a-sparkling-vintage
A Sparkling Vintage recently passed a major milestone. • Photo by Figure 8 Photography

A Sparkling Vintage Becomes an NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire

A Sparkling Vintage recently became the newest National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Two Million Dollar Sire, the association announced Thursday.

Owned by Petra Zeitler Conner and Silver Spurs Equine LLC, A Sparkling Vintage has made quite an impact on the reining world. The 1997 bay stallion by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shining Spark and out of Vintage Badger (by Peppy San Badger) crossed the million-dollar mark in 2016, coincidentally with a co-reserve championship at the 2016 NRHA Derby with Not Ruf At All, shown by Jason Vanlandingham, and Platinum Vintage, shown by Todd Bergen.

This year, he passed it after his son and second-leading earner, A Vintage Smoke, won the NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Championship – and the Triple Crown – with Vanlandingham aboard.

A Sparkling Vintage’s Background

With earnings in both the States and Europe, A Sparkling Vintage’s influence is widespread. He was shown by Jeff Kasten, Ruben Vandorp, Fredrik Thomsson, in Europe by Emanuel Ernst, and finally by Harper Conner. He stands for breeding at Silver Spurs Equine LLC in Arizona alongside one of his top-performing sons, Platinum Vintage.

“(A Sparkling Vintage) has never had big foal crops like other big sires, and his first million was achieved from offspring I bred out of my mares,” Conner said. “Vintage passes on his huge heart and very correct conformation to be physically able to use that heart in the show ring. What makes me especially happy as a breeder is that you have very talented, performing fillies by him as well.”

Stud Career Highlights

A Sparkling Vintage offspring continue to make waves in the show pen, bringing home solid scores and big checks for their riders and owners. Here are a few highlights from his most notable progeny.

His leading earners in the NRHA:

  • Triple Crown winner Not Ruf At All ($456,437, out of All Ruffed Up x Lil Ruff Peppy). He was the 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion; 2014 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion and the 2016 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Champion.
  • Triple Crown winner A Vintage Smoke ($400,082). He won the 2018 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open; 2019 NRBC Level 4 Open Co-Championship and the 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 4 Open.
  • Platinum Vintage (308,062, out of Starjac Miss by Hollywood Jac 86); He was the 2014 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion; 2016 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Co-Reserve Champion  and an NRHA Futurity Open finalist in 2013.