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The Run For A Million To Host Raise a Million Auctions to Benefit Reining Horse Foundation

For Immediate Release – May 28, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Run For A Million, set for August 18-21, will feature two auctions to benefit the Reining Horse Foundation. The South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas will welcome both a silent auction featuring items for bidding throughout the competition and a live auction that will precede the Gala Select Sale on August 21.

NRHA President and Foundation Board Member Rick Clark reached out to The Run For A Million team leaders Taylor Sheridan and Amanda Brumley about a fundraiser at the event. He said, “We were already set to have our volunteers run an RHF booth at the event to encourage people to be part of the Reiners Club, and I asked what we could do to raise money while we were there. Amanda suggested a silent and live auction and this grew from that. I ran the idea past the RHF Development Committee and Board and got their blessing, then challenged each of them to get donations for the auction.”

Clark continued, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Foundation and we can’t thank Taylor and Amanda enough. This is really big and really appreciated.”   

Brumley agrees that the auctions will be massive – both in content and in result. “When Rick asked me what we could do, I thought this would be a perfect venue and a big moneymaker for the Foundation – considering the huge crowd.  The energy of the event will help the items sell.”

With Las Vegas opening completely on June 1, The Run For A Million event is expected to be a sellout, and the response to the auction should result in considerable benefit for the Foundation. She added, “We encourage people to get creative with what they can donate – with items in all price ranges. I urge everyone to take part and help the Reining Horse Foundation so it can help others. We are all paying it forward.”  

Reining Horse Foundation Executive Director Leslie Baker said, “The Run For A Million was developed to celebrate and grow the sport. Now, this new collaboration has resulted in the creation of The Raise A Million Auctions with the sole purpose of giving back to the reining community through NRHA’s charitable, nonprofit organization. This is especially meaningful given that we are celebrating the Reining Horse Foundation’s 20th anniversary throughout 2021. We are grateful that those attending The Run For A Million will have a chance to get to know more about our mission and programs.”

Already, the items donated for the auctions are indicative of the impact of the event and promise to create a fun event that raises money for an important cause.

  • 2022 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo VIP “Night at the Rodeo” donated by BMW Quarter Horses
  • 100X Custom J.W. Brooks Hat donated by J.W. Brooks
  • Custom Belt made and donated by Eclectic Beadwork
  • Headstall donated by Mullinax Custom Leather
  • Custom Headstall donated by Bob’s Custom Saddles
  • Show Pad by Golden West donated by Nancy Tague
  • Show Pad donated by Show Diva
  • Show Pad donated by Show Stoppin
  • Moody Chic Scrap Sketch Ink/Watercolor by artist Josey Butler, donated by Terri Mainey
  • Commissioned Drawing created by and donated by Kaci O’Rourke
  • A Breeding and Chute Fee for No Smoking Required, the co-champion of The Run For A Million 2019 donated by owners Schmersal/ThorSport Inc.

Other items are being received daily and there is still plenty of time to take part in the auctions! Donations of trips, unique experiences, services, training packages, artwork, jewelry, goods and more are all welcome. Donors should submit by August 1 to Brumley Management Group,

Attn: RHF Auction, 28150 N Alma School Pkwy #103-619, Scottsdale, AZ 85262. For information on the auction or RHF, contact Leslie Baker at lbaker@nrha.com or (405) 946-7400, ext. 106.

The mission of the Reining Horse Foundation is to care for and honor the reining community. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund to benefit reiners enduring hardships such as major illness, accidents and disasters; youth leadership development and scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For information on the RHF auctions, visit reiningfoundation.com/auctions.

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Transfers are Simple with ReinerSuite

The National Reining Horse Association’s phenomenally successful ReinerSuite program has changed the lives of reiners, trees, and landfills worldwide by making it easier to do “paperwork” online. Eighty percent of NRHA members are using ReinerSuite to do things like check eligibility, renew memberships, research records, and access member reports.

Angie Honeywell, NRHA Senior Manager of ReinerSuite and the Futurity Sale, wants to urge more members to take full advantage of the easy-to-use software. “Transferring a horse’s competition license is a top transaction, and it’s the first step to showing your new reining horse. We want more members to know how simple and convenient it is to process a transfer through ReinerSuite,” Honeywell shared.

NRHA member Cappy Dryden is delighted with the ease of use. She said, “ReinerSuite has made transferring horses so easy. I wasn’t sure how to start it, so I went to their Help section, and it walked me right through the easy process. I simply scanned the signed transfer, attached it, and submitted it. Within an hour I had my new papers!”

As Dryden said, the process is pretty self-explanatory. Users simply click on “Horses” on the sideboard on the left side of the screen, then click on the “Finder” tab, and enter any part or all of the horse’s info (depending on how the switch is toggled). When the search results come up at the bottom of the screen, click on either the horse’s name or the “Select” button. After the horse’s information appears, find “Transfer Competition License” on the bottom left of the screen. Specify the new owner(s) by typing in the name(s), then click “Browse” to upload the proof of purchase. All that’s left to do is click submit and pay.

