Casey
Deary

A Texas Horseman — Building from the Ground Up

Casey Deary is an American reining horse trainer, competitor, and clinician best known for his accomplishments in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) competition. He is based in Weatherford, Texas, where he operates Deary Performance Horses alongside his wife Nicole Deary.

Deary grew up in Texas and became involved with horses and western riding at a young age. He began developing horses and competing in reining while still a teenager. Early in his professional career, he trained horses for clients while steadily building his reputation within regional reining competition. His early successes included wins at Texas Reining Horse Association events and AQHA competition.

During the following years, he continued advancing in NRHA competition while developing young horses and expanding his client base.

Four NRHA Futurity Titles and a $6M+ Career

Deary achieved his breakthrough at the highest level of the sport in 2012 when he won the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Championship riding Americasnextgunmodel. The mare later became one of the most influential horses associated with his career. In 2015, he earned his second NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Championship aboard Shesouttayourleague. These victories established him among the top riders in the industry and helped him become an NRHA Million Dollar Rider.

Throughout the following decade, Deary continued compiling major championships at NRHA and National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) events. He won NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Championships aboard horses including Magnum Starlights, Shesouttayourleague, and Americasnexttopgun. In 2021, he earned his third NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Championship riding Ten Thirty.

He won the 2020 NRBC Level 4 Open aboard Americasnexttopgun ("Maverick") — clinching NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider status — and the 2022 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open on the same stallion. In 2023 he won the NRHA Derby Level 4 Open on Down Right Amazing, who also took back-to-back titles at The American Performance Horseman in 2023 and 2024. In 2025 Deary won a fourth NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity, on Belissimo — by Magnum Chic Dream and out of his 2012 Futurity mare Americasnextgunmodel — a win that pushed his NRHA career earnings past $6 million, ranking him among the leading lifetime earners in association history.

• 2012 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion (Co-Champion) — Americasnextgunmodel
• 2015 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion (Co-Champion) — Shesouttayourleague
• 2021 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion — Ten Thirty
• 2025 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion — Belissimo
• 2016 NRHA Derby L4 Open Champion — Magnum Starlights
• 2017 NRHA Derby L4 Open Champion — Shesouttayourleague
• 2020 NRBC L4 Open Champion — Americasnexttopgun (clinched NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider)
• 2022 NRHA Derby L4 Open Champion — Americasnexttopgun
• 2023 NRHA Derby L4 Open Champion — Down Right Amazing
• The American Performance Horseman — Reining Champion (2023 & 2024), Down Right Amazing
• NRHA $6 Million Rider (2025) — among the top lifetime earners in NRHA history
• AQHA World Championships — Senior Reining

Training, Coaching, Breeding, and Online Education

Beyond competition, Deary became known as a clinician and mentor within the reining industry. Through Deary Performance Horses, he provides training, coaching, horse development, breeding services, and educational content for riders ranging from non-pro exhibitors to elite open competitors. His operation also includes online video training programs and stallion management.

Industry publications and interviews frequently describe Deary's horsemanship style as emphasizing consistency, horse confidence, and maintaining horses mentally and physically throughout long show careers. He has also publicly discussed the importance of faith and family in his career and personal life.