The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity also includes the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC), which features horses and riders from across North America competing for big money, prizes, and bragging rights.
On Thursday, Rookie riders took over the Adequan® Arena, with many competing for the title of Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year.
In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each of the 17 NAAC classes will be presented an Adequan® Championship vest the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.
Awards through 10th place are presented in all NAAC divisions, so those riders who haven’t picked up prizes yet are reminded to stop by the awards room.
Logan Lindberg Ties for Toyon Ranch NAAC Rookie of the Year & NAAC Rookie Level 2 Win
Seventeen-year-old Logan Lindberg, Lafayette, California, rode Custom Banjo, by Banjo Whiz out of Custom Bobbie, to share top honors in the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year with a score of 218. Owned by Megan Lindberg, Custom Banjo is a 2008 bay gelding with more than $102,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) to his credit. Lindberg tied for the win in the NAAC Rookie Level 2 with Allison Rae Thorson.
“He’s a great horse, he’s my mom’s horse and I’m fortunate enough to get to ride him,” Lindberg said. “He does the job he’s supposed to do and gets me there every time. I showed him for the first time about two years ago, just at a smaller weekend show.”
Lindberg says Custom Banjo excels at every reining maneuver, but he added that the horse stops no matter what, which makes him a thrill to show.
An avid team roper and student at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Lindberg says he quit playing football in order to focus more on riding.
Lindberg is grateful to have the support of his parents, saying, “I owe it all to my parents. Also, Liz Rammerstorfer, she’s helped me here in Oklahoma and at home as well. I’m really grateful to have her help, and for my parents too.”
The NAAC co-champions were each awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, Classic Equine ice boots, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter, and a champion’s jacket from Platinum Performance.
Allison Thorson Ties for Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year and NAAC Rookie 2 Championship on Smart Cowboy Whiz
The Adequan® Arena at Oklahoma Fair Park has been good to Allison Thorson and her horse Smart Cowboy Whiz. Just a month after purchasing the gelding in 2019, Thorson piloted him to wins at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance in the Green Reiner classes. At the 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance, the pair teamed up again to win the high-point championships of Rookie Levels 1 and 2. Then, on Thursday night at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC, the duo marked a 218 to tie for the win of the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year and NAAC Rookie Level 2.
“It’s pretty neat. Oklahoma City and the Adequan® are really lucky for us,” Thorson said. “His spins were awesome today. It was probably the best we’ve turned and spun. Our stops have been hit or miss because sometimes we’re really on it, and sometimes it feels like I’m on another planet. Today we were together every single step, and we were penalty free.”
Smart Cowboy Whiz is by Who Whiz It and out of Little Smart Jac. “I love him so much. He’s good everywhere, and then he’s pretty, too. If he was a human, I don’t know that I would want to date him because he’d be too proud of himself,” Thorson said with a laugh.
“It’s very hard to get to this point. It’s not easy, and it’s only possible because of a big team of people supporting you every day. I have a great group of friends and family supporting me each and every day,” she said. “I also thank Craig and Ginger Schmersal and their team. I live in Tennessee, and my horse is with them. They have a first-class program from top to bottom, and they really push me to be a better rider.”
The NAAC co-champions were awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.
Erika Belden Wins NAAC Prime Time Rookie Championship with Dun Git A Nicadual
Erika Belden borrowed her husband’s horse, Dun Git A Nicadual, to compete in the Rookie classes this year, and capped the season off with the NAAC Prime Time Rookie Championship on Thursday evening.
Belden and Gun Git A Nicadual marked a 214.5 to win the division and earn a top 10 finish in the Rookie Level 2. “This is my final show of the year, and I was hoping to do well because it’s my last year in the rookie,” Belden said.
Dun Git A Nicadual is by Mister Nicadual out of Gotta Git Ya Dun. The 12-year-old gelding has amassed an impressive win record under numerous riders and boasts lifetime earnings in excess of $100,000. “He’s just a magnificent horse, who has had a long line of fabulous riders, so it’s an honor to own him and be able to show him,” Belden said.
Next year, Erika’s husband James Belden will take back the reins. “I thank my husband for giving me the chance to show this horse. I thank my trainer Dave Moore and his wife Kim, and Nikki Tyndall his assistant, and the whole team of Dave Moore Reining,” she said.
The NAAC Prime Time Rookie champion was awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter, and a champion’s jacket from Platinum Performance.