Author: nrha

For Immediate Release – June 19, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Thursday was a full day of competition in the Adequan® Arena at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel. In addition to the class winners, there were several high point championships awarded in the Novice Horse Open and Novice Horse Non Pro classes.

Abigayle Mixon Wins Novice Horse Open Level 1 [2] on Thischicsdunwhizit

With a score of 144.5, Abigayle Mixon and Thischicsdunwhizit won the Novice Horse Open Level 1 [2], adding $788 to the horse’s lifetime earnings. “She was really good. She went in quiet, turned good, and circled great. She might be the funnest horse I’ve ever circled. Then she ran and stopped really well, so I was really happy with her,” Mixon said. “My last show before COVID-19 was Tulsa this spring, and then we came to the Redbud before this.”

Thischicsdunwhizit, owned by Deborah Thompson and Diane Witkin, is by Walla Walla Whiz and out of This Chic Dun It. “I got her last summer and rode her for a while. She needed some time off at the first of the year, but I’ve had her pretty steady recently,” Mixon said. “I thank the owners Diane and Deborah. They’re great. They give this mare anything she needs, which makes my job easier. I also have a great support system at home with my husband and family, and my staff is amazing.”

Rodrigo Nieves and Hesa Rockin Whiz Tie for Win of Nov. Horse Open Level 2 & 3 [2]

With a score of 144, Rodrigo Nieves and Hesa Rockin Whiz tied for the win of the Novice Horse Open Levels 2 and 3 and finished second in the Level 1. All totaled, the pair won $1,538. “Yesterday Duane Latimer gave me the opportunity to show this horse in the Novice Horse Open. Thank you Duane Latimer and XCS Ranch for the opportunity,” Nieves said.

“Duane showed this horse last year, and now I have the opportunity to show him. This was the first show I had with him, but the plan is to show at the NRBC this year together,” Nieves said.

Hesa Rockin Whiz is by NRHA 12 Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz and out of A Bueno Poco Dunit. The 4-year-old stallion is owned by Roxanne Koepsell.

Michelle Chapman and Reyny Day Dreamer Win Nov. Horse Open Level 2 & 3 [2] Co-Championship

Michelle Chapman and Reyny Day Dreamer claimed the co-championship of the Novice Horse Open Level 2 & 3 after marking a 144 in Thursday night’s competition. The wins were worth a cool $1,023. “He was really good. We tried some different warmup techniques for this run,” she shared.

Reyny Day Dreamer, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Reyny Chex, is owned by Carolyn Tracey Brose and Maron Neff. “He’s been a really special horse. He’s homegrown and home raised, so that has been super awesome for my customers Tracy and Maron,” Chapman said. “I started him as a baby and showed him here at the NRHA Futurity where we made the Level 1 finals. I’ve ridden him a long time and he’s been a joy to train and go show.”

Chapman is looking ahead to the next event, which will likely be the Summer Slide in Denver, Colorado. “We’re excited to go compete there and give it a try,” she said. “I thank God. He’s number one in my life. Thanks to Tracy and Maron who own the horse, my husband and family who support me, and all the people along the way who have been great to me.”

Trevor Dare and Ruffed Up Spooks Win Nov. Horse Open Level 1 & 3 High Point

Trevor Dare and Ruffed Up Spooks put together two consistent runs in the Novice Horse Open classes to win the high point buckle for Levels 1 and 3. “He’s a little greener but is a really good, strong horse. I thought we would try to show him in the novice horse classes here,” Dare shared.

Ruffed Up Spooks, a 4-year-old stallion, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun out of All Ruffed Up. “I’ve had him since the first of January. He was in training with Duane Latimer last year, and Duane got him really broke and feeling really good. It was fun to take over,” Dare said.

Dare made a couple minor tweaks between the two slates of classes. “The first day I trusted him a little too much in his stops. The ground was a little faster than he’s used to, so I didn’t want to pick up on him too much. The second run I got him stopped a little stronger, but he was similar on both runs. I think he will be a horse show horse,” Dare said. “He’s for sale so if someone buys him, that’s awesome, but if not I hope to continue to show him.”

