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10.30.24: NRHA European Derby: It’s Show Time at Equita Lyon
10.30.24: The NRHA European Derby Kicks Off at Equita Lyon With De Iulilio Leading the Non Pro Qualifier NRHA European Derby: It’s Show Time at Equita Lyon
10.31.24: Girinon and Flexing Guns N Town Dominate NRHA European Derby Open Qualifier
With the popularity of reining growing both domestically and internationally, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Board of Directors has approved a pilot program to encourage reining events to offer Slide Contests classes in 2025.
The recent resurgence of classes solely featuring the signature sliding stop is a way for NRHA to increase opportunities and participation for horses, riders, and owners, as well as to pursue wider recognition and value of NRHA events.
Recently, NRHA announced an inaugural Futurity and Military Slides to take centerstage at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. Starting in 2025, NRHA-approved events also may host these pilot classes using the following guidelines:
“This is an exciting option for NRHA events to engage members with new opportunities and to gain the interest of fans,” said NRHA Assistant Commissioner Christa Morris-Stone. “We are thrilled to see how it takes flight and look forward to it potentially being an NRHA-approved class.” Events hosting these classes are encouraged to send questions and feedback to cmorris@nrha.com.
The Reining Horse Foundation (RHF) is announcing additional Merit Scholarship winners.
Established in 2024, the RHF Merit Scholarships reward NRHA members who have not previously won an RHF scholarship and are actively pursuing a college or trade school education. The first round of scholarships was awarded in April when two winners were announced, and then the application period was reopened to attract additional participation. After a strong applicant response, the Reining Horse Foundation Board of Directors voted to double the number of $1,500 awards from five to 10 for 2024.
“The Reining Horse Foundation has been working over two decades to grow its support and make a greater positive contribution to the reining community,” said Terri Mainey, RHF Scholarship chairperson. “The addition of 10 new scholarships in 2024 is another demonstration of program expansion. We are honored to be able to help more reiners who are pursuing higher education.”
The second section of 2024 merit scholarship winners includes Kylie Baker, Abby Budd, Amy Farley, Jacob Harris, Anna Landing, Miranda Ritter, Lilly Stewart, and Ellie Veres. The two recipients previously recognized were Ryan Jensen and Alexander Loftin.
Baker of Dripping Springs, Texas, attends Texas Christian University and is pursuing a degree in business. Her goal is to go into media and promotions within the reining industry. She is a member of the Dean’s List and has appeared on the Academic Honor Roll for multiple semesters. She also competes on the TCU NCEA Equestrian team and is a member of the NCEA All-American honor roll.
Budd of Pueblo, Colorado, is a student at Oklahoma State University. She is pursuing a degree in pre-med psychology and a minor in neuroscience. Budd looks to go into a career in psychology after graduation. Budd has appeared on the Oklahoma State University President’s List, Dean’s List, and the NCAA Academic Big 12 All Conference list. Along with her studies, Budd is a member of the Oklahoma State University Equestrian team, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Farley of Bend, Oregon, is a student at Oregon State University-Cascades, where she studies physical therapy. Farley intends on becoming a physical therapist. In 2023, Farley graduated from the College of Idaho cum laude with a bachelor’s in health and human performance and minors in health and psychology. Farley is a competitive alpine skier and competed on the College of Idaho Women’s Alpine Ski Team.
Harris of Mounds, Oklahoma, attends Oklahoma State University where he studies pre-medicine and intends to become a physician. Harris is a member of the honor board and the rush committee of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, the Pre-Med Club and the Baptist student union. Harris also received an academic scholarship from Delta Tau Delta and is a member of the Dean’s List.
Landing of Michigan City, Indiana, is a student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is pursuing a degree in animal science, and her goal is to become a veterinarian. Landing has received academic honors and has been on the Dean’s List for two semesters. Outside of academics, Landing is a member of the Purdue Western Equestrian team, the Purdue Collegiate Cattleman’s Club, the Purdue Pre-Vet Medicine Association, and the Meredith Hall RX Club.
Ritter of Park City, Utah, attends Westminster University in Salt Lake City, Utah where she is pursuing a degree in psychology. She aims to become a PhD-level health psychologist and currently holds office at the Westminster Disability Justice Club as the Disability Justice Coordinator.
