Top 10 Reining Sires of 2023

Doing fast run-downs, sliding stops, and reining spins, all require a high level of athleticism. In the performance horse world, this athleticism is achieved through strategic breeding. As breeding progresses, so does the sport and the horses we see competing today. The top 10 reining sires of 2023 have contributed to the improvement of the sport, and it can be seen through their progeny earnings.

With data pulled from QStallions, these are the top 10 AQHA reining stallions for 2023:

10. Wizkey N Diamonds

Pedigree: Topsail Whiz x Princess In Diamonds x Shining Spark

2024 Stud Fee: $2,000

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $224,020, 2011 NRHA Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion, 2012 AQHA World Champion Senior Reining Horse, 2011 NRHA Futurity Open Reserve Champion, 3rd at the 2009 NRHA Open Futurity, split 4th at the 2011 National Reining Breeders Classic Open Derby, 2009 High Roller Open Reining Futurity Champion, 2009 Congress Open Reining Futurity Reserve Champion, ROM

Offspring Earnings: $732,203

Money Earners: 90

Offspring Incentives: NRBC, NARS, Royal Crown Roping

9. Colonels Smoking Gun

Pedigree: Colonelfourfreckle x Katie Gun x John Gun

2024 Stud Fee: $10,000

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $177,386, 1996 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion, APHA World Open Reining Futurity Champion, 1997 APHA World Champion Junior Reining Horse, 5th Carolina Classic Reining 4/5-Year-Old Non-Pro, APHA Honor Roll Junior Reining, 5th NRHA Non-Pro Derby, NRHA Top Five, 1998 NRBC Open Derby Champion, 4th Arizona RHA Classic 4/5-Year-Old Open, 4th NRHA Saddlesmith Series, Carolina Classic Reining Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion, Finalist NRHA Open Derby, 6th NRHA Top 10, 2000 4th USET Reining Pro & Non-Pro Team Classic, 2001 USET Reining Finals Champion, Florida Reining Classic USEF Qualifier Champion, NRHA Derby USET Semi-Finalist Champion, 2002 NRHA Derby Uset Semi-Finals Champion, Florida Reining Classic USET Qualifier Co-Reserve Champion, Split 5th USET Reining Finals

Offspring Earnings: $737,202

Money Earners: 103

No. 1 Money Earner: Down Right Amazing | 2017 Stallion | Colonels Smoking Gun x Shesouttayourleague x Walla Walla Whiz | $608,243

Offspring Incentives: 100x Reining

8. Shiners Voodoo Dr

Pedigree: Shining Spark x Voodoo Chic x Smart Chic Olena

2024 Stud Fee: $5,500

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $87,098, 2013 NRHA DERBY Open L4 Open Finalist, 2012 NRHA DERBYL4 Open Co-Reserve Champion, 2012 AQHA WORLD SHOW Jr Reining Open Finalist, 2010 NRHA FUTURITY Open L4 Finalist, 2010 ARIAT TULSA REINING CLASSIC Level 3 & Level 2 Open Champion

Offspring Earnings: $853,531

Money Earners: 218

Offspring Incentives: NRBC, NRCHA STAKES

7. Shine Chic Shine

Pedigree: Smart Chic Olena x Ebony Shines x Shining Spark

2024 Stud Fee: $3,000 + $600 Chute Fee

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $148,714, 2011 NRBC Open Derby Champion, 2010 NRHA Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion, 2010 NRHA Open Futurity Finalist

Offspring Earnings: $881,949

Money Earners: 116

No. 1 Money Earner: Best Shine | 2017 Stallion | Shine Chic Shine x Best Stop x Custom Chrome | $686,035.65

Offspring Incentives: NRHA SIRE & DAM, NRBC

6. Inferno Sixty Six

Pedigree: Gunnatrashya x Snip O Gun x One Gun

2024 Stud Fee: $3,500

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $208,782, 2015 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion, Top 10 Tulsa Reining Classic Open Futurity, Finalist Congress Open Reining Futurity, 2016 Finalist NRBC Open Derby, 3rd High Roller Reining Classic Open Stakes, 4th NRBC Derby Preliminaries Open, Split 6th High Roller Reining Classic Open Derby, 2017 AQHA Reserve World Champion Junior Reining Horse, Finalist NRBC Open Derby, 5th Southwest RHA Open Futurity class, Cactus Reining Classic Open Derby Champion, Finalist NRHA Open Derby, 2018 Finalist NRHA Open Derby, Finalist NRHA Derby Preliminaries Open, Split 3rd Tulsa Reining Classic Open Derby

Offspring Earnings: $923,213

Money Earners: 147

No. 1 Money Earner: Inferno 35 | 2020 Stallion | Inferno Sixty Six x Madeof Pure Spangled x Star Spangled Whiz | $250,650

Offspring Incentives: National Reining Breeders Classic, NRHA Sire and Dam Program, 100X Reining

5. SG Frozen Enterprize

Pedigree: Frozen Sailor x RS Rose SJ x SJ Enterprise

2024 Stud Fee: $4,750

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $274,000, 2015 NRBC Open Champion, 2015 Cactus Classic Open Derby Champion, 2015 NRHA Open Derby, 4TH 2014 NRBC Open Derby, 9TH 2014 High Roller Reining Classic Open Derby, 3RD 2014 Cactus Open Derby, 3RD 2013 NRHA Derby Open, 5TH 2013 High Roller Reining, 2013 High Roller Reining Derby Open Reserve Champion, 2012 Italian RHA Futurity Open Champion, 2012 Italian RHA Futurity Int. Open Champion, 2012 Italian RHA Futurity LTD Open Champion, 2012 Italian 50K Limited Open Champion

