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‘Tis the Season to Give to the Reining Horse Foundation

Since its creation in 2001, the Reining Horse Foundation has existed to help reiners in need, preserve National Reining Horse Association history, create opportunities for youth, and shine a positive beacon on the entire reining industry. In 2020, the organization may have missed out on holding its signature Sliders’ Night Out fundraiser presented by Toyon Ranch, but its direction remained the same, as did the needs of the many programs it supports.

Notwithstanding the challenges of the year, the philanthropic arm of NRHA kept its focus on expanding fundraising and continuing its mission. Helping reiners through the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, providing youth leadership development and scholarships, and perpetuating the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame were made possible by a variety of fundraisers.

Opt-in donations, Affiliate fundraisers, memberships in the Reiners Club, Foundation grants, Facebook birthday donations, AmazonSmile support, and memorial gifts breathed hope in troubled times and kept the spirit of giving alive.  Additionally, NRHA Professionals gave in unprecedented numbers and there was an increase in international giving.

It was an opportune time for new avenues of giving as the pandemic created challenges for a cross-section of the reining industry. “Every day, we see the need within our industry. By giving, individuals and businesses have the power to make such a difference in the reining community. Gifts of every size are meaningful,” said Reining Horse Foundation Executive Director Leslie Baker.

“In my case, one simple $25 donation to the Reining Horse Foundation led to a $100 donation and then to more,” said Tim Anderson, president of the volunteer-led RHF Board of Directors. “I began by wanting to help other reiners enduring a tragedy of some sort. What I discovered is that helping others gives me an overwhelming feeling of goodness and purpose. When you are doing your holiday shopping and year-end giving, I hope you will remember the reining community that we all love.”

Besides topping off your Christmas list, there are plenty of reasons to give before the end of the year, including new tax benefits. The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act enacted this year expands charitable giving incentives and allows taxpayers who take the standard deduction to make up to $300 of charitable contributions to qualified charities. For those who itemize their deductions, the new law allows for cash contributions to qualified charities to be deducted up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income for the 2020 calendar year. Donors who make year-end gifts to the 501(c)3 nonprofit Reining Horse Foundation by December 31 may gain the maximum benefit of these tax incentives.

Giving to the Reining Horse Foundation is easy. Gifts can be made digitally in ReinerSuite, by texting “RHF” to (405) 300-5919, or via PayPal or credit card at reiningfoundation.com/donate, or simply by mailing a check to the NRHA office at 3021 W. Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73107.

For more information, visit reiningfoundation.com, or email rhf@nrha.com.

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Gunner Becomes NRHA’s All-Time Leading Sire

For Immediate Release – December 28, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – When Andrea Fappani won the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Level (L) 4 Futurity on All Bettss Are Off (Gunner x Wimpys Little Chic), the historic $250,000 first place check catapulted legendary sire Gunner to the top spot of both the NRHA All-Time Leading Sire and 2020 NRHA Leading Sire lists. Seven years after his death, the NRHA Hall of Fame inductee’s move to over $12.6 million in sire earnings exemplifies total domination in the reining world.

It was twenty-four years ago when Gunner, then an unknown floppy-eared sorrel with a white tail, was guided into the Jim Norick Coliseum in Oklahoma City by NRHA Professional Clint Haverty to compete at the 1996 NRHA Futurity. By the time the go-rounds were over, he had grabbed everyone’s attention by claiming the Open L 4 Futurity Reserve title and the hearts of reining fans everywhere.

By Colonelfourfreckle and out of Katie Gun, Gunner’s excessive white spots kept him from registering with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). He was initially registered Colonels Smokingun with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA). Bred by Eric Storey, Gunner was purchased by Pam and Paul Rohus, who took the colt to Haverty. With Haverty at the reins, he also won the Open Reining Futurity at the APHA World Championships. Gunner was then sold to Kim and Debra Sloan, and won another APHA World Championship, finished as Reserve Champion at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), and won a gold medal for the United States Equestrian Team with the late Bryant Pace.