Jared Leclair Wins Nov. Horse Open Level 2 High Point on Lime A Rita

Jared Leclair and Lime A Rita can constantly be found near the top of results, and on Thursday the duo clinched the Novice Horse Open Level 2 high point championship. Lime A Rita, owned by Susan Meyer, is by Custom Legend and out of She Slides Wright.

Kristen Avila and Xtra Voodoo Sinbar Win Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 2 and 3 [2]

Kristen Avila and Xtra Voodoo Sinbar had a little tough luck in the Non Pro Derby preliminary round, but the Novice Horse Non Pro class was the perfect opportunity to make some adjustments while in Oklahoma City. “We had two and a half points worth of penalties in the Derby, so I thought we would come back here and redeem ourselves,” Avila shared.

She and the 5-year-old mare did just that, winning Levels 2 and 3, as well as $2,252, with a 143. “Her run today was good. I just wanted to cruise her through the pattern. Since we were just coming off a run, I didn’t want to run her really hard today. We just scaled it back, took it easy, and cruised through,” she said.

Avila and her husband, Bobby Avila, Jr., have owned Xtra Voodoo Sinbar, since her yearling year. The mare is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Wimpy Little Sinbar. “I have done really well with her. She’s a really neat mare, and definitely my princess,” Avila admitted. “I thank my husband for always being there to coach and support me, and the rest of my family who is there for us.”

Avila is considering attending the Mid Atlantic Reining Classic in Lexington, Virginia, in July, and then the National Reining Breeders Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in late August.

Madison Rafacz Claims Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 2 and 3 High Point on Hezza Rowdy Whiz

Consistency is a key component of success, so there’s little doubt that young Madison Rafacz of Florida will be successful. On Thursday she claimed two more high point awards, this time in the Novice Horse Non Pro on her horse  Hezza Rowdy Whiz. “I marked a 142 earlier this week. He was really good then, and so good for me today, so I’m really proud of him,” Rafacz shared.

Hezza Rowdy Whiz, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Conquistador Whiz out of CF Glad Rags, is owned by Madison’s parents Shannon and Mark Rafacz. “He’s a super fun horse. I have been showing him since last August and we’ve gotten along pretty well. My dad was showing him, but I took him over because he likes me more,” she said with a smile.

Rafacz isn’t done showing. She’ll compete in both slates of youth classes over the weekend on Hezza Rowdy Whiz and her other horse Whizenboonsmal. “I thank my parents and the whole MR team. I also thank my grandma, who I call Naynay. She always calls to cheer me on, so I want to thank her,” she shared.

Nicole Ellis and Xtra Sparkles N Town Win Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 High Point

Nicole Ellis and Xtra Sparkles N Town might have struggled their first couple years together, but the two had their chemistry right at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel. There the pair claimed the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 high point championship.
“The first two years were pretty bad, but it got better the end of last year, and this one has been the best yet. We had our best score ever and we’re starting to connect,” Ellis shared.

Xtra Sparkles N Town is by NHA Two Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown and out of Sparkling Radiance. “She’s about the weirdest horse I have ever ridden, but she’s so sweet. She’s going to show in the Green Reiner tomorrow with my 13-year-old sister. She is a show machine,” Ellis said. “She showed great both Sunday and today. She’s always the same.”

The high point buckle isn’t even the high point of Ellis’ time in Oklahoma City. She’ll be competing in the Level 1 Non Pro Finals on Friday! “It’s my very first finals ever,” she said. Ellis will compete in the first section of the Non Pro Finals on KR Lovetts Shine. “I thank my trainer Kelly Sapp, my whole barn family, my farrier Dan Yarbrough, and my mom Michel Ellis.”

Victoria Lambert and her horse Goodtime Tinseltown won the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 [2]. Goodtime Tinseltown, by Hollywoodstinseltown out of Good Time Whiz Girl, is owned by Lambert’s husband Carl. Lambert and Goodtime Tinseltown marked a 142.5 to win $883.

For Immediate Release – June 18, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The preliminary rounds of the National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel are in the books. The open preliminaries were held June 17-18 and featured 247 talented entries, each vying for a chance in the clean-slate finals.

With COVID-19 regulations requiring the event to be closed to the public, the whoops and hollers that typically emit from the Coliseum were shockingly subdued. The competition, on the other hand, was intense as ever.

