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Carolina Fall Classic

October 29, 2011 – Shawn took two colts that he had never shown before to the Carolina Fall Classic futurity, Willaimston, NC, to see where they would fit into his Oklahoma City show string. He couldn’t have been more happy with the way both colts showed and is looking forward to showing them again. He marked a 147.5 on Big Shiner to win the Open Level 4 futurity and placed third on Blue Collar Tag. Based on their performance it looks like we will get to see Shawn show these two talented horses again in December.

2011 Congress

October 12, 2011 – Another Congress has come to a close. Shawn rode Shez Dun Steppin and Smart Merada Rey to matching scores of 223.5 and earned the co-reserve championship in the Congress Open Futurity Level 4. Rick Clark rode Wallawalla Bangbang to the Congress Non Pro Level 4 & Level 3 futurity reserve championship with a score 216.5. Kim Crupper and Karen Shedlauskas were also Non Pro Futurity finalists.

Quistador, owned by Gus & Gaynia Revenberg, took Shawn to the Congress $3000 Open class with a score of 230. Ann Admonius rode Wimpys Tonnob to win the $3000 Non Pro & $1000 Intermediate Non Pro class with a score of 218.

The Tradition Futurity

September 10, 2011 – Smart Merada Rey, owned by Gaynia Revenberg, was a winner at the Kentucky Horse Park again. This time he marked a 226 to win the $7500 Open Level 4 futurity. Shawn was second on another Revenberg entry, Splashin In The Wave. Karen Shedlauskas won the Non Pro futurity Level 3 on Hesa Genuine Friend. Kim Crupper and Heza Little Twisted were second in the Level 3. Allen Crupper rode Prize Chex to win the Non Pro futurity Level 1 & 2.

DRHA Dorminy Plantation Futurity

August 13, 2011 – Shawn headed south to Perry, GA for the DRHA Dorminy Plantation Futurity with two more futurity prospects. He has been on the road the last three weekends in an effort to sort through his string of futurity prospects. This weekend found him in the winners circle again. This time he was aboard Jeff Stern’s Rowdys Pistol, a fancy gelding by Custom Pistol.

NCRHA Futurity

 

 

August 6, 2011 – The truck and trailer barely stopped moving after the Kentucky event before Shawn loaded up again and headed north to the NCRHA Futurity, St. Paul, MN to test drive three more futurity prospects. He couldn’t have been more excited to win the event on Shez Dun Steppin, owned by Clark-Wolfe Reining Horses, with a score of 224.5.

Her mother, Sheza Dun Dry, is a favorite show horse of Shawn’s. He won the Congress Novice Horse Open class and many other major event classes on this great mare. Sheza also produced another great winner for Shawn, BR Sheza Cameo Jac, who was the Congress Open Futurity reserve champion. This fancy filly was born, raised and trained at Shawn Flarida Reiners.

Clayton Woosley HOF Reining

July 31, 2011 – ith almost no relief from the heat in the month of July, no one was surprised when the temperature remainder over 100 degrees in Kentucky the last week of July. Shawn took a full load of futurity and derby horses to the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY for the event named in honor of a few Hall of Famer, Clayton Woosley. Although the show ran almost day and night, it was a good show for Team Green. This was the first trip to the show pen for some of his three year olds and he had a little unfinished business with Quistador.

Shawn won the $3000 Open Futurity aboard Smart Merada Rey, owned by Gus and Gaynia Revenberg, with a score of 222.5. His assistant, Keith Ceddia, rode Wimpy Bar The Door owned by the Barren Ranch, to the co-championship of the Open Levels 1, 2 & 3 futurity with a score of 220. Kim Crupper rode her own Chics Love Chrome to win the Non Pro Level 3 futurity, while her husband, Allen, rode Prize Chex to win the Non Pro Level 1 & 2 divisions.

Quistador finally found his day in the sun when he and Shawn marked a 231 to win the Level 4 Open Derby. Ann Admonius rode Wimpys Tonnob to earn paychecks in all four Non Pro derby divisions as well as picking up the Prime Time reserve championship. Vincienzo Santos rode Hollywood Mojo, owned by John and Kristy Milchick, to the Open Level 2 7 & Up reserve championship. They also earned paychecks in Level 3 & Level 4.

