Wimpys Little Step made history at this year’s Carolina Classic Derby, held May 13-16th in Williamston, North Carolina, when his offspring surpassed two million dollars in NRHA earnings. The flashy palomino sire joins eight of NRHA’s leading stallions as a Two Million Dollar Sire*. To achieve this elite status is no easy feat, yet “Wimpys'” offspring went above and beyond expectations when they earned enough to make him the youngest Two Million Dollar Sire* in NRHA history – by a margin of five years.

The 11-year-old stallion by Nu Chex To Cash and out of Leolita Step has an impressive show record himself, winning the 2002 NRHA Futurity and earning over $185,000 in just three NRHA competitions with NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida. With only three foal crops in NRHA competition, he’s already proven his ability to pass his talent on to future generations.

Owner Mark Schols speaks to his stallion’s prepotency, “As an individual, he is so kind. Yet he has such explosive athleticism. He’s passing on that mind. The compliments I get from owners are that even if you breed him to an average mare, you still get a great horse! He throws a type. They look good, have bone, and are built really well. He’s very consistent as a sire.”

Wimpys’ offspring include some of today’s top reining horses. Wimpys Little Chic (x Collena Chic Olena) is the first horse in NRHA history to win the NRHA Futurity, National Reining Breeders Classic, and NRHA Derby consecutively. The six-year-old mare owned by Arcese Quarter Horses has won over $486,000 in NRHA competition making her NRHA’s current lifetime earnings leader. RC Fancy Step (x Sonita Wilson), owned by Buffalo Ranch, is an NRHA Derby, All American Quarter Horse Congress and three-time Wimpys Little Step Derby champion with over $320,000 in earnings. Both are ridden by Flarida.

“It’s been amazing watching all of his offspring from rookies to professionals and everything in between,” says Schols. “The most satisfying is that no matter what level they compete at, his offspring are working across the board for everybody.”

The Carolina Classic Derby proved Wimpy’s ability to produce reining horses for all levels of competition. Wimpys Show Stopper (x Pinesail), owned by Charles Vaughan earned the level 4 open championship with Flarida aboard. Non pros Jessicah Torpey and Andre DeBellefeuille also found success aboard his offspring. Torpey rode Wimpys Smart Step (x Bar S Smart Lookin), owned by Torpey Performance Horses, to the level 4 non pro reserve championship while DeBellefeuille piloted Smart Step N Chic (x Homecoming Chic), owned by Equine Plus, to co-championships in both the level 3 and Prime Time non pro divisions.

Schols notes that as a young sire, Wimpy’s offspring have plenty of earning potential. “What excites me the most is that the majority of his earners were futurity and derby horses. To this point, we haven’t had a lot of weekend earners in there. Next year they’ll start turning seven-years-old and we’ll see a new level of Wimpy’s offspring compete. His earnings as a sire are going to continually grow.”

Wimpys Little Step’s top offspring also include: Wimpys Little Buddy ($189,602, High Roller Reining Classic and Reining By The Bay level 4 non pro champion, NRHA Futurity open finalist, NRHA Derby and NRBC open and non pro finalist owned by Kim Dooley); Wimpys Tonnob ($84,346, NRHA Futurity level 3, 2, and 1 open champion owned by David & Joyce Nuernberger); Crome Plated Step ($53,243, NRHA Futurity level 3 champion and level 4 non pro reserve champion, owned by Copus Performance Horses, Inc.) and Yellow Jersey ($51,693, NRHA Futurity finalist, Italian RHA Derby level 4 open champion, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA).

Most of all, Schols would like to thank his wife, Michele. “It’s a lot of work to promote a stallion. Without her support from the beginning, Wimpy wouldn’t be where he’s at today. She’s supported me and allowed me to do good business. Also, thanks to all the mare owners, trainers and reiners who believe in him and do the hard work.”

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of reining. NRHA, with their international headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs and family of corporate partners, visit www.nrha.com.

*Unofficial at time of release.