"Gunner" ?

I'm new to reining ( WP ) and recently sold my WP horse, I have been considering getting into reining for awhile now & have been looking at a young reining prospect, so I was hoping on some opinions on the "Colonels Smoking gun" babies ? Are they fairly sensible? I know she is likely deaf due to her spashed white gene & she is marked nearly exactly like "gunner" I will be getting help from a trainer who specialises in Reining but want to know if I'm making a wise choice or if I would be better going for a finished reiner for my first 1?
I am an experienced WP trainer but I know its quite different to training a Reiner !

Do not assume she is deaf. I have seen several gunner babies marked like typical guns who are not deaf or anywhere near to it.

In my experience they are sensible and talented horses. I have not seen a pattern in the ones I have been around. A couple of my reining buddies have a few babies by him or related to him. I haven't personally been on to work a ton of them. Rode one named Covergirl who was very reactive and hard to ride, but in a good way, the way you expect a top level reiner to be, and then I helped warm up another one at a show for awhile that my trainer was showing who was also pretty reactive, but not quite as intense. Neither Covergirl or the other colt were spooky or "stupid" per se; just always waiting for my cues.

Keep in mind that also comes with training though. The majority of my trainer's or friend's horses are like that.

Really, just go ride the mare for yourself. It's going to be just as dependent on what the dam was like as the sire. Though Gunner has produced some damn nice babies.

EDIT: Forgot to address the last question.

Personally I would rather find a finished reiner, but if you are going to send this horse to a trainer for a few months and ride along the way I don't see too much of a problem. Just be prepared for a quick change from pleasure to reining....

Can't help much with the reining part...

But as far as the deafness part that wouldn't bother me a bit. My Western Pleasure horse is deaf and aside from an occasional half glance when people are entering the arena and having to get his attention before just running up on him you wouldn't even know. He is not spooky at all and falls asleep anywhere.

The deafness does not both me at all. But, I also think you would be better served by having a finished horse to start with. Either way, even though you are a trainer in another discipline, you need a high level trainer to work with. It is impossible to invent it over and really unnecessary.

Do you have any winning reining trainers where you live? I know the cutting has really gotten competitive in Australia, but I do not know about the reining. I know several reining trainers in Southern Oklahoma and North Texas have taken in Aussie apprentices. I do not know if any of them have gone back to Australia to train and show. What is available to you there? What kind of finished horses are available there or do you have to import one? A lot of different things to consider where you live.

Good Luck.

Thanks for the replies.
There are some decent reining trainers here it has become more popular over the past few years.
I do plan on sending the filly to the trainer to be campaigned rather than do it myself
There are some older seasoned reiners for sale but I have allways bought prospects & brought them along myself & I enjoy watching them go from youngsters to the show pen so would ideally like to do the same with a reining prospect albeit with a reining trainer rather than myself.
The deafness isn't an issue but I guess it would take a little creativity in training as you can't "kiss" or "Whoa" to them.
Does anyone else have any info on the trainability of this line etc?
Thanks !

Go for it if you have a good trainer to work with you and the filly.

I think the Gunners are very trainable, but like most really 'feely' super light horses, they can easily be really messed up. They are not as 'forgiving' as some horses, but then those horses do not have as much ability either.

I think a horse's bottom side is really important also. What is this one's dam's side?

I asked Tim McQuay a few years ago just how he compensated or what he did different when riding the deaf horses and he said he did absolutely NOTHING different. He said they are so sensitive, that they learn his every tiny move. I specifically asked if he still said "Whoa!" and still kissed or smooched to them and he said he did the same as if they could hear it and they responded just like his other horses do.

My trainer has a "Gunner" stud in his barn and I can say watching the babies grow up and being shown is amazing. I find they are smart, sane and love to work. One of the colts is deaf and my trainer rides him exactly like he does with all the other horses because he is so responsive you wouldnt think he was deaf.

I am looking for a Reining Horse and am keeping my eye on a "Gunner" bred one. I think if you click with her then go for her!

I have ridden (and a friend of mine almost purchased) a Gunner bred baby. She is sweet as a doll, smart, willing, sensible and most of all QUITE. Her stops came SO natural, which really stood out to me. She was 4 and my friend was going to buy her as a trail horse and I was going to use her for green reining. I really liked her, beside a choppy canter, I was VERY disappointed the deal fell through. If they still have her in the spring my friend my reconsider. If I had the money I would buy her in a heart beat!!

She got the hallmarks of both parental lines so she is pretty unique looking too.. Peptos I Brow (by Peptoboonsmal) on the top, Gunner on the bottom. Not a great pic, but you get the idea. She also had two blues..

What state are you in?

I am in Australia and have just purchased a filly (3yo) by Son of a Gun (who is by Colonels Smoking Gun) she is a solid though. I haven't seen Sonny in the flesh but this filly is great. She probably won't be a competitive reiner, maybe cutting or something? She is a busy body.
She is recently broken in and is very responsive and smooth to ride. She was dead quiet with everything when being broken in.
Haven't decided what road to take with her but I have some time to decide as we are just going to muck around for a while til she matures.

As for starting out in reining, I was an english rider and bought a 3.5yo reining trained (although not finished) gelding, I haven't competed yet (he is 5 now) due to time and laziness LOL but plan to try it out next season. I have learnt a LOT and have become a much better rider.
If you can ride, have the help (trainer) and know the basics on western (which you do), you should be fine to buy a young horse.