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Spin Shawn Flarida and Wimpys Little Chic
Spins are a series of 360 degree turns, executed over a stationary (inside) hind leg. Propulsion for the spin is supplied by the outside rear leg and front legs, and contact should be made with the ground and a front leg. The location of the hindquarters should be fixed at the start of the spin and maintained throughout the spins. Other elements of the spin include cadence, attitude, smoothness, finesse and speed. When performing the spin manoeuvre, horses are required to stop and start in a precise direction within the arena. Failure to stop a spin with some portion of the horse’s shoulder and hip aligned with the proper position will result in a penalty. The spin, for me, is the most exciting manoeuver of all. Where the sliding stop is often perceived as the element that defines Reining, the spin is undoubtedly the movement that all horse riders from many disciplines can relate to. In Dressage the pirouette is a slow movement with the horse showing a high step over the ground. In the ideal Reining spin, the horse is low to the ground, the steps are ground covering and the movement is dynamically fast. Wimpys Little Chic, who we see here, has a vibrant style combined with lots of eye appeal from her flowing mane and tail to her well conditioned muscular body. From a technical standpoint she has everything in order. As she gains in speed and momentum she uses her pivot foot as the anchor but also occasionally puts down her second hind foot to maintain her stability. She maintains a direct curve or arc to her body and neck which helps with her overall balance demonstrating her flexibility. She is in perfect balance and from this position can stop immediately when commanded, protecting her and Shawn from obtaining unwanted over or under spin penalties points. This partnership obviously trust each other completely. You can see the very experienced Shawn is sitting in the middle of his horse and now that the spin has commenced he has put his rein hand back in to the middle of his horse’s neck, providing more balance to the movement. Both Lexi and Shawn are focused on the exact same spot, once again illus-
trating the remarkable chemistry in this partnership. Shawn is now merely a passenger, he is allowing this remarkable mare to do her job, yet he is right there with his hand, ready to support her should she need it, but at the same time staying out of her way and not interfering. At the moment this image was taken Lexi is travelling at great speed, we can see this from her tail and mane flying in the wind, yet Shawn’s legs are completely still and away from her sides. This illustrates that the Spin is a manoeuver she loves to do and one she does willingly. The look of concentration on her face portrays it all yet her ears are still half way forward listening to her rider - she is in no way anxious or vexed. It is hard to believe that Lexi could execute this movement to such a high standard when she was still only three years old. It is a testament also, in a discipline dominated by stallions that a mare can come through and beat them all. It not only takes a great amount of physical ability, but also one of great mental fortitude. It is also to Shawn’s credit that he has been able to take a mare so far as mares can in many ways be more difficult to train and please. Lexi benefits from having a great physique and even as a young horse had great muscle tone, but she still exhibits great femininity and is truly a beautiful mare. Shawn has been able to reveal the true grit of this mare’s nature whilst in no way changing her loveliness that makes her such a joy to watch and score.
Shawn Flarida and Wimpys Little Chic
Shawn Flarida The Rider My best ride Wimpys Little Chic is the best horse I have ever ridden. I can’t say enough about her mind and how intelligent she is. So much so that sometimes I felt I only had to think a manoeuvre and she would try to accomplish it. I have had so many good runs on her but the one that stands out as the best was the NRBC in 2008 which she won. All that year she was phenomenal but during the warm-up of the NRBC final I thought to myself that this was going to be good but I didn’t realise how good. One judge marked her 80%. This was a sign to me that she had matured, in that her body had finally caught up with her mind combining her phenomenal intelligence with her phenomenal athleticism.
