From the NRCHA Foundation

FROM THE

Through Stories from the Shedrow, the NRCHA Foundation continues to preserve the heritage and traditions of reined cow horse.

Presented by Kalpowar Quarter Horses

The new members of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider, Two Million Dollar Rider and sires reaching earnings marks has grown exponentially in the last couple of years due to an increase in purses supported by devoted sponsors and association growth. When the first Million Dollar honorees were awarded in 2006, it was a small group that has grown slowly through the years, and now we have a new earnings mark: Three Million Dollar Rider. What a change!

In 2006, the NRCHA Board of Directors created the Million Dollar Award, now broken out into denominations of Million Dollar Rider and Two Million Dollar Rider awards, to honor those competitors that surpass the earnings mark. It was overdue for some riders, like the first to be inducted, Ted Robinson of Ventura, California. The seven-time NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Champion had $1.8 million in sanctioned reined cow horse earnings and continues to show today.

That year, Bob Avila, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jon Roeser, of Kuna, Idaho, were the second and third members of the Million Dollar Rider club. Avila is a three-time Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion and that year, 2006, Roeser finished as the Open Reserve Champion, to top off a show worthy of celebration. Today, the Million Dollar Rider Club has 24 members.

The longevity in reined cow horse isn’t only in the horses that grow from snaffle bit to bridle horse but also in top-level riders. Many of the first Million Dollar Club riders are still competing today or involved in the industry through training. Robinson had a hand in assisting many riders included in the Million Dollar Rider Club, and this year’s Two Million Dollar Rider, Justin Wright, mentions him as a mentor that aided him in learning the cow horse ropes.

However, the first Two Million Dollar Rider was Todd Crawford, a former NRCHA president and current Open competitor. Crawford, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, first passed the Million Dollar mark in 2006 when he won the Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion title that year. His continued success saw him cross the $2 million dollar mark to become the first cow horse rider with that earnings honor. Today, he has more than $2.7 million in NRCHA sanctioned earnings and in 2022, showed two horses in the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity.

Corey Cushing joins Robinson and Crawford as the first to hit a major milestone, earning more than $3 million dollars in sanctioned reined cow horse events. He did so during the Open Bridle Finals at the 2022 Snaffle Bit Futurity, further raising the bar for Open riders to reach.

In 2022, Metallic Cat’s offspring elevated the stallion to the first Five Million Dollar Sire honor in the association’s history. The Million Dollar Sire club started in 2006 with Nu Cash (Colonel Freckles x Nu Rendition) being honored as the first sire to have offspring earn more than $1 million dollars, though they did it in 2003. The 1984 stallion’s offspring earned Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion titles in 1987 and 1995 through 1997. Through the years, the club has grown to include 22 stallions and expanded to honor Two, Three, Four and, now, $5 Million Dollar Sires.

Looking back to those who helped launch the earnings marks to which today’s young trainers aspire, it is easy to see how the reined cow horse events can inspire greatness. As the 2022 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity purse grows from $100,000 to $200,000, the bigger purses will help more riders, and younger riders, become part of our top-level earnings marks. The sky is truly the limit, but the foundation built for these awards still stands strong.