Person · 2017
NRHA Hall of Fame · Inducted 2017
Carol Rose
AQHA All-Time Leading Breeder · Shining Spark's Owner · Inducted 2017
Carol Rose of Gainesville, Texas, may be the most honored woman in the western horse world. Born in Palo Alto in 1941, she started competing at age 6 and went on to break barriers across every western discipline — first woman to compete in the NCHA Non Pro Futurity, first to win the NCHA Non Pro World Championship (1967), first female AQHA Judges Committee member, and a member of five Hall of Fames. As a breeder she produced Shining Spark — an accident of fate when she crossed Genuine Doc with Diamonds Sparkle — who became one of the greatest performance sires in history.
"Horses are my life and my life has been my horses."— Carol Rose, at her NRHA HOF induction
Career Highlights
- Breeder of Shining Spark — the palomino stallion became an NRHA $4M Sire, AQHA $10M Sire, and NRCHA $4M Sire; owned by Rose his entire 32-year life; produced two NRHA Open Futurity Champions under Rose's ownership
- AQHA's all-time leading breeder of performance horses — horses she bred have earned more than $7 million; also the NRCHA's top breeder; bred NRHA Open Futurity Champions Sparkles Rosezana (1985) and Shining N Sassy (2008)
- 5 Hall of Fames — NRHA (2017), AQHA (2010), NRCHA, NCHA Non Pro, National Cowgirl HOF, Texas Cowboy HOF; also AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year 1998
- Carol Rose Quarter Horses, Gainesville, Texas
Class of 2017