At the recent National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Board of Directors meeting, the 2011 Hall of Fame nominations were approved, featuring the largest class of inductees to date.  The eight inductees include a mix of historic people and horses and some of today’s most well-known names.  Those people who will be formally inducted at the 2011 Awards Banquet include Shawn Flarida, Bob Kiser, Mandy McCutcheon, and Ronnie Sharpe.  Horses include three stallions Boomernic, Shining Spark and Wimpys Little Step, and one mare, Collena Chic Olena.

Shawn Flarida, Springville, Ohio, is NRHA’s only Four Million Dollar Rider, the winner of nine All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity Open Championships, six NRHA Futurity Open Championships, multiple NRHA Derby Championships, World and Reserve World Championships, National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Championships, multiple World Equestrian Games Gold Medalist, team and individual, and the list goes on.  However, the Hall of Fame induction is based on much more than earnings in the show pen.  Flarida donates his time to NRHA and RHSF as well as other worthwhile causes.  He is a true ambassador for the sport, with his engaging smile, good humor, and friendliness toward newcomer and old friend alike.  He stays involved in the sport by participating on committees and in the implementation of new rules and standards as well.  Flarida has followed in the footsteps of some of Reining’s most notable legends when it comes to mentoring new trainers and professionals.  He is generous with his time and knowledge, from which many have benefited.

Bob Kiser, Gainesville, Texas, has definitely changed the geography of Reining.  There can be no doubt that the face of Reining would be greatly different without Kiser and his dedication to achieving the best possible atmosphere, particularly the ground, that reiners and reining horses compete on around the world.  Not only is his touch evident at major reining events around the world, but at the majority of the top ranches and training facilities as well.  He is in demand for consultation when new arenas are being built or old facilities need to be upgraded.  Kiser is a man of high standards and fairness, and riders know that their best interest is at the root of his dedication to making the ground the absolute best it can be.  He is an innovator, inventor, and scientist, all toward the goal of making the footing better for Reining.

Mandy McCutcheon. Photo Courtesy: Waltenberry

Mandy McCutcheon, Aubrey, Texas, is NRHA’s Highest Money Earning Non Pro and the Association’s only female and non pro Million Dollar Rider.  An over-achiever in the show pen by any stretch of the imagination, she first won the NRHA Non Pro Futurity in 1993. She is a champion multiple times at the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, NRBC, All American Quarter Horse Congress Non Pro Futurity, USET Reining Championships, plus many regional aged events.  Her dominance in the show pen is the thing that dreams are made of but that’s not all there is to McCutcheon.  She lends her time to help raise funds for the RHSF and NRHA when needed and donates her time to serve on committees, most prominently the Youth Committee.  As part of one of Reining’s first families, the McQuays, and married into another, the McCutcheons, she works to pay back to the sport that has played such a prominent role in her life.

Ronnie Sharpe, Hamilton, Texas, is a name familiar to those that have been with the sport since and before its birth in Ohio in the mid ‘60s.  And anyone who attended the 2010 NRHA Futurity should have noted that Sharpe was one of the judges.  Not only was he a judge at the very first NRHA Futurity but has repeated as an official many times at NRHA’s most prominent events.  He has judged around the world representing the association and sport as a fair, in-demand, and knowledgeable judge.  Sharpe has also mentored other judges, donated time to promote the NRHA and participated in the formation of the rules for judging and the current NRHA judges program — the most admired and copied system in the performance horse industry.

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Boomernic, owned by Silver Spurs Equine (Mike and Michelle Miola), Cave Creek, Arizona, was the winner of the 1992 NRHA Futurity.  The 1989 stallion by Reminic (NRHA Million Dollar Sire) and out of Docs Leavem Smoke by NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Mr Gun Smoke, Boomernic achieved NRHA Million Dollar Sire status in 2006.  His appearance in the NRHA Futurity show pen is still talked about today as a departure from the East Coast style of reining horse.  Boomernic was a product of the West Coast, a bridled-up reining style that made reiners sit up and take notice.  As a sire, Boomernic’s get include Mr Boomerjac ($138,829), a sire of NRHA Futurity Champion Taris Designer Genes; Commanders Nic ($258,815); Boom Shernic ($278,281); Peek A Boom ($78,308); Boomboomvoodoodaddy ($70,873); Boomernicker ($75,214), and others.