Stewart of Elbert, Colorado, is a student at the University of Wyoming. She is pursuing a degree in agribusiness and intends to pursue a career in environmental law. Budd is a member of the Dean’s List and works for the University of Wyoming’s Veterans Services Center.
Veres of Leander, Texas, attends Texas Tech University. She is studying finance with the goal of becoming a financial analyst. For four semesters, Veres appeared on the President’s Honor List and is a recipient of the TTU Presidential Merit Scholarship. She is a member of the Scovell Business Leadership Program and is the Women in Business club vice president of operations.
For nearly 25 years, members of the equine community have been doing good things through the Reining Horse Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Reining Horse Association. With its mission of caring for and honoring the reining community, the RHF has supporters from around the world. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund providing financial relief to reiners enduring major hardships; youth scholarship and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For more information or to give, visit reiningfoundation.com.
NRHA Professional Brian Bell has crossed the $3 million mark in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Lifetime Earnings. Bell achieved this milestone following his performances at the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress & All Star Reining Stakes.
Bell and Cooper Smith’s Dunitthemodernway took sixth place in the Level (L) 4 Open Futurity of both events, while Bell and I Dream Of Stopping, co-owned by Bell and Wallace Wood, secured seventh place finishes. These placements solidified Bell’s status as an NRHA $3 Million Rider, just three years after he crossed the $2 million mark at the same show.
A native of Valley View, Texas, Bell owns and operates Brian Bell Performance Horses and has been a fixture in the reining world since he began competing as a youth with NRHA in 1991. He became an NRHA Professional in 2006, steadily building a reputation as one of the sport’s top talents. Bell was named the 2023 NRHA Professional Horseman of the Year, an accolade he earned after winning the 2023 NRHA Futurity. In a memorable runoff, Bell and Wallace Wood’s Crystalized Whizkey—affectionately known as “Disco”—claimed the L4 Open championship. The duo has accumulated nearly $600,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings.
Bell’s top-earning finishes since crossing his last milestone include:
Crossing the $3 million threshold marks yet another highlight in Bell’s impressive career, which continues to inspire and elevate the sport of reining.
A reining stallion with European roots is a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Sire.
Master Snapper was bred by M. Fausto and A. Adani of Italy and is owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi. The 2001 stallion by Snapper Cal Bar and out of Colonel Mistress found his own success in the show pen in Europe and the United States before entering the breeding shed.
In 2006, Master Snapper flew to Oklahoma City to compete in the NRHA Derby under NRHA Professional Kelly Zweifel. After scoring a 232, the duo earned the Open, Intermediate and Limited Championships now known as Open Levels 4, 3 and 2. These championships made Master Snapper the first horse born, bred and trained in Europe to win the NRHA Open Derby. He went on to earn $69,050 NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE).
With just over 100 offspring with NRHA LTE, there is one stallion that makes up nearly one-fourth of Master Snapper’s million: July Joe Snap (out of San July Jo Magnetic).
After scoring a 232, July Joe Snap and Italian NRHA Professional Manuel Cortesi became the 2023 NRHA European Futurity Champions. Co-owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi and Eleuterio Arcese, the stallion earned the title on a special day.
“With a horse like this anyone can achieve great goals. I had seen him in action as a 3-year-old with his breeder, my friend [NRHA Professional] Giacomo [Ronchi], who trained him,” said Cortesi after winning the championship. “Unfortunately, Giacomo passed away prematurely a month before the IRHA [Italian Reining Horse Association] Futurity. I knew he could have won the Futurity with this one. The reins passed on to me, and we claimed the Open Futurity title. The win was even more special as [that day] would have been Giacomo’s birthday, and all I can say is that I felt he was riding with me both times.”
July Joe Snap and Cortesti have went on to earn $236,158 in NRHA LTE together in the show pen including wins at the IRHA/NRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity, NRHA Germany Breeders 4-year-old Futurity Championships and the 100X Open Derby in Paris.
Master Snapper’s Top Earners:
Read more about Master Snapper’s million-dollar accomplishment in an upcoming issue of the NRHA Reiner Magazine.