Craig Schmersal and No Smoking Required impressed the judges with an impeccable run, securing the go-round win with a 223. No Smoking Required, Schmersal’s 2019 Level 4 Open Derby Reserve Champion, is by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner out of Icing Required. The 7-year-old stallion, owned by Wranglen Partnership, also carried Schmersal to the 2019 Run For a Million Co-Championship. No Smoking Required was nominated by Carluccio Orsi.

Topping the Open Level 3 and Open Level 2 was Arno Honstetter and Shine Yur Gun. The pair also tied for second in the Level 4. Shine Yur Gun, a 6-year-old stallion by Gunner and out of Lil Miss Shiney Chex, is owned and nominated by Carol Rose.

Winning the preliminary round of the Level 1 Open was Marie Kleiner and Pale Face Gunslinger with a 220. The 6-year-old stallion, by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Lost In Tinseltown, is owned and nominated by Tim Anderson.

Winning the Open Prime Time was Ann Salmon Anderman and her 4-year-old stallion Maximum Mag with a 221.5. Maximum Mag, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Dunit A Lil Ruf, was nominated by Anderman.

The Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Derby winner is decided during the preliminary round, and Fernando Salgado claimed the win with a 219 on Gotta Shiney Peso. Gotta Shiney Peso, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Cee Bee Shine, is owned by Pedro Herandez. The 4-year-old stallion was nominated by Diane Beckmann. Look for coverage of the Novice Horse Open Derby winner in Saturday’s news.

Unofficially a 217.5 was the magical number for Level 4 finals hopefuls, and Open Level 3 riders were shooting for a 215.5 It took a 213 to make it back for the Level 2 finals, and the bubble score in the Open Level 1 was a 202.5 The Open Finals begin Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m., with the Open Level 4 finalists competing at 5 p.m.

For more information and complete results, visit NRHADerby.com.

For Immediate Release – June 17, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Horse show competition at the National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel continued Wednesday, June 17. The Non Pros reigned supreme in the Adequan® Arena, competing in the normal ancillary classes as well as the 8 & Up Derby.

8 & Up Level 4 Non Pro Derby and Non Pro [2] Champion – Lane Colston and Chics Nite

Lane Colston started out his week at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel with a win on Chics Nite. He and the standout mare returned to the Adequan® Arena on Wednesday for another win, this time claiming the Level 4 Non Pro 8 & Up Derby Championship. He also won the concurrently-run Non Pro [2] class, clinching the Non Pro high-point buckle. All totaled, Colston and Chics Nite won $5,227.

“She was really good,” Colston said of Chics Nite, an 8-year-old mare by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite out of Wind Her Up Chic. The pair marked a 145. “I pushed her a little harder than I did the other day, and she was really good for me. She did everything I asked to the best of her ability. On the last stop she kind of picked her foot up, but it was because she jerked her front shoe off. She tried her hardest and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride.”

Colston, of Kentucky, is already looking to the next event. “I might show her at one of our shows in Kentucky, and then probably not anymore until the NRBC. She’s pregnant and will have a Magnum With A Dream baby next year,” he said. “I thank my parents Kevin and Amy Colston. I thank Tom, Mandy, and Cade McCutcheon for their support, and also Brandon Brant who helped me with this mare a few weeks ago. They are all always there for me.”

8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby Co-Champion – Bailey Kolsun and Diamond Studded Guns

Bailey Kolsun and Diamond Studded Guns marked a 144.5 in the Adequan® Arena to tie for the win of the 8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby. Having also entered in the Level 4, as well as the horse show Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro, the Texan pocketed $3,031.

“He was awesome for me today. He stopped huge and circled big, so I was really happy with him,” Kolsun shared.

It was only the third show back after quarantine for Kolsun, of Pilot Point, Texas. “We schooled at Hamilton, and then were here for the Red Bud. I missed showing so much,” she said.

Kolsun has owned 8-year-old Diamond Studded Guns, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Like To Flo, since his 3-year-old year. “He was too green as a 3-year-old to be shown, but I’ve shown him pretty much every time he’s been in the pen, except for a few times when my trainer Ruben Vandorp showed him,” she said. “I thank Ruben, the assistants, and all my good friends at the barn. I also thank my parents back home who are stuck across the border in Canada.”

