By Sarah Prather and Blanche Shafer
Each year, the National Reining Horse Association recognizes five standout professionals whose contributions elevate both the sport and its community. Nominated and selected by their peers, these individuals represent the highest standard within an organization that spans more than 15,000 members worldwide. To be named among them is one of the most respected distinctions a reining professional can achieve.
Award categories include Professional Horseman of the Year, Professional Non Pro Coach of the Year, Professional Up-and-Coming Trainer of the Year, Becky Hanson Professional Horsewoman of the Year, and Professional Youth Coach of the Year. Each title reflects a unique role within the industry, but all share a common foundation: excellence, leadership and dedication to the advancement of reining.
Since the program’s inception in 2012, these awards recognize professionals who promote the NRHA and its mission, embody integrity, sincerity, and a commitment to the welfare of the horse.
In 2020, the association renamed the Professional Horsewoman of the Year award to honor the late Becky Hanson. Hanson’s legacy defines the spirit of the award. Through her service on the NRHA Board, involvement in affiliate programs, and mentorship across all levels of the industry, she exemplified what it means to be an NRHA professional.
Professional Horseman of the Year: Peter DeFreitas
A lifelong student of reining, Peter DeFreitas’ honest approach to the sport have landed him Horseman of the Year accolades
By Sarah Prather
Peter DeFreitas, an NRHA Million Dollar Rider, was named the 2025 Professional Horseman of the Year–an honor voted on by his peers that reflects both success in the show pen and character beyond it.
DeFreitas set his sights on becoming a professional early, beginning his reining career as a youth under the guidance of his grandfather. After high school, he went to work for Sam Smith before making his way from New Hampshire to North Carolina to work for Mike McEntire. During that time, he connected with Monica Watson of Double Run Farm, where he would become head trainer. He looked up to many aged-event champions in the industry and now considers it an honor to be counted among them as a Million Dollar Rider.
“This award is a really neat thing that NRHA does, and it is definitely an honor to win it. It is gratifying to know that so many of my peers think that much of me to nominate, and then vote for me,” DeFreitas said.
DeFreitas earned his first NRHA youth points in 1996 at the Carolina Classic aboard Ocat, owned by Francis Buchanan. Though such awards did not exist at the time, DeFreitas said his younger self would have been just as honored to receive the recognition.
“I was all encompassed with reining when I was a kid, and especially any kind of accolade that came along with that,” DeFreitas said.
The award recognizes professionals who demonstrate excellence both in and out of the show pen–something DeFreitas has made a priority throughout his career.
“I think being upstanding, honest, and having professional courtesy among your peers is very important,” DeFreitas said. “It’s something the older generation instilled in me. If you conduct your business in a professional and honest way, good things will come to you.”
When first starting out, DeFreitas recalled a time when a client of another trainer contacted him about putting a horse in his program. Though he could have used the business, he chose to call the trainer–someone he respected and had worked for–to explain the situation. The trainer listened and expressed his appreciation for the call. The client and trainer worked out the situation and the client stayed with that trainer. DeFreitas said that moment has stuck with him and continues to shape how he approaches his business.
“Being upfront and honest I think is very important in your reputation among your peers,” DeFreitas said. “Other industry professionals will respect you more if they know they can trust you and you’re going to conduct yourself in a professional manner.”
The 2025 NRHA Horseman of the Year noted many others in his life contribute to the important accolade.
“First, I want to thank my wife–without her, the ship doesn’t sail,” he said. “I’m grateful for everyone around me–veterinarians, farriers, and assistants. There are so many people deserving of this recognition. I feel very fortunate and blessed it was me this time.”
Becky Hanson Professional Horsewoman of the Year: Shannon Rafacz
After a nearly four decade career in reining, Shannon Rafacz has claimed 2025 Becky Hanson Professional Horsewoman of the Year honors
By Sarah Prather
Shannon Rafacz has seen her fair share of triumphs in nearly four decades as an NRHA member, and now she’s been tapped as recipient of the 2025 Becky Hanson Professional Horsewoman of the Year.
Rafacz has built a career defined by consistency in the show pen and leadership beyond it. A member since age 12, she has experienced nearly every level of the industry–from youth to non-pro to professional–and recently added NRHA certified judge to that list. With lifetime earnings totaling $722,018, she reflects on her time spent with Becky Hanson while serving together on the NRHA board.
“Becky was a great friend, she was always the one to keep a situation light and the one to be the positive person in the room,” Rafacz said. “To be nominated by your peers is amazing, and to be selected is a bit surprising.”
Hanson became the namesake of the honor after her hard-fought battle with cancer in 2020, exemplifying what it meant to serve others and was widely known as a light in the industry.
