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Italian Gennaro Lendi Joins NRHA Million Dollar Rider Lineup

Gennaro Lendi recorded his first earnings in the National Reining Horse Association in May 2004, when he won the Non Pro class at the Italian Reining Horse Association Derby on OT Taris High. Less than two decades later, Lendi joined the elite list of riders who have won more than one million dollars in competition.

Recent wins at the 2020 European Futurity, the Austrian Futurity, the German Breeders Futurity, the IRHA Maturity, and ARTA Futurity propelled him past that milestone.

“As I got closer to the million, it became all the more stressful as I wanted to surpass that mark as fast as I could. I put pressure on myself – especially after the pandemic stopped our shows – and it affected my performance in the show pen,” Lendi admitted.

Lendi was less than $8,000 from achieving that goal prior to the NRHA European Derby and the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby. “My focus was mainly to show my horses to the best of my ability,” he said. “I finally made it in Germany, and on top of it being a hugely emotional moment, I was thrilled I had managed to show my two 3-year-olds well and allowed them to demonstrate their talent. They gave me all they had.”

What made the moment even sweeter was that Lendi had made the breeding decisions that resulted in the two talented reiners. “Both OT Taris Yankee (Yankee Gun x OT Tarisme), owned by Cornelia Valentin, and OT Dont Miss To Wish (Dont Miss My Guns x OT Taris Wish Miss), owned by Dominico Giannitti, were also both trained by me,” he explained.

Lendi’s love for horses was fostered by his father, Rino, who bought him his first pony. “My parents simply have always had a passion for animals, even though they were not involved with horses. I decided when I was a child that I wanted to be a horse trainer,” he recalled.

He was still in single digits when he first saw a reining horse. Lendi’s father took him for lessons every weekend, and at the end of each lesson, he would go home to train his pony. “I taught him all the reining maneuvers, except for sliding stops because, of course, he didn’t have sliders. I would wait for it to rain so that, when the ground was slick, I could say ‘whoa’ and get him to stop and slide,” he said.

The first professionals to truly impact Lendi and his career were Cliff Jayhall and Dario Carmignani, and he now regularly works with leading NRHA riders Shawn Flarida and Andrea Fappani. “I truly believe that all those who have helped me along the way managed to have an impact on me because I am passionate about what I do, and I put the passion into every single moment. I think that is the secret to my success,” he shared.

Lendi was quick to give credit to the equine athletes that he’s ridden throughout his career, specifically a few special ones. “My Showbiz Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Hollywood Stunt Girl), owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA at the time, was the 2009 IRHA Open Futurity Champion, and Piccolo Spanish (Spanish Snapper x Jokin Peppy), owned by Sabatino Quarter Horses, was the Open Reserve Champion that year. They left an indescribable mark,” he said. “In this list, I have to add Spatatino and Colonels Dancing Gun, two stallions that allowed me to express reining the way I saw it in my head. I like to see the class and finesse and style in the maneuvers; these are the characteristics I look for in horses I train and ride.”

“The fact that I accomplished this without coming from a horse-oriented family makes me even prouder. I had no one in my family to help in this profession I chose. Even though my family has always supported my passion and my choices, I never had any help. That’s probably the best thing that could have ever happened. They left me free to make my choices and mistakes,” he said. “Of course, they are super happy since this is such an important achievement in Europe, and particularly Italy.”

Lendi added there are several people who have helped him throughout his career. “I have always been very fortunate to have owners that trusted me with their horses and my program. This list is long, and I thank all of them,” he said. “I thank my family, including my father Rino, mother Marianna, my brother Francesco, and my girlfriend, Steffi, who have always been close to me in good and bad times.”

Not resting on his laurels, Lendi is looking ahead to the next career milestone. “In celebrating this million, my aim is now for two million. One goal I have is to qualify for The Run For A Million,” he shared.

