Reining 101-Andrea Fappani

 Pictures: Andrea Fappani and Big Chex 2 Cash-screen shots taken from Youtube video

Top reining trainer Andrea Fappani goes through all the basic maneuvers of reining, what to look for in a reining horse, and talks a bit about what to wear in this little YouTube clip. It's a nice little intro to reining. But what I love the most about this video is the eye candy-and I'm not talking Andrea-OMG I love that stud. Big Chex 2 Cash is drop dead gorgeous!! (and talented too...)

STALLION SPOTLIGHT # 4 CONQUISTADOR WHIZ

(Pictures taken from Conquistador Whiz's website)

This past week, a new stud became a member of the Million Dollar Sire club. The following information is taken from the Conquistador Whiz website.

After the checks were cut for the 2011 National Reining Breeders Classic, Conquistador Whiz became NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Sire thanks to the performance of his offspring at the Katy, Texas show.

The sixteen-year-old Quarter Horse stallion is the 20th horse to make this milestone achievement. Conquistador Whiz, bred by Bob Loomis, came from the successful pairing of Loomis’ NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz and the Bueno Chex mare Sugarita Chex. This match produced the first-ever third generation NRHA Million Dollar Sire. Conquistador Whiz’s grandsire Topsail Cody became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 1998. His sire Topsail Whiz joined the ranks in 2001.

"Conquistador Whiz earned more than $100,000 in the NRHA show arena and was the 2000 NRHA Open Derby Champion, 2000 National Reining Breeders Classic Open Derby Champion, 2002 USET Festival of Champions USEF Reining Champion and 2002 World Equestrian Games Gold Medal Team member and Individual Silver Medalist. NRHA Corporate Partner Silver Spurs Equine purchased the sire from George Shifrin in 2008. Conquistador Whiz’s leading offspring include: KR Lil Conquistador ($401,027 NRHA LTE and NRHA Open Futurity Champion), Quistador ($112,945 NRHA LTE and 2010 Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic John Deere Level 4 Open Futurity Champion), JD Conquista Anna ($56,429 NRHA LTE and 2006 Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion), Smart Dundee ($49,319 NRHA LTE and 2010 NRHA Futurity finalist in Open Levels 1-4) and Litn Up Conquistador ($49,105 NRHA LTE and Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion)."

Conquistador Whiz's 2011 breeding fee is 3500.00

STALLION SPOTLIGHT # 3-Colonels Smoking Gun (aka "Gunner)

I couldn't do a stallion Spotlight without including at least one APHA stallion. "Gunner" made a name for himself in the APHA world before he hit the big time. He was double registered as an AQHA stud when the white rules were relaxed, and was registered with AQHA as Colonels Smoking Gun. It was there that he hit the big time taking the NRHA circuit by storm. The following information is taken from his website, where he currently stands at McQuay Stables, in Texas. Click on the image for a larger view. Note his 2011 stud fee: 8,500.00!!

This is another sire that has proven his worth by out producing himself. He puts his stamp on his babies that are often recognizable by their big white face, and "floppy" ears. Gunner was deaf, and despite this genetic flaw, which he frequently passes on to his offspring, his babies are still highly in demand in the reining world.

This is a You Tube Clip of Gunner in his semi final run at the USET semi finals.

We are lucky to have a Gunner son standing in our midst, as Jill Hamming of our WCRA Kamloops Chapter is currently standing BH Gunners Enterpriz, aka 'Rex", an own son of Gunner.

Jill and "Rex"

According to Jill's Facebook page, "Rex" is a proud father of 4 2011 fillies, all with the splashy paint color, passed down through those strong Gunner genes!! Be sure to look for Jill and Rex at all the WCRA/NRHA sanctioned shows!

STALLION SPOTLIGHT # 2-SMART SPOOK

This is the second in a series of stallion spot light posts that I will be making. Smart Spook is still competing, and his offspring are just starting to enter the show pen. There are a number of his babies in Western Canada, and we should start to see them in the upcoming show season. Like a true champion sire, his babies are showing his classic good looks and by all accounts he is passing on his amazing talent.

PICTURES: SMART SPOOK (Taken from Google Images)

The following information is taken from Smart Spooks Website, where he stands at the Sterling Ranch, in Pilot Point, Texas.

Smart Spook is the leading money earning son of NRHA Hall Of Fame Stallion, Smart Chic Olena, who has sired earners of over $10 Million in Reining, Cutting and Cowhorse.