To clarify, Honeywell said, “Ownership can be proven in several different ways: a signed transfer, a bill of sale, a breed association transfer or registration papers with the new owner’s name, a cash receipt, or insurance documentation for the horse that lists the owner. This feature is so easy for our members, that I want to encourage more to give it a try.”

To register for a ReinerSuite account or access the library of how-to videos, visit https://nrha.com/reinersuite. Questions can be submitted via email to memberships@NRHA.com.

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6666 Ranch Becomes Naming Sponsor of NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

Important Title Sponsorship Raises Payouts in All Divisions!

The 2021 NRHA Derby welcomes a naming sponsor in 2021 as it becomes the 6666 Derby presented by Markel. The sponsorship brings an incredible new payout framework for both the Open and Non Pro Derby, thanks to 6666 Ranch and Taylor Sheridan.

Sheridan explained, “The 6666 Ranch and Bosque Ranch have joined Paramount TV’s Yellowstone to support the NRHA Derby.” Created to reward NRHA Derby Champions of every level – from Open to Non Pro – this sponsorship helps create excitement and rewards reiners of all levels. 

It raises the Open L4 Derby championship from paying $60,000 to paying $75,000 – while in many levels the money awarded to the champion more than doubles! These substantial increases extend to all the Non Pro divisions, including a guaranteed $30,000 to the L4 Champion.  

A quick look at these new benchmarks compared to 2020’s payments:

 Division2020  Derby Champion
Earnings		6666 Derby Champions
Guaranteed Payment
Open L4 Champion$60,000$75,000
Open L3 Champion$23,477$35,000
Open L2 Champion$9,596$20,000
Open L1 Champion$4,263$10,000
Open Prime Time Champion$2,205$5,000
Non Pro L4 Champion$18,800$30,000
Non Pro L3 Champion$14,351$20,000
Non Pro L2 Champion$8,690$15,000
Non Pro L1$3,220$5,000
Non Pro Prime Time Champion$2,602$5,000
Youth Champion$1,318$2,000
Non Pro Masters Champion$1,122$2,000

Sammi Miller, NRHA Sr. Director of Corporate Relations & Communications, noted, “We are thrilled to welcome Four Sixes Ranch as the naming sponsor of the NRHA Derby. This iconic ranch is a treasured part of our western heritage and we are honored to be associated with it, as well as with Bosque Ranch and Paramount TV’s Yellowstone, thanks to Taylor.”

Sheridan summarized, “Expanding both awareness and participation in equine events such as the NRHA Derby is vital not only to the sport of reining but all equine sports, just as it is vital to the preservation of the quarter horse and paint horse. The horse is a cowboy’s most precious tool and closest friend, and the cowboy is an irreplaceable gear in the engine of American agriculture. Events such as the NRHA Derby not only preserve the rich heritage of the horse, they preserve the heritage of the rider as well.”

Clearly, Sheridan is committed to the success of the 6666 NRHA Derby and his commitment to give back mirrors the dedication shown by long-time NRHA sponsor Markel Insurance. Miller added, “We thank Markel Insurance, which remains the presenting sponsor of the NRHA Derby. It is because of Frank Costantini and Markel Insurance’s commitment to the reining industry, and this event in particular, that the Derby has grown so much.”

Along with its rich history from its beginning in 1870, legendary American quarter horses and superior Angus cattle are hallmarks of the Four Sixes Ranch. The ranch not only offers state-of-the-art reproductive services and a full range of equine veterinary services but stands to the public some of the most well-respected AQHA stallions in the industry. Its exceptional broodmare band produces elite race, ranch, and performance horses.

Bosque Ranch, owned by Sheridan, is the premier livestock provider in the film and television industry, providing horses for the cast of ‘Yellowstone’ as well as films such as ‘Hell or High Water’, ‘Wind River’, and Warner Brother’s ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’, along with the upcoming ‘Twelve Mighty Orphans’. It has also produced performance horses such as Walla Walla Starbuck: 2019 AQHA Senior Reining Reserve Champion, 2021 Run for a Million Non Pro qualifier; Setting Off To Town: 2020 NRHA L4 Open Futurity finalist, 2021 NRBC L4 Open finalist, 2021 Run for a Million Open Finalist;  and Kreyzy Horse, a six-year-old stallion with $97,000 in earnings.

Yellowstone is the highest-rated cable drama since its premiere in 2018. It returns to Paramount Network for its fourth season in 2021 as the chronicle of the Dutton Ranch continues.

For information on the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel visit the website at NRHADerby.com.

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Catch Up with NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Graduate Spooks Gotta Spark

Spooks Gotta Spark (Photo by Cam Essick)

(Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena)

Sale: 2015 Futurity Prospect

Consigner: Garth W. Brown, Gainesville, Texas

Purchaser: Gus and Gaynia Revenberg, Oldcastle, Ontario

Even the most magical place on earth couldn’t keep Gaynia Revenberg away from the 2015 NRHA Markel Futurity sales—especially with a prospect like Spooks Gotta Spark available. In previous years, Revenberg spent hours scanning the list of consigned horses, watching preview videos, and discussing prospects. But in 2015, all she wanted was to enjoy a vacation at Disney World with her husband, Gus.