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NRHA Statement Regarding Reining’s Removal as FEI Discipline

During the Fédération Equestre Internationale General Assembly which began on November 14 and concludes today, November 17, reining was removed as an FEI discipline. According to former National Reining Horse Association President Mike Hancock, it was not an unexpected move.

Hancock chaired NRHA’s FEI Task Force that was created in 2019 and has been involved with reining internationally in one capacity or another since the nineties. “We’ve had many conversations with FEI including face-to-face meetings in 2018 and 2020. Both entities recognize the value of and interest in reining and reining horses worldwide. However, we were never able to blend the two organizations and their business models,” Hancock explained.

He added, “Also with the difficulties during the 2018 World Equestrian Games as well as the ensuing announcement that there would be no multi-discipline WEG going forward, you might say the bloom came off reining as an international event for the reining community. For NRHA, there was less attraction, but we continued with an International Competition Task Force created in 2020, and just days before the General Assembly we had conversations and tried to reach a working agreement with FEI officials. Unfortunately, this was not possible.”

Current NRHA President Rick Clark was quick to thank Hancock and the International Competition Task Force and noted that he would repurpose it to address the possibility of future NRHA competitions in an international format. He said, “The NRHA still has an interest in International and Continental championships and will research resources that might allow them to take place. We are glad to hear that FEI and a good number of National Federations are supportive of us proceeding in that direction. The International Competition Taskforce created in 2020 will address this to determine if it is feasible.”

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter added, “All of us who have been involved thank the friends we have made at FEI for the years of support in jointly promoting the sport of reining.”

Along with Hancock, the NRHA International Competition Task Force is comprised of Rick Clark, Rosanne Sternberg, Adam Heaton, Mark Blake, Andre DeBellefeuille and Paulus Beurskens.

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Not Ruf At All Achieves NRHA Million Dollar Sire Status

The National Reining Horse Association’s newest Million Dollar Sire Not Ruf At All’s career started with a bang when he won the 2013 NRHA Futurity. The following year “Ruf” claimed the NRHA Derby Championship. Just two years later, he added the National Reining Breeders Classic Open title to become one of only a few horses to win the three major events.

By NRHA $2 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of All Ruffed Up, the sorrel stallion is owned by NRHA Hall of Famer Vaughn Zimmerman. Always ridden by NRHA $2 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham, he would become one of NRHA’s highest money-earning stallions, with $456,437 in lifetime earnings.

Vanlandingham vividly remembers the day when he realized just what he had in Not Ruf At All. “It was June of his 3-year-old year. My wife, Adrienne, came out, and I asked her to video him stopping. I ran down and stopped, and she just started laughing and said, ‘Oh my goodness, you’ve got to look at this.’ When I looked at the video, I knew we had something special!” he recalled.

That talent was coupled with the stallion’s monstrous heart. “Over the course of his entire career, he never missed a stop in competition. I can’t say that about any other horse I’ve had or ever seen go,” Vanlandingham shared.

He recounted the story of the NRHA Derby when, as a 5-year-old, Ruf stopped just like every time he had been shown. But after he rode the stallion from the Coliseum, Vanlandingham found his slider in the warmup pen! With a shoe or without, he never missed a stop.

For Zimmerman, watching Ruf throughout his career was pure excitement. “He was so dynamic, and I couldn’t wait until the next show,” he said.

The titles – and the purchase offers – rolled in, but there was never a question of parting with Ruf, all because of a discussion Zimmerman and Vanlandingham had early on. “Jason asked me to promise I wouldn’t sell Ruf out from under him. I told him I wouldn’t.” He laughed, then added, “The prices of the offers kept growing, and I asked him if he was sure we shouldn’t sell him. Jason said, ‘No I want to show him!’”

Multiple historic achievements and many magical moments followed, proving the decision sound, but ultimately, it was time for the next stage of Ruf’s career. “We hated to see him quit showing. He’s the best show horse we’ve ever owned,” Zimmerman admitted.

