Grinder is my once in a life time horse.
I knew the minute I sat on his back that he was special.
I have ridden many incredible horses in my life time.
Express Nonstop (Grinder) took me from a amateur barrel racer to a professional barrel racer.

His incredible abilities in the arena gave me the courage to competitively compete on levels I only dreamed of. In 2007 we ran at the Houston Rodeo and placed 3rd first night, while 70,000 people looked on. That was a life long dream of mine to run at Houston, and I would have never done it without him.

Grinder broke a bone in his hip and broke his cannon bone in June of 2005. Several of the the top vets in Texas said his return to the competitive competition would be questionable. All said it would depend on his heart. A year later Grinder was back to winning. Although his stride is 3 inches shorter on his left rear side, you would never know it when he runs!

Grinder was trained by Mark Vaughn in NC. Mark's main focus is on futurity horses. He really takes his time with each colt and never pushes one that is not ready. The foundation he put on Grinder is one that has enabled him to run any where on any thing! He runs indoors and outdoors with no problems! Mark puts a great handle on his horses, and each knows how to hunt a barrel. My favorite trait that Mark puts on his horses is a smokin first barrel! Grinder loves to run hard to the first and inhale it! I have had some first barrels that still give me chills when I think of them.

In July of 2007 Grinder contracted some sort of neurological problem that has affected his nervous system & mobility in his hind quarters. At first look we thought it was West Nile or EPM. He has been tested for everything under the sun, and all tests came back negative. Grinder spent a little over a week at Lone Star Park Equine Hospital under the care of Dr. Wes Williams and his two incredible interns David & Eddy. After a week he made enough progress to return home. He is on been the road to recovery every since. Once again, Grinder's fate lies with God and with him. I have faith in God and Grinder and his incredible progress is a miracle in the making.

In January 2008 I started riding Grinder again. He is advancing along better then I could have ever prayed for. Will he ever be 100% again? I don't have a magic 8 ball so I couldn't tell you. I can tell you that I am perfectly content with him just the way he his. I am going to run him at selected venues and see how it goes. He still has that wicked first barrel and all the try in the world!

Everyone who has ridden Grinder always feels that "Special Thing" I felt the first day I rode him. Shantae Truelock, and Destry Fleming have both ridden him, and each echoed the same sentiment. Grinder and I have a very special friend in Toni Trimble. She came and watched us run the first night at Houston. In the parking lot when she first saw him she said " He is truly a Special horse". Grinder you are truly a special horse that owes me nothing....... to you I owe more then I can ever repay. Things are looking up the at the moment, and I know God will do what is best. Being blessed with you in my life is proof of that!