Month: June 2023

The Ancillary competition continued today in the Adequan Arena at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel, with the conclusion of the Novice Horse Open classes. Jimmy van der Hoeven, Jorge Puente, and Peter Defreitas took home championships for the second slate, and Defreitas had a clean sweep of the High Point awards for all three levels.

Novice Horse Open Level 1, 2, and 3 High Point, and Level 1 (2) Champion – Peter Defreitas & Keep On Th Sunnyside

Peter DeFreitas and Keep On Th Sunnyside kept up their winning streak from earlier this week by taking home the championship in the second slate of the Level 1 Novice Horse Open and the High Point for all three levels.

Keep On Th Sunnyside, a 2017 mare bred by Double Run Farm, is sired by Shine On Line and out of Conquistadors Sandy. The 6-year-old mare is owned by Carlton and Khris Crowe.

“I thought that she probably even showed a little bit better in some spots than she did the first day,” DeFreitas said. “She turned both directions well, circled well, and ran down the pen and got stopped.”

DeFreitas describes the mare as “consistent,” stating, “She can be a little goofy and stuff, but she seems to fit me. If she’s prepared, she just does her job. She’s pretty simple that way.”

After her success at this show, Keep On Th Sunnyside is getting much-deserved time off before heading to Waco, Texas, for the One Hot Reining show.

Novice Horse Open Level 2 (2) Champion – Jimmy Van der Hoeven & Wimpy Pale Face

Jimmy van der Hoeven and Wimpy Pale Face, a 2017 stallion, won the second slate of the Novice Horse Open Level 2.

“Timmy,” as he is affectionately known, is sired by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of Wimpys Lil Doll. Bred by Tim Anderson, the stallion is now owned by Margaret McNamara.

The 6-year-old stallion is a newer addition to Van der Hoeven’s show string, only joining the barn about six weeks ago. A could bobbles in the open preliminaries earlier in the week kept the pair out of the Finals. With the intention of getting Timmy dialed back in before their next show, Van der Hoeven entered the stallion in the Novice Horse Open and was pleased.

“My plan was to go in there and make him at least turn fast, and then I went kind of easier on my circles, just made it comfortable,” explained Van Der Hoeven. “I was gonna see if he stopped better. And he did. It’s actually really good. I was happy with him. He’s a very sweet horse.”

Next up for Wimpy Pale Face is the APHA World Show in Fort Worth, Texas, where the stallion will be shown in the Open Derby.

Novice Horse Open Level 3 (2) Champion – Jorge Puente & Dual Reality

Jorge Puente and Dual Reality, a 2013 gelding, won the Novice Horse Open Level 3 (2). Dual Reality is by Mister Nicudual and out of Snip O Chex, bred by Cinder Lakes Ranch, with lifetime earnings of $18,377.

“This horse, he just likes his job,” Puente said about Dual Reality. “He’s a big turner, has smooth circles, and he’s just happy about it.”

Between Puente and Dual Reality’s owner, Kristen Suggs-Bohrer, the gelding has been shown every weekend for the last month, but there are no plans for where they’ll be hauling him to next.

Puente was most grateful to his team at home, making it possible for him to be at shows, and to Suggs-Bohrer for providing him the opportunity to ride the gelding.

The Novice Horse Non Pro classes wrapped up today in the Adequan® Arena at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel on Thursday, June 22. After 108 entries spread across three levels, and a run-off tiebreaker in the Level 2, Sarah Grace McNally and Kary Key came home with class wins, while Alicia Rapp and Melissa Wigen took home high-point buckles.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 & 2 High Point – Alicia Rapp & CS Just Viintage

Alicia Rapp and CS Just Viintage, a 2019 mare, won the High Point for both the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 and Level 2 at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

CS Just Viintage, or “Missy,” as she is affectionately known, is sired by Platinum Vintage and out of Snow Town and was bred by XCS Ranch, LLC.

With this only being their second time in the show pen together, Rapp is very pleased with Missy’s performance this week. “She’s proven to me here that she wants to be a show horse, so it’s been a great experience,” Rapp explained.

“I tried to step her up a little bit today just to see if she would hang with me. And she did… I felt like our circles were really strong, and our stops are getting better and better,” Rapp shared of the pair’s run in the second slate..

Rapp thanked her long-time trainer, Ted Chancey, as well as her equine chiropractor and acupuncturist, Mari Little.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 & 3 (2) Champion – Sarah Grace McNally & Smartys Bea

Sarah McNally and Smartys Bea won the second slate of the Level 1 and Level 3 Novice Horse Non Pro. They were also reserve in the Level 2 after a tie-breaking run-off.

