Who Will They Ride? 2024 The Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge

The Run For A Million (TRFAM) has quickly grown into one of the most exciting and highest paying events in the Western Performance Horse world. It attracts riders of all levels to the qualifying events and it offers an opportunity for up and coming trainers to have their big breakout.

This opportunity could not be more blatantly clear than in the 2025 TRFAM Cow Horse Challenge. Many up and coming trainers have qualified and will be going to bat against National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) $1 Million, $2 Million and $3 Million Riders.

Their anticipated mounts are just as versatile as the riders. The NRCHA’s leading earner and 2023 TRFAM Cow Horse Challenge Champion, Scooter Kat, is set for a big return along with 2023 TRFAM competitors Quahadi, Peptos Stylin Time, Smart Chic An Tari and possibly Sprinkld Confetticat. They are joined by a a field of huge achievers including 2024 NRCHA World Champion Open Bridle horse A Starlights Magnum.

The TRFAM Cow Horse Challenge, as well as the reining and cutting events are shaping up to be thrilling displays of the best horses and riders in the industry. Quarter Horse News answered the burning question before the upcoming event … Who Will They Ride?

Clay Volmer Ricato Suave

• Pedigree: 2017 Stallion (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey)
• Earnings: $222,676
• Career Highlights: NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity 2020 Open Reserve Champion, NRCHA 2021 Hackamore Classic Open Reserve Champion, NRCHA Eastern Derby Champion 2021 & 2022, Hackamore Classic Open Bridle Champion 2024
• Barn Name: Rico

Sarah Dawson Smart Chic An Tari

• Pedigree: 2017 Mare (Smart Chic Olena x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark)
• Earnings: $270,317
• Career Highlights: 2021 NRCHA Eastern Derby Open Reserve Champion, 2023 NRCHA Western Derby Open Two Rein Spectacular Champion, 2023 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Two Rein Champion
• Barn Name: Trudy

Corey Cushing WR Iceman

• Pedigree: 2018 Gelding (WR This Cats Smart x Lean Irish Playgirl x Paddys Irish Whiskey)
• Earnings: $43,815
• Career Highlights: 2024 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Two Rein Fourth Place, 2023 NRCHA Celebration of Champions Derby Finalist

Kyle Noyce SJR Smooth Lil Oak

• Pedigree: 2016 Gelding (Smooth As A Cat x Shiners Little Oak x Shining Spark)
• Earnings: $133,063
• Career Highlights: 2020 American Paint Horse Association Sweepstakes Open Hackamore Champion, 2024 NRCHA Open Bridle World Champion
• Barn Name: José
• Fun Fact: Noyce’s wife Candice also competed at The Run For A Million 2024 in the Rookie Level 2 Reining Challenge. She rode Magnum Up Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Dolled Up Gunner x Colonels Smoking Gun “Gunner”).

Gusti Buerger Quizzicality

• Pedigree: 2017 Gelding (Magicality x Shirley Shine x Shining Spark)
• Earnings: $47,437
• Career Highlights: 2020 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open & Intermediate Open Finalist, 2021 NRCHA Western Derby Open & Intermediate Open Finalist

Physicality

• Pedigree: 2016 Gelding (Magicality x Shirley Shine x Shining Spark)
• Earnings: $26,733
• Career Highlights: 2020 Utah RCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open Derby Champion, 2020 Idaho RCHA Futurity Limited Open Derby Reserve Champion, 2021 NRCHA Western Derby Open Finalist

Matt Koch Sargent Stryker

• Pedigree: 2018 Stallion (Metallic Cat x Cajuns Little Uno x Smart Little Uno)
• Earnings: $83,072
• Career Highlights: 2021 National Stock Horse Association Futurity Limited Open Champion, 2022 CRCHA Sagebrush Derby Open Champion, 2023 CRCHA Firecracker Derby Open Champion, 2024 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Two Rein Spectacular Reserve Champion

Shadd Parkinson CR Tuff Star War

• Pedigree: 2016 Gelding (Woody Be Tuff x Shortys Starlight x Grays Starlight)
• Earnings: $40,782
• Career Highlights: 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Derby Novice Horse Reserve Champion, 2020 NWRCHA Summer Classic Open Derby Champion, 2024 NRCHA Western Derby Intermediate Open Bridle Spectacular Reserve Champion

Abbie Phillips Peptos Stylin Time

• Pedigree: 2015 Stallion (One Time Pepto x Stylin Jewel x Docs Stylish Oak)
• Earnings: $127,547
• Career Highlights: 2024 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman Finalist, 2023 NRCHA Worlds Greatest Horseman Open Fence Work Co-Reserve Champion, 2023 The Run For A Million Open Qualifier at the NRCHA Stallion Stakes Co-Reserve Champion, 2023 The Run For A Million Cow Horse Championship Fourth Place
• Abbie: “I’m just super excited to ride this stud and he’s been very fun to show and super gritty and I can’t wait to show him with this crowd again.”

