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NRHA Futurity Judges Selected

The stage is being set for the World’s Richest Reining—the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC). After an extensive review process involving the NRHA Judges Committee and Board, a group of highly respected professionals who bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication were chosen to judge the event taking place November 26 – December 7, 2024 at the OKC Fairgrounds.

With a purse of more than $3 million and titles up for grabs, the competition will be bigger than ever.

Congratulations to the following individuals chosen to judge the 2024 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC:

Jim Norick Coliseum Judges:

  • Eugenio Latorre: Sant Esteve de Palautordera, Spain
  • Mark Turner: Evansville, Indiana
  • Sandy Jirkovsky: Whitesboro, Texas
  • Van Luse: Whitesboro, Texas
  • Kelly Sapp: King, North Carolina
  • Chele McGauly: Elm Grove, Louisiana
  • Mack Weaver: Morgan, Utah
  • Manu Maiocchi: Pavia, Italy
  • Richard “Ollie” Griffith: Sarasota, Florida
  • Alessandro Meconi: Castel Gandolfo, Italy
  • Tom McBeath, Equipment Judge: Union, Mississippi
  • Maik Bartmann, Judge Monitor: Osthofen, Germany

Adequan® Arena Judges:

  • Buddy Fisher: Abilene, Texas
  • Todd Arvidson: Purcell, Oklahoma
  • Kain Emmons: Rancho Cordova, California
  • Kelly Hedges: Perrysburg, New York
  • Douglas Allen, Judge Monitor: Sandhurst, United Kingdom

For more information on what is certain to be another record-breaking NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC visit nrhafuturity.com.

The judge selection process for the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel and the NRHA Futurity begins several months before the first horse enters the pen. The selection process for each judge is outlined below:

  • Each eligible judge is contacted for their availability for the event.
  • All available judges are compiled into a list and sent to each member of the Judges Committee.
  • Judges Committee members make selections from the list to fill the allotted slots for the event.
  • These names are compiled into a shortlist and discussed on a conference call with all members of the Judges Committee. Nominations are allowed on this conference call.
  • The committee members, except for the chair, then rank their choices, and each ranking equates to a certain number of points. The points are compiled and submitted to the committee chair.
  • The committee chair reviews and makes recommendations based on the outcome of the vote and the needs of NRHA.
  • The ranked list with the Judges Committee Chair recommendations is submitted to a seven-person panel subcommittee for final selection.

This process is set in place to ensure the Futurity and Derby are well-judged competitions with quality, professional judges.

For more information, visit NRHA.com/judges

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A League of Excellence

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) recognizes the youngest dam to reach the NRHA Million Dollar Dam milestone, Shesouttayourleague, who reached this accomplishment three years faster than any previous dam and with only five NRHA money earners.

Shesouttayourleague is a 12-year-old mare by NRHA $4 Million Sire Walla Walla Whiz and out of NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpys Little Chic. She was bred and nominated by NRHA’s only $3 Million Owner, Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The Arceses also bred and owned Wimpys Little Chic, who passed earlier this year, and called her “Lexi.” Shesouttayourleague was lovingly called “Little Lexi” by their family.

Her illustrious show career made her original mark on NRHA history with $252,470 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE). Shesouttayourleague earned both the 2015 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Championship and the 2017 NRHA L4 Open Derby Championship with NRHA $4 Million Rider Casey Deary at the reins.

Her owner, DAG Ventures LLC, also owns her top-earning offspring, Down Right Amazing (by Gunner). After finishing third in the L4 Open Finals at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, the stallion became NRHA’s No. 1 leading horse of all time with more than $949,000 NRHA LTE, including 2024 The Run for a Million earnings.

“This has not been a planned journey, and all of my greatest gifts were those I didn’t dare to dream,” said Debbie Good of DAG Ventures LLC. “She was part of that. Part of it is having the opportunity to say yes when an opportunity crosses your path. Both Shesouttayourleague and Down Right Amazing were those opportunities, and I am lucky Rob [Curtis, former owner of both horses] gave me that opportunity.”

“Amazing” boasts a third-place finish in the NRHA L4 Open Futurity, two L4 Open wins at the National Reining Breeders Classic, an Open Shootout Championship at The Run For A Million, and back-to-back wins at The American Performance Horseman.

“It was really important to me to keep him and keep her,” said Good of Down Right Amazing and Shesouttayourleague. “She has more foals to come—four beautiful foals this year—and is still producing.

“They are a family of champions and heart,” said Good.

