Month: November 2023

While the Futurity takes place in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the NAACs are contested in the Adequan® Arena. The NAAC competition spotlights various members and horses from across North America who qualify to compete in Oklahoma City.

In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each NAAC class will be recognized the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.

Adequan® NAAC Open & Ancillary Open Champion – Brian Bell on Gunna Whoa

Five months ago, Catherine and David Crandon asked NRHA Professional Brian Bell which horse was the nicest at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

Without hesitating, Bell said, “Gunna Whoa,” a 2017 stallion in training with NRHA Professional and Million Dollar Rider Todd Sommers. The Crandons purchased the palomino, and at the Adequan® NAAC, Bell and Gunna Whoa were the champions in Open NAAC and ancillary classes. The two wins added $6,042 to the horse’s lifetime earnings of $41,040.

“This horse, I felt like I owed him to have a bigger, better run on him,” said Bell, an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider. “I’ve marked a 221 on him, a 223 on him, and a 221.5, and I just hadn’t jumped into that higher gear like I needed to. And today, I marked a 226.5. He’s such a nice horse that he deserved to have a run like that.”

The stallion’s run was good from top to bottom, Bell said.

“My first stop was huge,” Bell said. “My backup could have been a little smoother, so I knew I had to make up a little ground after that. I asked him to turn as fast as he could, and he gave 100 percent and shut off on the money both times. My first small slow (circle), he looked like a western pleasure horse, real pretty, and then went wide open, two large fasts, changed leads, and went like a western pleasure horse again. And then two large fasts and then three big stops on the side. And my last stop was probably the biggest off of them all.”

Gunna Whoa, bred by Doug Milholland, was sired by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six and out of Whozwhiz.

Adequan® NAAC Int. Open & Ancillary Int. Open Champion – Clemerson Barbalho on Spooks Gotta Outfire

Clemerson Barbalho and Spooks Gotta Outfire have shared a lifetime together – the horse’s lifetime, at least.

Barbalho bought an interest in the 2016 stallion when he was a weanling. When he was a yearling, he suffered a snakebite that left a wound in his muscles. To ensure the stallion was ready for the tough competition in the Adequan® Arena, Barbalho had a veterinarian give him a check-up and formulated a plan for the event.

“In the warmup, I tried to be as quick and soft as possible, and I just trusted him,” Barbalho said. “He’s honest to me always. He was super good everywhere. I knew that he was good, but I didn’t know how good it was. And I was very happy about that. More happy when I heard the score! It was very cool.”

The judges marked Barbaho and Spooks Gotta Outfire a 223.5, which gave him the win in the NAAC and ancillary Intermediate Open classes. He also was reserve champion in Open NAAC and third in Open Ancillary. The wins added $6,272 to the stallion’s lifetime earnings of $84,415.

Barbalho had encouraged breeder Tiago Coleto to cross his mare Black Custom Chex with Spooks Gotta Whiz. Coleto sold a half-interest in the resulting foal, Spooks Gotta Outfire, to Barbalho, then later the full interest. Barbalho eventually sold a half-interest to his friend Mark Weissman.

From the beginning, Barbahlo said, he knew the horse was special.

“He’s a complete horse,” Barbalho said. “He has all the parts. He’s beautiful, he’s super talented, and he has a very good personality. He’s always trying to please you. He’s like always since he was little. It’s just amazing how we are connected.”

The win qualified Barbalho and Spooks Gotta Outfire for the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown on Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Jim Norick Coliseum. There, the pair will compete for an additional monetary prize, with the winner taking home $5,000!

“I’m super excited about that because more money,” Barbalho said. “I need a new saddle, and more money is always good.”

Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifiers

The top 10 finishers of the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open earn a spot in the clean-slate Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown, which will be held Thursday, Nov. 30. All qualifiers must check-in and confirm their spot in the Showdown no later than noon Nov. 22, or they will be removed from the draw, and the next place entry will be invited.

Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifiers:

• Clemerson Barbalho & Spooks Gotta Outfire
• Justin Mathison & Alpha Taris Chic
• Rhea Pole & Gunners Town
• Justin Mathison & Shes Reddy On Line
• David Hanson & Xtra Needs A Drink
• Randall Dooley & Platinum Knight
• Derek Heitland & Settingthetownonfire
• Liam Sykes & Hope N A Prayer
• Josiah Haaby & GH Chromed Mercedes
• Josiah Haaby & Prescribe Me Bud

Adequan® NAAC competition continues Friday with the Limited Non Pro.

Complete results, draws, and more for the NRHA Futurity can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

For years, the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships has been bursting at the seams as the popularity of reining has continued to experience dramatic growth. In 2023, thanks to an agreement with the American Quarter Horse Association, the event was able to add to its schedule, expanding to 12 days of competition. 

On Nov. 21, competition commenced, with the first section of the first round of Open Futurity. With more than 440 entries in the Open Futurity alone, the competition should be formidable, and the scores posted on the first day reflect that.

NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay drew up near the end of the day on Pawn Stars, and it was worth the wait. Tremblay and the stallion, owned by Cooper Smith and nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch, took the lead in the round with a 225. 

Pawn Stars, by PS Mega Shine Chic out of All Guns On Deck, already boasts lifetime earnings exceeding $50,000, thanks to a third-place finish at The Invitational Futurity this fall. 

Thanks to efforts from both the Board of the NRHA and members of the Futurity Challenge, the Open Futurity will, for the third year, award the Level 4 Champion a check for $350,000, and the Level 3 Champion is guaranteed $70,000. The first step to making it to the Finals on Saturday, Dec. 2, is to advance out of the first round, and Tremblay and Pawn Stars have all but secured their spot. 

The Futurity First Round continues Wednesday, Nov. 22, with the second section and will wrap up with the fourth section on Friday, Nov. 24. 

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

 Level 4 & 3, & APHA Open Chrome Cash – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck)  – 225

Owned by Cooper Smith | Nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch

 Level 2 & Prime Time – Shauna Larcombe & Steppin Thruthe Nite (Steppin On Sparks x Spooks Night Time)  – 220

Owned by Karon Murff | Nominated by Karon Murff

 Level 1 – Anne Grether & Dejavu All Overagain (Smart Spook x Dun Its Deja Vu)  – 217.5

Owned by RS Reininghorses BV | Nominated by Toyon Ranch

Protocol for Advancing in Open Futurity Semi-Finals

The Open Semi-Finals qualifiers will be those who mark in the top 30 percent of the first-go scores in Levels 4-1; however, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the Semi-Finals.

Complete results, draws, and more for the NRHA Futurity can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

The countdown to the world’s most eagerly awaited reining event has begun, and the fervor is tangible at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. On Tuesday, Nov. 21, the best horses and riders in the world will vie for incredible prizes, impressive purses, and prestige at the National Reining Horse Association’s premier event, the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.

The adrenaline-packed competition extends through Dec. 2 and boasts a staggering payout that exceeds $2 million, enticing participants from around the globe.

In the Adequan® Arena, top riders and horses of all ages from across North America will vie for coveted titles, aiming to secure a championship and make significant strides toward year-end honors. Simultaneously, talented 3-year-old reining horses will be tested on the arena floor of the iconic Jim Norick Coliseum as they navigate through the signature circles, spins, and sliding stops the event is known for.

Known simply as “The Futurity,” this event, evolving since its inception in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, has transformed into a colossal showcase featuring more than 640 entries in the Futurity competition alone. The payout has seen significant expansion, with the Level 4 Champion guaranteed a substantial $350,000, the Reserve Champion securing $150,000, and the third-place winner taking home $100,000.

The journey to the Level 4 Open Championship involves three crucial steps. All Open entries compete in the first round, which runs Nov. 21–24. The top 75 (plus ties) advance to the L4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Nov. 29. There, the top 30 (plus ties) move on to the clean-slate MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Futurity Finals on Dec. 2.

Also competing for big purses and prizes on Dec. 2 will be those riders in Open Levels 1, 2, and 3. The L3 Open Champion will receive $70,000, and the Reserve Champion will take home $50,000. The guaranteed payouts continue in Levels 2 and 1, with the L2 Champion pocketing $50,000 and the Reserve Champion claiming a cool $25,000. The L1 Open winner will win $13,000, and the L1 Reserve will receive $7,000.

Open riders in Levels 1, 2, and 3 who are in the top 75 of their levels (but not in the top 75 of Level 4) will compete in the Semi-Finals rounds held Nov. 27–28. The top 30 in each of those levels (plus ties) will earn a spot in the first section of the Open Finals on Dec. 2.

Non-professional riders will also win big, with the CINCH L4 Non Pro title being accompanied by a check for $75,000, the Reserve Champion securing $45,000, and the third-place winner taking $35,000! The L3 Non Pro division promises substantial payouts of $40,000, $25,000, and $15,000 for the top three, respectively. The CINCH Non Pro Finals will be held Friday, Dec. 1, beginning at 9 a.m. with Levels 1, 2, 3, Youth, and Prime Time, and the CINCH Non Pro L4 Finals beginning at 4 p.m.

In addition to the riveting competition, the Futurity offers an expansive trade show showcasing vendors from diverse sectors, including clothing, furniture, western tack, and décor. Despite spatial constraints, this year’s Trade Show is the largest in recent years. Free admission from November 22 to 24 will facilitate Christmas shopping and give a peak at the top-notch competition.

One of the best, largest, and most exciting shopping opportunities will be Nov. 30. That’s because the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales in the Sale Arena offers an excellent opportunity to see and purchase some of the best horses the industry has to offer from prospects to producers and everything in between. Find more information about the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales at NRHA.com/sales

Tickets for the 2023 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAACs are on sale now and can be purchased here.

For comprehensive event details, including draws and results, visit NRHAFuturity.com.