Month: October 2017

Lyle Lovett receives the 2018 Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award

For Immediate Release – October 12, 2017 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – In 2007, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Hall of Fame Committee initiated the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, supported by the Reining Horse Foundation. This award is named after legendary reining horse trainer known as the “father of reining,” Dale Wilkinson, the first inductee into the NRHA Hall of Fame. Wilkinson is a multiple NRHA Futurity champion and one of the founding members of the National Reining Horse Association. In addition, during his lifetime, he was an educator, promoter and mentor to all reiners – professional and non pro – of how a rider should conduct themselves, train and exhibit a horse. Because of his unmatched lifetime of accomplishment in reining, it is entirely appropriate that the NRHA Lifetime Achievement Award be named for Dale Wilkinson.

The 2018 recipient of the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award is Lyle Lovett of Spring, Texas. The renowned singer, songwriter, actor and entertainer is an active NRHA competitor who has raised thousands of dollars for the RHF and has donated his services to promote the National Reining Horse Association and the sport of reining at NRHA and National Reining Breeders Classic events. He has also taken part and recruited other celebrities for the RHF Celebrity Slide held in the past during the NRHA Futurity. Lovett has an award named in his honor for his service and time dedicated to the NRHA and RHF: the Lyle Lovett Distinguished Service Award.

Lovett has earned four Grammy Awards including Best Country Album and Best Male Country Vocal Performance. He recorded his own brand of music, a unique mix of blues, R&B, jazz, gospel and country, since 1980 with more than a dozen albums to date. His highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country song chart, “Cowboy Man.” But Lovett’s talents don’t end there. This accomplished entertainer is also a well-respected songwriter and has a lengthy list of acting credits. He now joins the ranks of those who have significantly impacted the sport of reining.
NRHA will proudly honor the 2018 inductee and award recipient during the NRHA Convention & Awards, a gathering known as the NRHA Winter Meeting in 2016 and 2017.
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Time to Ride’s second annual sweepstakes encouraged riders to introduce their network to horses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 4, 2017, Georgetown, Texas – A lucky winner will head to Lexington, Kentucky in the spring of 2018 as grand prize winner of Time to Ride’s Pledge to Take a Friend Riding sweepstakes. The sweepstakes encouraged equestrians of all backgrounds to join the movement to increase participation in horse activities by taking a newcomer friend riding.

One of the major barriers to new enthusiasts participating in horseback riding is access to quality, beginner-friendly, inclusive riding experiences. “While most of us in the horse world know exactly where and how to find other equestrians in our area, it’s often difficult for newcomers to know where to look. The Pledge sweepstakes is all about rewarding individual equestrians and horse owners for reaching out to their non-horsey friends and making sure they feel welcomed to try riding,” stated Christie Schulte, Time to Ride marketing manager. While other Time to Ride programs are aimed at horse professionals, the Pledge activates amateurs and empowers them to make a difference in their local networks.

A random drawing selected Noelle Dotzler of Kansas City, Missouri as 2017’s grand prize sweepstakes winner. Noelle is currently a horseback riding instructor who teaches adults and children as young as three years old how to ride, starting with the basics and moving up to jumping, barrel racing, and competing in shows. Noelle’s journey with horses began with her first horse, an American Quarter Horse mare, Star, who allowed Noelle to share the joy of riding with family and friends, including her friend Arianna (pictured).  Noelle shared, “I trained [Star] during the school year when I was in eighth grade and the following year entered [a] barrel race. Star did not seem to enjoy riding until I tried barrel racing with her which was a last resort. I was able to research her bloodlines since she was registered with the American Quarter Horse Association, and found out she had some barrel racers in her bloodlines.” Star inspired Noelle to begin giving lessons and “As much as I trained her, she also was a significant reason for the way I ride and train horses today,” says Noelle.

Noelle and one lucky friend will travel to Lexington to visit the Kentucky Horse Park, watch races at Keeneland, and ride in a clinic with Dan James. To learn more about the Pledge, please visit www.timetoride.com/pledge or contact info@timetoride.com.

The American Horse Council’s Marketing Alliance

Time to Ride is an initiative of the American Horse Council’s Marketing Alliance, formed to connect people with horses. It is designed to encourage horse-interested consumers to enjoy the benefits of horse activities. The AHC Marketing Alliance is made up of the following organizations: the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Active Interest Media, the American Quarter Horse Association, Boehringer Ingelheim, Farnam, Merck, Morris Media Network Equine Group, Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Platinum Performance, The Right Horse Initiative, US Equestrian, and Zoetis. Program Partners are Absorbine, the American Paint Horse Association, ASPCA, Equibrand, the National Reining Horse Association, Lumina Media, the America’s Mustang Campaign, and Colorado State University Equine Sciences Program.

About the American Horse Council

The American Horse Council is a non-profit organization that includes all segments of the horse industry. While its primary mission is to represent the industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies in Washington, DC, it also undertakes national initiatives for the horse industry. Time to Ride, the AHC’s Marketing Alliance to connect horses and people, is such an effort. The American Horse Council hopes that Time to Ride will encourage people and businesses to participate in the industry, enjoy our horses, and support our equine activities and events. The AHC believes a healthy horse industry contributes to the health of Americans and America in many ways.

Contact – Christie Schulte, christie@timetoride.com or 512-591-7811
Photos and logo available upon request

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Once again Equita Lyon – a major event in the equestrian world – will be showcasing reining at its best. For the very first time the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Derby will be hosted during the prestigious event alongside the Reining International de Lyon.

The seventh edition of the NRHA European Derby will offer the €85,000-added* single purse Open and €31,000-added* single purse Non Pro divisions (*subject to change based on nominations). The Derby is open to 4,5,6 and 7-year-old horses nominated in the NRHA Nomination Program and, for the first time, the payout system will be based on a single purse which means that one purse is available for everyone to compete for (independently of eligibility division). For further clarification, view the video explanation

http://nrhaeuropeanderby.com/news/2017-european-derby-conditions-video-explanation/

A full-slate of NRHA ancillary classes will be offered during the Reining International de Lyon. Highlighting the competition are the $35,000-added Reining International de Lyon Grand Prix Open and the $15,000-added Reining International de Lyon Grand Prix Non Pro. In the past years, the Grand Prix open and non pro competitions have had a huge impact in determining the NRHA World Champions!

Adding further excitement will be the French Futurity.

Make sure you enter your horse and book your stalls today by following the links below:

http://www.nrha.fr/images/ENTRY_FORM_EQUITA_2017_b3787.pdf

http://www.nrha.fr/images/BOXES_EQUITA_2017_GB_6ccab.pdf

To book a seat or a table in the VIP area, please contact Christine Rigollet (christine.rigollet@gl-events.com)

Buy tickets online: https://equita.fnacspectacles.com/

Follow the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equitalyon.westernhorseshow/?notif_t=page_fan&notif_id=1506357291655897

For further information visit nrhaeuropeanderby.com

Media Contact:

Simona Diale

sdiale@nrha.com