In a time before live-streamed video, it was easy to tell when Gunner was about to go. The stands would fill, a buzz would build, and the anticipation became palpable. The cheering started as he moved into sight–long before he ever reached the arena gate. Haverty, in typical understated fashion, noted then, “They love Gunner, don’t they?”

He was right. Horsemen and horsewomen everywhere loved Gunner and they exalted in the charisma and excitement he brought to the show pen. All totaled, Gunner earned $173,000 and was immortalized as a Breyer model horse in the early 2000s, but that was only a small part of the legacy he was beginning to create.

His impact upon the APHA world was landmark, not only in his exemplary performance in APHA competition but in how he carried the paint horse name, presence and look to other venues and agendas. APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said, “The APHA would not have had the high-quality reining horses we have today if not for Gunner. His impact and legacy are incalculable at this point because he is that once-in-a-lifetime individual that was not only able to produce great performers, but also to produce sons that throw great performers. That has created an exponential impact that literally changed the industry.”

Ultimately his footprint grew even larger. When the AQHA changed their registration requirements in 2004, Gunner registered as Colonels Smoking Gun and began to rewrite the record books for yet another association.

Gunner was purchased by NRHA Hall of Famers Tim and Colleen McQuay in 2005, following the passing of their stallion NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Hollywood Dun It. The McQuays had followed Gunner’s career and even hoped to buy him as a 3-year-old. Tim had ridden several Gunner colts, which cemented his decision to buy the horse. “I loved him when he was showing, but what got me going was that we had some colts of his to ride, and I liked them a lot. Stopping was easy for them and they did it with style. They always let you train them, and then they got better and better and better,” McQuay said.

Although Gunner was laid to rest in 2013, his legacy continues to grow. First becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2007, he became a Two Million Dollar Sire just three years later. Since then, his offspring have earned a million dollars annually, subsequently moving Gunner to a new milestone each year. He crossed the $12 Million Dollar threshold in September of 2020 and his 959 foals now have average earnings of $13,183.

Gunner’s topearning offspring include:

    • Tinker With Guns (out of Tinker Nic): $344,000 NRHA LTE
    • Gunners Tinseltown (out of Miss Tinseltown): $305,000 NRHA LTE
    • Americasnextgunmodel (out of Cee Dun It Do It) $289,486 NRHA LTE
    • All Betts Are Off (out of Wimpys Little Chic): $281,000 NRHA LTE
    • NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite (out of Mifs Doll): $219,000 NRHA LTE
    • NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya (out of Natrasha): $218,000 NRHA LTE
    • No Smoking Required (out of Icing Required): $185,000 NRHA LTE

NRHA incoming President Rick Clark has owned both sons and daughters of Gunner and is quick to credit his impact on the industry and to applaud the management of his breeding career by the McQuays. “We may never have a sire like him come along again for many, many years. They guided his path so well. Losing him was a setback but we are all thankful they had the foresight to make it so that he’s still part of the industry. It’s amazing, really. Gunner has made a lot of people happy. Everyone’s happy when they have a Gunner baby!”

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NRHA Nomination Deadline Quickly Approaching

Tie a ribbon around your finger because a very important deadline for reining horses is near at hand. The opportunity to nominate weanling foals into the National Reining Horse Association Nomination program at the lowest rate ends on January 10.

The National Reining Horse Association’s Nomination Program was created to grow its North American and European Futurities and Derbies to new heights through enhanced payouts. It has done that by allocating 60 percent of all the fees to the Futurities and 40 percent to the Derbies after a 10 percent retainage. Simply put, the enrollment of foals creates additional added money to the purses at the Futurities and Derbies which saw a 42% increase in the North American Open Futurity in the very first year.

