their home with their one-year-old daughter, Emma Grace, at Deary Performance Horses in Weatherford, Texas.
Keep up with Josh on Facebook.
Matt Palmer
Elverson, Pennsylvania
LTE: $749,870
- 2021 The Run For A Million Open Shoot Out Champion – Gunnatrashtheplace – $11,990
- 2017 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open 4th Place – Boom Shien Boom – $9,995
- 2020 NRBC Level 4 Open 13th Place – Gunnatrashtheplace – $9,875
- 2021 NRBC Classic Challenge Level 4 Open Champion – Gunnatrashtheplace – $9,374
- 2013 OVRHA Blue Grass Reining Stakes Wimpys Little Step Derby Level 4 Open Champion – Legends Lil Squeeze – $9,146
- 2019 NRBC Level 4 Open 15th Place – Spitfire Spook – $7,833
- 2019 NRBC Level 3 Open 5th Place – Spitfire Spook – $6,504
- 2009 Carolina Classic ABI Derby Level 4 Open Champion – Whale Of A Whiz – $6,275
- 2016 NRBC Level 4 Open 20th Place – Dun Alotta Chics – $5,500
- 2013 OVRHA Blue Grass Reining Stakes Level 4 Open Champion – Legends Lil Squeeze – $5,450
Notes: Matt Palmer was raised in the horse industry by his parents Guy and Joan Palmer. He has competed since childhood, but reining wasn’t his only interest. While simultaneously competing in the horse world, Matt also dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. He played through high school and college, getting as far as signing with the Minnesota Twins before an injury sidelined that dream. Those years would not go to waste, as the discipline learned along with the mental strength it takes to compete would follow Matt into his career as an NRHA professional.
Matt is a two-time USEF Gold Medalist. In addition to being the youngest member of the USEF team, he would join the WEG team. He is a five-time NRHA World Champion and consistently ranks as an NRHA Top 20 Professional.
Matt also coaches Non Pro and youth riders and has helped them earn AQHA and NRHA titles, make the finals at major NRHA events, and has helped eight of his students earn college riding scholarships.
Follow Palmer Performance Horses on Facebook.
Francesco Martinotti
Whitesboro, Texas
LTE: $310,276
- 2021 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Smoking Trash – $13,415
- 2022 NRBC Level 4 Open 13th Place – Smoking Trash – $11,125
- 2014 IRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd Place – DJ Ruf – $10,774
- 2020 NRBC Level 4 Open 13th Place – Smoking Trash – $9,875
- 2019 NRHA Level 4 Open 24th Place – Smoking Trash – $9,838
- 2018 All American Quarter Horse Congress Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – MMB Spook Gotta Girl – $7,546
- 2021 The Run For A Million Open Shoot Out 7th Place – Smoking Trash – $7,327
- 2021 NRBC Level 3 Open 5th Place – Smoking Trash – $7,133
- 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open 11th Place – Smoking Trash – $7,086
- 2013 NRHA European Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Rambo Bo Sun – $6,410
Notes: Francesco Martinotti is originally from Italy and grew up riding reining horses with his sister, Valentina, until he was given the opportunity to work professionally with one of Italy’s most renowned horse owner, Claudio Risso. It was there he started working as an assistant while training two-year-olds.
Once on his own, he became one of Italy’s top NRHA professionals. In 2015, after winning the FEI European Championship Team Gold medal for Italy, he was approached by NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon with a job opportunity in America to learn from the industry’s top professionals such as NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer and Tom himself.
Since arriving in the US in January of 2016, Francesco has been either a finalist or top 10 finisher in every major open derby or futurity. In the fall of 2017, Francesco decided it was time to start his own business and Martinotti Equine Services LLC was born.
Follow Francesco and Smoking Trash on Facebook.
Jordan McBurney
Arlington, Washington
LTE: $325,686
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Smoke In Whizkey – $16,639
- 2021 NRHA 6666 Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – No Mans Whizkey – $13,415
- 2021 NRBC Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – No Mans Whizkey – $13,315
- 2016 High Roller Reining Classic Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Gibsons Finest – $10,010
- 2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open 10th Place – No Mans Whizkey – $7,968
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 10th Place – Sparklin Whizkey – $7,738
- 2021 The Run For A Million Open Shootout 7th Place – No Mans Whizkey – $7,327
- 2016 High Roller Reining Classic Futurity Level 4 Open 3rd Place – Gibsons Finest – $6,215
- 2017 Reining By The Bay Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Waitin On A Diamond – $5,620
- 2015 High Roller Reining Classic Futurity Level 3 Open Reserve Champion – Waitin On A Whizkey – $4,872
Notes: Wife of fellow TRFAM competitor Sean McBurney. Jordan began showing reining horses in 2009, although she has barrel raced competitively for years. She got started in reining after working a job exercising and grooming reining horses.
