Wiener Neustadt, June 2—The 2020 edition of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Derby will be held at Western Training Center H&D Schulz Quarter Horses Wiener Neustadt, Austria, on June 28 – July 3, 2021.
Originally scheduled to be held in May during the Western Horse Show Fair in Wels, Austria,—and following cancellation of the same due to COVID restrictions—Austrian Reining Horse Association (ARHA) President Helmut Schulz of Western Training Center graciously offered his facility to host the €106,200-added* Colonels Shining Gun Open Derby and €45,510-added* Smart Spook Non Pro Derby (*subject to change in nominations).
The event presented by NRHA Corporate Partner Markel, Official Equine Insurance Partner of NRHA, is open to NRHA nominated horses that are 6 to 9 years old and will be held behind closed doors.
The 2021 NRHA European Derby will be held in Lyon, France in conjunction with Longines Equita Lyon October 27–31, 2021. This event will be open to NRHA nominated horses that are 5 to 8 years old in 2021.
For Immediate Release – May 28, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Run For A Million, set for August 18-21, will feature two auctions to benefit the Reining Horse Foundation. The South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas will welcome both a silent auction featuring items for bidding throughout the competition and a live auction that will precede the Gala Select Sale on August 21.
NRHA President and Foundation Board Member Rick Clark reached out to The Run For A Million team leaders Taylor Sheridan and Amanda Brumley about a fundraiser at the event. He said, “We were already set to have our volunteers run an RHF booth at the event to encourage people to be part of the Reiners Club, and I asked what we could do to raise money while we were there. Amanda suggested a silent and live auction and this grew from that. I ran the idea past the RHF Development Committee and Board and got their blessing, then challenged each of them to get donations for the auction.”
Clark continued, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Foundation and we can’t thank Taylor and Amanda enough. This is really big and really appreciated.”
Brumley agrees that the auctions will be massive – both in content and in result. “When Rick asked me what we could do, I thought this would be a perfect venue and a big moneymaker for the Foundation – considering the huge crowd. The energy of the event will help the items sell.”
With Las Vegas opening completely on June 1, The Run For A Million event is expected to be a sellout, and the response to the auction should result in considerable benefit for the Foundation. She added, “We encourage people to get creative with what they can donate – with items in all price ranges. I urge everyone to take part and help the Reining Horse Foundation so it can help others. We are all paying it forward.”
Reining Horse Foundation Executive Director Leslie Baker said, “The Run For A Million was developed to celebrate and grow the sport. Now, this new collaboration has resulted in the creation of The Raise A Million Auctions with the sole purpose of giving back to the reining community through NRHA’s charitable, nonprofit organization. This is especially meaningful given that we are celebrating the Reining Horse Foundation’s 20th anniversary throughout 2021. We are grateful that those attending The Run For A Million will have a chance to get to know more about our mission and programs.”
Already, the items donated for the auctions are indicative of the impact of the event and promise to create a fun event that raises money for an important cause.
2022 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo VIP “Night at the Rodeo” donated by BMW Quarter Horses
100X Custom J.W. Brooks Hat donated by J.W. Brooks
Custom Belt made and donated by Eclectic Beadwork
Headstall donated by Mullinax Custom Leather
Custom Headstall donated by Bob’s Custom Saddles
Show Pad by Golden West donated by Nancy Tague
Show Pad donated by Show Diva
Show Pad donated by Show Stoppin
Moody Chic Scrap Sketch Ink/Watercolor by artist Josey Butler, donated by Terri Mainey
Commissioned Drawing created by and donated by Kaci O’Rourke
A Breeding and Chute Fee for No Smoking Required, the co-champion of The Run For A Million 2019 donated by owners Schmersal/ThorSport Inc.
Other items are being received daily and there is still plenty of time to take part in the auctions! Donations of trips, unique experiences, services, training packages, artwork, jewelry, goods and more are all welcome. Donors should submit by August 1 to Brumley Management Group,
Attn: RHF Auction, 28150 N Alma School Pkwy #103-619, Scottsdale, AZ 85262. For information on the auction or RHF, contact Leslie Baker at lbaker@nrha.com or (405) 946-7400, ext. 106.
The mission of the Reining Horse Foundation is to care for and honor the reining community. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund to benefit reiners enduring hardships such as major illness, accidents and disasters; youth leadership development and scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For information on the RHF auctions, visit reiningfoundation.com/auctions.
Important Title Sponsorship Raises Payouts in All Divisions!
The 2021 NRHA Derby welcomes a naming sponsor in 2021 as it becomes the 6666 Derby presented by Markel. The sponsorship brings an incredible new payout framework for both the Open and Non Pro Derby, thanks to 6666 Ranch and Taylor Sheridan.
Sheridan explained, “The 6666 Ranch and Bosque Ranch have joined Paramount TV’s Yellowstone to support the NRHA Derby.” Created to reward NRHA Derby Champions of every level – from Open to Non Pro – this sponsorship helps create excitement and rewards reiners of all levels.
It raises the Open L4 Derby championship from paying $60,000 to paying $75,000 – while in many levels the money awarded to the champion more than doubles! These substantial increases extend to all the Non Pro divisions, including a guaranteed $30,000 to the L4 Champion.
