National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Two-Million Dollar Rider and 2007 NRHA Open Derby Champion Shawn Flarida can add yet another accomplishment to his already lengthy list. Following his spectacular win at the NRHA Derby, Flarida, of Springfield, OH, is now the NRHA’s all-time leading money earner. Including Flarida’s winnings from the Derby, he has won $2,268,825 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

“It has been a goal of mine for a long time to be the #1 rider in the NRHA," said Flarida. "I wanted to do it before I was 40, and I’m 38, so I think that’s pretty cool. A quote that I live by is ‘It takes talent to get to the top, but it takes character to stay on top.’ I hope that I can stay on top for a very long time.”

Flarida qualified three horses for the NRHA Open Derby Finals, held May 14-19, at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Senor Tejano Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Tejana Chic), owned by 4 R Performance Horses in Boerne, TX; Walla Walla Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda), owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA based in Weatherford, TX; and KR Lil Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Smart Little Prize), owned by Cheree Kirkbride, Ocala, FL.

Flarida’s last run in the finals came on Walla Walla Whiz. The crowd whistled and cheered and when it seemed like it couldn’t get louder in the State Fair Coliseum, it did when the judges’ score of 231.5 was announced. Flarida took home a check for $50,000 for the Open Derby Championship. He tied for fifth on KR Lil Conquistador to earn $20,129 and a three way tie for 17th on Senor Tejano Whiz earned him another $2,418. Flarida also took home $5,100 for the top three placings in the go round for a grand total of $77,647 at this year’s NRHA Derby.

Winning is nothing new for this talented NRHA Professional. He’s been a top reiner in the NRHA since 1984 when he won the Novice Horse Non Pro Reserve World Championship. That was just the start of his major accomplishments. Flarida’s NRHA career highlights include the following:

1984: NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Reserve World Champion
1991: NRHA Limited Open Derby Reserve Champion
1996: Awarded the NRHA Futurity Championship Show Open Perpetual Trophy
1997: NRHA Novice Horse Open World Champion
2000: NRHA Open Gelding Incentive Futurity Champion
2000: NRHA Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion
2001: NRHA Novice Horse Open World Champion
2001: Pfizer/NRHA Open Gelding Incentive Champion
2002: Individual Gold Medalist at FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain
2002: Team USA Gold Medalist at FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain
2002: NRHA Open Futurity Champion
2002: NRHA Open Gelding Incentive Futurity Champion
2003: Became NRHA Million Dollar Rider
2004: NRHA Open Futurity Champion
2004: NRHA Open Reserve World Champion
2005: NRHA Open Derby Champion
2005: NRHA Open Futurity Champion
2006: NRHA Open Derby Reserve Champion
2006: Became NRHA Two-Million Dollar Rider
2006: NRHA Open Gelding Incentive Futurity Champion
2006: NRHA Open Gelding Incentive Futurity Reserve Champion
2007: NRHA Open Derby Champion
2007: Became NRHA’s all-time leading money earner

The NRHA congratulates Flarida on all of his accomplishments.

For more information about the NRHA or the sport of reining, contact Kathy Damrill, NRHA Communications Manager, at kdamrill@nrha.com, or (405) 946-7400, ext. 129.