Tinker with Dreams
Sep 20, 2023
By Keri Whitney
To a sold-out crowd on a hot
August Saturday night at the South Point Casino, Riata Buckle Stallion, Tinker
with Dreams ("Cilantro") ridden by Dany Tremblay had one shot to make a jaw
dropping run in the Open Reining. They awed the audience and judges alike and
with a score of 230. When the dust settled, Dany and Tinker with Dreams were
crowned the 2023 Reserve Champion at Taylor Sheridan's Run for a Million. This
was the second year in a row the duo had competed at the prestigious event
where they placed top 10. Preparations for the 2024 Run for a Million are
already in the making.
Shane and Kalicia Walters of
Diamond Dub Quarter Horses purchased Tinker with Dreams in 2019 when he was 5.
Their original plans were to purchase some mares at a ranch when there stood Tinker
with Dreams.
"We fell in love with
Cilantro when we first saw him," says Shane. "Kalicia and I had no intention of purchasing a stallion. And now he's stuck with us. Buying him, was by
chance, 100%."
In 2021, the Walters decided
to take their lifelong journey in the horse industry and purchased the former
Washington Ranch in Marietta,
Oklahoma. The 470 acres of rolling hill, grass, and
trees is rich in Oklahoma history, being owned by the cattle rancher, William
"Billy" Washington from 1880 to 1920. Since the purchase, the Walters have
upgraded the facilities, adding a covered 300x150 arena, round pens, walkers,
turnouts, an office, and a lounge for visitors. Currently, the ranch houses
Tinker with Dreams and 75 head of reiners, cow horses and rope horses.
Tinker with Dreams' lifetime earnings exceed $284,000. In
2021, he was crowned National Reining Breeders Classic Co-Champion, a title
shared with Jason Van Landingham and AQHA World Show Sr Reining Champion with a
record-breaking score. Tinker with Dreams has his own entourage, complete with
"agent" Fred Tremblay, and his own media guru.
"Dany is the only one who's ridden Cilantro since we've
owned him," says Shane. "He knows the horse inside and out and how to ride him.
Cilantro has some age on him, but he still has some juice and as long as the
vet says 100% sound, Dany will continue to show him at distinguished events.
He's always been the horse you can count on!"
Diamond Dub Quarter Horses has a handful of Tinker with
Dreams colts. This fall the first foal crop will be turning 2, which they plan
on starting a majority of. These include babies out of a Metallic Cat mare that
won the world in heading at the AQHA World Show. Next year's foal crop will be
around 25 head of colts, out of roping mares with Doc Bar and Three Bars
breeding as well as Dual Spark and Shining Spark.
For More Information on
Tinker with Dreams – Click Here