Shiners Diamond Girl, a 2002 palomino mare by the legendary Shining Spark, and out of Zans Diamond Jackie, made her home at the iconic San Juan Ranch 22 years ago. San Juan Ranch is a NRCHA Multi-Million Dollar Breeder, and home to three NRCHA Open Futurity Champions. The ranch is also a #2 Lifetime Reined Cowhorse breeder.
Bred by Carol Rose Quarter Horses, and bought as a weanling, Shiners Diamond Girl found her way to the Weatherford, Texas ranch at the same time as another standout broodmare, Shiners Little Oak.
A Winning Record of Her Own
San Juan Ranch representative, Alecia Ouellette, recounts some of Shiners Diamond Girl’s notable wins from the mare’s time in the show pen. NRCHA 2-million-dollar-rider, Chris Dawson and NRCHA Hall of Famer Teddy Robinson both held the reins of Shiners Diamond Girl during her show career. The great mare was an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate and Limited Open Finalist with Dawson. With Teddy Robinson aboard, the pair were 5th in the 2010 World’s Greatest Horseman Competition. The palomino mare earned $67,765. She also is an NRCHA Supreme Reined Cow Horse, a title reserved for the unique horse that has shown and won in all divisions and has substantial earnings.
Dam of Champions
After a successful show career, Diamond Girl quickly became a producer of impressive offspring. She is an NRCHA Half Million Dollar Dam, with progeny earnings of over $710,000.
Her son, SJR Talkin Diamonds was recently crowned The American Performance Horseman Reined Cow Horse Champion, with Corey Cushing aboard. The 2017 palomino stallion has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the cow horse world. SJR Talkin Diamond is also Diamond Girl’s leading money earner offspring. Another notable offspring of Shiners Diamond Girl is the great stallion CD Diamond, a NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion. CD Diamond, nearly a million-dollar sire, is also the sire of NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, SJR Diamond Mist. Among Diamond Girl’s winning daughters is, A Starlit Diamond; dam of 2-time NRCHA World Champion, SJR Starlit Rey.
With multiple progenies making their mark in the arena, and a successful win record of her own, Diamond Girl is a remarkable dam. She’s also simply a pleasure to be around. Ouellette says, “Diamond Girl has a very laid-back temperament in her older years.” However, Ouellette notes that the palomino mare still likes to kick up her heels from time to time. “She is 22 years old, but still runs around her pasture like a yearling, bucking and kicking.”
Making Her Mark
With winning traits that she consistently passes down, Shiners Diamond Girl continues to make her mark on the performance horse world. Aside from passing on her beautiful palomino coat to many of her offspring, her progeny also mirrors her grit and class in and out of the arena.
While she possesses the correct conformation and the athleticism that the cow horse events call for, Shiners Diamond Girl stamps her babies with a “big hip, and so much eye appeal and expression” according to Ouellette. “It does not matter the stud; her babies will turn heads.” She continues to prove her legacy as a winning dam, at 22 years old. Her offspring continue to rack up wins under bright arena lights. Ouellette says, “She is a very sweet mare and knows her job; to make more champions.” And there is no doubt that this palomino mare with a big heart, kind eye, and winning blood; is very good at her job.