Duals Lucky Charm

• Pedigree: 2013 Gelding (Dual Smart Rey x TRR Ms Pepcid Olena x Pepcid)
• Earnings: $316,260
• Career Highlights: 2016 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion, 2016 NSHA Open Futurity Champion, 2018 NRCHA Celebration Of Champions Open Derby Champion, 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Bridle Spectacular Champion

Kelby Phillips Play Rey Sugar Baby

• Pedigree: 2016 Mare (Kit Kat Sugar x Lil Play Rey x Reys Dual Badger)
• Earnings: $62,550
• Career Highlights: 2021 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Non Pro Third, 2023 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle Champion, 2024 NRCHA Hackamore Classic The Run For A Million Qualifier Fourth Tie
• Kelby: “It’s an honor to get to come back again and have been here every year since it started. That’s all thanks to the great horses I’ve had.”

Seven S Razzberry

• Pedigree: 2017 Mare (Blind Sided x Seven S Valentina x Playgun)
• Earnings: $81,612
• Career Highlights: 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro & Intermediate Non Pro Finalist, 2022 NRCHA Celebration of Champions Open Derby Third

Boyd Rice Quahadi

• Pedigree: 2013 Stallion (Bet Hesa Cat x Ginnin Attraction x Tanquery Gin)
• Earnings: $162,534
• Career Highlights: AQHA Senior Working Cow Horse Reserve World Champion, NRCHA Derby Open Two-Rein Spectacular Reserve Champion, NRCHA Western Derby Run For A Million Qualifier Open Reserve Champion

Shane Steffen Sprinkld Confetticat

• Pedigree: 2015 Mare (WR This Cats Smart x PPH Especial Nitro x Nitro Dual Doc)
• Earnings: $98,665
• Career Highlights: 2023 NSHA World’s Richest Stock Horse Champions, 2023 NSHA The Run For A Million Qualifier Champion, 2023 The Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge Ninth

Very Funny Valentine

• Pedigree: 2015 Mare (Very Smart Remedy x Gunnabemyvalentine x Gunna Smoke)
• Earnings: $42,983
• Career Highlights: 2020 NRCHA Western Derby Intermediate Open Sixth, 2021 NRCHA Western Derby Open Two-Rein Spectacular Third

Erin Toarmino Hazardouz Material

• Pedigree: 2016 Stallion (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey)
• Earnings: $223,018
• Career Highlights: 2022 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Champion, 2022 The Run For A Million Fourth, 2023 NRCHA World Championship Open Two Rein Champion

Jake Telford Upper Class Cat

• Pedigree: 2015 Mare (Moms Stilish Cat x DJ Little Star x Diamond J Star)
• Earnings: $113,908
• Career Highlights: 2018 Montana Reined Cow Horse Futurity Open Champion, 2018 Magic Valley RCHA Futurity Open Champion, 2019 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Hackamore Champion, 2019 Utah RCHA Open Derby Reserve Champion, 2023 NSHA Open Bridle Champion

Kyle Trahern A Starlights Magnum

• Pedigree: 2017 Gelding (Magnum With A Dream x Shiny Starlight x Grays Starlight)
• Earnings: $60,549
• Career Highlights: 2023 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open Bridle Champion, 2024 NRCHA Celebration of Champions Open Two Rein World Champion, 2024 NRCHA Hackamore Classic TRFAM Qualifier Reserve Champion

Justin Wright Scooter Kat

• Pedigree: 2015 Stallion (Kit Kat Sugar x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey)
• Earnings: $610,223
• Career Highlights: 2018 NSHA Futurity Open Champion, 2018 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Reserve Champion, 2019 & 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Champion, 2023 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Bridle Champion, 2023 The Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge Champion, 2023 The American Performance Horseman Cow Horse and Teams Champion