Smartys Bea, a 2017 mare sired by Colonels Smart Spook and out of Bea With a Twist, was bred by Monte Strusiner.

“She’s a wonderful horse, under saddle and on the ground,” McNally said. “She really likes to have a job. Under saddle, she is the most consistent and calm and loving horse. My four-year-old daughter does leadline on her at our local shows. She’s a wonderful mare, we love her so much.”

The pair scored their personal high score at this show, with a 72.5 under one of the judges and a 144.5 overall. Up next for this duo is the All Star Reining Stakes in Ocala, Florida.

McNally made a point to thank her trainers, Tricia Tillman and Austin Morris, as well as Bob LaPorta. Most of all, she thanked her mother, who has supported her since her youth career in AQHA, calling her the “best show mom you could ever imagine.”

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 (2) Champion – Kary Key & Spookadeous

Kary Key and Spookadeous won the second slate of the ancillary Level 2 Novice Horse Non Pro after a tie-breaking run-off.

Spookadeous is a 2018 stallion, sired by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun, out of Trash N For Chex, and bred by Key and her mother, Pat Fletcher.

“He’s five, but he’s really just coming into his own this year,” Key said. “We did stuff last year, but he’s had such a big change this year. Every day he gets better.”

Not only is Spookadeous becoming a fabulous show horse, but he also has a big personality. “He’s always looking for his cookie. This horse works for food. So, for example, if I get back in the aisleway and I don’t have cookies for him, I will probably be disowned,” Key explained, laughing.

Key has big goals for this homebred stallion. “I want to make the finals of the major events… we were Level 1 at the NRBC, but I want to be a Level 4 finalist. I think this horse can do it, but I hope I can learn how to do it as well,” she said.

Key thanked her mother, Pat Fletcher, who bred Spookadeous, as well as most of the horses that Key has had in her show string. She also thanked Naike Bell and the entire Brian Bell barn, stating that she is always “striving to be a little Brian Bell” when she shows.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 High Point – Melissa Wigen & Starlight Escalade

Melissa Wigen and Starlight Escalade won the Level 3 Novice Horse Non Pro High Point title.

Starlight Escalade, sired by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Starlights Wrangler out of Escalante Chic, was bred by Adair Reiners, LLC.

Wigen and her 9-year-old gelding, known around the barn as “Rascal,” had a week full of improvements and hard work leading up to this High Point win, coming off a great year in 2022. “We’ve been working on making it correct and working on finesse,” explained Wigen.

As a horse trainer’s wife, Wigen got the advice she needed to hear today, to just go in and have fun, and accomplished just that. The pair also avoided the penalty box, a goal Wigen had after her ride earlier this week.

While her future plans with Rascal are not set in stone, Wigen is excited at the prospect of showing the gelding again on Sunday, as well as in Denver, and potentially the Run For A Million in Las Vegas. This week, she is also excited to cheer on her daughter, Kendall, and her husband, Travis.

Competition continues Friday in the Adequan® Arena with the second slate of the Novice Horse Open classes. It will be followed by the first section of the Toyon Ranch Rookie Free For All. Find draws, results, news, and more at NRHADerby.com.

In the second annual $20,000-added Freestyle Reining presented by Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau held at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, 12 creative and captivating runs were performed by riders of all levels. The exciting evening started on a celebratory note when the Level 4 Non Pro Finalists were introduced, setting the tone of impressive riding and friendly competition.

From patriotic tributes to rocking choreography, the Thursday night crowd was entertained. Then, competition heated up.

For Taylor Zimmerman, every hour spent in the saddle with the horse she grew up with, Its All About Ruf, has been golden. As a tribute to their time together, they performed to JVKE’s Golden Hour.

Its All About Ruf, who she calls TJ, is a 2016 stallion by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Not Ruf At All and out of Dun Pretty Nifty, with a lifetime earnings of $88,081.

With as much as TJ has already given Zimmerman, he took it to the next level with a ride that earned a score of 230.5 and the Championship of the Invitational Freestyle. This score is currently the highest score marked at the Derby this year.

This year’s freestyle reining had $20,000 of added prize money presented by the OKCVB. Zimmerman plans to donate a portion of her $6,280 in winnings to longtime friend of the reining industry, Jenifer Reynolds.

“This is such a special event, and she’s just a special person. It’s important to recognize the people in our industry going through a hard time and support them, so I just wanted to do this for her,” Zimmerman said.

The performance featured Zimmerman in a white jumpsuit with gold decorations, and TJ was decked out with gold tinsel in his mane and tail, along with meticulously placed sparkly stars along his hind end.

