Tim & Colleen McQuay Purchase Gunner

Once again, the eyes of the reining world have turned to the small north Texas town of Tioga, when it was announced on May 1 that Colonels Smoking Gun, better known as Gunner, had been purchased by Tim and Colleen McQuay.

Gunner, a National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame inductee, was the NRHA Futurity Reserve Champion in 1996, then tied for Reserve at the National Reining Breeders Classic in 1998. The charismatic stallion with the signature floppy ears, went on to even greater success when he won the 2001 USET Reining Championship. From the preliminaries through the finals, he was unbeaten and untied, marking a 229, 233, 226.5, and a 222.

Tim McQuay, the National Reining Horse Association’s All Time leading trainer, was excited to bring Gunner to Texas. He said, “We’re grateful to Kim and Debra Sloan for the opportunity to own this horse and wish them much success in their continuing horse ventures.”

Former owners Dr. Kim and Debra Sloan are glad to see Gunner moving into the McQuay program. Kim Sloan quipped, “Debra and I never thought we’d sell him but Tim and Colleen made us an offer we couldn’t refuse!”

He continued, “Seriously, the McQuays are the only people we would consider selling him to because we know just how well they take care of their horses. If Gunner is not going to be here, I can’t think of a better place for him to be.”

Along with Gunner, the McQuays purchased NRHA Futurity Reserve Champion Mifillena and NRHA World Champion Mr Gold Pine Jac, along with a stellar group of broodmares that, in Tim’s words, "represent some of the very history of the NRHA.”

The Sloans will continue to be involved in the reining business, with Kim riding and having trainers show horses, and serving on the NRHA Executive Committee.

Born in 1993, by Colonel Four Freckle by Colonel Freckles and out of Katie Gun, Gunner was originally registered as a paint (APHA Colonelsmokingun) because excessive white made him ineligible for registration in the American Quarter Horse Association. When that rule was changed, he was given his AQHA Papers.

Tim McQuay has long wanted the opportunity to be involved with Gunner. “I’ve wanted to be a part of this stallion since I first saw him and have pursued – for the past two years – the chance to stand him or own him.”

McQuay has already had success on Gunner get. He and Colleen bought Sorcerers Apprentice (a son of Gunner) as a two-year-old and finished sixth at the NRHA Futurity on him.

The twelve-year-old stallion arrived in Texas on April 29, where he will stand the rest of the 2005 season, along his half-brother, Dun Gotta Gun, and Dun It With A Twist, RR Star, Footworks Finest, Reminic N Dun It.

For information, contact www.mcquaystables.com. 

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