NRHA Derby

July 2, 2011 – It sure was hot in Oklahoma City for the NRHA Derby, but it didn’t seem to bother our team. Shawn rode Shine Chic Shine and Whizkey N Diamonds to a three way tie for the Open division co-reserve championship. Both horses marked a 226.5 for the reserve championship. Quistador tied to win the first go round with an impressive 229, but had an interesting bobble in the finals that resulted in a score of zero. No one was more disappointed than Shawn, but he is confident Quistador’s time to shine will come soon. Rick Clark, riding Wimps Chocolate Chip, earned a finals berth in the Non Pro Level 4 and Level 3 finals.

With everyone trying to fight the heat Shawn & Michele thought they would try to cool things down on Thursday afternoon with an old fashioned ice cream social. Michele was dipping and all the fixin’s were laid out to sample. It was a great break form the heat and we didn’t have to worry about the ice cream melting in that 100 degree – it was getting goobled up too fast!

 Thursday evening everyone traveled to the National Western Heritage Museum & Cowboy Hall of Fame for the 2011 NRHA Awards Banquet. Shawn was honored as the 2010 Leading Open rider before he was inducted into NRHA’s Hall of Fame. He joined his brother Mike and many people and horses that have changed the face of reining. He was introduced by his wife of 20 years, Michele, and his oldest son, 16 year old Cody. Shawn’s parents, Bill and Betty, as well as two of his three brothers, Mike and Mark, joined him and his family of Michele, Cody, Courtney and Sam to celebrate this impressive milestone.

In addition to his Hall of Fame induction, Shawn remains NRHA’s leading rider and the only $3 Million & $4 Million Dollar rider in NRHA history. Of course, for a guy known for his work ethic, it was back to business as soon as the banquet was over. He had Non Pro finalists and three Open finalists to get ready in the next two days. He was back in the barn just a few hours after the party.

Carolina Classic Derby

May 15, 2011 – Team Green headed to the Carolina Classic without their fearless leader, but things went very well in his absence. Able Flarida assistant, Chenzo Santos, took four non pro clients to the show and all four of them made the finals. Jeff Kirkbride rode KR Smart Lil Devil to the Carolina Classic & ABI Intermediate Non Pro reserve championship as well as placing third in the Classic & ABI finals. Jeff Stern qualified for all three finals aboard Sugars Lil Whiz, Rick Clark qualified for the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro finals in both events and Ann Admonius rode Wimpys Tonnob to all three finals as well.

Great job Team Green!

Kentucky Cup Reining

April 2011 -Shawn was excited to be a part of the inagural Kentucky Cup Reining which was held at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park along with the Rolex Three Day Event. He and his old buddy, KR Lil Conquistador, marked a 226.5 to win the Individual Championship that ran concurrently with the Team competition.

They were also a part of the team sponsored by Ariat that included Lyle Lovett riding Smart N Shiney and Lisa Coulter riding Western Whiz. As a team they finished in fourth.

NRBC

April 2011 – Shine Chic Shine had to prove that he was the winner twice at the NRBC. As the last draw of the open finals, the handsome palomino stallion marked at 229.5 to tie Whiz It A Chic and Todd Sommers for the lead. With only a brief recovery period, Shine Chic Shine returned to the arena to post an even better score of 231. “I always knew he was a good horse, but the heart and courage he showed tonight was incredible. I’m so glad that everyone got a chance to see just how good of a horse he is.” Shawn rode Whizkey N Diamonds to a big score of 228.5 which earned them a fourth place finish. Quistador was Shawn’s third finalist, but an unfortunate slip in his turn around resulted in a score of zero. Shawn earned over $119,000 at the 2011 NRBC.

Jeff Kirkbride rode KR Lil Conquistador to the reserve championship in the very first $25,000 NRBC Non Pro Classic Challenge and $10,000 Intermediate Non Pro Classic Challenge. They also placed second in the concurrently run $5000 Non Pro class. Jeff and KR earned an impressive $7386.27 and together with Shawn’s earnings aboard KR is the $20,000 Open Challenge and concurrently run classes, KR Lil Conquistador earned $8670.22 at the NRBC.

Ann Admonius rode Wimpys Tonnob to place fourth in the Non Pro Level 2, third in the Level 1 and fourth in the Prime Time finals. Rick Clark rode Wimps Chocolate Chip to a finals berth in the Level 4 and Level 3 finals.

