As the National Reining Horse Association Futurity continued through the open semi-finals at the OKC Fairgrounds, competitive teams of horse and rider fought for Adequan ® NAAC Champion titles.

Adequan ® NAAC Novice Horse Open Levels 1 & 2 Champion and Ancillary Novice Horse Open Champion – Marco Ricotta & Black Chex Cash

On their path to hopefully claiming a world championship, Marco Ricotta and Black Chex Cash have collected quite the list of championship accolades, and on Tuesday, Nov. 28, they added Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Open Levels 1 & 2 Champions to the list. The pair also claimed the ancillary titles for the Novice Horse Open in Levels 1, 2 and 3.

This impressive list of new titles earned the pair $4,290 to add to Black Chex Cash’s lifetime earnings of just over $25,000.

“We ended up at a show earlier in the year, and she [Kim Niven] said ‘Marco, why don’t you try him? Go do what you got to do and have some fun,” Ricotta said.

Black Chex Cash, a 2016 stallion by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash and out of Blazing In Black, suffered an injury in his 2-year-old year that prevented him from making a name for himself in his futurity and derby years, but he is commanding the attention of anyone watching the ancillary pen now.

Black Chex Cash is owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Tim Anderson and has been shown in non pro divisions by Kim Niven.

To prepare for the run today, Ricotta said, “I tried to get him in the mindset the night before, so today, I went outside and rode him in the big pen to finish getting him mentally ready.”

Ricotta thanked Anderson and Niven for the chance to ride the stallion this year.

Competition continues in the Adequan® Arena with the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation Round.

Competition in the Adequan® Arena at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City continued Monday with the Rookie Professional and Limited Open classes of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships, which is held in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Association Futurity.

Adequan® NAAC Limited Open Co-Champion – Tyrell Smith & Major Durango

Coming from The Land of Maple, Tyrell Smith brought the best of his string of horses all the way down to the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships at the OKC Fairgrounds to claim the title of the Adequan® NAAC Limited Open Co-Champion with a score of 219.

“I’ve had him his whole career. We did the futurities back home,” Smith said. “This is his last derby year, so we thought we would try to qualify for the affiliate finals. And we did, so we came down here, and he’s been pretty good. I’m very happy.”

Smith rode Major Durango, a 7-year-old stallion with lifetime earnings of $6,400, owned by Gail Gatto. Major Durango is by Durable Shine and out of Holly Majors.

Going into the pen, Smith was not confident they’d be leaving with a title or with a high score at all.

“It was a little nerve-wracking at first,” Smith said. “When I was getting on him, the guy hauling some shavings dumped a pallet just before I was supposed to go in. We both got a little nervous, and I had to get his focus again.”

Smith thanked Major Durango’s owners, Bob and Gail, his fiancé, Amanda, and his parents for their belief in him and for their support.

Adequan® NAAC Limited Open Co-Champion & Rookie Professional Champion – Allison Yeager & Shiners Voodoo Juice

Allison Yeager had few expectations coming into the NRHA Adequan® Limited Open.

“I was hopeful that we could do well,” Yeager said. “ I was not by any means thinking we were going to mark a 219 and be co-champions.”

But that’s what she did on the 2012 gelding Shiners Voodoo Juice, winning the Adequan® NAAC Rooke Professional title and tying for the win in the Adequan® NAAC Limited Open.

“He’s been in my program for a couple of years,” Yeager said. “We bought him from Kyle Kellmer Performance Horses, who I used to work for, and he had (the horse) in his program for a couple of years. He’s super consistent and really fun to show.”

Shiners Voodoo Juice was sired by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and is out of SLJ This Is My Juice (by Smart Like Juice). Chelsea Howell is his owner, and Kendall Norcross leases the horse.

“We were Draw 1 this morning, and I was pretty nervous about showing in that pen,” Yeager said. “This is my first time being here. And, he turned really good and went out and circled like I know he can circle, and we went through, and he came down in his rundowns. Stopping is where he really shines, and he stopped really great for me all three times.”

Shiners Voodoo Juice has $38,000 in lifetime earnings. In addition to their NAAC titles, Yeager and Shiners Voodoo Juice tied for second in the ancillary Limited Open and were second in Rookie Professional. All told, the wins added $1,253 to the gelding’s earnings.

“He is one of those horses that has a lot of personality and nickers at you when he thinks he has been tied up too long,” Yeager said. “He nickers at you if he thinks he’s hungry, which is all the time. He’s super fun to have in the barn.”