Shesouttayourleague’s Top Earning Offspring:

  • Down Right Amazing (by Gunner), bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, owned by DAG Ventures LLC, $874,134 NRHA LTE
  • Need I Say Mor (by Gunnatrashya), bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, nominated by Brooke Wharton, owned by Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC, $87,451 NRHA LTE
  • All Eyes Adore Her (by Gunnatrashya), bred, nominated and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, $22,311 NRHA LTE
  • Shesnaleagueofherown (by Inferno Sixty Six), bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, owned by Jen Pamer, $11,328 NRHA LTE
  • Hesouttayourleague (by Gunnatrashya), bred and nominated by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, owned by DAG Ventures LLC, $5,003 NRHA LTE

Read more about Shesouttayourleague’s journey to a million in the October issue of the NRHA Reiner magazine.

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Yellow Jersey Joins Million Dollar Roster

The list of National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Sires nears 60 as Yellow Jersey adds his name to the roster.

Yellow Jersey was bred by the late Peter Phinny. Known for his exceptional decisions when looking at crosses, he chose to breed NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpys Little Step, the second all-time leading sire in NRHA, to Ms Clara Melody. In 2019, Yellow Jersey was purchased by now-owner Maria Fiorucci of NRHA Corporate Partner Elementa.

Throughout his years in the show pen, the stallion garnered $137,617 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) with multiple NRHA Hall of Famers at the reins. After competing in the NRHA Futurity with Brent Wright, the stallion went to Europe. Owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Arcese Quarter Horses USA at the time, Yellow Jersey was piloted by NRHA Professional Stefano Massignan to an Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Derby Co-Championship, an IRHA Maturity Co-Reserve Championship and was in the Top 10 of the NRHA World Standings.

Yellow Jersey then returned to the United States, where he and NRHA Hall of Famer Andrea Fappani won the $100,000-added NRHA World Champion Shootout.

The stallion then competed in the 2013 Kentucky Cup with NRHA Hall of Famer Tim McQuay, then his daughter, NRHA Hall of Famer Mandy McCutcheon, took the reins in 2014. She and the stallion competed in the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. The duo finished the event with a gold medal with Team USA and a bronze in the individual, pushing Mandy over the NRHA $2 Million Rider milestone and adding to the owner earnings for McQuay Stables.

“I feel very proud to have owned him and to have been a part of his life,” said McQuay. “He was just very easy to be around and ride. He was always the same, and whatever level you wanted to be at, he said, ‘OK.’

“We are very proud and happy to be competitive on any horse, but to do what we were doing with him, and to make him a top sire to breed to, winning those events really helped him solidify that career. When we are part of a horse like that, you hope and pray that everything goes like it did.”

The palomino stallion went on to have a successful career in the breeding shed, producing 137 NRHA money-earning progeny to date. Topping the list of his offspring is Jerseys Baby Driver, who has over $250,000 in NRHA LTE. With NRHA Million Dollar Rider Trevor Dare at the reins, the duo won the NRHA Level 4 Open Derby in 2021 and the National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open the subsequent year.

Yellow Jersey’s top earning offspring include:

  • Jerseys Baby Driver (out of Wind Her Up Chic), owned by Janice Laney of NRHA Corporate Partner 7 Lakes Ranch, bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, $250,253 NRHA LTE
  • Stopping In Jersey (out of Stop Little Sister), owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC, $136,753 NRHA LTE
  • Mello Yello Jersey (out of Smart Okie Lena), owned by Kay Schroeder, bred and nominated by Lucie Houde), $85,775 NRHA LTE
  • The Star Jersey (out of Nicastar Lite), owned by Ashley Wilson-Hammer, bred and nominated by Jerry Kimmel, $61,052 NRHA LTE
  • Bamn Bam (out of Fabulous Guns), owned by Sarah McMahon, bred and nominated by David Silva Sr., $54,301 NRHA LTE

Read more about NRHA Million Dollar Sire Yellow Jersey and this remarkable achievement in the October issue of the NRHA Reiner.

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Double the Accolades

Two stallions combine for over $6 million in offspring earnings as they surpass National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) historic milestones.

Lil Joe Cash

The impressive progeny of Lil Joe Cash helped the stallion cross the NRHA $3 Million Sire mark. The 2008 stallion bred and nominated by Curt and Angie Harris is owned by Lil Jo Cash Inc. His impressive parentage (Nu Chex To Cash x RS Lilly Starlight) passed down characteristics leading to a successful career in the show pen totaling nearly $280,000 in NRHA LTE.

NRHA’s newest Hall of Fame Inductee, Andrea Fappani, led the stallion to his top finishes, which include the 2011 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Championship and the 2012 National Reining Breeders Classic L4 Open Championship.

