The National Reined Cow Horse Association congratulates Chris and Sarah Dawson on each surpassing $3 million in NRCHA lifetime earnings. With Sarah reaching the milestone earlier this year and Chris crossing the threshold at the NSHA Pre-Futurity in Las Vegas, the Perrin, Texas, trainers now hold combined NRCHA lifetime earnings exceeding $6 million.
Sarah reached the milestone in the spring but chose to wait to announce it until Chris could celebrate alongside her. Though Chris wasn’t sure how soon he would join her, Sarah was confident he would reach the mark this year.
“I’m just real glad I caught my wife,” Chris said. “Sarah kept saying, ‘I’m going to wait for you.’ And I told her, ‘Well, I don’t know if you can wait that long.’ But she had faith in me.”
Chris’ career highlights include the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® presented by Metallic Cat Open championship aboard Life By The Drop (Stevie Rey Von x Sheza Dancingdiamond x Diamond J Star), owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC, earning $200,000.
His success also extends to World’s Greatest Horseman® presented by Ray Shell Ranch and Western Bloodstock, where he earned reserve champion titles in 2023 aboard Reyzinette (Dual Rey x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark), owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC, and in 2026 aboard Zak 34 (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat), owned by Melissa Fischer. Each finish added $75,000 to his earnings.
Sarah’s career includes the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open championship aboard Selvarey (Dual Rey x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart), owned by Sheri Jamieson, earning $125,000. She followed that victory with three consecutive NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open reserve championships: Vince Von (Stevie Rey Von x Hottness x Spots Hot), owned by Wendy Buehler, in 2022; Cash Trades (Reyzin The Cash x Smooth Peanutbutter x Smooth As A Cat), also owned by Buehler, in 2023; and Lil Mini Scooter (Scooter Kat x Lil Play Rey x Reys Dual Badger), owned by Russ Mothershead in 2024.
“Every million is an exciting milestone, and for me, I think it speaks volumes for the team that we have around us,” Sarah said. “Our customers who are with us through the highs and lows, and there are plenty of both, it takes a special group of people to have the staying power in this sport. It’s because of them we get to go down the road on some great horses.”
Sarah also credited the assistants whose work behind the scenes helps make those milestones possible.
“Not only that, but all of our assistants,” Sarah shared. “We get so much help in getting these horses trained at this volume, and we couldn’t do it without the great team behind us. It might be Chris’ and my names on the highlight reel, but there are so many other names that got us there.”
“Reaching $3 million in NRCHA earnings takes sustained success across years of competition,” said Patty Tiberg, NRCHA executive director. “Chris and Sarah have each built exceptional records, and celebrating this milestone together makes it especially meaningful. The NRCHA congratulates them and the owners who have supported their careers.”
View the full list of NRCHA Million Dollar Riders at www.nrcha.com/nrcha-million-dollar-riders/.
