Shining Spark Becomes First and Only NRCHA $3 Million Sire

Shining Spark Becomes First and Only NRCHA $3 Million Sire

At the 2007 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity, Shining Spark made history as the first NRCHA $2 Million dollar sire when his offspring won enough during the event to propel him past that milestone. Two years later, his talented progeny did it again – and he became the association’s first $3 Million Sire before any other horse could reach the $2 Million mark!

Of the 19 Shining Spark offspring that competed in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2009, thirteen made their way to the various finals and earned $233,558 in the process.  The total earnings of his foals at the event were $246,640.

The venerable stallion’s spark has been more of a blaze in the past year! At the 2008 National Reining Horse Futurity last December, a Shining Spark daughter, Shining N Sassy, won the Open Division and $175,000! Those earnings helped push Shining Spark over the $3 Million Mark in NRHA offspring earnings. At that event, eleven of the Open Finalists were by “Shiner” or out of one of his daughters.

With this latest NRCHA accolade, Shining Spark has become the only stallion in history with earnings exceeding the $3 million mark in both associations.

With so many visible achievers, it might seem that there were simply a lot of Shining Spark get “out there” but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the 13 foals that made the Snaffle Bit Futurity finals were from a crop of less than 60! With Shiner, it’s long been a case of quality over quantity. Owner Carol Rose has been candid about the repercussions of his bout with chondritis in 1999 and how the subsequent life-saving treatment had a lifelong effect on his fertility, forever reducing the amount of mares he was able to breed yearly. Shining Spark’s book is now closed to the public as the career-haunting fertility issue has become increasingly a factor at the age of twenty-one. However, over 50 mares were bred in both 2008 and 2009, and Rose noted that that number is expected to be the same in 2010.

How did the admittedly talented stallion quietly become such an icon in the performance horse breeding industry? Rose smiled, and then responded, “I think that so much of him goes to his babies – no matter what mare they’re out of – and regardless of if they are a stallion, gelding or mare – they are the same. They have a great attitude; they’re athletic and huge stoppers, they can really run and they can turn around. Most of Shiner’s foals have very strong hocks and are really strong over their loin. They’ve got good conformation, good bone.”

She continued, “They’re also very sensitive, very willing, they want to do the right things and they love to work cattle. You don’t want to abuse them or force them – just show them what you want and they’ll work their hearts out. They have a huge work ethic.” 

The Shining Spark foals came of age at a perfect time to show their prowess on bovines, as the reined cow horse industry was booming. That suited Carol just fine. Originally from California, she had ridden reined cow horses from the age of six and even when she moved to Texas and began riding cutters, she had always retained a soft spot in her heart for that event.

“Cutting and cow horses have always been my passion. When NRCHA became more universal I went that direction with the Shiners because his foals were inclined to be good on cattle and they could do the rein work so well. I never set out to make him a million dollar sire or a two million dollar sire. His foals have spoken for themselves and won with premier trainers and with Non Pros. I thank everyone who has believed in this program and in Shiner’s babies and appreciate their support,” she said.

And while Shining Spark’s progeny have obviously excelled in competition, they have carried on their sire’s legacy and have begun producing winners of their own. “Shining Spark’s sons are making a definite impact on the industry,” Rose said. “And the Shining Spark mares add nothing but strength to the bottom side of almost every pedigree. They are proving to be some of the most desired broodmares in the cow horse and reining industries today.”

Rose and Shiner have been a team from the beginning and her voice shows her love for this horse. “I owned and showed Genuine Doc’s mother, Gay Bar’s Gen, bred, raised, and showed Genuine Doc, then bred, raised and am still promoting Shining Spark. These horses are my family. Shiner is my family.”

And like her famous stallion, Carol has been honored as well. She was inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Fame in 2004, and, in 2010, will become a member of the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Adequan^®, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Wide World of Horses, Markel Insurance Company, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.