Bluegrass Reining Stakes

 March, 2011 -The 2011 show got off to a great start at the Bluegrass Reining Stakes, Gordyville, USA. Shawn couldn’t have been more please with Whizkey N Diamonds, AKA Foster, a horse he had a lot of success with as a three year old in 2009. “I asked Clinton (Anderson), for him back several times last year,” Shawn said. “And Clinton told me each time that the horse was too busy with clinic and TVcommitments.” Foster returned to Shawn’s in December 2010 and was just recently sold to Rhodes River Ranch/CDR Farms.

“He is so much fun to show,” Shawn said about the gorgeous buckskin stallion. “I couldn’t have asked him to be any better here.” Marking a 227.5 Shawn and Foster topped the Wimpys Little Step Derby and the Gordyville Breeders Cup. This was the fifth consecutive time that Shawn has won these events and only the second year that they have been run concurrently.

Flarida also placed fourth on Equine Plus’s Its All About Spark with a score of 222.5. This horse is new to Shawn’s show string but he was very happy with the way he showed. Watch for this stallion at the major events this year. The next stop for Shawn Flarida Reiners will be the NRBC.

Carolina Fall Classic

Shawn Flarida Reiners had a great show at the Carolina Fall Classic, Williamston, NC, November 4-7, 2010. Shawn took three previously unshown futurity horses to get a test drive on them and was very pleased with the results. He was very pleased with the results when he placed first on Shine Chic Shine marking a 151.5, second on Time To Mark Big and third on Wimpyneedsacocktail. “I was really pleased with how all three horses showed tonight,” Shawn said after the show. ” Each one of them showed just like they prepared, so I was really happy about that. I’m looking forward to showing them in Oklahoma City.

Flarida assistant, Vincienzo Santos, was in the winners circle once again aboard Barbies Tradition. This fancy duo posted a score of 146 to earn the Open Level 2 Futurity co-championship. “Chenzo has been doing a great job in the show pen this year,” Shawn said. “He is handling the pressure incredibly well and has made me very proud.”

Team Green non pro riders had a great weekend as well. Karen Shedlauskas rode Conquistadream to win the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, ABI Non Pro & ABI Intermediate Non Pro futurities with a score of 146. Rick Clark rode Hesa Smoker to fourth place in the same divisions.

SWRHA Futurity

While the rest of Team Green was in North Carolina, Tami Wagman ventured to the SWRHA Futurity, Ardmore, OK. She rode Spooked Up to win the Intermedite Non Pro and Limited Non Pro futurity with a big score of 219. Congratulations Tami! She will be headed to the NRHA Non Pro futurity in Oklahoma City next month.

QH Congress Recap

Just as one busy event came to a close, another big event appeared on Shawn’s show schedule. There was no rest for the weary, as Flarida moved from the World Equestrian Games to the 2010 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Not only did he have three futurity horses and two junior reiners to prepare, he had a multitude of non pro clients to assist in this action packed week.

Rick Clark started the week off with a $1000 Novice Horse Non Pro reserve championship and finished things up with a big win in the $3000 Non Pro aboard Wimps Chocolate Chip with a score of 222. Shawn brought five non pro futurity horses to the Congress and four of them made the finals. Jose Vazquez rode Moonshine Juice to the Non Pro futurity championship and Karen Shedlauskas riding Conquistadream earned the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro futurity reserve championship. Tami Wagman rode Spooked Up to a fifth place finish in the Intermediate Non Pro Futurity finals and Rick Clark on Hesa Smoker earned a finals paycheck in both divisions. “I couldn’t have been more proud of my non pro clients this week,” said Shawn. “They are such a great group of folks and I am lucky to have the priviledge to work with them.”

Shawn’s show week started on Sunday with a win in the Junior Reining aboard Charlie Vaughan’s Wimpys Showstopper. This four year old palomino gelding has been a steady campaigner for Shawn and Dean Brown for the last year. “He showed great tonight,” Shawn said after his win. “He felt great and showed like a veteran.” Shawn also placed third aboard Ann Admonius’s Tivios Little Dun It.

