Reiner Cira Baeck has become a trailblazer. The Belgian trainer recently became the first European woman to be named a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) One Million Dollar Rider.
Baeck, the second woman to hit the milestone, joined the list of top riders with two top rides earlier this month at the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Level 4 Open Futurity with NF Shining Whiz and Sailorsacrofpride BB.
She and NF Shining Whiz (Colonels Shining Gun x Whowhizthispeppychic x Who Whiz It) clinched the Level 4 Open Reserve Championship with a score o 227 for owners Kim Windey and David Perneel. Baeck guided Sailorsarcofpride BB (Whizasunnysailor Bb x Donna Arc Escapes Bb x Don Quixote Escapes) to roughly $50,000 in winnings during the show for owner Ruediger Diedenhofen
The Belgian trainer and NRHA Judge won her first NRHA paycheck in 2002 and has actively competed in European and North American NRHA events ever since.
Baeck credits NRHA legend and Hall of Fame Inductee, Bill Horn, for her drive and passion for the sport as he continues to be her biggest inspiration. Other NRHA Professionals, such as Brent Loseke and Bernard Fonck, NRHA’s first European-based Two Million Dollar Rider, also have been influential in Baeck’s career.
Beginning as a youth competitor, Baeck has received multiple honors during the past decade and a half, including the following:
* Three-time NRHA Open World Champion Top Ten: 2013 on Whizasunnysailor BB (third), 2015 on Whizasunnysailor BB (second), and 2017 on Gunners Snappy Chic (third)
* Two-time NRHA Non-Pro World Champion, plus six other Top Ten placings in the same division: 2007 on Don Quixote Escapes (first), 2008 on Peek A Boom (first), 2008 on Whizashiningwalla BB (third), 2010 on Gumpy Grumpy BB (third), 2009 on Whizashiningwalla BB (fourth), 2007 on Little Gump (sixth), 2009 on Gumpy Grumpy BB (sixth), and 2005 on Little Gump (seventh).
* Three-time FEI World Equestrian Games medalist: 2010, 2014, and 2018 Team Silver Medalist for Belgium
* 2013 IRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion on Whizasunnysailor BB
* 2014 NRHA European Derby Level 4 Open Champion on Colonels Shining Gun
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