The remarkable offspring of Colonels Shining Gun and Not Ruf At All have solidified their latest accomplishments as National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) $2 Million Sires.
With incredible performances at this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel and The Run For A Million (TRFAM), Jason Vanlandingham added his name to the prestigious list of NRHA Three Million Dollar Riders a mere three years after passing the $2 million mark.
When Not Ruf At All won the 2013 National Reining Horse Association Futurity Open Championship, owner Vaughn Zimmerman, of Missouri, was propelled into the elite ranks of NRHA Million Dollar Owners
The success of Not Ruf At All and Zimmerman has gone hand-in-hand, and in 2021, when Not Ruf At All became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire, Zimmerman surpassed two million dollars as an owner.
The National Reining Horse Association’s newest Million Dollar Sire Not Ruf At All’s career started with a bang when he won the 2013 NRHA Futurity. The following year “Ruf” claimed the NRHA Derby Championship. Just two years later, he added the National Reining Breeders Classic Open title to become only the second horse to win the three major events.
By NRHA $2 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of All Ruffed Up, the sorrel stallion is owned by NRHA Hall of Famer Vaughn Zimmerman. Always ridden by NRHA $2 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham, he would become one of NRHA’s highest money-earning stallions, with $456,437 in lifetime earnings.
With a career that has spanned disciplines, decades, states and roles, it’s fitting that Casey Hinton of Whitesboro, Texas, has achieved a career milestone that few have. The National Reining Horse Association Professional, who has also had an impressive career in the show pen, became a Million Dollar Owner in April.
Just a few thousand dollars away from that milestone, the success of Hinton’s horses at the National Reining Breeders Classic clinched the achievement.
“I think this is a major accomplishment in your career, but when I started out, this wasn’t my goal. You start out with a love of horses and training, owning, and showing them,” Hinton explained. “To reach a milestone that few have accomplished is very exciting.”
The field is set, the players are named. The 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic Open preliminaries wrapped up Thursday evening after two tough days of competition. More than 180 horses entered the Ford Arena of the Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and that was whittled down to the best of the best who will compete in Saturday's clean-slate finals.
The National Reining Breeders Classic Open Preliminaries began Wednesday, September 2, at the Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The field of 194 will be narrowed to the top 30 in each division at the conclusion of Thursday's competition.
A quick perusal of the draw sheets quickly tells of the tough competition in the Ford Truck Arena. Holding the top spot at the end of the first day is Casey Deary on Gunnabeabrightstar with a 225. Gunnabeabrightstar, by ARC Gunnabeabigstar out of Abbie Be Tuff, is owned by Neiberger Performance Horses LLC.
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