NRHA Futurity Champion The Firemen to Stand at Solo Select
- Taylor Zimmerman
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 19
From the moment The Firemen entered the arena on the Saturday night finals at the NRHA Futurity, it was clear history was being made. Every stop, every spin, every perfectly timed maneuver wasn’t just a display of athleticism — it was a statement.
This was a horse unlike any the reining world had ever seen.
As the highest-earning 3-year-old in western performance history, with a pedigree built for greatness and a temperament as rare as his talent, The Firemen has already rewritten the record books.
Now, as he prepares to stand at Solo Select, the sport faces a defining moment — a chance to be part of a legacy that will shape generations to come.
With a six-figure, reining-specific incentive now in development by owner Morgan Reiners in partnership with Solo Select, the next chapter is set to raise the bar even higher, rewarding and recognizing the breeders and owners who choose to build with us.
The Firemen: A Record-Setting Career
Few horses enter the reining world with as much impact as The Firemen delivered in his 3-year-old season. In 2024, he became the highest-earning 3-year-old western performance horse in history, accumulating $425,077 in earnings.
The centerpiece of his breakout year came in Oklahoma City at the NRHA Futurity. Shown by professional Kaci O’Rourke, The Firemen marked a 229 in the Level 4 Open Finals to secure the championship title. That run cemented him not only as a standout performer but also as part of a history-making moment. O’Rourke became the first woman ever to win the L4 Open Futurity Championship, while The Firemen became the last champion crowned in the legendary Jim Norick Coliseum.
“Peter and I watch his Futurity run almost every day, and we still pinch ourselves — did this really happen for us?” Courtney Morgan said. “It was like the Kentucky Derby for reining, and to see him keep getting stronger with every maneuver was just incredible.”
Since then, his total lifetime earnings have climbed to $465,623, placing him 11th among the highest-earning reining horses of all time. Achieving that milestone at such a young age has already established him as one of the most accomplished stallions to ever enter the breeding shed.
Rising as a 4-Year-Old
While many Futurity champions face pressure to replicate their early success, The Firemen has proven that his performance at 3 was only the beginning. In June of this year, he made headlines again at the NRHA Derby, where he was the high scoring 4-year-old at the event with a score of 227 in the L4 Open Derby Finals.
His consistency extended to the 100X Stakes in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he posted a 228 and a 225. These performances confirmed his reputation not only as a horse capable of brilliance in a single moment but also as one who consistently rises to the occasion across major events.
Pedigree
Bred by Tamarack Ranch, The Firemen is by Inferno 66, NRHA’s youngest $4 million sire and the earner of over $220,000.
His dam, Redhot Walla, a daughter of Walla Walla Whiz. Redhot Walla earned $74,765 during her own show career and has established herself as a prolific producer, with offspring earnings of more than $975,000 to date. This combination of bloodlines blends the strength of proven sires with one of the strongest dam lines in the reining horse industry.
Team Effort
The Firemen’s success has been built not only on his natural ability but also on the team behind him. Owners Peter and Courtney Morgan placed their faith in trainer Kaci O’Rourke and Jack Daniels, who have guided the stallion from his first rides to the sport’s biggest stage.
“From the start, we knew he was special, but watching him rise to the moment at the Futurity was beyond anything we could have imagined,” Peter Morgan said. “It took all of us working together — Kaci, Jack, and everyone around him — to bring out that kind of performance.”
For the Morgans, the victory was about more than prize money or recognition. It was the culmination of years of commitment, a partnership built on belief in their horse and in the team that brought out his best.
Looking Ahead
By joining Solo Select, The Firemen begins the next phase of a career that already includes history-making accomplishments. Solo Select’s decision to stand him as its first reining stallion reflects both the strength of his show record and the belief that his influence as a sire will be far-reaching.
“Choosing The Firemen as our first reining stallion was an easy decision,” Melanie Smith, Solo Select Founder, said. “He combines a show record that speaks for itself with a temperament that any breeder would want to pass on. He is so incredibly quiet and kind. We believe he represents the future of the sport, and we’re honored to play a role in that. Additionally, we have put together an incredibly exciting, first of its kind incentive for the reiners that we feel really rewards the people who invest early with this exceptional young stallion.”
The Firemen & Solo Select Reining Incentive, currently in the works, is set to raise the stakes. The incentive is designed to recognize and reward the breeders and owners who choose to build with us. Official rules and full program details will be released in the coming weeks.
With a record-breaking career, an elite pedigree, industry leading incentives and a rare, gentle temperament, The Firemen is poised to redefine modern reining and launch the next chapter of his legacy.
The Firemen’s 2026 breeding contract is now available and can be accessed on both The Firemen’s official website and his Solo Select Stallion page.
His stallion fee is set at $3,000 plus chute fee, with special discounts for high-performing mares.
Mares that have produced or earned over $100,000 are eligible for a $1,000 discount, and those that have produced or earned over $200,000 qualify for a complimentary breeding.
