Newest NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire

BY HAYLEY LEWALLEN

In less than nine months after earning his Four Million Dollar Sire status, Gunner (AQHA Colonels Smoking Gun; APHA Colonels Smokingun) has become The National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) fourth, Five Million Dollar Sire. As of May 13, 2013, the NRHA Hall of Fame inductee has official offspring earnings of $5,096,543.

“We feel very lucky to have another great horse in our life, Hollywood Dun It being the first. No matter how great any horse is, it still takes all the people in his life to make him successful. We have so many people to thank for his success and we just want each of them to know how much we appreciate their investment in Gunner and our program,” said Tim and Colleen McQuay after learning of the achievement.

Several of Gunner’s progeny had a successful show at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) earning over $150,300 in the Challenge classes and Open and Non Pro finals alone. This final push gave Gunner the amount he needed to reach the five million dollar mark. Some of the top earners included: Americasnextgunmodel owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA. and ridden by NRHA Professional Casey Deary; HF Mobster owned by Heritage Farms/Rhodes River Ranch and ridden by NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Professional Jordan Larson; Chics San Guns owned by S. Coguaike and ridden by NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider, Hall of Fame inductee and Professional Shawn Flarida; Always Gotyer Gunsup owned by McQuay Stables and ridden by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Mandy McCutcheon; Customized Gunner owned by McQuay Stables and ridden by Mandy McCutcheon; and Gunsmokes TNT owned by Mary Jansma and ridden by NRHA Professional Sebastian Petroll.

Bred by Eric Storey of Henagar, Ala., Gunner is the top NRHA earning offspring of Colonelfourfreckle (Colonel Freckles x Miss Solano). Gunner is out of Katie Gun who has produced NRHA earners of more than $544,000. The 1993 stallion currently stands in Tioga, Texas at McQuay Stables, Inc. and is owned by McQuay Stables, Inc. (NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider and Hall of Fame inductee Tim McQuay and wife Colleen). Gunner earned nearly $175,000 in his career. His accolades include:

• 1996 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion ridden by Clint Haverty
• 1997 NRHA Derby Level 4 Non Pro finalist ridden by Kim Sloan
• 1998 NRBC Level 4 Open Reserve Champion ridden by Clint Haverty
• 1998 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist ridden by Clint Haverty
• 2001 USET Festival Of Champions National Reining Champion ridden by Bryant Pace