Although Zimmerman ending up with TJ as her show horse was a lucky accident, it resulted in several great years, leading up to tonight’s freestyle run being one of their last competitions together.

“He fell into my hands, and we’ve been a pair ever since,” Zimmerman said. “This is our last big event together, but he’ll be with me forever.”

For a schedule, results, news, and more, visit NRHADerby.com.

Photos by NRHA Media and Chelsea Schneider Media

Wednesday was a full day of competition in the Adequan® Arena at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. The first slate of the Novice Horse Open classes was held, with the three levels run concurrently. The 133-entry class proved tough, and in the end, Peter Defreitas, Brian Bell, and Josiane Gauthier rode away with the wins.

Novice Horse Open Level 1 (1) Champion, Level 2 (1) Co-Champion – Peter DeFreitas & Keep On Th Sunnyside

Peter Defreitas and Keep On Th Sunnyside have been the model of consistency this year, but the pair had yet to compete on a run-in pattern.

That changed Wednesday at the NRHA Derby, with Pattern 9 chosen for the first slate of Novice Horse Open classes.

Defreitas and the big-stopping mare delivered, nailing the first stop and executing the rest of the pattern well to earn a 146.5. That score not only won the Novice Horse Open Level 1 but also tied for the win of the Level 2 and was good for the Reserve title in the Level 3.

“I was excited about this because she’s such a big stopper. She really hit that stop, then turned good to the right. Her left turn could have been just a little better, but she circled really well and finished up with good stops,” Defreitas recalled. “Her big lick is running and stopping. I know it doesn’t matter what’s happening because she’s going to stop big.”

Keep On Th Sunnyside is by Shine On Line and out of Conquistadors Sandy. The 6-year-old mare was bred by Double Run Farm and is now owned by Carlton and Khris Crowe.

“I’ve been showing her in the novice horse this year. She’s a very nice and quiet mare, and I’m happy I get to show her. She can get a little fresh, but when it’s time to horse show, she’s all business,” Defreitas said. “As many times as I’ve shown her this year, she seems to just keep getting better.”

Defreitas and Keep On Th Sunnyside will show again this week in the second slate of the Novice Horse Open. “If she keeps doing well, we’re going to keep showing in this division and hope we can win one of the NRHA World titles. Right now, we’re up there, so we’re just going to see what happens,” he said.

Novice Horse Open Level 2 (1) Co-Champion – Brian Bell & Spookadeous

Brian Bell and Spookadeous, a 2018 gelding, won the Novice Horse Open Level 1 (1) with a tie on a score of 146.5. Spookadeous, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun out of Trash N For Chex, was bred and is owned by Kary Key.

With only a day’s notice to prepare to show Spookadeous, Bell, an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider, focused on getting in tune with the horse, known in the barn as ‘Bruce.’ Known for his large, fast, smooth-as-butter circles, Bruce was a ride that Bell enjoyed.

“I liked having this horse in the barn before I showed him,” Bell said. “But now that I’ve shown him, I like him even more. He was honest, and he played on the team.”

Bell will not be showing Bruce again at the Derby but will be riding in the Open finals and coaching five other riders in the Non Pro finals. He thanked his wife, son, and clients for allowing any of this to be possible.

Novice Horse Open Level 3 (1) Champion – Josiane Gauthier & Xtra Step Doctor

Josiane Gauthier and Xtra Step Doctor won the Novice Horse Open Level 3 (1) with a score of 148.

Xtra Step Doctor is a 2018 stallion by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Xtra Ruby Step, bred by Ixtul Quarter Horses. Gauthier had purchased the horse as a two-year-old at the NRHA Futurity and sold him as a three-year-old. Luckily, he ended up back as the horse of one of her clients, Nancy Alford, who allowed her to show him today.

“He’s just got a big heart, big turns, and lots of try, and you just can’t teach a horse to be like that,” Gauthier said.

Gauthier won’t show Xtra Step Doctor again during this year’s Derby but is eagerly awaiting other opportunities to be in the pen with him again after previously competing on him at the National Reining Breeders Classic and The Run For The Million Shootout.

She thanked her family, her husband, those helping her care for her horses during the show, and Alford for letting her ride Xtra Step Doctor.

Ancillary action continues Thursday with the second slate of the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro classes. A complete schedule, results, link to the live webcast, and more can be found at NRHADerby.com.

The wait is over, and the Non Pro finalists for the 2023 edition of the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel have been decided. Over three days, the field of 306 Non Pro entries was whittled down to the crème de le crème who get to compete in Friday’s clean slate finals.