A quick look at these new benchmarks compared to 2020’s payments:
Division
2020 Derby Champion Earnings
6666 Derby Champions Guaranteed Payment
Open L4 Champion
$60,000
$75,000
Open L3 Champion
$23,477
$35,000
Open L2 Champion
$9,596
$20,000
Open L1 Champion
$4,263
$10,000
Open Prime Time Champion
$2,205
$5,000
Non Pro L4 Champion
$18,800
$30,000
Non Pro L3 Champion
$14,351
$20,000
Non Pro L2 Champion
$8,690
$15,000
Non Pro L1
$3,220
$5,000
Non Pro Prime Time Champion
$2,602
$5,000
Youth Champion
$1,318
$2,000
Non Pro Masters Champion
$1,122
$2,000
Sammi Miller, NRHA Sr. Director of Corporate Relations & Communications, noted, “We are thrilled to welcome Four Sixes Ranch as the naming sponsor of the NRHA Derby. This iconic ranch is a treasured part of our western heritage and we are honored to be associated with it, as well as with Bosque Ranch and Paramount TV’s Yellowstone, thanks to Taylor.”
Sheridan summarized, “Expanding both awareness and participation in equine events such as the NRHA Derby is vital not only to the sport of reining but all equine sports, just as it is vital to the preservation of the quarter horse and paint horse. The horse is a cowboy’s most precious tool and closest friend, and the cowboy is an irreplaceable gear in the engine of American agriculture. Events such as the NRHA Derby not only preserve the rich heritage of the horse, they preserve the heritage of the rider as well.”
Clearly, Sheridan is committed to the success of the 6666 NRHA Derby and his commitment to give back mirrors the dedication shown by long-time NRHA sponsor Markel Insurance. Miller added, “We thank Markel Insurance, which remains the presenting sponsor of the NRHA Derby. It is because of Frank Costantini and Markel Insurance’s commitment to the reining industry, and this event in particular, that the Derby has grown so much.”
Along with its rich history from its beginning in 1870, legendary American quarter horses and superior Angus cattle are hallmarks of the Four Sixes Ranch. The ranch not only offers state-of-the-art reproductive services and a full range of equine veterinary services but stands to the public some of the most well-respected AQHA stallions in the industry. Its exceptional broodmare band produces elite race, ranch, and performance horses.
Bosque Ranch, owned by Sheridan, is the premier livestock provider in the film and television industry, providing horses for the cast of ‘Yellowstone’ as well as films such as ‘Hell or High Water’, ‘Wind River’, and Warner Brother’s ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’, along with the upcoming ‘Twelve Mighty Orphans’. It has also produced performance horses such as Walla Walla Starbuck: 2019 AQHA Senior Reining Reserve Champion, 2021 Run for a Million Non Pro qualifier; Setting Off To Town: 2020 NRHA L4 Open Futurity finalist, 2021 NRBC L4 Open finalist, 2021 Run for a Million Open Finalist; and Kreyzy Horse, a six-year-old stallion with $97,000 in earnings.
Yellowstone is the highest-rated cable drama since its premiere in 2018. It returns to Paramount Network for its fourth season in 2021 as the chronicle of the Dutton Ranch continues.
For information on the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel visit the website at NRHADerby.com.
It’s an exciting time for reining down under. That’s because the National Reining Horse Association affiliate organizations that make up the Oceania Region Council have come together to create the inaugural Oceania Regional Championships. The 2021 Championships, slated for June 28 – July 4, will be hosted by the New South Wales Reining Horse Association at its annual State Show at K Ranch in Sydney, Australia.
While the concept of regional organizations hosting major NRHA championships is not new in other parts of the world, it is a first for this region. Rob Lawson, Chairman of the Oceania Council said, “It is an exciting time as it allows us to try new and imaginative ideas to grow our industry through our clubs!”
Lawson, who operates Lawson’s Performance Horses in Bungonia, New South Wales continued, “The offers of support from the other clubs have been heartening, with the overwhelming sentiment that it is ‘our’ Regional Championships. It is these clubs working together that will make this work!”
The clubs involved in the Regional Championships are the NSWRHA, Orana Reining Horse Association, Victoria Reining Horse Association, Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association, South Australian Reining Horse Association, Collie Western Riding Club, Calliope Sliders Reining Horse Association and Southern Cross Reining Horse Association.
NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter said, “Observing the energy and vitality of our reining friends in Australia is incredibly rewarding. We can’t fully comprehend the trials they have been through to get to this point. The pandemic, wildfires, and the challenges that change brings – they have overcome them all and are poised to bring a new day to our sport.”
K Ranch’s owner, Mick Kearney has had a significant impact on the NSWRHA as K Ranch has been its home base for the last 6 years and a close partnership has evolved over that time.
More information about the 2021 Oceania Regional Championships can be found here.
The oval arena in CremonaFiere is set to welcome European riders vying for the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity titles.
Open to horses born in 2016 named and nominated in the NRHA European Nomination Program, the 2020 edition counts 111 horses entered in the €160,623,14-added Open division and 60 in the €135.810,00-added Non Pro.
