Empty Stalls

Three champion reined cow horses have passed on.

Most 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.

FROM HOLY COW PERFORMANCE HORSES

At the time of her passing, Sheza Shinette was the second-highest producing mare in NRCHA history.

NRCHA trainer Corey Cushing rode Sonita Lena Rey to some of his biggest NRCHA titles.

KATE BRADLEY BYARS KATE BRADLEY BYARS

On April 10, Shiners Lil Nickle (Shiners Nickle x Little Lena Long Legs x Smart Lil Lena), a buckskin stallion bred by Michelle Cannon, was laid to rest following renal failure. The NRCHA earner of $97,777.48 started his career by making the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Finals with Zane Davis. In the two rein, Clayton Edsall rode him to the 2017 NRCHA Reserve World Champion title. In 2019, Katherine De Haan, DVM, took the reins, riding the stallion to the 2019 Intermediate Non Pro Bridle World Champion, Novice Non Pro Bridle Reserve World Champion, and to the National Champion title in both the Novice Non Pro Bridle and Non Pro Bridle. In 2020, the duo won the Non Pro Bridle Reserve National Championship.

The NRCHA offers condolences to Sheza Shinette’s, Sonita Lena Rey’s and Shiners Lil Nickle’s connections.

Shiners Lil Nickle impacted the lives of multiple reined cow horse trainers and owners before finding his final home with Kat De Haan in Idaho.

PRIMO MORALES

NRCHA EXTENDS SPECIAL QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR 2022 CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS

In 2020, with so many National Reined Cow Horse Association members impacted by the COVID19 travel restrictions, the Board of Directors allowed for special qualifying requirements for competitors at the 2021 Celebration of Champions World Show. During their March 2021 meeting, the Board voted to extend those special requirements through the 2021 year for the 2022 Celebration of Champions.

In order to be eligible to compete in the NRCHA World Show that is scheduled for February 10-19, 2022, exhibitors must have shown in three NRCHAsanctioned shows and/or complete the year-end standings of their NRCHA Region in the top 20.

Many states have loosened travel restrictions and limitations on gatherings for events, but many barriers remain, such as the closed border between the U.S. and Canada. Extending the special qualifying requirements allows for more NRCHA members to potentially compete at the 2022 event.

At the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, the NRCHA World Championship Show features the top horses and riders from each of the association’s eight geographic regions competing for World Championship titles in fifteen exciting events. In addition, the event includes the DT Horses-, Hashtags- and Western Bloodstock- sponsored World’s Greatest Horseman, where one horse, one rider, in one bridle compete for one very impressive title. The NRCHA Celebration of Champions also includes the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby for 4- and 5-year-old cow horses.

For more information, visit www.NRCHA.com/celebration-ofchampions/.