Union City, Calif. May 5, 2010 – Ariat International, the leading manufacturer of innovative performance equestrian footwear, apparel and belts, is delighted to announce its sponsorship of Shawn Flarida, world-renowned reiner and Western horseman.
“We are thrilled to have Shawn join forces with Ariat,” said Susan Alcala, Ariat’s vice president of marketing. “He is the consummate athlete, known for his passion and commitment to his sport, which complements our brand values perfectly.”
Flarida is the National Reining Horse Association’s all-time leading money earner, and the first-ever Three Million Dollar Rider. He has five NRHA Open Futurity championships to his name and has won the All-American Quarter Horse Congress eight times. Yet despite this impressive resume, Flarida is known throughout the industry for his humility and unmatched work ethic.
“I am excited to join the Ariat Pro team,” said Flarida. “Their products, especially their boots, are terrific, and once I find something that works, I like to stick with it.”
Most recently, Flarida capped off his 2009 show season by once again capturing the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity Championship and the NRHA Open Futurity title aboard Gunnatrashya. It was the third time in his career that he captured both titles back-to-back and only the fourth time in NRHA history that the feat has been accomplished. With his remarkable earnings in 2009, Flarida has just over $250,000 to earn until he hits the $4 Million Dollar mark in lifetime earnings.
