Flarida is NRHA’s First Four Million Dollar Rider

December 20, 2010 Off By Roberta Johnston

Just two short years ago, Shawn Flarida became the National Reining Horse Association’s first Three Million Dollar Rider with earnings accumulated at the 2008 NRHA Futurity. History repeated itself when the gates closed on the 2010 NRHA Futurity and the results were announced. With rides in the finals aboard Quistador (owned by Augustine and Gaynia Revenberg) and Shine Chic Shine (owned by Amabile & Strusiner), plus a tie for third in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout on Wimpys Little Chic (owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA), Flarida scooped up more than $100,000 to become NRHA’s first Four Million Dollar Rider. Flarida’s official NRHA earnings are $4,023,885

Flarida, of Springfield, Ohio, became the second rider in history to break the $2 million mark in 2006 at the FEI World Reining Masters in Denver, Colorado. Bill Horn was the first rider to earn in excess of $1 million. Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal and Andrea Fappani are the only other riders to cross the $2 million earnings level. Only thirteen other riders have crossed the $1 million earnings plateau in addition to Flarida.

Flarida has been showing at NRHA-approved events since 1981 competing at nearly every major Reining event in the world. Flarida has won the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity four times, and has nine All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity championship titles. In 2002 and in 2010, he earned a team Gold Medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2002, he also claimed the individual Gold.

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the 2010 NRHA Futurity & AdequanR North American Affiliate Championship Show: AdequanR; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Purina Mills; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Co.; SmartPak; Wimpys Little Step and NRHA World Championship Shootout sponsors Equine Sports Medicine and Kyle Tack.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard setting body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs and family of corporate partners, visit http://nrha.com/.