8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby Co-Champion – Madison Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal

Madison Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal are always a team to watch, and a few months of quarantine didn’t change that. With a score of 144.5, Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal took the 8 & Up Level 3 Non Pro Derby Co-Championship and also finished high in the Level 4 Derby and Non Pro [2], worth a cool $4,131.

“I didn’t really know I was going to show here, and he’s pretty much just been a fat pony at home,” Rafacz said of Whizenboonsmal, an 8-year-old gelding by Peptoleap out of She Whiz A Star. “When we came here I figured we would just do what we always do. I just went in and showed the horse I had, and it went well.”

Rafacz has been busy the past couple weeks, and will stay that way through the end of the Derby. “We were home for three days from a show in South Carolina, and then we came here. I’ll show again in the novice tomorrow, and then I have this horse and another one in the youth later this week,” she said.

Rafacz added, “I thank my parents especially, and the entire MR team. They’re just my best friends and I appreciate them a lot.”

8 & Up Level 2 Non Pro Derby Champion and Int. Non Pro [2] Co-Champion – Bundy Lane and Gunner Gump

Winning the Level 2 of the 8 & Up Non Pro Derby was Bundy Lane and Gunner Gump with a 143.5. Lane also placed in the Level 3, Level 4, the Non Pro [2], Intermediate Non Pro [2], and the Prime Time Non Pro [2]. Not only did Lane rake in $5,146, he won the high-point buckle for the Intermediate Non Pro and the Prime Time Non Pro.

Gunner Gump is by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Little Patrasha Gump.

8 & Up Level 1 Non Pro Derby Champion – Anna Clausen and Smart Tinseltown

Anna Clausen and Smart Tinseltown were looking for redemption when they walked into the Adequan® Arena to compete in the 8 & Up Non Pro Derby. “It didn’t go too well in the first slate of non pro classes. I made sure to get the pattern correct in my head today before I showed, and it helped,” the 16-year-old shared.

With a 143, Clausen took sole possession of the Level 1, and also placed in the top five of Levels 2 through 4. Cross entered into the Non Pro [2] and the Intermediate Non Pro [2], Clausen won $3,813. “Today he was great. He is always good, it’s just a matter of getting me right, and it happened today. He’s always there for me when we’re going to show. I love him,” Clausen said of Smart Tinseltown, who’s by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook out of Tinseltown Lil Step.

Since the quarantine, Clausen was only able to compete one time prior to the Derby. “I showed at the Mother’s Day Slide, but before that we’ve just been home riding almost every day. It’s just not the same as a horse show, so we’re glad to be here,” she said. “I thank my parents Andrea and Clay Clausen, and Patrick Flaherty.”

Int. Non Pro [2] Co-Champion – Kimberly Horner and Lil Red Dreamer

When her run in the Non Pro Derby didn’t go as planned, Kimberly Horner decided to enter Lil Red Dreamer in the Intermediate Non Pro [2]. “We made a few mistakes in the Derby and couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, so I came back and showed him today,” she explained. The pair tied for the win of the class, worth $1,059. “It was mainly to work on me and boost my confidence before we head to the NRBC later this year. This helped quite a bit with that.”

Horner has owned Lil Red Dreamer, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream out of Skeets Red Dunit, a little over a year. “He’s super easy. Today we just made an easy, relaxed ride, and it worked well. Now he’s going to head home for some rest, but I’ll stay, and my daughter Faith will show in the youth classes,” Horner said.

It was the first event back for Horner, who quarantined with her family in Florida. “We were there for three months and didn’t even ride. I needed a reason to come back, and once I saw the Derby was on, we loaded up the car and came back to Texas. It feels wonderful to be back at a horse show,” she said. “I thank my trainer Casey Hinton and his team. I also thank my family. My husband and kids are all supportive. I also thank my mom who wasn’t able to come but is one of my biggest fans.”

For Immediate Release – June 17, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel has reached the half-way point. On Wednesday, June 17, the first section of the Open Derby preliminaries was held in the Jim Norick Coliseum at State Fair Park.