How it all started
Above That Flarida smile and recogniz-
able green shirt for good-luck Opposite Winning the Team Gold Medal at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Shawn held the highest score in the Team event
My father and older brother Mike loved horses and reining and got me riding when I four. We didn’t have great horses then but I got to do all of the movements the spins, slides, everything which I loved so it was not surprising when I was eight years old I announced to my mother that I was going to make reining my profession and I was going to make $100,000. My Story Little did I expect that I would be riding horses who alone won much more than 1969 I was born in Wilmington, Ohio on 30th April this. Knowing exactly what I wanted 1992 Michele my high school sweetheart and I to do so early in my life made concenmarry and together we start up our training business trating at school very difficult but my 2002 Won the USET athlete of the month Mother made me stick it out. Since 2003 On Wimpys Little Step we set the highMike was already an established trainer est score ever of 233 for a 3 yr old reining horse. I when I finally graduated I was able to become a NRHA Million Dollar Rider work for him before starting up my own 2006 Passed the US$2 million dollar benchmark for NRHA lifetime winnings yard in rented premises with only a handful of clients. 2008 I am the first person to pass the US$3 million dollar NRHA lifetime winnings and the first to It has always been my ability to show win the ‘Triple Crown’ on Wimpys Little Chic. I am well that has underpinned all of the inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame 2010 Passed the US$4 million dollar NRHA lifetime winnings, I am the first person to do so 2011 Inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame
training we do. Throughout school I competed in NRHA Limited Non Pro Futurities receiving my first NRHA pay check when I was 12 years old. Since breaking out on my own I climbed steadily toward the Open Pro division and have been fortunate to train and show some very exceptional horses along the way. How other athletes at the top of their game in other sports cope with pressure fascinates me and this has helped me develop my own system of dealing with pressure and to stay focused in my own mind. In reining there is a point where it is very much a mental game and you have to be prepared all the time to make the best use of opportunities.
A day in the life I love to compete and I love horses, I don’t have any other hobbies - this sport keeps me going, along with my great family. I love what I do so I don’t really feel that I have a job. I am one of the few people in the world that is fortunate to do something that you enjoy getting up every morning to do. I am not very good at relaxing. On my day off we cut the grass, clean the garage and do all of the household chores. Spending time at home on our 75 acre ranch in Ohio is so special as I am away showing so much. I realise I would not be where I am today if it were not for the support of my family and the sacrifices my wife and children have made to encourage my reining career. My wife Michele manages the business so we are in constant discussion about everything to do with the children, the horses, showing - everything. My father, the biggest influence in my life, still comes over to the farm once a week to help me train and both my parents are usually with me when I compete. My second brother Mark is my farrier and has been since the beginning so we see lots of each other. Competing is important as it provides us with a livelihood. We attend the top-end shows as well as the smaller shows where I coach our Non Pro clients. I like to give clinics particularly for the NRHA Youth Programme because this sport has given me and my family so much that it is a privilage to give something back. Although we have over 40 horses in training they are not all in America so it means travelling abroad. Overall we are away over 30 weeks of the year so the importance of having a good team behind you is paramount.
My Competition Highlights 1997 Champion Novice Open World Championships at xxx on MR Kali Jac. 2000 Reserve Champion NRHA Open Derby on xxxxx, Champion NRHA Open Gelding Futurity at xxx on Bay Bird Ninety Five. 2001 Champion Novice Open World Championships at xxx on Chic N Out. 2002 Team Gold and Individual Gold at WEG in Spain on San Jo Freckles. 2003 Champion NRHA Open Futurity at Oklahoma on Wimpys Little Step. 2004 Champion NRHA Open Futurity at Oklahoma on Smart Spook, Reserve Champion World Reining Open in France on Smart as Charley. 2005 Champion NRHA Open Derby at Oklahoma on Smart Spook, World Champion AQHA at xxxx on Smart Spook, Champion Congress Open Futurity at xxx and NRHA Open Futurity in Oklahoma on KR Lil Conquistador. 2006 Champion NRBC in Texas on Einsteins Revolution, Reserve Champion Western Festival at Mallorca on Just
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Gotta Shine, Gold medal Reining Masters at Denver on Tinsel Nic, 1st and 2nd AllAmerican QH Congress at xxx on Senor Tejan Whiz and BR Sheza Cameo Jac. 2007 Champion NRHA Open Derby at Oklahoma on Walla Walla Whiz, Champion Congress Open at xxxx on Smart Spook, Champion Congress Open Futurity at xxxx on RC Fancy Step. 2008 Reserve champion NRHA Futurity on RC Fancy Step Champion NCRHA Derby in Minn on Whizs Chic A Dee, Champion Congress Open Futurity in xxxx on Whizs Chic A Dee, Champion Dorminy Plantation Futurity at xxxx on Skid Whiz. 2009 Champion NRHA Derby in Oklahoma on RC Fancy Step, Champion Dorminy Plantation Futurity at xxxx on Gunnatrashya, Champion All-AQH Congress Open Futurity at xxxxx on Gunnarashya, Champion NRHA Open Futurity on Gunnatrashya. 2010 Team Gold medal at WEG in Kentucky on RC Fancy Step, Champion NRHA Open Derby at Oklahoma on Gunnatrashya, Champion Congress Open Futurity on SDP Justice Is Coming, 1st USEF WEG team selection on RC Fancy Step at Oklahoma.