However, his main focus was on the Open futurity finals. With three to show in the go round, Shawn was pleased to bring back two tough competitors to the finals. In fact, he finished first in the go round on Gus and Gaynia Revenberg’s Quistador with a 225.5 and second aboard Buffalo Ranch’s SDP Justice Is Coming with a 225. The Thursday afternoon finals found the stands crowded and it was interesting to watch as many cutters slipped in the side door as Shawn’s draw on Justice neared. It’s easy to guess that these guys knew that Justice was supposed to be a special cutter and wanted to see what this reiner could accomplish with this royally bred cutting prospect. They were not disappointed as he took the lead with a 223.5 as the second to last draw. As Justice was crowned the Congress Open futurity champion, and Shawn’s ninth Congress Open futurity champion, it was clear that this fancy colt could excel at any task. Quistador showed also had a good showing and finished in third place. Shawn’s earnings for the show were $31,087.37, which brings him within $97,037.63 of the $4 Million Dollar mark.

The WEG Experience

It seemed as though the month of September was a non-stop month – because it was! We started the month in Tulsa and then headed to the Tradition futurity. Just a few days later Shawn headed to Lexington, KY for the 2010 World Equestrian Games and then immediately moved on to the Congress. During this whirlwind, we didn’t get a chance to show you some of the things that were happening out side of show pen.

Shawn and Michele managed to squeeze a little shopping time in at the Equine Village in between autograph signings and riding time. There was so much to see and just a few free days. Cody, Courtney & Sam were in attendance on Sunday to watch their Dad lead Team USA to team gold. But after that, they were back to school and sports. As a member of Team USA’s “Dream Team”, Shawn had many media and social demands through out the week. There were autograph signings at the Ariat booth and Shawn was on hand at the Breyer store for the unveiling of the Wimpys Little Chic Breyer horse. Of course there was the Cowboy Gala, hosted by the legendary Winstar Farms. It was beautiful evening to celebrate the sport of reining with all of the reining competitors at the games. Of course the evening wasn’t complete without a slew of gifts from WEG sponsors. What a nice event.

And we did get some time to have a little fun. Shawn had heard about the mechanical cutter some where on the show grounds and wouldn’t rest until we found it. This was such a cool idea, it was a shame that the show organizers had it buried away from the main activities. Never the less, Shawn and friends had a great time aboard the mechanical cutter painted to match Cat Itchi. Shawn is focused on getting one of these made to similuate a reining horse. When you see it, you will know he had a big part in the design. It was hard to tell who liked the cutter more, Shawn or Michele. When we finally got Shawn off it, Michele decided to give it a try. She was overheard saying after her ride, “This is too cool. Shawn, we need to get one of these!” There was no rest for this dynamic duo. When they were done in Lexington, KY, they headed back to Springfield, OH for the evening before moving in to the QH Congress in Columbus.

Shawn participated in many media events during the week and here are a few of those links:

Click here for the Ariat interview

Click here for the Ariat commercial

Click here for back gate interview

Columbus Goes Green!

It was an incredible weekend in Columbus for Shawn Flarida Reiners! Shawn rode SDP Justice Is Comin to the Tradition $7500 Open Futurity championship for  the Buffalo Ranch with a score of 225. Shawn beamed with pride as Vincienzo Santos, one of his assistants, rode Barbies Tradition to the $2000 Level 1 & $2500 Limited Open Futurity championships for the Thrashers. To top it off, it was also Chenzo’s 20th birthday – what a great present.

It was sort of a Flarida festival on Saturday night, as Shawn’s brother, Mike, was second in the Open futurity and won the Intermediate Open futurity aboard Matt Flarida & Greg Hill’s Custom Del Cielo. Mike was riding for Matt, who had knee surgery the day before.

Our team also had a great finish in the Non Pro futurity. Jose rode Moonshine Juice, a full brother to his good mare Wound By Juice, to win the Non Pro and Prime Time divisions with a 219.5. Karen Shedlauskas rode Conquistadream to win the Intermediate Non Pro division and place second in the Non Pro with a 215.5. Sammy Ely rode Heza Majestic Spook to second in the Intermediate and Rick Clark placed Hesa Smoker third.

Shawn topped the $7500 Traditon Open Derby aboard Rancho El Fortin’s Custom Harley with a score of 221. In the Non Pro division, Jose Vazquez rode Wound By Juice to the Non Pro win, while Jeff Kirkbride was second in the Level 4 and earned the win in the Intermediate Non Pro aboard KR Offtoseethewizard.

Jeff and KR Lil Conquistador looked great in the 7 & Up marking a 215.5 to win the Non Pro & Intermediate Non Pro divisions. This was more than enough to put KR over the $400,000 mark in earnings! Congratulations to the Kirkbrides and KR!! Karen Shedlauskas also won the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Affiliate Championship, as well as the $1000 Novice Horse Level 1 class on Nu Chex Bueno Badger. They earned the opportunity to compete in the Affiliate Championships at the Futurity in December.