To put it mildly, the preliminary round was the Gina Schumacher Show. The NRHA Million Dollar Rider not only qualified all three of her entries back to the Level 4 Non Pro Finals, but she also finished in the top three spots of the preliminary round.

Schumacher topped the round on CS Sailing Gun (Gunners Enterprise x La Bigia Sailor), nominated by CS Ranch Management, and took second on Legendary Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Legends Lil Squeeze), nominated by Steven Simon. Schumacher rounded out the top three with Gunin Addy Tude (Gunnatrashya x Miss Lil Addy Tude), nominated by Toyon Ranch.

Still, she didn’t stop there, also topping the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Non Pro Derby on CS Nifty Sailor (Gotta Nifty Gun x La Bigia Sailor), nominated by CS Ranch Management. The pair also finished in the Top 5 of the Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes.

Schumacher will compete again on Friday in the clean-slate Finals with the rest of the top 30 from the Non Pro Level 4. Also earning a spot in the Finals will be the top 30 in Non Pro Levels 3-1, the top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and Youth Non Pro, and the top 15 in the Masters Non Pro.

For the first time ever, the Level 4 Non Pro Champion will be presented with a check for $50,000 – up from $30,000 in 2022. The other division payouts are as follows:

Level 3 – $20,000

Level 2 – $15,000

Level 1 – $5,000

Prime Time – $5,000

Masters – $2,000

Youth – $2,000

According to NRHA Chief Financial Officer John Foy, the purses for Non Pro Derby Levels 1-4 are, as with the Open, record-breakers for the second year in a row. “It’s back-to-back years of record-breaking purses for those levels, which is cool to see,” he shared. “The other nugget that is great to see is that the combined total added money for both the Open and Non Pro Levels 1-4 exceeded $700,000 for the first time. This year the added money is $720,844, up from $679108 in 2022.”

Unofficially, the scores needed to advance to the Finals are:

Level 4 – 215

Level 3 – 214

Level 2 – 213.5

Level 1 – 209.5

Prime Time – 213.5 (includes handicap)

Masters – 210.5 (includes handicap)

Youth – 209

Winning each division of the Non Pro preliminary round are:

Level 4 – Gina-Maria Schumacher & CS Sailing Gun – 221
Gunners Enterprise x La Bigia Sailor
Nominated by CS Ranch Management, owned by XCS Ranch LLC

Level 3 – Samantha Kapu & Chics Get The Chex – 218Magnum Chic Dream x Big Gold Chex
Bred and Nominated by Casey Hinton, Owned by Samantha Kapu

Level 3, Level 2, & Youth – Rita Clausen & Xtra Kiss Me Again – 218
Boom Shernic x SS Kiss Me Kate
Bred and Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine, Owned by Clay Clausen

Level 1 & Prime Time – Paul Queen & Makendiamonds – 216.5 (219.5 with handicap)
Whizkey N Diamonds x Makeit In Tinseltown
Bred by CDR Farms, Nominated by Carrie Rhodes, Owned by Dorothy Queen

Masters – Jose Vazquez & Snow Guns Last Dream – 218.5
Magnum Chic Dream x Snow Gun
Bred by Andre De Bellefeuille, Nominated by Equine Plus, Owned by Smart Like Juice Inc.

While the preliminary round determined the finalists for Friday, it also determined the champions of the Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes, the Story Book Stables Amateur, the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Non Pro Derby, and the American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash. Those awards were presented following the preliminary round. The winners of those divisions are:

Story Book Stables Amateur – Samantha Kapu & Chics Get The Chex – 218
 Magnum Chic Dream x Big Gold Chex
 Bred and Nominated by Casey Hinton, Owned by Samantha Kapu

Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Non Pro Derby – Gina Schumacher & CS Nifty Sailor – 217.5
Gotta Nifty Gun x La Bigia Sailor
Nominated by CS Ranch Management, Owned by XCS Ranch LLC

Colston Paving, Inc. Non Pro Stakes – Molly Morgenstern & Aphrodites Gotvoodoo
Shiners Voodoo Dr x One Mighty Aphtodite
Bred and Nominated by Double Run Farm, Owned by Molly Morgenstern

Colston Paving, Inc. Non Pro Stakes & APHA Chrome Cash –  Jose Vazquez & Snow Guns Last Dream
Magnum Chic Dream x Snow Gun
Bred by Andre De Bellefeuille, Nominated by Equine Plus, Owned by Smart Like Juice Inc.

The Non Pro Finals will be held Friday, June 23, beginning at 9 a.m. For complete results and other information, visit NRHADerby.com.