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Competing Wimpys Little Chic
Shawn Flarida and Wimpys Little Chic
saying to me especially in training - frequently I walk away from a training session wondering why we didn’t connect that day and then later - and it could be much later the light goes on and I realise what they have been trying to teach me. Another great learning devise I use often is to go the practise arena and just sit and watch the other competitors schooling. I don’t really feel added pressure when I am competing on other people’s horses because I put enough pressure on myself so I don’t really worry about what other people expect of me. I have always expected so much of myself on a daily basis that no one can add to it. At the big events it is so important for the horse’s sake to stay clam but when my adrenaline is really running I try to ride quiet but inside I am screaming and jumping. It is my feeling that in the very near future the best competitions and the best competitors may not just be from North America. Reining has opened up throughout Europe with a frenzy and their riders and horses are challenging. When I look at what the Reiners were doing 10 years ago and how they perform today there is such progression. This sport has really taken off and we are asking a lot more from the horses. But these International shows are also providing a platform for the older horses to compete. To be successful these days you have to be more than perfect. And to be perfect, practicing is just not enough, you have to have perfect practice.
Being around great horses and people all my life is a blessing but to get to the top is hard work and then to stay there is very hard work To find the right horse is a continuous journey and it is the toughest part of my job but I have been very lucky to have ridden some of the best. As much as I like people I am always fascinated by horses. There aren’t many horses that I wouldn’t be proud to ride. I think my horses are great but I see greatness in most other horses too. To really reach the top in reining it is about the relationship between you and your horse. There has to be that something extra - that chemistry. Every horse is
Above left Wimps Little Chick sliding her way to victory in
the NRHA Derby Above Shawn and Lexi showing good form in the spin Opposite left The big slide from the rear view Opposite right Shawn and Wimpys Little Chic on a fast canter circle
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different and you have to be prepared to ride each horse differently. My job as a trainer and rider is to identify those differences and respect and be sensitive to them in order to bring the best out of each horse. Lexi is very sensitive and she can also be very spooky as well. I can’t change the way she is, I can’t make her tough so I let her be who she is and as a result she is not stressed and is with me all the time. Understanding horses is hard, I like a horse with a good mind, a smart horse which can take on what you are teaching it and retain it. I have ridden some great horses but it is Lexi’s ability to be able to be trained is what separates her from other horses. She is tremendously intelligent. You can teach her a lot of stuff. She is a tremendous athlete also. There are only so many great equine athletes who have this brain. Lexi has all of the qualities but she could just as easily be standing in the field with her foals. She is very laid back As a horseman I condition myself to learn from each horse I ride and often it is not obvious what they are
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Shawn Flarida and Wimpy’s Little Chic
Wimpys Little Chic
Wimpys Little Chic’s Competition Highlights
The Horse Wimpys Little Chic or Lexi, as she is know at home is the only horse to win the coveted Reining ‘Triple Crown’ all in the same year and she is currently the only horse with winnings in excess of US$500,000 making her the NRHA all-time leading money winner. What makes her achievements even more special is that she is a young mare and has had to compete against the industry’s finest and most talented stallions to take top honours. So popular is Lexi that Breyer’s, the famous model horse manufactures, have produced a toy model of her for children to buy. Lexi, was named by her breeder, Monica Watson, after the television character Alexis Carrington, She was bred and raised on the same ranch as her famous father Wimpys Little Step. I had also trained and ridden him successfully so Lexi’s breeders were very keen to have me train and ride his daughter as well. In fact when they sold her to Arcese Quarter Horses they did so with the proviso that I continue to train and show her. I broke her
Above Wimpys Little Chic waiting in the warm-up arena
at Oklahoma City about to start her run Right Final preparations and last minute advise from my father Bill before its our turn to go. Both of my parents still have a keen interest in reining and come to most of my competitions Opposite, left Warming up in canter, trying to keep it all relaxed and supple Oppostie, right Tired after giving her all we watch the instant replay of our run on video in the warm up arena
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2007 Champion Tulsa Reining Classic Futurity, Champion NRHA Open Futurity at Oklahoma.,
2009 Reserve Champion and Champion mare at NRBC, 3rd NRHA Open Derby in Oklahoma setting a new record for NRHA horse earnings of over US$400,000.