“I was sitting on the balcony at Disney when Shawn Flarida called me and said, ‘There’s a horse here you have to buy,’” Revenberg recalled. “My husband said, ‘Book the flight.’ So, we went to the sale, and Shawn was absolutely correct.”

Since then, Spooks Gotta Spark has held a special place in Revenberg’s heart. “I decided to bring him home so I could ride him myself,” she shared. “I really like this horse, so I asked [NRHA Professional Loris Epis] here in Ontario to show him.”

But as the inaugural Run for a Million in Las Vegas approached, Revenberg knew she couldn’t keep her all-star in Canada much longer. Although she received three inquiries about using her horse in the Million Dollar Invitational, Flarida’s lucrative history with the buckskin stallion made the NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider the obvious choice for Revenberg.

“He didn’t have much time to get him ready, but he did an amazing job,” she said of Flarida’s performance in the Million Dollar Invitational. Spooks Gotta Spark marked a 228, which landed Flarida and the stallion a fourth-place finish and a $65,000 payout.

In February 2020, Bill and Patty Fingland of Rogersville, Mo. purchased the flashy buckskin. With them, he placed in the Top 10 at the 2020 NRHA Open Derby presented by Markel and went on to place 13th in the Level 4 NRBC Open Classic.

It was at the NRBC that Spooks Gotta Spark caught the eye of Kevin Truax and the two bonded instantly. Not long after the team returned from the show, Truax was celebrating the purchase of the most talented reining horse he feels that he has ever owned. “We brought him to our barn the week we bought him. Derek, my daughter, Kiersten, and I each got on him for a bit. He was just so incredible to ride.” Truax said.

As Truax rushed to arrange for Spooks Gotta Sparks’s quickly approaching debut in the breeding barn, Heitland rode the stallion to a Level 2 AQHA Senior Reining World Reserve Co-Championship, and at the 2020 Adequan® NAACs, the talented reiner earned Heitland the NAAC Limited Open title.

Lorenzo Lotti at Foals R Us, in Whitesboro, Texas, made quick accommodations for Spooks Gotta Spark to stand there, and Cam Essick took care of advertisements.

With Spooks Gotta Spark’s future as a sire in the works, Flarida opened up another opportunity for the pair to compete for a million dollars. “Once the next Run For A Million was announced, Shawn worked out a training schedule with Lorenzo. We took Spooks Gotta Spark to Ohio in February and bred with him up there while he was getting in shape.” Truax shared. “In Arizona, we felt good about the qualifier until we found out we were draw number one. I knew it would be tough, so figured we would likely be on the bubble and be nervous all day. After Shawn went, we felt great about qualifying, then realized we may actually win it after abo 70 horses went. To get the high score with all that firepower was unbelievable. Being able to stand in the win picture with all the big names around us was a true dream come true.”

Perhaps Truax’s connection to Spooks Gotta Spark runs even deeper. He said, “My father died last June, so I do feel this has been guided in some way by him.  We have been reining for 40 years, but never at this level. We hope to have one more ride in August to really see what he can do. My goal is to have lots of his babies on the ground for others to enjoy.” 

For breeding information about Spooks Gotta Spark, go to foals-r-us.com/spooks-gotta-spark/.

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Platinum Performance® to Sponsor Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw at NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

The Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party returns to the NRHA Derby presented by Markel on Wednesday, June 23. (NRHA Staff photo)

National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partner Platinum Performance® has supported the reining industry over 20 years. That support continues in 2021, with a much-anticipated, in-person Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw Party to be held during the NRHA Derby Presented by Markel.

The slow return to normalcy has everyone abuzz with excitement and this event is another step in the right direction. Attendees will enjoy a delicious catered meal, drinks, and all of the nail-biting enthusiasm of the Non Pro Finals Draw and after missing a year due to Covid, the popular Reiners Rope dummy roping will be also held. The Party will be held at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, June 23.

“As long-time partners of NRHA, we are excited to sponsor the Platinum Performance® Welcome Party featuring the Non Pro Finals Draw as well as the Platinum Performance® Virtual Open Draw Party at the 2021 NRHA Derby,” said Lauren Thompson, Equine Marketing Manager. “We look forward to maintaining our commitment to provide superior nutrition and unmatched personal service to the valued NRHA membership.”

The support of Platinum Performance® extends well beyond the Party. The company will also provide the exhibitor bags given to every NRHA Derby competitor. In addition, Platinum Performance® will sponsor a Virtual Open Draw Party Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. The decision was made to keep the Platinum Performance® Open Draw Party virtual so that trainers could be available to their non pro finalists.

The 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel takes place at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City June 19-27. For more information about this premier event, visit NRHADerby.com

Platinum Performance® believes in the power of nutrition and supplementation and remains committed to providing formulas that produce superior results in the horse. For 25 years, Platinum has continued to research the role of nutrition with regards to wellness and performance and is committed to providing equine veterinarians, horse owners and trainers the nutritional tools they need to benefit from cutting edge equine nutrition. Horse health is the Platinum Performance® mission, and we look forward to helping you find your Platinum. Learn more at PlatinumPerformance.com.