Quistador Wins Again!

Shawn rode Gus & Gaynia Revenberg’s stallion, Quistador, to win the the John Deere Open Futurity at the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic. The pair marked a 230.5, and the win came with a $10,629 paycheck, further solidifying Flarida’s spot at the highest all-time money earner at the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic.

This was the second futurity win for Shawn and Quistador (Conquistador Whiz x Miss N Becky x Okie Paul Quixote), who were also Open Champions at the 2010 North Central Reining Horse Association Futurity Show in St. Paul, Minn., in early August. Flarida and the 2007 sorrel stallion won a combined total of $15,691 at the two shows.

Look for this talented duo at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October.

Justice Comes to Perry, GA

August 15, 2010 – Buffalo Ranch’s SDP Justice is Comin took Shawn to the Dixie Reining Horse Association’s Open Futurity championship this weekend with a score of 222. The diminutive stallion sired by TR Dual Rey out of Playboys Mom, has been a farm favorite since last summer. “This horse can stop with the best of them,” Shawn said about the sorrel colt. “He showed just great for the first time and I’m excited about showing him this fall.”

What makes this colt, with one blue eye, even more intriguing is that is bred to be cutting royalty. Sired by Buffalo Ranch’s own great cutter, TR Dual Rey, he is out of the mother of the great cutter, Playin Stylish. “He is an incredible athlete and would probably excel at anything you challenged him with.”

Team Green’s non pro contingent did pretty well this weekend too. Sammy Ely took home all the loot in the Non Pro futurity with a good score of 216.5 aboard Heza Majestic Spook. The red dun gelding is by Open Futurity champion and AQHA World Champion Smart Spook out of Shes A Majestic Jac. “Shawn owned this horse himself and told me he was a good one last summer,” Sammy recalled. “I eventually bought him and I’m really enjoying this horse. He’s really talented and fun to ride.”

Rick Clark rode Hesa Smoker, by Hesa Smart Chic out of Smokin Pepto, to the Intermediate Non Pro futurity reserve championship and placed third in the Non Pro division. “Shawn found this horse for me last summer and I have been excited about the opportunity to show him. This was our first show and I couldn’t be more happy with this horse.”

Clark & Shedlauskas Do Some Winning on the Side

While the rest of Team Green headed north to St. Paul, MN last week, Rick Clark stayed close to home and supported his local affiliate. “I really would have liked to run at the big money in Minnesota, but I sponsor the futurity at OVRHA in Jackson, OH so I felt it was important that I attend the event.

That decision paid off big for Clark as he piloted Smooth Talkin Dan to the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro futurity wins. “This horse is special to me because he is out of a mare that Shawn showed and won a lot on, Sheza Dun Dry, and she was owned by my friend Dan Clark, who passed away a few years ago.” Dan’s widow, Carol, was in attendance and posed in a Rick’s win picture. “I was really glad she was there to share it with me.”

Shedlauskas stayed closer to home this past weekend, while everyone else headed to Perry, GA. She loaded up Conquistadream and headed to the CORHA show in Findlay, OH. “I had a little trouble counting to four last weekend, so I wanted to get that off my back,” she said. The counting was successful and Karen and Louie brought home the win in the Non Pro Snaffle Bit/Hackamore class. “I just bought this horse from Shawn following the derby and things are finally starting to come together.”

Quistador Triumphs in St. Paul, MN

August 9, 2010 – Shawn and Quistador, a three year old stallion by Conquistador Whiz and owned by Gus & Gaynia Revenberg, made his show ring debut at the NCRHA Futurity in St. Paul, MN. The handsome stallion was purchased in the 2009 NRHA Futurity Prospect Sale by the Revenberg’s at the suggestion of Flarida.

He has been a favorite of Shawn’s since last December and didn’t disappoint in the show pen. Posting a score of 221, the handsome stallion took home of the $12,000 Open Futurity championship and a Bob’s Trophy Saddle. “I couldn’t have asked for him to show any better at this stage of the game,” Shawn said after his run. “He turned big and stopped hard and didn’t look for any trouble. I’m excited about this one!”