To lead the pack of the first section of Open Derby preliminaries, it took a score of 222.5. Two riders shared that spot—Arno Honstetter riding Carol Rose’s Shine Yur Gun and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham astride Diane Mesmer’s A Vintage Smoke. Vanlandingham and his mount, a 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage and out of Lady Smoke Peppy, showed later in the day to tie with Honstetter’s ride on Shine Yur Gun.

Honstetter and Shine Yur Gun, a 6-year-old stallion by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Lil Miss Shiney Chex, are also entered in the Level 3 and Level 2 Open, and leading those divisions.

Topping the Level 1 is Dalton Vanlandingham and Staring Shine with a 214.5. Owned by Vaughn Zimmerman, the 6-year-old gelding is by Shine Chic Shine and out of Staring Amie.

The Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Championship will be decided at the conclusion of the preliminary round and is currently led by Fernando Salgado and Gotta Shiney Peso. The 4-year-old stallion by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Cee Bee Shine is owned by Pedro Pastor Hernandez.

The top 30 from the Open Levels 4 -1 will compete on Saturday in the clean-slate finals. Draw positions will be determined at 10 a.m., CDT, on Friday during the virtual Platinum Performance Open Draw Party.

For complete results and information, visit NRHADerby.com.

For Immediate Release – June 16, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The wait is over, and the finalists for the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non Pro Derby presented by Markel have been decided. Over two exciting days, the field of 249 non pro entries was whittled down to the crème de la crème who get to compete in Friday’s clean slate finals.

There was a four-way tie at the top of the preliminary leaderboard. Mandy McCutcheon held two of the positions, while McKinnon Larcombe and Indy Roper also got a portion of the number one position. Each rode their horses to a 218.5. McCutcheon rode Party Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Topsail Survivor) and Tidal To The Buckles (Show Me The Buckles x Starlights Tidalwave), Larcombe was on Gunners Bar Fly (Gunner x Blonde At The Bar), and Roper rode Lil Patron (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Rey O Shine).

Larcombe and Gunners Bar Fly, owned by Shauna Larcombe, also finished in the top spot of the Level 3 Non Pro and Youth Non Pro divisions.
Harper Conner and Money Carlo put together a solid run, resulting in a 217.5, which placed them in the top spot of the Level 2 Non Pro. Money Carlo is a 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage out of Chex Drive.

With a score of 215, Tabitha Sternberg Allen and Holly Trashya won the Level 1 Non Pro preliminary round. Holly Trashya, a 6-year-old mare owned by Francesca Sternberg, is by Gunnatrashya out of Hickorys Holly Cee.

Leading the Masters Non Pro division into the finals is Morris Kulmer and his standout gelding NVR What A Lucky Joe with a 218. The six-year-old reiner is by Lil Joe Cash out of What A Lucky Hit.

Winning the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Non Pro Derby Championship was Adam Donahue on Not Ruf with a 216.5. Not Ruf is a 4-year-old gelding by Not Ruf At All out of Kays Freckles.  The duo also topped the Prime Time Non Pro preliminaries with a 219.5 (includes handicap).

Look for the detailed recap of Donahue’s win on Not Ruf in the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Derby in Thursday’s event coverage.

The top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4 – 1 will compete in the clean-slate finals on Friday, June 19, as well as the top 20 in the Prime Time and Youth divisions. The top 15 in the Master’s Non Pro will also earn a spot in the finals.

Unofficially, it took a 212.5 to make it back in the Non Pro Level 4 and 211.5 in the Non Pro Level 3. In the Non Pro Level 2, the magic number was a 211, and in the Non Pro Level 1, contestants needed a 208.5 or higher. Non Pro Prime Time competitors with a score of 211.5 (includes handicap), Masters riders with a 205.5 (includes handicap), and Youth riders with a 210, also earned finals’ berths.

Draw positions for the finals will be determined on Wednesday, June 17, during the virtual Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party. The Draw Party will be held at 5:30 p.m. and will be streamed via the live feed that can be found at NRHADerby.com.

The NRHA Derby presented by Markel continues Wednesday with the first set of Open Preliminaries in the Jim Norick Coliseum arena. Please visit www.NRHADerby.com for a complete schedule of events, as well as complete results from the show.