About Us

About Sam Schaffhauser

A native of Northeast Arkansas, Sam has been on horseback since he was a small child. He quickly decided to pursue a career training horses and was exposed to various disciplines throughout his early life under the guidance of his father, NRHA Professional Randy Schaffhauser. As a Youth and Non Pro exhibitor, Sam was a multiple NRHA Futurity and Derby finalist, multiple top-ten NRHA Year End award winner, IBHA World Champion, and placed in the top five at the AQHYA World Championship. 

Joining the ranks of NRHA Professional Trainers after graduating from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Animal Science degree, Sam has been training horses for the public for nearly 15 years and riding and showing Reiners for over 25 years. During his early career training with his father, Sam placed in the top five of the NRHA Limited Open Futurity, the top ten of the NRHA Intermediate Open Futurity, and was a multiple NRHA top-five Year End award winner. Sam was also a successful coach, training multiple NRHA World Champions and Year End top fives, NRHA Non Pro Derby finalists, Congress Limited Non Pro Reserve Futurity Champion, and multiple IBHA World Champions.

Making the bold move to join the McQuay Stables team in early 2011 in pursuit of further learning and opportunities, Sam's career quickly took off. While studying under Tim and Colleen McQuay for five years, he earned multiple successes at every major event and now has lifetime earnings over $550,000 as of June 2021. Sam's most recent major successes include a 2016 Novice Horse Open L1 Congress Championship and 2017 NRBC Open Classic L2 top 3 and L3 top 10 finishes. Sam strives to take each horse in his care to its highest level of ability, recognizing that every horse has a unique temperament, ability, and will. Day in and day out, he seeks to partner with each horse he rides to work toward a goal of becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider.

When outside of the show pen himself, Sam thoroughly enjoys coaching Non Pros. "It's so rewarding to help the Non Pros", he reports. "You get to watch both your training and your teaching be put into action at once. I love coaching Non Pros that are dedicated to the sport, regardless of their skill level."

Sam gives credit in his career to those who have shared their knowledge with him and invested in his success, including his father, Randy Schaffhauser, Tim and Colleen McQuay, and the many clients who have trusted him with their horses. "It's amazing what the right opportunities can do for a person. I am forever grateful to my parents, Tim and Colleen McQuay, and my clients for trusting and believing in me. Without these people, I would absolutely not have achieved the successes I have enjoyed," Sam reflected.

A great show year in 2017 brought many big wins and milestones for Sam and landed him as the 37th ranked NRHA professional for the year. Sam looks forward to another great show year with his horses and clients in 2018!

Recent Success

- 2017 NRHA Futurity L4 Semi-Finalist
- 2017 Smoky Mountain Reins Derby and Volunteer Breeders Classic Derby L4 Champion
- 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress L2 Open Champion
- 2017 Buckeye Futurity L4 Open Co-Res Champ, L3 Open Co-Champ, L2 Open Champ
- 2017 NRHA L2 Open Derby Finalist
- 2017 NRBC L2 Open Classic top 3, L3 Open Classic top 10
- 2017 OKRHA Ride & Slide Derby L2 Open top 3
- 2016 All-American Quarter Horse Congress Champion Novice Horse Open L1
- 2016 Clayton Woosley Hall of Fame Reining L3 Open Derby Champion, Top 5 L4
- 2016 Smoky Mountain Reins Derby Open L4 and L3 Reserve Champion
- 2016 Volunteer Breeders Classic Open L4 and L3 Reserve Champion
- 2015 NRBC L4 Open top three
- 2015 Tulsa Reining Classic L4 Open Derby top five
- 2014 Heritage Futurity L3 Open Champion
- 2014 NRHA Derby L3 Open Reserve Champion
- 2014 NRBC L3 Open Reserve Champion and L4 top four
- 2014 Cactus Reining Classic L3 Open Champion
- 2013 High Roller Reining Classic L3 Open 4 Year-Old Stakes Reserve Champion
- 2013 Southwest Futurity Open L3 Finalist
- 2013 Tulsa Reining Classic L4 top five and L3 top five
- 2013 NRHA L3 Open Derby Finalist
- 2012 Scottsdale Classic L3 and L2 Open Futurity Champion and Reserve Champion
- 2011 NRHA Futurity L2 Open Reserve Champion, top Five L3
- 2011 Tulsa Reining Classic Developing Horse Futurity Open L2 Champion
- 2011 Tulsa Reining Classic Level 2 Open Derby Champion
- 2011 High Roller Reining Classic Level 2 Open Futurity Champion

Meet Our Family

Sam resides on the property with wife Jeanna and two daughters Becca and Riley. While much of their time is spent on their horse business, they also make time for visiting with family and friends, hunting, and fishing. 

Jeanna plays an active role in the management of Sam Schaffhauser Performance Horses, also providing marketing, social media, and management services for outside entities, showing Reiners in the Non Pro division when time allows. 

Becca, age 12, loves to ride horses and began showing Reiners in 2014, landing in the top five 13 and under riders in NRHA in 2020. She also enjoys spending time at the farm, helping with chores, and taking jumping lessons at a nearby farm.

Riley, age 3, enjoys playing around the farm in a princess dress, and riding her horse Domingo.