Making Champions – How the Ranch Came to be
Aug 23, 2024
By Keri Whitney
As
Americans, we all remember exactly where we were when American Airlines Flight
11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. And a
short time later, helplessly watching as the second plane, United Airlines
Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower.
As time passes, many have forgotten or are unaware of the day that our
lives were altered forever.
Mike
Miola was born in the Bronx in the 50's. He met his wife, Michelle, in New York.
Despite city life, they both shared a love for horses. Early in their
relationship, they would visit dude ranches to ride and in 1989 they purchased
their first horse, a thoroughbred hunter jumper named Napoleon.
In 2001,
Mike and Michelle were raising a family just outside of New York. Mike was the Chairman
and founder of Northstar Financial Services Group, a holding company for
several asset management and asset servicing companies. His office was just a
few blocks away from the Towers.
"The
Sunday [before the Trade Center attack], Michelle, the kids and I were eating
brunch, looking out of the windows of the World Trade Center." Mike said.
"Monday, I made a trip to Boston for business meetings. The meetings were
running late that day. I was afraid I was going to miss the last shuttle [to
the airport] that night, so I figured I'd just take the 7am shuttle Tuesday
morning. I called home to let Michelle know I'd be home the following day. She
said, "the kids are acting up. Get home."
So, I hurried to make the last shuttle to the airport that night. There's
no telling where I'd have been. The plane that hit the first Tower took off
from Boston that Tuesday morning."
September
11 is the deadliest act of terrorism in history. Two thousand, nine hundred and
seventy-seven innocent lives taken, and thousands more were injured or have long-term
health issues. The Miola family lost many
friends and colleagues.
"We
didn't leave the house for several days," Mike said. "We were in complete
shock. I remember walking out of my front door the day after and there was soot
on everything, it blanketed the ground and completely covered the house. You
couldn't get into the city, there was so many navy destroyers, bridges and
tunnels were closed. September 11th was the sole reason we decided
to move to Scottsdale, Arizona. We
planned on retiring one day there, but after all that had happened, decided
there was no better time than now."
After
the move to Scottsdale, Mike decided to pursue his interest in reining horses.
He purchased a reiner named Dust Devil and boarded the horse at a show barn,
where he took basic riding lessons.
"I
wanted to learn how to rein and the trainer refused to teach me. I was tired of
just taking lessons, they were boring. My passion for reining is what
ultimately got us kicked out of the show barn and introduced to Brett Stone,
who is well known for the "modern look" of today's reining athletes. At that
time, Brett had stopped training but wanted to get back in it."
The
Miola's decided to start their own show barn. They purchased 10 acres in
Scottsdale and in 2005, their dream became a reality when Silver Spurs Equine
was born. Original plans were to board, have Brett train out of the barn, and
have just a few personal horses, but evolved into a breeding program with a
handful of mares and the National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Sire
and Hall of Famer, Boomernic, who had previously been shown by Brett, was
purchased in 2006.
Today, Silver Spurs Equine has facilities in
Scottsdale, Arizona and Purcell, Oklahoma that combined stand over 40
stallions, including Riata Stallions HF Mobster and Wimpyneedsacocktail.
In 2014,
Mike and Michelle had attended the FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy,
France. It was there where Mike fell in love with HF Mobster; a 2008 buckskin
stallion being shown by Jordan Larson.
"The
arena was so slick, Jordan was running him like a bat out of hell," Mike said.
"HF Mobster slipped, went down on his belly, and never missed a lick. He never
slowed down. I said to myself, 'now there is a horse with true grit.' I knew
then and there that this horse was going to be a great sire and that I had to
own him. Later that night, after the reining was over there was a cocktail
party that we went to. Brett Stone was at the party as well. I was talking to
Brett about HF Mobster. He introduced me to the stallion's owner, Andy
Fishburn. We got to talking and I started negotiating a price for the stallion.
He agreed to a partnership, but recently, I acquired my partner's half and now
own him outright."
HF
Mobster was retired from competition with LTE over $123,500. In 2011, he was a
National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity Finalist. In 2013, he was
crowned the NRHA Open Derby Champion. HF Mobster is known for his docile
behavior, great mind, good hip, and conformation. Progeny earnings total over 1.3
million dollars in roping, reining, ranch, barrels, and reined cow horse.
Wimpyneedsacocktail
is the highest earning stallion by Wimpys Little Step with LTE of over
$285,000. His progeny earnings exceed $773,000 in a multitude of arenas
including reining, roping, ranch work, reined cow horse, and barrel racing. The
Riata Championships has been a successful platform for Wimpyneedsacocktail
progeny. In 2022, Colby Lovell won the Pro Futurity on Seven S Whiskey Sour,
earning $51,325. The following day, TJ Good roped on the same horse in the 12.5
All-Age, winning $7,000. Bryce Briggs won $7,200 in the 12.5 futurity incentive
on Run N Tuff Cocktail. Billy Bob Brown won 4th in the Pro Futurity
on Seven S Cocktail, earning $18,675.
"HF
Mobster and Wimpyneedsacocktail both produce horses that are successful in a
multitude of disciplines. Both the stallions are naturally built and have a
great mind. They pass those traits on.
Watching their progeny in the roping arena is poetry in motion!"
HF
Mobster currently stands at Silver Spurs Equine in Scottsdale, Arizona – Click here for more information about HF Mobster
Wimpyneedsacocktail
stands at Silver Spurs Equine in Purcell, Oklahoma - Click here for more information about Wimpyneedsacocktail
