Jake Telford

Telford won his first NRCHA money in August 1999, winning $110 in the Open Hackamore at an Idaho Horse Show. This past October, he won his biggest chunk of money on a single horse in a single event when he piloted One Time Rey Jay, owned by Aspen Meadows Ranch, to a Reserve finish at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. That win put him within striking distance of the major milestone - and prior to showing at the NRCHA Hackamore Classic, he was barely $1,000 away.

"I knew I was close after Reno, but I wasn't keeping track of it. Driving home from the Hackamore Classic people started to call me and congratulate me – so that was pretty cool!"

Ever gracious, Telford gave credit to several of his mentors. "There are so many people who have been with me from the beginning. Ted Robinson has been my herd help guy since my first show at Reno. Dan Roeser has also been in my corner from the very beginning and is one of my best friends and biggest supporters, and Anne Reynolds has also helped me so much. They are all invaluable to me," he said.

Telford also noted that he wouldn't have had his success without the horse power and the support from his owners. "Every owner has been great. From my very first customers – Bob and Bonnie Schwenkfelder – to all the ones I have now, I have been fortunate to have a great group of owners. My earnings shot way up when I started riding horses for Nancy Crawford-Hall, who is like family to me. Newt White has put me on some really good horses, and Dave and Loke Allen have been great for many years. I've just been very fortunate."

The new millionaire had one other special person to thank, adding, "My wife Jessie has always been so supportive and is there for me. She's been teasing me that she's the reason I've been successful, because I really started to be successful in 2005 – around the time we got married!"