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EMPTY STALLS FROM HOLY COW PERFORMANCE HORSES
Three champion reined cow horses have passed on.
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NRCHA trainer Corey Cushing rode Sonita Lena Rey to some of his biggest NRCHA titles.
KATE BRADLEY BYARS
18 MAY/JUNE 2021 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS
At the time of her passing, Sheza Shinette was the second-highest producing mare in NRCHA history.
KATE BRADLEY BYARS
ost of us see a notable reined cow horse under the bright arena lights, and much is the case for three talented reined cow horses laid to rest this year. The flashy palomino mare Sheza Shinette (Shining Spark x Chicks And Chex x Smart Chic Olena) caught the eyes of those who watched her show. She also won her share of titles on the way to garnering $47,5050 in National Reined Cow Horse Association earnings. Today, her offspring continue that winning tradition, though she was laid to rest on April 7. Owned by Nancy Crawford’s Holy Cow Performance Horses, “Norma Jean” as she was known outside the arena, earned a NRCHA Certificate of Ability and Superior Cow Horse award in 2003. She retired from the arena in 2005, after earning the 2001 Ladies Champion NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® title and the 2002 American Quarter Horse Association Junior Working Cow Horse World Champion title with Sandy Collier in the saddle. As of April 7, Sheza Shinette had produced 21 NRCHA earners of $600,869.30. Of those, two have earned more than $100,000: Hes Shinettes CD (sired by CD Olena) with $184,006.18 and Heza Diamond Spark (sired by Diamond J Star) with $116,946.37. Once A Von A Time (sired by Von Reminic) was another notable son with more than $76,000 in earnings. In 2010, the NRCHA honored Sheza Shinette with the AQHA Leading Dam award. At the time of her passing, she was the second-highest producing mare in the NRCHA. Sonita Lena Rey spent much of his show career as a stallion. When he was gelded, the sorrel truly showed his versatility, carrying NRCHA Two Million Dollar Rider Corey Cushing to the 2019 World’s Greatest Horseman title. Owned by Sheri Jamieson, Sonita Lena Rey (Dual Rey x Sonita Lena Chick x Smart Chic Olena) earned $120,385.04 in the NRCHA. Along with the World’s Greatest Horseman title, “Cinco” won the 2018 Open Bridle at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, the 2015 NRCHA Derby Intermediate Open title and numerous top finishes in NRCHA premier events. On February 27, the gelding was laid to rest.