With over 300 money-producing offspring, Lil Joe Cash’s top earners include:

  • Joes Genes (out of Electric Genes), owned and nominated by Andrea and Tish Fappani, bred by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, $180,797 NRHA LTE
  • NVR What A Lucky Joe (out of What A Lucky Hit), owned by Morris Kulmer, bred and nominated by Gary Vickrey, $176,593 NRHA LTE
  • Whoz Joe Daddy (out of Miss Sunshine Annie), owned by Chandler Winard, bred and nominated by Bahn Quarter Horses LLC, $150,283 NRHA LTE
  • This Joe Got A Gun (out of This Girls Got A Gun), owned by Jamie Walters, bred and nominated by Joseph and Sandra Paul, $85,638 NRHA LTE
  • Gunna Cash Ya (out of Gunners Blonde Chic), owned by Story Book Stables, bred and nominated by Allison Sutton, $84,405 NRHA LTE

Inferno Sixty Six

Less than a year after crossing his last historic milestone, Inferno Sixty Six has surpassed the NRHA $3 Million Sire mark. By NRHA Hall of Famer Gunnatrashya (out of Snip O Gun), Inferno Sixty Six was bred by Hilldale Farm and is owned by Slide or Die LLC.

The 12-year-old stallion rode to over $205,690 in NRHA LTE with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Franco Bertolani at the reins. The duo earned their top finish during the 2015 NRHA Futurity, where they took the L4 Open Reserve Championship.

Inferno Sixty Six has 212 progeny with earnings on their NRHA records; the top earners are:

  • Inferno Thirty Five (out of Madeof Pure Spangled), owned by Stephen Archer, bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, nominated by Mary Jansma, $284,529 NRHA LTE
  • Winding Inferno (out of Wind Her Up Chic), owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Teton Ridge Ranch, bred and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, $218,038 NRHA LTE
  • Surprizing Sixty Six (out of Dun With Surprizes), owned by Janiene Borror, bred and nominated by Valentin Rascon, $154,868 NRHA LTE
  • FS Inferno (FS Smart Doc Chic), owned and nominated by Gilberto Leal, bred by Raul Leal, $142,026 NRHA LTE
  • Gangsta Sixtysix (Rush N Cat), owned by Julio Hernandez, bred by Lorenzo Lotti, nominated by Slide or Die LLC, $136,356 NRHA LTE

To learn more about these impressive milestones and see a full list of NRHA Million Dollar Sires, Owners, and Riders, visit nrha.com/milliondollar.

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Reining Horse Foundation Auctions Return to TRFAM 2024

The Reining Horse Foundation’s (RHF) Raise A Million Live Auction is returning to The Run For A Million in 2024. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on items in a select live auction. At the show management’s invitation, RHF will also participate in a silent auction.

Since 2021, the RHF Raise A Million live auction has been part of festivities centered around the Million Dollar Competition Draw Party, adding to the high-energy weekend of western performance horse and rodeo events while providing philanthropic support for the reining community. The RHF is the charitable arm of the National Reining Horse Association.

The public is invited to attend the Raise A Million Auction at the Live Festival stage inside the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The auction will be held Friday, August 16, following the Million Dollar Reining Competition Draw Party, which begins at 12:00 p.m. Clark Reining Horses and Santa Hill Ranch are underwriting an RHF margarita party for those 21 and over. After the auction, guests can enjoy live music on the Live Festival stage.

“This is the fourth time that The Run For A Million has provided the Reining Horse Foundation an opportunity to reach its diverse event audience through the Raise A Million auction,” said Tim Anderson, RHF President. “We appreciate the entire TRFAM team for this opportunity to continue changing lives through our core programs. This event is helping us provide levels of support we only dreamed of previously.”

The Raise A Million live auction is offering six lots, and the assortment is impressive. Donations include:

Custom Show Headstall and Handmade Bit. 
Headstall is donated by Bob’s Custom Saddles and the bit is made and donated by Jens Stemminger.

The Violet Classic Pendant from the Sleipnir Violet Collection. 
Donated by MS Diamonds TX

Choose Your Travel Experience: Belize, Cancun, Jackson Hole or Lake Tahoe
Donated by the Reining Horse Foundation

Reining History: Bob Avila’s 1994 NRHA Futurity Championship Saddle
Provided courtesy of Bob Avila and the Reining Horse Foundation

Lyle Lovett VIP Concert Package for 4 including Backstage Passes
Donated by Lyle Lovett

Daytona NASCAR Truck Experience
Donated by ThorSport Racing

Absentee bidding for both the silent and live auctions can be arranged in advance. Visit reiningfoundation.com/auctions to complete the absentee bidding registration by 5 p.m. PST on August 15.

The limited silent auction hosted by Brumley Management features items curated by RHF, the National Cutting Horse Foundation, and the National Reined Cow Horse Foundation. Each association will receive the proceeds from the items they provide.

RHF’s silent auction offerings include art, memorabilia, apparel, jewelry, tack and more. Items include a bridle by WD Leather, a certificate for custom chaps from Berry Fit Co., a CINCH apparel package, spurs by Prairie Forge, art from MJ’s Equine Art Studios, a sliding plate earrings and pendant set from Rusty Brown Jewelry, autographed Breyer models of top reining horses, and more. Several autographed items are available, including a competition shirt from NRHA Hall of Famer Shawn Flarida. Learn more here.