Ruf soon displayed his prepotency as a breeding stallion. “The first crops were small because we weren’t standing him to an open book. But soon we were seeing strong support from people around the globe – even Europe. People have a lot of choices because they can breed to established studs – so when you’re in the proving stages and they support you, it means a lot,” Zimmerman explained.

In the beginning, Zimmerman bred his own set of broodmares to the young stallion. When the first foals came of age in 2018, the journey of becoming a successful sire began.

Not Ruf At All’s highest money earner is Excessive Rufness (Smokin Lady Gunner), a 3-year-old this year owned by Zimmerman. Winning the inaugural Invitational Futurity with Vanlandingham boosted his earnings over the $100,000 mark.

Other notable offspring include Ruf Style Of Play (UB Stylin With Me) owned by Axel Bouchner, who was ridden to the NRHA Futurity Level 4 Non Pro title by Jesse Asmussen and has gone on to earn more than $92,000. Another Zimmerman-owned standout is Its All About Ruff (Dun Pretty Nifty), with $73,715 in lifetime earnings.

NRHA President Rick Clark noted, “Not Ruf At All was a great horse as a show horse and fun to watch. He won the three major events and so many titles, and it’s not a surprise that he has gone over a million already. Vaughn Zimmerman is an asset to the industry, and this is a huge accomplishment. On behalf of the Board and staff of NRHA, congratulations to Vaughn and all the connections of this great stallion.”

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Roster Rundown – NRHA Open Futurity Draw

When the National Reining Horse Association events office posted the draw order for the 2021 Futurity on NRHAFuturity.com, reining fans quickly clicked and studied the list. While numerous new names were smattered throughout the draw, the list was full of legendary names, not only for the riders but also for the horses, in the breeding as well as in the owners and nominators.

This breakdown focuses on the Open Futurity; the next will take a hard look at the Non Pro Futurity.

The Riders:

In the Open Futurity, 20 of the 34 riders who have passed $1 million in lifetime earnings are competing this year. NRHA’s two leading riders, Shawn Flarida and Andrea Fappani, both have three horses entered. The two competitors each boast earnings well over six million.

Craig Schmersal, the only other rider to have surpassed four million in lifetime earnings is entered in the event with three horses.

Other NRHA Million and Multi-Million Dollar Riders entered in the Open Futurity are:

  • $2 Million Rider Duane Latimer (2)
  • $2 Million Rider Tom McCutcheon (2)
  • $2 Million Rider Jordan Larson (3)
  • $2 Million Rider Brian Bell (3)
  • $2 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham (2)
  • $2 Million Rider Casey Deary (3)
  • Cody Sapergia (1)
  • Franco Bertolani (3)
  • Dean Brown (1)
  • Cade McCutcheon (3)
  • Matt Mills (3)
  • Martin Muehlstaetter (2)
  • Dany Tremblay (3)

Thanks to the dedication of Futurity Challenge Sponsors, the Level 4 Open Champion will win a historic $350,000, while second and third places will take home $150,000 and $100,000, respectively. That means it’s likely there will be even more millionaires made in the Jim Norick Coliseum.

Open riders within $350,000 of their next – or first – million who are competing in Oklahoma City include:

  • Jordan Larson
  • Tom McCutcheon
  • Nathan Piper
  • Justin Mathison
  • Martin Larcombe
  • Casey Hinton
  • Arno Honstetter
  • Marco Ricotta
  • Trevor Dare
  • Gabe Hutchins
  • Tracer Gilson
  • Matt Palmer
  • Jimmy van der Hoeven
  • Mike Flarida
  • Brian Welman
  • Robin Schoeller

Former NRHA Open Futurity Champion riders competing this year are: Mike Flarida, Andrea Fappani, Shawn Flarida, Duane Latimer, Jordan Larson, Casey Deary, Jason Vanlandingham, Craig Schmersal, and Cade McCutcheon.