Ancillary Limited Open and Rookie Professional Champion – Flavio Tarquini & Blue Inferno

With a score of 219, Flavio Tarquini and Blue Inferno tied for the high score of the day in the Adequan® Arena. When his fellow competitors elected not to run off for the ancillary title, Tarquini was crowned the Champion of both the Limited Open and Rookie Professional ancillary classes.

“He was good today,” Tarquini, originally of Italy, shared. “His owner, Shelley Rosenberger, has shown him and done really good. I thank her for letting me show him.”

Blue Inferno, bred by Jeffrey Palmer, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six and out of Showtimes Lil Step. The six-year-old gelding has lifetime earnings of more than $57,000, and the wins in the Adequan® Arena added an additional $715 to that total.

With just a few riders left to ride in the first section of the National Reining Horse Association CINCH Non Pro Futurity at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Ok., it was assumed that the long-standing leads would hold– until Kelsey Price entered the pen. Although the judges elected to review the run, Price took a decisive lead in the round with a 220 score in the end.

Price rode Let Err Rip, a 2020 gelding by NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Gunner Be Custom, who she had previously ridden for high placing scores at the 100X Reining Classic Futurity, the High Roller Reining Classic Futurity, and the All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity. While this may only have been the first round, Price left the arena almost $3,000 richer.

In the NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals, riders in Levels 4 through 1 will be competing for a purse of approximately $760,000, a $30,000 increase from 2022. The lion’s share of that monstrous payout will be awarded on Friday, Dec. 1, during the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals.

An additional opportunity for riders piloting American Paint Horses to increase their horse’s lifetime earnings is the APHA Chrome Cash incentive. In the NRHA Cinch Non Pro Futurity, there was an added $6,500 up for grabs. Gina-Maria Schumacher, aboard Reining Royalty, claimed the purse with a score of 219.5.

The riders who did not secure a spot to try and earn their portion of that purse will still have a chance to advance through the Consolation Round, which will be Nov. 29. A specific number of horses who just missed that top-25 mark will compete in the Consolation Round, with the top five of each level then advancing to the clean-slate Finals.

CINCH Non Pro First Round High Scores:

Level 4, 3, & 2 High Score – Kelsey Price & Let Err Rip (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunner Be Custom)

Owned by Kelsey & Kole Price | Nominated by Rodion Cantacuzene Jr. | score of 220

APHA Chrome Cash Winner – Gina-Maria Schumacher & Reining Royalty (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Bella Della) – 219.5
Owned by XCS Ranch LLC | Nominated by Michell Anne Kimball | score of 219.5

Level 1 Co-High Score- Rylee Butler & SS Rock My World (Ruf Lil Magnum x Xtra Ruby Step) – 217.5

Owned by Rylee Butler | Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine | score of 217.5

Level 1 Co-High Score- Dani Latimer & Snap My Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x Snapbacks) – 217.5

Owned and nominated by Dean Latimer | score of 217.5

Youth High Score – Addisyn Schmersal & Vintage Attitude (A Sparkling Vintage x Face The Attitude)

Owned by Hickory Creek Ranch LLC | Nominated by Ginger Schmersal | score of 219

Prime Time High Score – Adam Donahue & SS Play With Guns (Tinker With Guns x Play For Chic)

Owned by Adam and Darla Donahue | Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine | score of 219.5 (includes handicap)

CINCH Non Pro Finals Bubbles

Level 4 – 215

Level 3 – 213

Level 2 – 212

Level 1 – 208.5

Prime Time – 210.5 (includes handicap)

Youth – All Entered

Scores Needed to Advance to CINCH Non Pro Consolation

Level 4 – 212

Level 3 – 211.5

Level 2 – 209.5

Level 1 – 205.5

Complete results, draws, schedules, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

The Adequan® Arena at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City has been bustling with activity all week as riders from across North America compete in the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. It was a full day of classes in the Adequan® Arena, with the remainder of the Rookie classes wrapping up Sunday afternoon. Making the classes even more exciting was that the Top 10, plus ties, in both NAAC Rookie Levels 1 (Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year) and 2 earned a spot in the Toyon Ranch Rookie Showdown or Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie Level 2 Showdown, set for Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Jim Norick Coliseum.

Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year & Adequan® NAAC Rookie Level 2 Champions – Rayne Anderson & Pale Face Gunslinger

After watching a friend claim the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year title, Rayne Anderson made it her top goal to do the same.