Collena Chic Olena (deceased), owned by Double Run Farm (Monica Watson) of Leland, North Carolina, was a 1995 daughter of NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena and out of Collena Freckles by Colonel Freckles.  In the show pen she was a 1998 NRHA Non Pro Futurity finalist and earned $7,412 in a short show career.  With only three offspring to show, their average earnings are an amazing $218,704.  By Footworks Finest, Collenas Finest Tafy earned $132,986 and the 2006 NRHA Futurity Open Reserve Championship title.  Wimpys Little Chic, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Weatherford, Texas, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step.  She is NRHA’s Highest Money Earning Horse ($516,460) and the only horse to exceed $500,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings.  She was the first NRHA Futurity Champion (2007) to go on and win the NRBC and NRHA Derby the following year, what many have deemed Reining’s “Triple Crown.”  The future can only tell what this phenomenal mare will produce! Collenas Little Wimp was a finalist in the Congress Level 3 and Level 2 Open Futurity divisions and accumulated $6,666 in Lifetime Earnings.  Collena Chic Olena’s impact will be felt through her outstanding produce for many years to come.

Shining Spark, owned by Carol Rose, Gainesville, Texas, is a true product of Rose’s breeding program and long-range plan.  The 1989 stallion is by Genuine Doc and out or her Hall of Famer Diamonds Sparkle. “Spark” was destined to succeed and continue the legacy already established – and he hasn’t disappointed.  An NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire, he first made his mark in the show pen.  He was a finalist in the 1992 NRHA Futurity, placing sixth, and earned the 1994 NRHA Derby Open Championship.  His NRHA Lifetime Earnings total $55,170.  Shining Spark’s mark in the breeding shed is even more substantial.  His many outstanding get include Sailing Spark ($94,282), Just Gotta Shine ($103,925), Miss Rey O Shine ($159,714), and Shining N Sassy ($224,447) among others. The Rose dynasty will no doubt continue through Shining Spark and his long-line of outstanding get.

Wimpys Little Step, owned by Xtra Quarter Horse, Purcell, Oklahoma, continues his meteoric rise, first established in the show pen when he won the 2002 NRHA Futurity Open division.  By NRHA Hall of Famer and Million Dollar Sire Nu Chex To Cash and out of the outstanding Leolita Step by Forty Seven, he was the talk of the Reining and performance horse worlds following his win.  In such demand by mare owners he went immediately to stand at stud.  A wise choice it seems since he has already sired NRHA’s Highest Money Earning Horse, Wimpys Little Chic, who is out of Collena Chic Olena, one of the 2011 inductees.  As an NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire he continues to make history through his accomplishments in the breeding shed.  Among his stellar performers:  Yellow Jersey ($84,061), Wimpys Little Buddy ($202,245), RC Fancy Step ($343,801), Wimpys Little Chic ($516,460), and Wimpys Tonnob ($97,848) among others.  With a start like his, there is little doubt that this young sire’s prepotency will bode him well into future NRHA history books.

As of January 1, 2011 Griffin Quarter Horses (GQH) of Ardmore, Oklahoma is pleased to announce that Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer has taken on the full-time position of Head Trainer at their facility in Ardmore.

Duane will be in charge of the training at all levels at GQH and will be directing the staff and operations.

Duane Latimer originally hails from Bienfait, Saskatchewan, and in his career has earned over 1.8 million dollars in National Reining Horse Association earnings. He won the 2003 NRHA Open Futurity on Lance Griffin’s gelding The Great Whiz.

He rode for Canada at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and won the individual bronze medal for our country.

“It is without doubt that Duane’s addition will allow Griffin Quarter Horses to remain one of the top reining horses breeders, trainers and suppliers in the industry,” say the Griffins. “Welcome aboard Duane!”

~ courtesy NRHA