Smart Spook's dam is Sugarplum Spook by Grays Starlight. She is the producer of 9 money earners, winning over $447,622 and 335 AQHA points. She is also the full sister to NCHA Open Superstakes Champion, A Little Starlight who has won $205,000.

Smart Spook has very strong performance genetics on both sides of his pedigree, as well as great conformation and attitude, making him one of the best qualified and most exciting performance stallions of the new millennium. During 2004 Smart Spook earned over $190,000 culminating in his winning the 2004 NRHA Open Futurity. In 2005 he became the first horse in history to win back to back, the NRHA Open Futurity and then the NRHA Open Derby and finished up his year winning the AQHA Junior Reining World Championship. Smart Spook is also the leading earner of FEI Reining money and is the winner of the Open and Restricted World Reining Masters Gold medals in 2007, 2008 and 2009. This incredible performance horse is still showing at selected events and his earnings are now in excess of $390,000.

Here is a You Tube clip of Smart Spook's futurity run

Smart Spooks, 2011 Breeding fee is a cool 5,000.00!!

STALLION SPOTLIGHT-WIMPYS LITTLE STEP

Given the fact that spring is just around the corner (no, really...it is), and we will soon be seeing new foals out in the fields, I thought I would take the opportunity to showcase some of the reining industries hottest stallions that are currently dominating the world market and setting trends in the industry. Although most of us will never have the opportunity to own any of the get from these stallions, it is good practice to know which bloodlines are currently popular, and if you are in the market for breeding or buying, the closer up you can get these stallions on your papers, the more marketable and valuable your reining prospect is likely to be. The first stallion I chose to spotlight is:

WIMPYS LITTLE STEP

The following text is taken from Wimpys Little Step website:

"Wimpys Little Step is quite simply a reining phenomenon. During his three year old year, this bionic stallion captured the interest of the reining industry when he won both the 2002 AQHA Congress Open Reining Futurity and the 2002 NRHA Open Futurity with Shawn Flarida in the saddle. In doing so, Wimpys Little Step earned over $185,000. He is only the second horse to win both the Congress and NRHA Open Futurities."

In this clip, Shawn Flarida talks about his futurity run as well as his admiration for Wimpys Little Step

The true test of any stud horse is the ability to out produce himself. Wimpys Little Step has certainly proven his ability in the breeding pen.

"Just six short years later, the 9-year-old stallion was the NRHA's newest and youngest Million Dollar Sire.

Wimpys Little Step has stepped up in a big way and, in just his first year as a breeding horse, had sired six NRHA Futurity Open finalists, including a Futurity Champion. The stand-out's first foal crop produced 32 money-earning offspring, bringing in a combined $750,000+

Wimpys Little Step made history at this year’s Carolina Classic Derby, held May 13-16 in Williamston, N.C., when his offspring surpassed $2 million in NRHA earnings. The flashy palomino stallion joins eight of NRHA’s leading stallions as a Two Million Dollar Sire and is the youngest – by a margin of five years – to attain that status.

Wimpys Little Step is owned by Xtra Quarter Horses, Purcell, Oklahoma, and is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Nu Chex To Cash and out of Leolita Step."

Wimpys Little Step's 2011 Breeding fee is a cool 7,500.00!

Tom McCutcheon's Gold Medal Run at WEG

(Images taken from "Google Images")
Here is the gold medal individual run with Tom McCutcheon riding "Gunner's Special Night" at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Wow!!

Wildwood Reining to do reining demo at Horse Bazaar

Pictures-Sharon Gates and Wildwood Reining Horses-(taken from Sharon's website-show photos courtesy of Tracy Edie of Equine Sport Photography)

We are extremely pleased to welcome Sharon Gates as our Reining Demo participant at our 2010, 100 Mile Horse Bazaar!

"Horses are the constant that define me", is the phrase that Sharon uses to describe herself and her outlook on life. A long time open level reining competitor, Sharon currently makes her home in Hanceville BC. She has a very well respected breeding program and offers training and lessons from beginners to open level. As well she hosts vacation getaways for those people wanting to vacation with their horses. A soon to be published author, Sharon will be showcasing her 2 studs at her reining demonstration:

Running With Wolves-her 2005, Listo Pollito Lena x Peppy Del Cielo, open competition horse

as well as,

Walking With Wolves-her 2007, Whiz N Tag Chex x Peppy Del Cielo up and coming prospect!!

You can read and see more about Sharon, her studs, her program and her sale prospects at her website:

http://www.wildwoodreining.bc.ca/