KR Offtoseethewhizard at the AQHYA Show

Max Clason, daughter of AQHA Professionals Hank and Dawn Clason, rode KR Offtoseethewhizard to a fourth place finish in the reining at the AQHYA world show. Trained by Shawn and bred, raised and shown by Jeff Kirkbride, Oz is a farm favorite. Although they couldn’t be in Oklahoma City to cheer Max on, Shawn and Jeff were glued to the computer for the webcast of the reining finals. “She did a great job of showing him and was very close to winning the whole deal,” Shawn said after her run.

Oz has been successfully shown by former Flarida assistant Jed Lawrence and Jeff Kirkbride. Jeff won the Seminole Hard Rock Non Pro Derby on him earlier this year with a 223 and also made the finals at the NRBC and the Carolina Classic.

Clayton Woosley Hall of Fame Derby

Shawn and several of his non pro clients headed to the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, July 29-30 for the CKRHA Clayton Woosley Hall of Fame Derby. Shawn entered three in the derby and earned the top spot in the $75000 Open Derby aboard Rancho El Fortin’s Custom Harley with a big score of 226.5. “He was really good this afternoon,” Shawn said after his run. “I couldn’t have been happier with the way he showed today.” Having only shown the six year old stallion once before, Shawn was pretty pleased with the way Harley is fitting into his program.

Rick Clark was pretty darn happy on Saturday night too. Aboard Wimps Chocolate Chip, Rick took home the win in the $7500 Non Pro and $5000 Intermediate Non Pro derby divisions with another big score of 220.5 “That is my personal all time highest score,” Rick said after his run. “Jose had just marked a 218.5 right before me, so I knew I was going to have to run at it. I called on Chip and he was right there the whole way.” Clark is looking forward to showing his good five year old gelding at the Tradition Derby before heading back to the Congress to defend his 2009 Congress titles. Right behind Rick in the Non Pro Derby was Jose Vasquez riding Wound By Juice with a 218.5.

Nu Chex Bueno Badger claims AQHA Region 4 Championship

Karen Shedlauskas attended her first AQHA Regional Experience this year. The Region 4 Championship was held in Columubus, OH at the Ohio Expo Center.  Spread out over four days, the event had just about every approved AQHA event. Shedlauskas rode Nu Chex Bueno Badger, or Cash as he is known, to the Amateur Reining championship.

“It was pretty neat event,” Karen said. “It was a great atmosphere and a lot of fun.” Cash is also qualified for the Amateur and Junior Reining at the 2010 AQHA World show. He is a five year old gelding by Nu Chex To Cash out of Peppy Doc Pansy.

Clark County 4-H Hosts Reining Demo

Shawn, a resident of Clark County, OH, saddled one of his favorite show horses to introduce reining to the local horse lovers during the Clark County Fair this week. Aboard KR Lil Conquistador, a NRHA and Congress Open Futurity champion, Shawn used NRHA pattern 5 to demonstrate the finer points of reining. KR was an excellent assistant and showed the huge crowd what plus one manuevers look like.

During the demonstration, Michele explained the World Equestrian Games and pointed out that the games are being held on US soil for the first time in history. Shawn, the only two-time reining gold medalist to date and a Clark County resident, will be representing the USA in Lexington, KY in September.

Following the demonstration, Shawn spent quite a bit of time signing autographs, posing for pictures and meeting fans, young and old. “I really enjoy this part of the demo,” he said. “It’s great to get to talk about our sport and help people learn more about it. Especially right here at home. I also wanted to let folks know about the World Equestrian Games and the fact that the games are being held just a few hours from here. It’s a huge opportunity for horse lovers of any discipline to see the great equine athletes in the world.”

Following the demonstration, KR enjoyed a full hay bag on the trailer while the rest of the Flarida crew indulged in some fair food and fun.

It’s A Gold Medal for RC & Shawn

With an incredibly consistent performance at the Battle In The Saddle, which hosted the Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championships and the selection trial for the United States Reining Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), RC Fancy Step and Shawn Flarida won the gold medal and earned a coveted spot on Team USA scheduled to compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY this fall.

In the first go round, Shawn and RC marked a 223.5, which was two and a half points higher than the nearest competitor. In the second go round and finals, Flarida piloted the flashy palomino stallion to another 223, which combined for a composite score of 446.5. Placings were based on a two-go-round composite score with the top four horse-and-rider combinations earning spots on the official US Reining Team.