This year, she finally did it. After holding the lead with an impressive score of 218.5 for both days of the competition, she was crowned the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year as well as the Adequan® NAAC Rookie Level 2 Champion at the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.

“As soon as we finished that first spin, I knew it was going to be a good run,” Anderson said. “I was going to be very happy with him no matter what we scored.”

Anderson rode Pale Face Gunslinger, a homegrown 9-year-old gelding by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of Lost In Tinseltown, bred and owned by her grandfather, Tim Anderson.

Prior to being piloted by Anderson, who prefers to affectionately call him Simba, Pale Face Gunslinger was ridden by NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal to several finalist placings during the NRHA Futurity and the National Reining Breeders Classic.

About the gelding, Anderson said, “Simba has such a kind soul; he’s my best friend. I’m so grateful to have him for his older years and to have the opportunity to ride him.”

Simba has impressive lifetime earnings of more than $141,000, and his Rookie wins will add another $1,432 to that number. For Anderson, it’s a great start to what will be a surely impressive career.

Claiming this title qualifies Anderson to compete in the Bob’s Custom Saddle Rookie 2 Showdown and the Toyon Ranch Rookie Showdown.

“I’ve only shown in the Jim Norrick once before, so I’m excited that the showdowns will give me an opportunity to get back out there through the ‘Gateway of Champions’ again,” said Anderson.

Adequan® NAAC and Ancillary Prime Time Rookie Co-Champions – Susannah Rose & Shining On Ruf

The first time Susannah Rose saw Shining On Ruf, she fell in love.

“Calvin – that’s his barn name – is a 7-year-old stallion by (NRHA Million Dollar Sire) Not Ruf At All, and he is amazing,” Rose said. “The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was special. It was like love at first sight for me.”

Since Rose bought the horse in May, they’ve been developing a strong partnership that paid off Nov. 26 in the Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Rookie and the ancillary Prime Time Rookie. Their score of 216 tied them for the championship in both classes.

“I’d already had a really great run on my other horse, and I knew I had to score a little better to do better in the class,” Rose said. “My turns were great. I had some trouble in my departure, and I knew I had to go fast, so I was trying really hard, and he was just wonderful. His stops are amazing and just the most fun. He is so fun to ride. I’m very lucky.”

Rose and her horse had different paths to the NAAC. Shining On Ruf was bred by Kristen Avila and is out of Boom Shine Sally. He was the 2022 National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro champion, and he won the 2019 Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity with NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal. His win in the Prime Time Rookie class adds $226 to his lifetime earnings of $92,086.

Rose spent many years in the hunter-jumper world before finding reining. She rides with NRHA Professional Dave Moore, the 2018 NRHA Non Pro Coach of the Year, and Nikki Tyndall.

“They’re just amazing,” Rose said. “They take great care of the horses. I moved to this discipline three years ago from hunters, and it’s been a long road, and they’ve been there every step of the way to get me to the next level. And they have found me two outstanding horses. This was my goal: to come here and do well. And I had two great runs.”

Rose will get a couple more chances to show this week: She qualified for the Toyon Ranch Rookie and the Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie Showdowns both on Calvin and her other horse, Xtra Gotta Step. The Showdowns will be Nov. 30 in the Jim Norick Coliseum.

Adequan® NAAC and Ancillary Prime Time Rookie Co-Champions – Christine Loper & A Ruf Spook

Christine Loper likes an orderly process, and it’s just one of the things she loves about reining – there’s a process.

That process led to a score of 216 and a win in the Adequan ® NAAC and ancillary Prime Time Rookie classes on A Ruf Spook.

“He has been fantastic for me,” Loper said. “I actually did the reiners and the Quarter Horses all my life, and I got out, and I did hunter-jumpers for about 21 years. I’ve just come back to the reining for two years and have landed in the most perfect program for me with Jared Leclair. He has just helped me strategically figure out how to get in tune with this horse and how we peak and how we accelerate all of our learning. It has just been an amazing ride.”

A Ruf Spook is an 8-year-old gelding by NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook out of A Ruf Gal. Rosanne Sternberg bred the horse now owned by Loper Performance Horses LLC. A Ruf Spook has more than $12,900 in lifetime earnings, and the win in the two classes added $226 to his earnings. Loper rode in the first section and then waited a full day to learn whether her score would hold up.

