ABOUT SHAWN FLARIDA Shawn Flarida is now a name that is nearly synonymous with the word “reining.” At just 38, Shawn has accomplished what many could only dream of in a lifetime, and he continues to train at the very top echelon of competition. The Springfield, Ohio, professional has made his name training some of the most talented athletes in the equine world. He is just the second person in NRHA history to reach the $2 Million milestone, and is now the NRHA’s All-Time Leading Money Earner, with $2.5 million and counting.
Known worldwide for his big smile and easygoing nature, Shawn credits his accomplishments to hard work, dedication and the profound enjoyment he gets from his everyday work with his many talented equine athletes and their wonderful owners.
From the beginning of his career, Shawn’s family has been instrumental to his success. He decided in the second grade that he wanted to be a horse trainer, and from that point on, his parents, Bill and Betty Flarida, have been his biggest supporters. They instilled in him a fantastic work ethic, and taught him that hard work and respect for his natural ability as a horseman could lead to great things. When Shawn married his high school sweetheart, Michele, she also became an instrumental part of his success. The couple has three children, Cody, 12, Courtney, 6, and Sam, 4.
Shawn’s career continues on an upward trajectory. In 2007, he once again captured the NRHA Open Futurity Championship, marking the fourth time he has achieved that honor. He won his first NRHA Futurity in 2002, riding Wimpys Little Step, owned by Mark Schols, to a record 233 score, the highest recorded for a 3-year-old reiner. In 2004, Flarida struck again on Smart Spook, owned by Rosanne Sternberg, and in 2005 on KR Lil Conquistador, owned by Jeff and Cheree Kirkbride. In 2007, he made history when he rode the Wimpys Little Chic, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, to his fourth Open Championship. The win marked the first time a Futurity Champion has been sired by a Futurity Champion.
In addition to his accomplishments at the NRHA Futurity, Shawn’s talents have also taken an international stage. He is the only rider to capture both individual and team gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in the sport of Reining, which he did in 2002 in Jerez, Spain. He won the inaugural Mallorca Western Festival in Spain aboard Just Gotta Shine, owned by Francesca Sternberg and Doug Allen. In 2006, Shawn reached the $2 Million mark aboard Rosanne Sternberg’s Tinsel Nic at the World Reining Masters, held in Denver, Colorado.
Back in the U.S., Shawn has won nearly every major title available to him. In 2007, he won the NRHA Open Derby on Arcese’s Walla Walla Whiz, marking his second time to win the event. In 2006, he won the prestigious National Reining Breeders Classic aboard Einsteins Revolution, who is now the NRHA’s highest money-earning horse and the first to earn more than $300,000 in NRHA competition.
Shawn is now at the top of all the NRHA’s charts, and he has a huge following of loyal fans throughout the world. He is a strong supporter of the NRHA, youth programs and sport of reining. He does dozens of clinics each year, many of them to benefit of the NRHA’s youth programs. He has co-written a book on reining, published in 2007 by Western Horseman, and he has a series of DVD’s called Good As Gold Reining with Craig Schmersal. As Shawn’s career continues to put him the public eye, he remains committed his goals of being a positive role model striving for excellence in his horsemanship.