Although the nomination programs for the North American and the European regions are separate, there is an “option” fee available so that horses can become eligible to enter both the North American and European Programs. ­One hundred percent of the Option fees are allocated to their respective Nomination Program. Nominating foals makes them eligible to compete in the NRHA Futurity and/or Derby of their respective regions when they come of age.

When a horse competes and wins money at one of the Futurities or Derbies, the nominator receives 5% of the earnings! It does not matter if the nominator still owns the horse or not. For example, at the 2020 NRHA Futurity, although Arcese Quarter Horses was both the owner and nominator of open futurity champion All Bettss Are Off, had the horse changed hands, Arcese Quarter Horses would have still received $12,500 of the winner’s $250,000 purse.

Any horse can be nominated, and the original nominator can never be changed. NRHA Member and Show Services/Nomination Representative Emily Rush said, “We are so fortunate to have ReinerSuite available to us now because it really is the fastest and most economical way to nominate a horse. The $10 handling fee is waived when you do it online, and you receive an instant digital confirmation.” When members log in to ReinerSuite, they can get guidance on how to complete nominations in the Resources Library.

The deadline for 2020 foals is approaching quickly! After January 10, the fees double until January 31st after which date the foal is considered a yearling, and the fees adjust appropriately.

More information, including nomination forms, can be found at nrha.com/nomination.

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2020 NRHA Markel Insurance Futurity Sales Increase Average Sale Prices Across the Board

Uncertainty surrounded many aspects of the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, including the NRHA Markel Insurance Futurity Sales. With numerous COVID-19 constraints imposed on the event, including changing the location to Arena 6 and condensing the Sales to one day instead of three, everyone waited to see what the result would be. Would the new format work for buyers and sellers? What would the averages be? Would buyers show up?

Those worries were quickly assuaged. The buyers came and stayed from beginning to end – both in-person and online – and the bidding was vigorous. Although fewer horses were consigned in the Futurity Prospect Sale than in the previous year, the sale average was substantially higher. The 23 horses through the ring averaged $35,522 against the prior year’s $34,257, while the 16 horses sold averaged $37,235, obliterating 2019’s average of $33,086.

That momentum continued in the Select Yearling Sale, where the 108 horses through the ring averaged $22,856, and the 96 sold averaged $22,697. That was up from $20,919 and $21,322, respectively.

In the Marketplace Sale, 60 horses went through the ring, averaging $14,367, compared to $13,046 in 2019. With only three pass outs, the remaining 57 sold averaged $14,088, compared to the prior year’s $13,718.

New for 2020 was the Select Breeders Sale, which showcased 21 horses that averaged $27,571. The 19 that sold averaged $29,111.

The overall high seller was Im Gunna Shine, a 2010 stallion by Gunner out of Shiner LIght by Shining Spark purchased by Onofre Gomez from California for $95,000.

Angie Honeywell, NRHA Senior Manager of Futurity Sales was excited about the success of the sales. “Overall, they went really well and everyone seemed to embrace the changes.”

One of those changes, the new online sales option, provided real convenience for buyers unable to attend in person. “We had a lot of bidding online and actually sold 11 horses to online buyers.”

“The atmosphere at this year’s sale was very upbeat,” noted NRHA Sale Committee member Jake Dahl. “I think that the one-day format this year was great. Everyone was in sale mode all day – either buying or selling. You saw more trainers there looking at yearlings and two-year-olds than I ever remember, and overall, there was a positive feel. Both buyers and sellers were upbeat.”

Dahl, who serves on the sale committee with Chairman Clint Haverty and members Casey Hinton, Fred Thomsson, Spence Bell, John Tague, and Rosanne Sternberg, added, “That vibe seemed to start during the Wednesday night preview and just stayed consistent throughout the sale.”

NRHA Chief Financial Officer John Foy commented, “2020 has been a challenge for many equine associations, including the NRHA. We had seen a reduction in some of our revenue line items and had to make expense adjustments to offset those. So, we were very hopeful that the futurity and sale would perform well not only for the association but for the industry as a whole.”