She and her husband, Sean, are the resident trainers of Rhodes River Ranch, so typically the couple show horses by Rhodes River Ranch stallion Whizkey N Diamonds, an NRHA Million Dollar Sire.
Keep up with Jordan on Rhodes River Ranch Facebook.
Sean McBurney
Arlington, Washington
LTE: $493,367
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – Rsure Shot Of Whizkey – $26,934
- 2012 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Chics Loaded Gun – $21,447
- 2014 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Guns R For Shootin – $15,563
- 2018 High Roller Reining Classic Level 4 Open Stakes Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $13,976
- 2018 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 3 Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $12,025
- 2021 High Roller Reining Classic High Roller Reining Futurity Level 4 Reserve Champion – Xtra Stone Cold – $11,155
- 2018 High Roller Reining Classic Stakes Level 3 Open Champion – Tinker With Dreams – $9,731
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open – Lil Gun Affair – $8,945
- 2018 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 2 Open Champion – Tinker With Dreams – 8,428
- 2018 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 4 Open 4th – Tinker With Dreams – $8,379
Notes: Husband of fellow TRFAM competitor Jordan McBurney. Sean is the manager and head trainer at Rhodes River Ranch, where he has worked for more than two decades. Jordan is also a trainer at Rhodes River Ranch.
Sean grew up with thoroughbreds and jumpers, but reining seemed like a bigger challenge, and he liked how broke reiners were.
Sean’s biggest win to date came in 2015 when he won the NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Championship on Rsure Shot Of Whizkey. Rhodes River Ranch owns NRHA Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds, and both Sean and Jordan can regularly be found showing the stallion’s offspring.
Keep up with Sean on Rhodes River Ranch Facebook.
Fernando Salgado
Gainesville, Texas
LTE: $721,553
- 2022 NRBC Level 4 Open 4th Place – Gunnabeabrightstar – $32,500
- 2022 NRBC Level 3 Open Champion – Gunnabeabrightstar – $24,921
- 2016 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open Champion – Electric Cha Ching – $21,046
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 12th Place – Loveya – $19,292
- 2018 SWRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Stars And Sparks – $17,112
- 2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 14th Place – Vinny Gun – $14,386
- 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 17th Place – Gunnabeabrightstar – $13,628
- 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open Reserve Champion – Loveya – $13,237
- 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 3 Open 3rd Place – Electric Enterprise – $12,780
- 2016 SWRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – Loveya – $12,671
Notes: Brazilian-born Fernando Salgado was raised in a performance horse family, with both of his older brothers training professionally. He had already proven himself as a successful trainer and showman in Brazil, with several prestigious wins while working for his brother Eduardo prior to coming to the US.
Fernando began his US career in 2010 when he became the first assistant trainer at the newly established Xtra Quarter Horses, home of Wimpys Little Step. Under the guidance of Thiago Boechat, he was mounted on some of the finest Reining horses in the industry, including Shiners Voodoo Dr. This talented trainer also rode under the renowned Andrea Fappani to further his training knowledge.
Along with his wife Sabrina, the NRHA Professional has his own training business at Fernando Salgado Reining Horses.
Follow Fernando on Facebook.
Billy Williams
Aubrey, Texas
LTE: $193,353
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 8th Place – Gunnafoolya – $9,320
- 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open 5th Place – Gunnafoolya – $8,918
- 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open 6th Place – Wimpys Lil Star – $8,485
- 2021 NRBC Development Division Reserve Champion – Tinkers Little Step – $7,628
- 2016 High Roller Reining Classic Stakes Level 3 Open Champion – Gunnafoolya – $6,986
- 2016 NRBC Level 4 Open 24th Place – Gunnafoolya – $5,050
- 2011 NRBC Level 2 Open 4th Place – Strawberry Tag – $4,527
- 2008 NRBC Level 2 Open 4th Place – Whiz N Starlight – $4,482
- 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress 5th Place – Gunnafoolya – $4,263
- 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 2 Open 4th Place – Wimpys Lil Star – $4,236
Notes: Billy placed 13th at the Cactus Reining Classic earlier this year just missing the call back for The Run for a Million, but received a call from Taylor Sheridan inviting him to compete in Las Vegas after another had to withdraw from the competition due to personal reasons.
Billy lives with his wife, Veronica, and son Weston in Aubrey, Texas, and owns and operates Williams Ranch. Billy serves on the Reining Horse Foundation Board and has held active roles in multiple NRHA committees.
Follow Williams Performance Horses on Facebook.