The Owners:

NRHA’s second leading owner with $2.1 million, Rosanne Sternberg, has one horse entered, while third-leading owner Rancho Oso Rio has two. NRHA’s newest $2 Million Owner, Smart Like Juice, also has an entry for this year’s event.

The only Million Dollar Owner to compete as an owner in this year’s Open Futurity is NRHA Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon, who will exhibit a horse he owns with his wife, fellow Million Dollar Owner and $2 Million Rider Mandy McCutcheon.

Three of the four owners who surpassed one million in earnings in 2021 are represented this year. Casey Hinton has four entries, while Robert Santagata has six. Vaughn Zimmerman, who is less than $5,000 from joining the $2 Million Owner club, has two.

McCutcheon and Vazquez, a 2021 NRHA Hall of Fame inductee, pull double-duty as Million Dollar Owners. Other Million Dollar Owners competing in the Non Pro Futurity are David Silva, Sr., Tish Fappani, and Andre De Bellefeuille, and $2 Million Dollar Owner Lance Griffin. 

In the Blood

Twenty-two of NRHA’s Million and Multi-Million Dollar Stallions have offspring competing in the Open Futurity, including all three $12 Million Sires (Gunner, Topsail Whiz, and Wimpys Little Step).

Gunnatrashya, a $5 Million Sire, has the most foals competing, with 46 (34 in L3, 22 in L2, and 8 in L1). Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr is close behind with 29 (24 in L3, 19 in L2, and 9 in L1). Tied with 27 entries are Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz (20 in L3, 13 in L2, and 7 in L1) and Inferno Sixty Six (22 in L3, 15 in L2, and 6 in L1).

Million Dollar Dams Dun It For Chex (2) and Wimpys Little Chic (1) are also represented.

Aforementioned Not Ruf At All, Spooks Gotta Whiz, and Wimpys Little Chic are part of an elite group of four horses to have won the three NRHA “majors” in the United States. They all have foals vying for victory in the first leg of the trifecta.

Hall of Fame members with competing foals include Gunner, Topsail Whiz, Smart Chic Olena, Wimpys Little Chic, Wimpys Little Step, Smart Spook, Magnum Chic Dream, Smart Like Juice, and Dun It For Chex.

Former Open Futurity Champions with offspring entered are Wimpys Little Step, Smart Spook, Taris Designer Genes, Wimpys Little Chic, Gunnatrashya, Spooks Gotta Whiz, Lil Joe Cash, Americasnextgunmodel, Not Ruf At All, and Shine N Spook.

Other entries with notable full siblings include:

  • My Special Sidekick (Gunners Special Nite x A Shining Sidekick), ridden by Josh Tishman
    • Full sibling to 2020 L4 Non Pro Champion Shining At Nite, ridden by Mandy McCutcheon
  • Plain Genes (SG Frozen Enterprize x Taris Designer Genes), ridden by Joao Felipe Lacerda
    • Full sibling to 2018 L4 Non Pro Champion Icecube, ridden by Tish Fappani
  • KR Dream Maker (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunner Git Ya Dun), ridden by Kole Price
    • Full sibling to 2020 L4 Open third place earner,  Thee American Dream, ridden by Andrea Fappani
  • Starstruck Gunner (Gunners Special Nite x Chic Olena Starbuck), ridden by Kaci O’Rourke
    • Full sibling to 2019 L4 Open Reserve Champion Guns And Dynamite, ridden by Cade McCutcheon
  • Dont Stop Believen (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Myo Starlight), ridden by Spence Bell
    • Full sibling to 2016 L4 Open Champion Spooky Whiz, ridden by Andrea Fappani

There are also five sets of full siblings in the Open draw.

