By Jonathan Coffman
Special to NKyTribune
Shawn Flarida, the National Horse Reining Association’s first and only $5 million rider, is so superstitious he will not not perform without wearing his trademark green shirt. But his successful reining career would suggest anything but the need for a lucky charm.
The Ohio native, who will participate in the Kentucky Reining Cup that starts tomorrow at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, has won five NHRA Open Futurity championships and 11 All-American Quarter Horse Congress futurity events.
Despite all the success, Flarida trades a big ego for a big grin – and an even larger personality. A humble attitude may be a product of his background of top-notch work ethic. Flarida comes from a family of winners, as his older brother Mike is also a two-time NHRA Futurity Champion.
Flarida 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,” Flarida said on his official website. “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.”
The drive to become great never subsided, and Flarida saw early success in life as a result. In 1981, he earned his first NHRA check seven years before he graduated high school. He began work with his brother after graduating high school in 1988, but he soon branched out on his own. The All-American Quarter Horse Congress futurity event soon became an annual stop for Flarida, and it was one of the places he made a name for himself early in his career.
Flarida has gathered a world-class horse reining resume. In addition to appearances at the NHRA Open Futurity and All-American Quarter Horse Congress events, he has also placed in events such as the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic and World Equestrian Games.
Flarida stays busy with his work and his family ties. He married his high school sweetheart in 1992 and they now have three children.
Considered the “crown-jewel” of the annual FEI reining schedule, the $120,000 Kentucky Reining Cup is held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and offers to reining athletes and horses an opportunity to shine before large, educated crowds of reining fans as well as international attention. Shawn Flarida will be the featured speaker at the University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs’ next Distinguished Industry Lecture Series at 6 p.m., April 27, in the Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington. It is free and open to the public.
Jonathan Coffman is a junior journalism major at the University of Kentucky.