That legacy is not lost on Rafacz, who credits her experience within NRHA for shaping her perspective on the industry.
“From being a youth kid to non-pro and now professional, each stage brings a different perspective,” she said. “Later in life, I got into affiliate boards and board management and served on the NRHA board as well.”
Rafacz believes the NRHA offers opportunities for women across every level of the sport.
“The sky is the limit, and that’s what I love about reining,” she added. “It’s not just a man’s sport–it’s for everybody.”
Looking ahead, the 2025 Becky Hanson Horsewoman of the Year says she isn’t finished yet, noting she scored a personal best this year.
“I still think there are amazing moments ahead, and that’s what keeps us all going,” Rafacz said.
Rafacz’s dedication to NRHA is evident through her years of service and involvement across multiple roles. Her daughter, Madison, is now a fierce competitor, and Rafacz said watching her forge her own path in the industry is especially meaningful.
The veteran rider first thanks her husband, along with her customers, coaches and peers. Each who motivates her, challenges her, and continues to push her in and out of the arena. She also credits her mother, Linda Raymond, as the person who first introduced her to the sport. Though Raymond is no longer able to attend shows due to health concerns, Rafacz said she remains her biggest supporter. It was her mother who encouraged her to begin showing at age 12, starting a journey that has now spanned nearly four decades.
“To receive this award is something I do not take lightly,” Rafacz said. “I appreciate it above and beyond. Of all the successes and accolades I’ve had, this is right at the very top.”
Up-and-Coming Professional of the Year: Giada Camparsi
An Italian native, 2025 Up-and-Coming Professional of the Year Giada Camparsi built her reining career in the U.S. from the ground up
By Sarah Prather
Giada Camparsi, a native of Italy who built her career from the ground up, was named the 2025 Up-and-Coming Professional of the Year–an honor that reflects both her determination and her evolution within the industry.
“To receive this award is a dream come true because I came here with nothing and built everything from scratch, so it is an amazing feeling,” Camparsi said.
Now based in Whitesboro, Texas, Camparsi has built a strong reputation as a two-year-old starter. Her business focused on starting young horses before selling them or sending them on to Level 4 trainers to show.
“My program and business were centered around young horses and two-year-olds,” she said. “I would start them, then sell them or send them to a Level 4 trainer to go on to show.”
While she found success in that role–including being a high seller at the NRHA Futurity Sale and the Pro-Fit Sale–Camparsi knew she wanted more. Three years ago, she made the decision to keep a horse for herself and step into the show pen, despite outside doubts.
“I was the high seller at both the NRHA Futurity Sale and the Pro-Fit Sale, many people said, ‘Just keep starting two-year-olds because you are good at it,’” she said. “I really wanted to do more in the industry, so I made the switch from the two-year-olds to focus on showing aged-event horses.”
That decision proved to be a turning point. Over the past year, Camparsi made multiple finals, building both confidence and momentum as a competitor.
“This past year was awesome for me because I made a lot of finals and it was a confidence builder for me,” she said. “I am really, really happy and this award shows I’m not just a two-year-old starter anymore.”
Now cemented as an industry leader, her journey began in Italy, where she fell in love with horses at a young age despite not being raised in a horse family. She worked to pay for her lessons–at one point working three jobs–and was first introduced to reining through a customer at the barn where she was working. Determined to pursue the discipline, she connected with Arcese Quarter Horses–upon graduating high school–and later followed an opportunity to the United States.
Now working out of Gunny Mathison’s facility in Whitesboro, Camparsi credits both Mathison and Donnie Bricker for encouraging her along the way and helping her believe in herself. Despite that support, she said the transition was mentally challenging. There were times in the arena when she felt invisible.
“This award definitely is a confidence builder where I am thinking I can do even more now, and this award makes me visible,” she said.
Her advice to other aspiring professionals reflects the same mindset that guided her own journey.
“If you have a work ethic and believe in what you are doing, follow your dream, and believe in it as much as you can, it will come,” Camparsi said. “Sometimes it won’t come right away, but always keep going and keep working.”
Youth Coach of the Year: Ben Beckett
From the gridiron to the showpen, Ben Beckett is setting the younger generation up for success
By Blanche Schaefer
From childhood, Ben Beckett primed to excel at coaching. As a high school football player whose father and brother were both college basketball coaches, he was immersed in sports. That mentality translated to his career as a horseman, helping him earn 2025 NRHA Youth Coach of the Year honors.
“I was fortunate to have great coaches around me; it’s not like I reinvented the wheel. I take little pieces from everyone to make my own thing, and it’s helped me as a trainer, showman and coach,” Beckett said. “I remember when I was a youth kid and what I needed to succeed, and all I’ve done is try to put those kids in a good position to be successful. I wouldn’t get recognition if they didn’t go out and succeed, so I give credit to the kids and their parents buying into my program.”