  • Guns R For Shootin x TC West Coast Wendi
    • West Coast Shootin ridden by Cass Fox
    • Wendis Dun Shootin ridden by Michael Davis
  • Gunners Special Nite x Belle Starr Dun It
    • Gunners Lucky Starr ridden by Troy Heikes
    • Delta Nite Blues ridden by Jason Torpey
    • Gunners Nite Train ridden by Tom McCutcheon
  • Not Ruf At All x Surprise Easter Kid
    • One Ruf Kid ridden by Jason Vanlandingham
    • One Ruf Surprise ridden by Gabriel Borges
  • Magnum Chic Dream x Big Gold Chex
    • Chics Get The Chex ridden by Casey Hinton
    • Dreaminof Big Chex ridden by Benjamin Beckett
  • Magnum Chic Dream x Lil Donna
    • Lovely Little Chic ridden by Carol Metcalf
    • Magnum Charmer ridden by Colin Fitzpatrick

Notable 2021 Futurity Horses in the Draw:

There are several noteworthy winners from this year who will surely be on everyone’s must-watch list.

Excessive Rufness, by NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Sire Not Ruf At All out of Smokin Lady Gunner, tops the leading horses list for 2021 with earnings of $110,909. Excessive Rufness, trained and shown by Jason Vandlandingham, is owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Vaughn Zimmerman.

Winding Inferno is the second highest-money earning 3-year-old this year. The colt, by Inferno Sixty Six out of Wind Her Up Chic, won the Level 4 Open Futurity at the High Roller Reining Classic this fall with Andrea Fappani at the reins. Earlier in the year, Winding Inferno, owned by Teton Ridge, took reserve honors at the Invitational, which was held at the North American Reining Stakes.

Other noteworthy major event champions include:

  • No Photos (Shine Chic Shine x Stop Like A Dream), Best of the West Level 4 Open Futurity Co-Champion
  • Mr Farenheit (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimpy Little Girl), Best of the West Level 4 Open Futurity Co-Champion
  • Starlight Flinn (In Like Flinn x Baby Red Gaylena), All American Quarter Horse Congress Level 4 Open Futurity Champion
  • Malibu Riptide (Gunnatrashya x Malibu Whiz), Tulsa Reining Classic Level 4 Open Champion
  • Live N On A Prayer (In Like Flinn x Americasnextgunmodel), SWRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Co-Champion
  • TR Voodoo Doll (Shiners Voodooo Dr x Wallawhizagun), Low Roller Reining Classic Level 4 Open Champion

Other Notable Stats

The 2021 Open Futurity will be the largest in history, and three of the levels show a substantial increase in entries from the previous year. Current entry numbers are listed below.

  • Open Level 4 – 395 (Up from 351 in 2020)
  • Open Level 3 – 311 (Up from 280 in 2020)
  • Open Level 2 – 236 (Up from 212 in 2020)
  • Open Level 1 – 124 (Down from 131 in 2020)
  • Open Prime Time – 40 (Same as 2020)

There are 32 NRHA Markel Futurity Sale graduates competing in the Open this year, with 27 in the Level 3, 23 in the Level 2, 13 in Level 1, and three in the Prime Time. The 2019 Marketplace Sale High Seller, Xtra Half N Half, is one of the 32 and will be shown by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Matt Mills.

In the battle of boys vs. girls, the stallions win. In the Open Futurity, 203 of the entries are stallions, 150 are mares, and the remaining 42 are geldings.

The majority of horses entered in this year’s Open Futurity, 370, are registered with the American Quarter Horse Association, while 21 are in the American Paint Horse Association. Four horses did not have the breed listed.

Winning the historic $350,000 Level 4 Open Championship is a three-step process. All Open entries compete in a first round, with the top 75 (plus ties) advancing to the Not Ruf At All Level 4 Open Semi-Finals round on Dec. 1. There, the top 30 (plus ties) move on to the clean-slate MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Futurity Finals on Dec. 4.

Open riders in Levels 1, 2, and 3 who are in the top 75 of their levels (but not in the top 75 of the Level 4) will compete in the Semi-Finals Round on Nov. 30. The top 30 in each of those levels (plus ties) will earn a spot in the first section of the Open Finals on Dec. 4.

