Gold Medalist
Jul 22, 2024
By Keri Whitney
World
traveler and highly decorated National Reining Horse Association Hall of Famer
and NRHA Million Dollar Sire, Spooks Gotta Whiz has been a Riata stallion since
the beginning. The eye-catching 2007 bay stallion by Spooks Gotta Gun out of
Prettywhizprettydoes by Topsail Whiz is an earner of $346,715 in his limited
but very impressive career.
"He was the first futurity horse I ever bought," said Michell Anne Kimball,
owner of Spooks Gotta Whiz. "I trained hunter jumpers in California for 30
years. After retiring from training, I wanted to purchase a futurity horse for
reining. In 2009, I flew to Texas and went to the barn where Spooks Gotta Whiz
was for sale. I tried him out and bought him."
In 2010,
Spooks Gotta Whiz won the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity ridden by NRHA Three
Million Dollar rider, Jordan Larson. In
2012, NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida climbed in saddle of Spooks
Gotta Whiz and won the Level 4 Open Championships at the NRHA Derby and the
National Reining Breeders Classic. These three Level 4 Open titles earned
Spooks Gotta Whiz the coveted NRHA Triple Crown winner. He is the first of only four horses to ever accomplish this feat, and Spooks Gotta Whiz earned the title twice.
To top
off a very impressive career, in 2014 Spooks Gotta Whiz and Shawn Flarida won
individual and team gold medals at the Federation Equestre Internationale World Equestrian
Games in France, Normandy and was crowned the United States Equestrian Federation
International Horse of Honor. Following
his International successes, Spooks Gotta Whiz retired from competition at age
six.
"I focus on my customers that are breeding to Spooks Gotta
Whiz," Michell said. "I am very involved with his progeny. I follow their
careers and see as many babies as I can in person. My customers are the primary
component. They matter to me. Top riders want to ride them [Spooks Gotta Whiz
horses] and the riders that have them, don't want to sell them. His progeny is
just like him, fun, great minded, and successful. His books close every
year. Just look at his average offspring
earnings say it all."
Progeny
earnings total $9,200,000 with top earners competing in the reining,
ranch, and roping arenas. This includes Riata horse, Spooks Wonder Bread owned
by Katherin Joos and roped on by Jim Bob Fritz, who won money in the incentive
of the 10.5 roping at the 2022 Riata Championships. Spooks Gotta Whiz currently
has 1347 AQHA foals, 457 of those are money earners with average earnings over
$19,500.
Spooks
Gotta Whiz stands at Oswood Stallion Station in Weatherford, Texas.
More Information - Spooks Gotta Whiz | Riata Buckle
