About Mark Shaffer


1988

  • Graduated Blairsville High School
    • National Honor Society
    • Indiana County Vocational Technical School Senior Class President

1988-1990

  • Enrolled and pursued degree at University of Oklahoma.
  • Wes Wetherell Show Horses
    • Assistant trainer
    • Earning first of several Top Ten World and National placings.

1991-1993

  • Steve Heckaman Quarter Horses
    • Assistant trainer and manager.
    • Earning first ApHC National Championship.
    • Earning first ApHC World Championship.
    • Multiple Top Ten finishes AQHA World Show and Congress.

1993-1995

  • Storm King Ranch
    • Head trainer and manager.
    • Receiving High Money Earner Award in 1995 as rated by Quarter Horse News.
    • Earning several more World and National Championships.
    • Multiple NSBA Futurity wins.
    • Began building client base to maintain a self-supportive business.

1995-1996

  • Creation of Mark Shaffer Show Horses.
    • Leased stalls from Doug Lilly Quarter Horses.
    • Continued to earn many more prestigious titles (World/National/Congress)

1996-2001

  • Mark Shaffer Show Horses continues to expand.
    • Purchased ranch and facility from Doug Lilly Quarter Horses.
    • Increased client base, becoming one of the nation’s top training and showing facilities.
    • Earning or coaching over 200 World and National Championships.
  • Publications
    • Horse and Rider (1995 and 1996 issues)
    • Appaloosa Journal (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 issues)
    • Quarter Horse News (1995 and 1997 issues)
    • Riderswest.com (Nov. 2000 & 2001)
    • Appaloosa Journal (Jan. 2002)

2002-2004

  • Mark Shaffer Show Horses completes construction of second show barn at the ranch.
    • Global clinic tour continues to expand.
    • Competing in the industry’s most prestigious events.
  • Mark joins the elite group of AQHA Professional Horseman.

2004-2006

  • The Mechanics N Motion program becomes a brand.
  • The first Mechanics N Motion DVD is released. The number 1 selling training DVD in 2006.
  • Global clinic tour continues to expand - demonstrating techniques on training and showing.
  • In 2006, MSSH celebrates 20 years of commitment and excellence to the Appaloosa Industry.
  • Students and members of Mechanics N Motion team earn over 75 Youth, Amateur and Open titles in 2006.

2007-2008

  • Mark Shaffer opens North West division in Preston, WA.
  • 11/07/07 Mark receives the FeatherLite Medalist endorsement sponsorship.
  • Mechanics N Motion achieves best selling training DVD in 2007 and 2008.
  • Mechanics N Motion releases the anxiously awaited Pro Series # 2 DVD.
  • 2008 season - MNM Team earned 37 National and World Championship titles
  • 2008 Mechanics N Motion global tour expands – 96 clinics in 48 cities in 11 countries.

2009-2010

  • Mark earns the prestigious 5 million mile award on American Airlines.
  • Mark Shaffer creates You Tube Channel. Guiding horse enthusiasts to the next level. - 30,000 Views
  • Mechanics N Motion achieves best selling training DVD in 2009 & 2010. Pro Series # 1 & Series # 2.
  • MNM releases the training saddle and show saddle line. Over 100 saddles sold in the first 2 years.
  • 2009 Show season – MNM horses earned 30 National, World and NSBA Championship titles.
  • 2010 Show season – MNM horses earned 23 National, World & NSBA Championship titles.
  • 2009 Mechanics N Motion Tour – 98 clinics in 65 cities in 14 countries.
  • 2010 Mechanics N Motion Tour – 90 clinics in 55 cities in 16 countries.
  • 2010 Mark enters his first European Competition.
  • NSBA Pleasure Celebration: Kreuth, Germany – reserve championship title.
  • AQHA European Championships: Kreuth, Germany – earning 5 medals with the show team.

2011-2015

  • Mark earns the prestigious 6 million mile award on American Airlines.
  • 2011 – 2014 Show season – MNM horses earned 55 National, World & NSBA Championship titles.
  • 2011 – 2014 MNM Clinic Tour expands to 25 countries and 300 days per year.
  • 2011 – 2014 MNM team earns multiple European Championships in NSBA, DQHA & AQHA events.
  • Mark retires from ApHC World & National shows after “personally” earning over 200 World & National Champions through out his 25 year career. The only member in the history of ApHC to win this amount of western pleasure titles.
  • MNM kicks off 9th Annual Australia / New Zealand Clinic Tour. Expanding to 3 1/2 months across 28 cities.
  • MSSH Training Barn Closes to the public. 80% of the clinic tour also turns private to select groups. Mark limits competition to 5 European events, Limited USA events and begins to look at Australia for further avenues to compete.

2016 - 2019

  • MNM global clinic tour expands to 25 countries and 4 continents.
  • Mark becomes an official NSBA Category 1 Judge.
  • The Evolution Series DVD Trilogy Part 1 is released.
  • MNM Theory Book 7.0 is created.

2020

  • MNM online shop continues to expand with distributors in Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand..
  • 2020 MNM clinic tour celebrates 15 consecutive years in Australia and New Zealand.
  • 2020 MNM clinic tour celebrates 26 consecutive years in Europe.
  • 2020 MNM clinic tour celebrates 30 consecutive years in USA.
  • MNM Theory Book 8.4 is completed.