Shining Spark

The legendary stallion Shining Spark was euthanized on December 26, 2021, at age 33, due to infirmities of old age.

The palomino stallion, foaled January 18, 1989, was one of the crown jewels of American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame horsewoman Carol Rose’s breeding program.

He was sired by the Doc Bar son Genuine Doc, and out of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame mare Diamonds Sparkle. 

The young stallion was destined for the competition arena, and Tim McQuay guided Shining Spark to be the 1993 AQHA junior reining world champion, and the following year they won the National Reining Horse Association Derby, with a 230.5 score. 

Shining Spark retired with earnings of $62,674 in his career.

While he was a successful show horse, it was as a sire that he cemented his legacy as a legend.

He has sired 1,316 registered American Quarter Horse foals to date from 26 crops, that have earned 37,546 AQHA points and more than $10.2 million in performance earnings. 

He is an NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire and a National Reined Cow Horse Association Four Million Dollar Sire. 

Leading his many successful progeny by earnings are NRHA Open Futurity Champion Shining N Sassy ($259,262), AQHA Superhorse Shine By The Bay ($178,699) and world champion A Shiner Named Sioux ($161,891).

He is also a successful broodmare sire, with his daughters’ foals earning more than $24.1 million.