“What I know about my gelding is I’ve got to keep his feet moving,” Loper said. “So I trotted in and made sure I didn’t overspin because in my practices, I overspun. So I was just thrilled with him that he was right there in the spins. I pushed him harder in my large fast than I’ve ever done. He was with me all the way. I woke up at 3 in the morning, reliving my ride because it was so much fun.”

Since Loper purchased A Ruf Spook, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jared Leclair has helped her and her horse develop as a team, Loper said.

“He has been fantastic for me,” Loper said. “I actually did the reiners and the Quarter Horses all my life, and I got out and I did hunter-jumpers for about 21 years. I’ve just come back to the reining for two years and have landed in the most perfect program for me with Jared Leclair. He has just helped me strategically figure out how to get in tune with this horse and how we peak and how we accelerate all of our learning. It has just been an amazing ride.”

With her win, Loper qualified for the Toyon Ranch Rookie Showdown on Nov. 30 in the Jim Norick Coliseum.

Toyon Ranch Rookie 1 and Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie 2 Showdown Qualifiers

The top 10 finishers of the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year and the Adequan® NAAC Rookie Level 2 earn a spot in the Bob’s Custom Saddles or Toyon Ranch Showdowns, which will be Thursday, Nov. 30. All qualifiers must check in and confirm their spot in the Showdown no later than noon Nov. 27, or they will be removed from the draw, and the next place entry will be invited.

Toyon Ranch Rookie Showdown Qualifiers:

• Rayne Anderson & Pale Face Gunslinger
• Alea Lasaponara & Tagin Stiletto Chics
• Logan Friedman & Hollywood Villain
• Juliana Pearl Gonzales & Baileys Not Painted
• Sophie Gibson & Magnum Diamond
• Michael James Riley & Drivin By Shootin
• Susannah Rose & Shining On Ruf
• Christine Loper & A Ruf Spook
• Kayden Kellmer & Xtra Ice Ice Wimpy
• Susannah Rose & Xtra Gotta Step
• Kent Ray Taylor & Xtra Wimpys Catalyst
• Kalina Olmstead & Magnum Chicdraw

Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie Level 2 Showdown Qualifiers:

• Rayne Anderson & Pale Face Gunslinger
• Alea Lasaponara & Tagin Stiletto Chics
• Logan Friedman & Hollywood Villain
• Juliana Pearl Gonzales & Baileys Not Painted
• Sophie Gibson & Magnum Diamond
• Eunice Ruiz Bravo & Lokotas Whizen April
• Michael James Riley & Drivin By Shootin
• Susannah Rose & Shining On Ruf
• Lily Forzani & Annies Custom Pistol
• Tyris Klynn Bowdle & Suga N Spice

Complete results, draws, schedules, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com

The final week of the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships has officially begun, with the second section of the first round of the CINCH Non Pro Futurity being held Sunday, Nov. 26. The action in the renowned Jim Norick arena continued, as Gina-Maria Schumacher topped her own previously leading score by a whopping two points aboard Reining Royalty.

At the end of the second section, the NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Reining Royalty topped the leaderboard with a 219.5. Reining Royalty is a 2020 stallion sired by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of the Shining Spark mare Bella Della. He was bred by Michell Anne Kimball and is owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner XCS Ranch.

In the CINCH Non Pro Futurity, the top 25 from each level will automatically advance to the finals at the end of the preliminary go-round on Nov. 27. The finals will be held on Dec. 1 in the Norick Coliseum, and the Level 4 Non Pro Champion will be presented with a check for $75,000.

The riders who did not secure a spot in CINCH Non Pro Futurity during the first round will still have a chance to advance through the Consolation Round, which will be Nov. 29. A specific number of horses who just missed that top-25 mark will compete in the Consolation Round, with the top five of each level then advancing to the finals.

Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 2, are:

Level 4 & Chrome Cash – Gina-Maria Schumacher & Reining Royalty (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Bella Della) – 219.5
Nominated by Michell Anne Kimball | Owned by XCS Ranch LLC

Level 3, 2, 1 & Youth – Rylee Butler & SS Rock My World (Ruf Lil Magnum x Xtra Ruby Step) – 217.5

Owned by Rylee Butler | Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine

Level 3, 2 & 1- Dani Latimer & Snap My Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x Snapbacks) – 217.5

Owned and nominated by Dean Latimer

Prime Time – Lance Griffin & Heza Wimpy Chic (Wimpy Chic x Sheza Shiney Chic) – 217.5

Nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses | Owned by Lance Griffin

Complete results, draws, schedules, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.