“He was really good as three year old,” Shawn said about the six-year-old RC. “But he has got better every year. I couldn’t have asked him to show any better, especially just coming off the Derby two weeks ago.” Flarida rode RC to the 2007 Congress Open Futurity championship as well as the 2009 NRHA Open Derby title. RC Fancy Step now has lifetime earnings in excess of $336,000.

Shawn was a member of the 2002 US Reining Team that won a Team Gold medal in Jerez, Spain and he also won the very first Individual Reining Gold medal. He shared the podium in Oklahoma City on Saturday night with Silver Medalist Tom McCutcheon and Bronze Medalist Craig Schmersal. Both of these riders were members of the 2002 Team. The fourth member of this “dream team” is Tim McQuay, who was a member of the 2006 US Reining Team that competed in Aachen, Germany.

Flarida Tops NRHA Derby on Gunnatrashya

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

The temperatures were warm, but the runs in the 2010 NRHA Open Derby Finals were scorching hot. After tying himself with a 228.5 on both Wimpys Little Chic and RC Fancy Step, and watching Craig Schmersal post a 234 score on NRBC Champion Boom Shernic, Shawn Flarida entered the pen in a big way on his 2009 NRHA Futurity Champion Gunnatrashya. After a huge run-in stop on the stallion by Gunner and out of Natrasha, Flarida continued a near-flawless run, punctuated by three amazing stops at the end. When it was over, the score was announced – a 235 to take the lead and cement his fourth consecutive NRHA Derby title.

“I didn’t know if it could beat it (Schmersal & Boom Shernic’s current leading score of 234), but I dang sure thought I could get close,” Shawn said after his run. “I knew I could count on him and he didn’t let me down,” he said about Gunnatrashya.

Gunnatrashya, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses, and Flarida earned a check for $50,000, plus the use of a four- horse Cimarron Trailer, NRHA Lawson trophy, Bob’s Custom Saddles trophy saddle, Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, gift certificates from Rios of Mercedes, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery and SmartPak, a pair of Classic Equine ProTech boots, and Flair Equine Nasal Strips.

With the win at the Derby, Gunnatrashya joins an elite few that have managed to capture both an NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby win, and now has more than $157,000 in lifetime earnings.

Flarida also made history once again on his winningest horse, Wimpys Little Chic, who became the first reining horse to ever surpass $500,000 in NRHA earnings. Prior to the competition, the mare affectionately known as “Lexi” was just $14,000 shy of hitting the $500,000 mark. The flashy palomino mare, also owned by Arcese Quarter Horses and bred by Monica Watson’s Double Run Farm, has previously slid her way into the history books as the first NRHA Futurity Champion sired by a fellow Futurity Champion; the first horse to ever win reining’s version of a “Triple Crown,” when she consecutively won the 2007 NRHA Futurity, 2008 NRBC and 2008 NRHA Derby; and the first horse to ever top $400,000 in earnings. She and Flarida are both the NRHA’s all-time leading money-earners. In the Derby finals alone, Flarida earned paychecks worth more than $80,000.

Two For The Money In North Carolina

Shawn traveled to Williamston, NC for the 20th annual Carolina Classic May 13-16, 2010 and brought both of his entries back to finals after finishing first and second in the first go round. Riding Wimpys Showstopper, owned by Charlie Vaughan, and Dunit For Sugar, owned by Brian Westbrook, Flarida posted another 1-2 win in the finals aboard these nice horses.

“This family of horses has been really good to me,” Flarida said about Wimpys Show Stopper. “His mother, Pinesail, has produced Go Red Pine, a mare I made the Open Futurity finals on and Wimpys Pinesail, a mare that Robin (Schoeller) won the Limited Open Futurity on at the Congress and the NRHA Futurity.” Dunit For Sugar just joined the Flarida team this year and has been a money winner for Shawn both times he has gone to the show pen.

Flarida’s non pro clients also did well, with all three making the Non Pro Derby finals. Jose Vazquez rode Wound By Juice to a seventh place finish in the Non Pro finals as well as fourth place in the ABI Non Pro Derby finals. Jeff Kirkbride aboard KR Offtoseethewhizard and Rick Clark riding Wimpys Chocolate Chip also qualified for the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro finals. Beth Himes rode Lil Tag to place in the $1000 Intermediate Open class and Karen Shedlauskas earned paychecks in both Novice Non Pro classes.

The next stop for Team Green Shirt will be the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City, OK the last weekend in June.

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