In addition to his immediate family members, there was no shortage of outstanding mentors in Beckett’s life, from sports coaches to top-level horse trainers.
“I had a great high school football coach, Mark Crabtree, and I use a lot of what he instilled in me, just change the sport,” Beckett said. “I was a lesson kid growing up in Linda Dare’s [Interscholastic Equestrian Association] lesson program, and then I spent my summers with Rick Weaver. I was a Youth Non Pro with Shawn Flarida, and after that I went to work for Trevor Dare, Brian Bell and Casey Hinton.”
Now with lifetime earnings in excess of $276,000, Beckett established his own program, Beckett Performance Horses, in West Mansfield, Ohio, with a focus on both reiners and reined cow horses.
Both with the horses he trains and the kids he coaches, Beckett strives to find engaging ways to train, making sure his pupil–no matter their species–are mentally fresh and excited for what’s ahead.
“Finding a balance with your horses, just like with kids, is taking care of their mental state. If a horse is getting tired of the monotony of the job, you find a job they’ll enjoy doing, like trail riding or turning back on them [in the cutting pen]. Sometimes it’s working smarter, not harder,” Beckett said. “I approach coaching with a football background and come up with a lot of cool drills for those kids.”
That being said, the NRHA coach noted that a strong work ethic and a will to improve are necessary traits for those looking to be elite, whether you’re a wide receiver or aspiring NRHA pro.
“This is not easy. No matter how nice of a horse you have or how good of a trainer you have, it’s hard to execute the reining pattern at a high degree of difficulty consistently. It’s just hard work; there is no easy route. You’ve got to have discipline, focus and you’ve got to execute,” he said. “It’s programming kids at home to execute on a daily basis. If you practice poorly, you’re going to show poorly. There’s only so much I can do if you don’t have focus.”
Ultimately, Beckett emphasizes dedication to the process, rather than the outcome, and helps kids learn to understand constructive criticism, valuable life skills he believes sets them up for success long after their youth careers are over.
“Sometimes it’s hard for kids to understand that when I’m telling them something, it’s not that they’re wrong, but we need to focus on the process of how we get better. Focus on the process, and the results take care of themselves. Great kids, like great horses, want to be coached and told the truth,” Beckett said. “It’s hard to be told the truth, but that’s why I go out and get coaching myself, too, because that’s how you get better and find success is constantly striving to better yourself.”
Non Pro Coach of the Year: Debbie Brown
Debbie Brown’s personalized approach to training has helped countless Non Pro riders thrive
By Blanche Schaefer
While 2025 Non Pro Coach of the Year Brown didn’t grow up in a horse-oriented family, she’s been surrounded by some of the best in reining since she began her career as a trainer working for Tim and Colleen McQuay. She’s a longtime team member at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses in Aubrey, Texas, and has coached many of reining’s most recognizable Non Pro names to success at the highest levels, as well as earning her own accolades in the show pen with multiple Open championships. The 2021 NRHA Becky Hanson Horsewoman of the Year boasts more than $181,000 in lifetime earnings throughout a more than 35-year career.
“I’ve put a lot of work into the Non Pros over the years, and this did feel good,” she said. “It’s watching them be successful, watching them grow and then be successful in the show pen. I learn each person and what they need to get prepared, what they’re comfortable with, and then put the puzzle pieces together to make it all work.”
She noted a lifetime of learning to be a better horse trainer has helped her become a better coach. She approaches each horse and rider as individuals, spending time simply watching how her students ride and how their horses go, so she can build successful methods for them all.
“I’m not a yeller. I try to explain things and have the horses ready to do what they need to do. I can put the heat to someone, but it’s not through yelling. It’s finding what they can do better, dissecting the problem and getting it fixed,” Brown said. “You have to teach yourself how to coach, because it takes time and experience to get everything organized.”
Allowing her students to make mistakes and learn from them, rather than feel bad, is behind much of Brown’s ethos as a teacher. It’s also an overarching principle of successful horse training, she believes.
“The whole horse industry, worldwide, is a learning curve. I think that’s what makes those top riders the best in the world, is that they are constantly eager to learn something, to do something better,” Brown said.
Brown said her career helping horses and riders be their best means more to her than just accomplishments in the show ring, and she appreciates working every day in a job that offers her a deep sense of personal fulfillment.
“At the end of the day, when I’m hot and tired and thirsty and sweaty, I feel like I’ve made a good day out of what God gave me,” Brown said humbly. “I feel like I’m doing my part to serve a purpose.”