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Live Auction Items for Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch Announced

On December 1, 2021, reining enthusiasts will come together for Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch. The event, which regularly draws more than 400 attendees, is the Reining Horse Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser.  The celebration is held during the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. The 2020 event was cancelled, so the night of philanthropy and celebration is one many in the industry are eagerly looking forward to.

A highlight of the 2021 soiree will be the annual live auction, which is limited to a select group of items. This year’s donations are:

  • A John Deere TS Gator donated by Equine Discounts.
    • The John Deere TS 4×2 Utility Vehicle features cushioned bucket seating, a 12-v outlet, and a large, durable cargo box for heavy hauling.
  • A private clinic for eight people in 2022 with NRHA Professional and former NRHA Professional of the Year Mirjam Stillo.
    • The clinic will be held at the privately-owned Ranchos Los Vaqueros in Pilot Point, Texas. The clinic includes lunch and post-clinic cocktails in the welcoming event space. Hosted and made possible by Mirjam Stillo Performance Horses, Nancy and John Tague of Toyon Ranch and Debbie and Gary Conway of Ranchos Los Vaqueros.
  • A custom-made, handcrafted 18K gold pendant from MS Diamonds TX.
    • NRHA Corporate Partner MS Diamonds TX will create a custom 18K gold pendant set with 1ct GVS quality diamonds complete with the winner’s logo.
  • A 2022 embryo for Wind Her Up Chic, donated by NRHA Corporate Partners Tim Anderson and Kim Niven.
    • Wind Her Up Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Wind Her Up Doc) is a former NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and National Reining Breeders Classic Open finalist with lifetime earnings exceeding $100,000. Embryos for Wind Her Up Chic, who holds the 16th spot on the NRHA Lifetime Producers List, are not available publicly outside of the Sliders’ Night Out Live Auction.

“The proceeds raised from this event and through the RHF benefit our members in a variety of ways, including the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, youth scholarships, supporting our Hall of Fame, and more,” Clark shared. “Every dollar donated, whether it’s a big donation or small, adds up and makes a difference. The RHF just keeps growing every day, and I, and the rest of the RHF Board, are thankful for every donor. This is our 20th anniversary, and the RHF is at a level we dreamed of when it started. We have great leaders with a great vision, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

New in 2021, Sliders’ Night Out will offer live, online bidding powered by Auction Mobility, the same platform that will be used for this year’s NRHA Markel Futurity Sales on December 2. To view the Slider’s Night Out Auction, go to auctions.nrha.com, or download the new NRHA Sales App. Proxy and absentee bidding is also available, and those interested can contact RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker.

In addition to the Live Auction, there will be a pledge auction where everyone in attendance is welcome to contribute to the RHF. Unrestricted gifts of $100 or more will receive donor recognition in the Reiners Club.

Hosted by the RHF, the event will honor and recognize the NRHA Hall of Fame inductees as well as the recipients of the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2020 and 2021. “We are excited to formally welcome 2020 Hall of Fame inductees Sally Brown and Jerry Kimmel, and the 2021 inductees Doug Carpenter and Jose Vazquez,” said Rick Clark, NRHA President and RHF Development Chairperson. “We will also recognize Mike Carrier and Charles Vaughan, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2020 and 2021. These are well-deserved honors, and we are excited to celebrate each of these individuals.”

The RHF, which serves as the charitable arm of the NRHA. Through major underwriters and Hall of Fame table hosts, dollars are raised in support of the RHF mission of caring for and honoring the reining community.

Donors of every level are important. They come from individuals, corporations, ranches, training barns, foundations and groups of reiners joining forces to support the event. Baker said a limited number of tables and seats remain available for the event and encourages anyone wanting to attend, to act quickly.

Advance reservations are encouraged to ensure a chance to be in attendance at Sliders’ Night Out and enjoy the chef-prepared dinner and celebration. Individual tickets are available.

To make reservations, contact Leslie Baker, RHF, (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or email rhf@nrha.com.