The hopes became reality when the North American Affiliate Championships at the Futurity had record entries and payouts and the show came very close to breaking the overall payout record set in 2012. “Plus, the total sold for the entire sale was the best it has been since 2007. Foy added, “It goes without saying that the NRHA Board and Management all very appreciative of everyone who participated in the sale and the show!”

Along with the upbeat tempo, there was a distinct poignancy during the sale, with many folks wearing masks with stickers that read “Mask up for Doug” in memory of the late Doug Carpenter, who passed away due to COVID-19 the week before the futurity began.

Carpenter, a wheel horse on the sale committee, had predicted the Sale’s success back in November, referencing the quality of the horses consigned. “I have never seen the depth of the horses we are selling – not only in how well-bred they are but also in their conformation. I think we are seeing the breeding coming together – throughout the industry people are breeding great mares to great stallions and it really shows,” he said.

Planning is already underway for the 2021 NRHA Markel Insurance Futurity Sales, and information will soon be available. To learn more, contact Angie Honeywell at ​ahoneywell@nrha.com or 405-946-7400.

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Hilldale Farm Passes NRHA Million Dollar Owner Milestone

For Immediate Release – Dec. 7, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – In the last 54 years of National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) history, only 11 owners have surpassed the million-dollar mark in earnings. Such a momentous achievement is only possible because of teamwork, dedication, and, of course, incredible horsepower, all of which Tammye Hutton’s Hilldale Farm has in spades.

In early November, Hilldale Farm unofficially became the Association’s twelfth million dollar owner, after Hutton’s daughter, Jessicah Keller, piloted Its Snippin Time (Shine Big Time x Snip O Satellite), to a third place finish in the Amateur Reining at the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show.

“This is really great. It’s nice that NRHA recognizes the owners along with the riders, breeders, sires, and dams,” Hutton shared. “I think it’s amazing that there is that much money in the sport we can win, and that it’s tracked. I never thought we would reach this milestone.”

Hutton and her family first became involved with reining in the late 1990s, and Hilldale Farm, still family-owned and operated, became official NRHA members in 1997.

“The first year we just did some local NRHA shows, and 2001 was when Jessicah hauled for the youth world titles,” Hutton recalled. “I remember the first significantly larger NRHA event we went to was the Illinois State Fair, and when we were done for the day we got a check. I thought, ‘Wow, we won $4,200! Holy smokes, we need to do this more!’”

The winning continued in 2002, when Keller and Nu Chex To Cash won World Championships in the Intermediate and Limited Open, and also took reserve World Championships in the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro. That same year, Nu Chex To Cash burst onto the scene as a major sire for Hilldale Farm, when his son Wimpys Little Step (out of Leolita Step), won the NRHA Futurity Open Championship.

In addition to Wimpys Little Step, Nu Chex To Cash sired several other major earners, including Lil Joe Cash (out of RS Lilly Starlight) and NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash (out of Snip O Gun). Nu Chex To Cash is now an NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire, while Wimpys Little Step is an NRHA Eleven Million Dollar Sire.

Nu Chex To Cash, an NRHA Hall of Fame inductee in 2010, would also sire Hilldale Farm’s biggest money earner, Heavy Duty Chex, who won back-to-back National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Non Pro Classic Championships with Hutton’s younger daughter Sarah Locker.

“Nu Chex [To Cash] is the one that really got us where we are,” Hutton said. “It was pretty amazing, and it just exploded our business.”

A year ago, Hilldale Farm’s blue hen mare, Snip O Gun, became only the third NRHA Million Dollar Dam during the NRHA Futurity. It was a fitting accomplishment, as the gorgeous bay mare was also inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame as part of the 2019 class.

“There have been so many people who have helped us over the years, and gone above and beyond for me, my daughters, and our program,” she shared. “I know if I tried to list each one individually, I would accidently leave someone off the list.”

To learn more about Hilldale Farm, visit HilldaleFarm.com.