Shawn Flarida
Reiner

Shawn Flarida is the NRHA's all-time leading money earner, and the first-ever Three Million Dollar Rider. Shawn has four NRHA Open Futurity championships to his name, and has won the All-American Quarter Horse Congress seven times.

Despite his enviable resume, Shawn doesn't let the winning go to his head. Known for his mischievous grin and affable personality, Shawn is known throughout the industry for his humility and unmatched work ethic. Shawn began his career as a youth, and knew from a very early age what he wanted to do when he grew up.

"I came home from school one day in second grade and decided that I had had enough," Shawn says with a laugh. "I didn’t see any point to learning anything more when I could spend my time a lot better in the barn! All I wanted to do was train horses, for as long as I can remember."

Despite his lack of educational interest, Shawn graduated from high school in 1988 and went to work for his brother, Mike Flarida, who had an established and successful business as a reining trainer.

Shawn branched out on his own in 1989, and married his high school sweetheart, Michele in 1992. The couple now has three children, Cody, 13 Courtney, 6, and Sam, 4. "I had eight clients," Shawn said of his start in the horse training business. "I barely eked out a living, but I never doubted it was what I was meant to do!"

From the beginning, Shawn has seen success in the show pen. His first NRHA paycheck came in 1981, and they’ve gotten progressively bigger ever since. He rode Moores Generator in the Limited Non Pro division at a show in Old Washington, Ohio, for that first check, and continued his winning ways throughout high school. In 1988, he won sixth in the NRHA Limited Non Pro Futurity aboard Kings San Sara. That same year, Shawn graduated high school and began his career as a professional horse trainer.

To start out, Shawn went to work for his brother, Mike, also a reining trainer and two-time NRHA Futurity Champion. He spent six months there and decided, with the full support of Michele, to go out on his own. He leased a barn in Miamisburg, Ohio, and was on his way.

Since beginning his reining career as a youth, the All-America Quarter Horse Congress has been a staple in Shawn’s schedule. In 1994, he captured his first Congress Open Futurity Championship aboard Dunnits Easter Bunny, owned by John Essman. Shawn's family has always been supportive.

Early on, Shawn was successful as a trainer. He took two horses to the 1990 NRHA Open Futurity finals, and in 1991 he won the NRHA Derby Limited Open Reserve Championship. That same year, he had two horses in the NRHA Limited Open Futurity and finished fourth and eighth on Pobres Pauls Peach and King O Lena, respectively. In 1992, he was back in the Open Futurity finals on Lenas Sparkle, and in 1993, he won his first big paycheck when he won fifth in the NRHA Open Futurity on Peponitas Mr, owned by John Essman.

Since that first win in 1994, Shawn has won the event a total of six times, and finished as the reserve champion five times. He also has won more than 25 Congress Open event championships.

Despite his phenomonal success, Flarida can be counted on to remain his usual, humble self. Notoriously superstitious – and always showing in a green shirt – Shawn’s focus is on working hard at home and being the best horseman he can be. He is a dedicated family man, and his mom and dad, Bill and Betty Flarida, often travel with the family to shows.

"My dad is my best friend, and he’s a great horseman as well," Shawn has said of his father, Bill. "My family is the most important thing in my life, and I know I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it weren’t for the love and support of my wife as well. She’s sacrificed a lot for me and my career."

As the Flarida kids grow up, it’s likely that the tradition of great horsemanship will continue. While Cody is busy with school and playing football for his junior high team, Courtney recently started to get bitten by the horse bug - and she is truly a natural like her dad. But it is 5-year-old Sammy who is prepared to take the reining world by storm – just as soon as he’s big enough reach the stirrups. Sam recently got his own horse, "Cowboy Roy," and he can generally be found in the barn after he gets home from preschool.

"He told Michele the other day that he wants to be a cowboy when he grows up," Shawn shared. "But he wants to be 'better than Daddy.' He probably will be!"

Major Milestones

• 2009 - Won Open Derby title at the Wimpys Little Step Derby, held in Cloverdale, Ind. Second consecutive win at the event on 5-year-old RC Fancy Step, owned by Buffalo Ranch.
• 2008 - Won second at the Bill Horn Shootout in Ocala, FL
• 2008 - Won Wimpys Little Step Derby in Murfreesboro, TN on RC Fancy Step, while Walla Walla Whiz won second. KR Lil Conquistador also performed well at the event, winning fourth and becoming just the second horse in NRHA history to win more than $300,000
• 2008 - Gordyville brought another set of first-second placings, with Western Whiz and Hollywoodgundunnit, owned by Arcese, taking home the open derby winnings.
• 2008 - First rider to win first and second at NRBC
• 2008 - Wimpys Little Chic became first NRHA Futurity Champion to win NRBC. "Lexi" scored 233 for the championship; RC Fancy Step finished second with 231.5.
• 2008 - Wimpys Little Chic - NRHA Futurity, NRBC and NRHA Derby Champion
• 2008 - First Three Million Dollar Rider at NRHA Futurity
• 2007 - Riding KR Lil Conquistador to the Open title at the Wimpys Little Step Derby, and later won his second NRHA Derby title on Walla Walla Whiz
• 2007 - Top honors in Tulsa, winning first on Wimpys Little Chic, owned by Arcese, and second on RC Fancy Step, owned by Jimmy Pierce and Mark Schols. "RC" also captured the Congress Open Futurity for Shawn, making it his sixth win at the event.
• 2007 - Fourth NRHA Open Futurity Championship with 231.5 RHA Futurity Scoring on "Lexi"
• 2006 - NRBC Championship on Einsteins Revolution, owned by Wagner and Vandorp
• 2006 - Open Reserve Champion at the NRHA Derby on KR Lil Conquistador
• 2006 - Won top two spots at t Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic with Walla Walla Whiz, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses, and Western Whiz, owned by Sammy Ely, and at the Congress Open Futurity with Senor Tejano Whiz and BR Sheza Cameo Jac, both owned by 4R Performance Horses.
• 2006 - Second NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider, following Tim McQuay
• 2005 - Won NRHA Open Derby title on Smart Spook, and also won the Congress title on KR Lil Conquistador
• 2005 - NRHA Open Futurity Championship on KR Lil Conquistador, owned by Cheree Kirkbride
• 2004 - Won the NRHA Open Futurity Championship
• 2004 - World Reining Trophy Reserve Championship and Reining Challenge Open Championship in Kreuth, Germany, and another reserve title at the Americana in Augsburg, Germany
• 2003 - Won NRHA Open Futurity Championship
• 2003 - Hit Million Dollar mark
• 2002 - Qualified San Jo Freckles, owned by Michael Harper, for the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, riding for Team USA. Captured individual gold medal and helped his team, which included Craig Schmersal, Scott McCutcheon and Tom McCutcheon, capture the team gold.
• 2002 - Won NRHA Open Futurity Championship on Wimpys Little Step, owned by Mark Schols.
• 2001 - Novice Horse Open World Championship on Chic N Out, owned by Ron Fisher
• 1997 - Novice Horse Open World Championship on Mr Kali Jac, owned by Rosario Perez Companc