Competing against reiners from 18 countries, trainer Shawn Flarida, Springfield, OH, broke the $2 million barrier on October 21, when he won the gold medal at the FEI World Reining Masters Open Finals in Denver, Colorado. Just the second rider in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history to top $2 million in earnings, Flarida scored 223.5 riding Tinsel Nic, a 7-year-old stallion by Bueno Chexinic and owned by Rosanne Sternberg, East Sussex, England, for a winner’s purse of $17,906.25. Tim McQuay became the very first 2 million dollar rider during the 2005 NRHA Futurity.

Following his milestone, Flarida said, “It’s an awesome feeling to win, especially when you know that you’re competing against the best horsemen from around the world.”

Tom McCutcheon of Aubrey, Texas, took home the silver medal in the Masters Finals riding Smartest Chic Olena, by Smart Chic Olena, who he pulled out of a three-year retirement to compete. The bronze medal went to Shawna Sapergia of Canada, who rode  BL Whiz Kid, by Topsail Whiz. Smartest Chic Olena is owned by Terry Owens, Weimer, TX; BL Whiz Kid belongs to Gilbert and Rhonda Thompson, Ardrossan, AB, CAN.