2008 Champion NRBC at xxxxx, Champion NRHA Derby at Oklahoma, becoming the first horse ever to win the ‘Triple Crown’.
2010 Reserve Champion tied NRBA Open at Oklahoma, 4th (tied) NRHA Open Derby at Oklahoma, 3rd Shootout, Oklahoma. retires from competition.
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Nu Cash Amarilla Chex Nu Chex To Cash Leolita Step
Wimpys Little Chic along with another guy. Then I got her and she has been with me since she was two It was with Lexi’s father that I won my first NRHA Open Futurity Championship and it was just as wonderful to win it for the fourth time on his daughter. Lexi is a sweet, sweet natured mare and this comes across in her performances, a combination of grace, beauty and power, which I think is her main attraction for the audience - they all fall in love with her. Before each of her important runs Monica kisses her on the nose leaving a red lipstick mark. Like her father Lexi is so incredibly talented it makes training her so enjoyable. Lexi is ridden almost everyday and then she goes out into her paddock for three or hours each day when she is not showing. I like her to go out to play and just be herself. She is the Queen and has a life of luxury. And why shouldn’t she, she won over half a million dollars, there has not been another horse in this industry who has done so like her. She is the only triple crown horse ever to this point. I have such a great connection with her when I walk down the barn in the morning she looks for me as she recognizes the sound of my spurs. Lexi will always have a place at my farm. The first of her foals will be born next year, carried by a surrogate mother and bred to the Derby winner Gunnatrashya. We are all looking forward to the big event
Wimpys Little Chic is a palamino Quarter Horse mare. She was born in 2004 and is from the first foal crop of the famous sire Wimpys Little Step. Bred by Monica Watson from Double Run Farm Lexi was sold as a 2 year old to her current owners Acrese Quarter Horses. She is the only horse ever to win over US$500,000 and the Reining Triple Crown. She retired from competitions in 2010.
Wimpys Little Step
Forty Seven Step Lite
Smart Little Lena
Collena Chic Olena
Gay Sugar Chic
Smart Chic Olena Collena Freckles
Colonel Freckles Sayo O Lena
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Shawn Flarida and Wimpys Little Chic
The Oklahoma State Fair Arena (also known as The Big House) is home to many annual equestrian events including the NRHA Derby and the NRHA Futurity. Built in Oklahoma City in xxxx this large arena with a seating capacity of 10,944 was home to the Oklahoma City Blazers Central Hockey ivvLeague from 1965 to 1977. This facility now provides stabling onsite for xxx horses as well as provides xxx practice arenas and the main competition arena.
Right Shawn Flarida giving the ‘thumbs up’ approval after another great run
on the fabulous Wimpys Little Chic at the Oklahoma Derby. Wimpys Little Chic is the only horse ever to win the Reining Triple Crown consisting of wins in the NRHA Open Derby, NRHA Open Futurity and the NRBC. Shawn is the only reiner ever to exceed NRHA lifetime earning of US$ 4million dollars