CAREER COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS
2008 Accomplishments (as of 4/5):
Won first and second at the Wimpys Little Step Derby with RC Fancy Step (1st), owned by Mark Schols and Jimmy Pierce, and Walla Walla Whiz, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA
Won first and second at the Gordyville Breeders Cup Derby and Gordyville Open To The World Derby on Western Whiz (1st), owned by Sammy and Nell Ely, and Hollywood Gun Dunnit (2nd), owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA
2007 Accomplishments:
Won the Wimpys Little Step Derby Champion, riding KR Lil Conquistador, owned by Jeff and Cheree Kirkbride. Scored a record-breaking 235
Won the Gordyville Breeders Cup Derby and Gordyville Open To The World Derby on Senor Tejano Whiz, owned by 4R Performance Horses
Won the NRHA Open Derby for the second time. Rode Walla Walla Whiz
Tied himself to win the Clayton Woolsey Memorial/Brownwood Farm Derby in Lexington, Ky., riding Hollywoods Smokinbabe and Late Light
Won the Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association Futurity on RC Fancy Step
Finished first at the Tulsa Reining Classic Futurity on Wimpys Little Chic, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, and won second on RC Fancy Step
Won the Congress Open Novice Horse division on Ima Tinseltown, owned by Charlie Vaughn, and won the Congress Open horse show on Smart Spook, owned by Rosanne Sternberg
Won the Congress Open Futurity for the sixth time on RC Fancy Step
Won the NRHA Open Futurity for the fourth time, riding Wimpys Little Chic
Earned a total of $435,439 in 2007
2006 Accomplishments
Won the National Reining Breeders Classic in Katy, Texas, aboard Einsteins Revolution, owned by Wagner and Vandorp
NRHA Open Derby Reserve Champion on KR Lil Conquistador
Won first and second at the Tulsa Reining Classic on Walla Walla Whiz (1st) and Western Whiz (2nd)
Won first and second at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity riding Senor Tejano Whiz (1st) and BR Sheza Cameo Jac (2nd), owned by 4R Performance Horses
Won the 2006 Reining Masters Gold Medal aboard Tinsel Nic, owned by Rosanne Sternberg. This win put him over the $2 Million mark in lifetime earnings.
Reserve Champion at the Mallorca Western Festival on Just Gotta Shine, owned by Francesca Sternberg and Doug Allen
2005 Accomplishments
Won the NRHA Open Derby riding Smart Spook
AQHA Junior Reining World Champion on Smart Spook and AQHA Senior Reining World Champion on Tinsel Nic, both owned by Rosanne Sternberg
World Reining Trophy Open Champion (Mooselauge, France) riding Steadys Dude, owned by the Steadys Dude Syndicate
2005 NRHA Open Futurity Champion on KR Lil Conquistador
2004 Accomplishments
World Reining Trophy Open Reserve Champion (Mooselauge, France), riding Smart as Charley, owned by NK Performance Horses, Germany
Reining Challenge Open Champion (Krueth, Germany) on Smart As Charley
Americana Horse Show Open Reining Reserve Champion (Augsburg, Germany) riding Smart As Charley
2004 NRHA Open Futurity Champion riding Smart Spook
2003 Accomplishments
2003 Appaloosa Reining Horse Association Open Futurity Champion on Tattoos Dun It, owned by Rene Cairo
2003 NRHA Open Futurity Champion riding Wimpys Little Step, owned by Mark and Michele Schols; score of 233 still holds the record of being the highest recorded score ever given to a 3-year-old reining horse
2002 Accomplishments
2002 United States Equestrian Team Athlete of the Month for October
2002 World Equestrian Games (WEG – Jerez, Spain) Team Gold Medalist and Individual Gold Medalist on San Jo Freckles, owned by Michael Harper
Other Accomplishments and Career Highlights
Has now won in excess of $2.5 million dollars
1994, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007 All-American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Champion
2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 All-American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Reserve Champion
Has won more than 25 All-American Quarter Horse congress Open Event Championships
2000 NRHA Open Derby Reserve Champion
Novice Horse Open World Champion in 2001 on Chic N Out, owned by Ron Fisher, and 1997 on MR Kali Jac, owned by Rosario Perez Companc
NRHA Open Gelding Futurity Championships in 2006 on Western Whiz, 2005 on KR Lil Conquistador, 2002 on Kali The Great, owned by Joe Bowman, 2001 on Hickorys First Stop, owned by Michael Harper, and in 2000 on Bay Bird Ninety Five, owned by Allen ad Kim Crupper
24th April 2008 Flarida Takes NRBC by Storm If there were any questions about the abilities of Shawn Flarida, they were answered during the Saturday night finals of the 2008 National Reining Breeders Classic, held April 14-20 in Katy, Texas. Read more>>
3rd April 2008 Congratulations to the Paul Nicholls Team! Read more>>
2nd April 2008 Horseware® Photograph of the Month Competition Read more>>
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