Offspring Earnings: $942,869

Money Earners: 156

Offspring Incentives: Silver Spurs Breeding Futurity

4. Gunners Special Nite

Pedigree: Gunner x Mifs Doll x Mifllena

2024 Stud Fee: $3,000

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $235,000, 2018 #1 NRHA Leading Sire, 2010 World Equestrian Games Individual Gold Medalist, 2010 World Equestrian Games Team Gold Medalist, NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion, NRHA Intermediate Open Futurity Champion, Multiple NRBC Open Finalist, Multiple NRHA Open Derby Finalist, Scottsdale Classic Intermediate Open Futurity Champion, 75 AQHA Open Reining Points

Offspring Earnings: $1,127,434

Money Earners: 209

Offspring Incentives: National Reining Breeders Classic, NRHA, 100x Stakes (2023), Royal Crown, Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association Stallion Stakes

3. Magnum Chic Dream

Pedigree: Smart Chic Olena x Sailin Barbee x Topsail Cody

2024 Stud Fee: $6,500

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $44,294, 1999 NRHA L2 Open Futurity Reserve Champion, Finalist NRHA L3 Open Futurity, Finalist NRHA Open Futurity, 3rd Southwest RHA L3 Open Futurity, 2000 NRHA Int. Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion, Governors Classic Reining Novice Horse Open Champion, Governors Classic Open Reining Reserve Champion, 2001 Southwest RHA Open Reserve Champion, 4th NRHA Top 10, 2004 AQHA World Champion Senior Reining Horse, NRHA Hall of Fame

Offspring Earnings: $1,412,447

Money Earners: 313

No. 1 Money Earner: Chic Dreamin | 2012 Stallion | Magnum Chic Dream x Skeets Red Dunit x Skeets Peppy | $265,421

Offspring Incentives: Germany Stallion Service Program, Italian Reining Horse Breeders Association, National Reining Breeders Classic, NRHA Sire & Dam, Rocky Mountain RHA Stallion Stakes, Southwest RHA Futurity, 100X Stakes

2. Spooks Gotta Whiz

Pedigree: Spooks Gotta Gun x Prettywhizprettydoes x Topsail Whiz

2024 Stud Fee: Booked Full ($7,000)

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $346,715, 2010 NRHA Open Futurity Champion, Split 3rd Reining by the Bay Futurity Open, money-earner NRHA Futurity Go Round winner, High Roller Reining Classic Open Futurity Reserve Champion, money-earner NRHA Futurity Go #2 Open, 2011 Split 6th NRBC Open Derby, Finalist NRHA Open Derby, Split 4th NRBC Derby Preliminaries Open, 2012 NRBC Open Derby Champion, Top 10 NRBC Derby Preliminaries Open, NRHA Open Derby Champion, 2014 USEF National Champ Reining CRI3 Open class winner, FEI World Equestrian Games Reining Team USA Champion, Spooks Gotta Whiz Open 7Up Champion, FEI World Equestrian Games Open Reining Champion, Kentucky Reining Cup USEF Champ Open Champion, USEF International Horse of Honor, NRHA Hall of Fame

Offspring Earnings: $2,280,395

Money Earners: 274

No. 1 Money Earner: Alfa Jac Sparrow | 2018 Stallion | Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chexanicki x Beuno Chexinic | $240,486

Offspring Incentives: NRBC, NRHA Sire and Dam, NRHA Germany, NRHA Italy, NRHA Belgium, 100x Stakes, Riata Buckle, Royal Crown - Roping, Spooks Gotta Whiz Breeders Incentive

1. Gunnatrashya

Pedigree: Colonels Smoking Gun x Natrasha x Trashadeous

2024 Stud Fee: $6,000

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $233,757, 2009 NRHA Open Futurity Champion, Top 10 High Roller Reining Classic Open Futurity, Congress Open Reining Futurity Champion, Dorminy Plantation Open Reining Futurity Champion, 2010 NRHA Open Derby Champion, NRHA Hall of Fame

Offspring Earnings: $2,331,101

Money Earners: 380

No. 1 Money Earner: Andiamoe | 2019 Mare | Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chix x Wimpys Little Step | $431,790

Offspring Incentives: National Reining Breeders Classic, NRHA Sire & Dam, NRCHA Stakes, Royal Crown Roping, 100X Stakes, Gold Buckle Futurities, IRHA Ranch Horse Futurity

The top stallions of 2023 have left their mark on the reining industry, but here are the top five leading stallions of all time that have proven their mettle as reining sires.

1. Colonels Smoking Gun | Total Earnings: $15,238,122
2. Wimpys Little Step | Total Earnings: $13,437,921
3. Topsail Whiz | Total Earnings: $13,188,119
4. Gunnatrashya | Total Earnings: $11,259,337
5. Magnum Chic Dream | Total Earnings: $10,877,254

For the most up-to-date stallion data, refer to QStallions.com. Note that all data for this article was pulled on Jan. 1, 2023.