One of the top reining stallions in the history of the sport will soon retire from the breeding shed, his owner announced.
Michael Miola, owner of Silver Spurs Equine, announced via Youtube that National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Open Wimpys Little Step will soon retire.
He said the 23-year-old EquiStat Elite $12 Million Sire was one of three of the farm’s stallions –– joining A Sparkling Vintage and Big Chex To Cash – that would no longer be available to customers after this breeding season.
“2022 will be the last year a breeding can be purchased to these great stallions,” he said. “They’ve done so much for the sport of reining.”
Semen from the stallions will still be used for some of the top mares owned by Silver Spurs, Miola said.
An outstanding show horse, Wimpys Little Step is one of the most successful reining sires of all time with more than $12.7 million in progeny earnings in the EquiStat database.
The said the farm is proud to own all three of the stallions, who deserve to enjoy their golden years, Miola said.
“It’s time they’re put out to pasture to enjoy what we pray will be a long and happy retirement,” Miola said.
His leading earners are NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion Wimpys Little Chic ($539,244, out of Collena Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena); NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion RC Fancy Step ($364,205, out of Sonita Wilson x Doc Wilson) and Wimpys Little Buddy ($282,548, out of All Thats Dun x Hollywood Dun It).
Bred by Hilldale Farm, Wimpys Little Step (Nu Chex To Cash x Leolita Step x Forty Seven) also has been incredibly influential as a maternal grandsire, or broodmare sire. His daughters have foaled the winners of more than $5.2 million in EquiStat – including 2021 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion Ten Thirty.
Wimpys Little Step will remain at the Silver Spurs facility in Oklahoma, where he has lived for many years, Miola said.
A Sparkling Vintage
Also retiring, Miola announced, would be EquiStat Elite $3 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage.
The son of Shining Spark and out of Vintage Badger (by Peppy San Badger) holds the distinction of siring two NRHA Triple Crown winners – A Vintage Smoke ($612,288) and Not Ruf At All ($456,530). The latter, Not Ruf At All, recently became an EquiStat Elite $1 Million Sire thanks to his own offspring’s earnings.
A Sparkling Vintage’s other top offspring also includes Platinum Vintage, an NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Champion who earned $389,951 and also is on the Silver Spurs stallion roster.
A Sparkling Vintage will continue to live at the Silver Spurs Equine farm in Arizona.
Big Chex To Cash
Big Chex To Cash rounded out the trio of stallions headed off to retirement. The 20-year-old son of Nu Chex To Cash and out of millionaire producer Snip O Gun (by One Gun) is an EquiStat Elite $1 Million Sire
Leading offspring of Big Chex To Cash, according to EquiStat:
- Cashing Black Chex ($189,018, out of Blazing In Black x Rowdy Yankee)
- Big Creme Chic ($90,455, out of Cremes Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena)
- Checksworthy ($82,249, out of Banjoes Shining Star x Shining Spark)
Big Chex To Cash, who Miola still rides for fun, will continue to live at Silver Spurs in Arizona.
