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Horse of the West “Short Stirrup Series” Continues at 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

The National Reining Horse Association has long enjoyed the coverage provided by Horse of The West (formerly NRHA Inside Reining), and the 2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel will be featured on the popular RFD-TV program.

According to NRHA Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Communications Sammi Miller, the program helps the NRHA Derby reach a much wider audience.

She said, “Horse of the West, has helped the association to reach new people each year and show them all the excitement of reining.” With the program’s change of focus and expansion to covering both reined cow horse and barrel racing, Horse of the West has increased access to people who are already in the horse business. Their understanding of the complexities of training a horse should help draw them to the reining discipline.

In 2021 Sandbur Productions, creator of Horse of the West, is celebrating 20 years of reining coverage with the “Short Stirrup Series.”  At five unique reining events this year, Horse of the West is providing a special sponsorship to the 10 and Under class and will feature the top two finishers in the TV show.

Jenifer Reynolds of Sandbur Productions has long had a passion for reining and for the industry’s youngest riders. She said, “We want to showcase our youngest riders and encourage their involvement with horses. We hope the Short Stirrup Series will encourage families to get their kids out of the house and onto the back of a horse!”

Like many others in the reining world, Jenifer believes in the benefits of being involved with showing reining horses. “We’ve seen first-hand how young kids learn confidence, responsibility, and appreciation for animals through their involvement in reining. We want to show that benefit to our viewers,” she said.

“The sponsorship by Sandbur Productions and Horse of the West of the Short Stirrup classes is new at the 2021 Derby. Supporting the youth is something dear to NRHA and to have our long-time friends, Jenifer Reynolds and Chris Cook at Horse of the West, come along side to sponsor the youth is something we are proud to announce,” Miller said.

6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel coverage on Horse of the West is scheduled for September 13 and September 20. Remember, the show airs on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. ET on RFD-TV. For those who don’t have RFD-TV, the shows are posted on the Horse of the West YouTube channel.

Horse of the West is a multiple Telly Award and AHP Equine Media Award winning weekly show presenting coverage of reining, reined cow horse, and barrel racing. In 2020 Horse of the West garnered a record 6 million 18+ views on RFD-TV, rural America’s most important network, and is on target to repeat those viewership numbers again in 2021.

Go to www.horseofthewest.tv for a complete show schedule.

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Three Sires Hit NRHA Multi-Million Dollar Milestones in First Half 2021

Several National Reining Horse Association approved events have boasted lucrative payouts in 2021. Those impressive purses helped push three already prolific sires to event bigger milestones. Magnum Chic Dream, now the associations fourth leading sire, became an NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire, while Spooks Gotta Whiz and Hollywoodtinseltown (now 16th and 19th on the leading sire list, respectively) joined the elite NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Club.

Magnum Chic Dream

Now 25 years old, Magnum Chic Dream has become a household name in the reining industry, and his foals have now won more than $7 million. The stallion, by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena out of Sailin Barbee, is owned by Jack and Viola Scott of Sherman, Texas.

As a performer, Magnum Chic Dream, bred by Guy Du Ponchel, boasts $44,000 in lifetime earnings. The stallion then excelled as a sire, achieving NRHA Million Dollar Sire status in 2010 and reaching the seventh million just 11 years later.

Magnum Chic Dream’s top offspring include:

  • Chic Dreamin (out of Skeets Red Dunit) $247,272
  • Taris Dreamer (out of Taris San Cutter) $194,311
  • Mega Maggie Mae (out of Cinco De Mega) $182,116
  • Msdreamy (out of A Gal With A Gun) $181,720
  • Made By Magnum (out of Ready Make Cowboy) $168,523

Spooks Gotta Whiz

Spooks Gotta Whiz excelled in the show pen, earning more than $345,000 during his career. The stallion is one of an elite group of horses to win reining’s Triple Crown, consisting of the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and NRBC, which he did with NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson and NRHA Six Million and Leading Rider Shawn Flarida.

Spooks Gotta Whiz is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes. Bred by Clint Haverty, the 2007 stallion is owned by Michell Anne Kimball, who purchased the horse from Duane Hicks in 2009.

The 14-year-old stallion surpassed three million dollars in offspring earnings during the final weekend of the 2021 NRBC, when his foals won more than $80,000 in the Non Pro and Open finals. Major earners included Trendsettter (ridden by Kole Price), Spooks Gotta Crush (ridden by Ruben Vandorp), Rambowhiz (ridden by Trevor Dare), Gotta Connection (ridden by Shelby Clausen), Exit 21 (ridden by Kelle Smith), and TR Baby Blues (ridden by Kim Muehlstaetter).

Spooks Gotta Whiz’s top performers are:

  • Spooky Whiz (out of Myo Starlight) $185,708
  • Gotta Twist It Up (out of Make It With A Twist) $183,837
  • Spooks Show Time (out of Dolittle Lena) $173,416
  • Spooks Grand Slam (out of Shiney Diamond Lady) 140,429
  • Spooks Gotta Crush (out of Megas Sugar Baby) 139,597

Hollywoodstinseltown

Hollywoodstinseltown first appeared on the NRHA Million Dollar Sire list in 2017, and has raced up the leading sire ranks. Prior to the 2021 NRBC, Hollywoodstinseltown was just over $11,000 away from Three Million Dollar Sire Status. Outstanding Finals performances by Hollywooddirtysecret (ridden by Sam Flarida), Cee Mr Stop and Mr Royal Hollywood (both ridden by Brian Bell) garnered an incredible $54,000, easily crossing the Million Dollar Mark.

Hollywoodstinseltown, who was laid to rest in 2020,  was royally bred. His sire was NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee and Six Million Dollar Sire Hollywood Dun It, and his dam, Miss Tinseltown, is also in the Hall of Fame.

The 2004 stallion was bred and owned throughout the course of his life by Silva Reining Horses of Pilot Point, Texas.

Some of his accolades include 2007 NRHA Prime Time Champion; 2009 NRHA Open Derby Reserve Champion; 2008, 2009, and 2010 NRBC Open top ten; 2010 USEF National Championships top ten; and 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) top ten in both individual and team competition. His NRHA lifetime earnings total more than $185,885.

The top five offspring from this flashy palomino stallion are:

  • Tinseltown Fly Guy (out of Fly Flashy Jac) $250,083
  • Shining In Town (out of Shine Ann) $199,780
  • Hollywooddirtysecret (out of Maximum Rpm) $172,257
  • Tinseltown Flash (out of Billie Gun Flash) $134,920
  • Mr Royal Hollywood (out of Cee Miss Hollywood) $106,360
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Transfers are Simple with ReinerSuite

The National Reining Horse Association’s phenomenally successful ReinerSuite program has changed the lives of reiners, trees, and landfills worldwide by making it easier to do “paperwork” online. Eighty percent of NRHA members are using ReinerSuite to do things like check eligibility, renew memberships, research records, and access member reports.

Angie Honeywell, NRHA Senior Manager of ReinerSuite and the Futurity Sale, wants to urge more members to take full advantage of the easy-to-use software. “Transferring a horse’s competition license is a top transaction, and it’s the first step to showing your new reining horse. We want more members to know how simple and convenient it is to process a transfer through ReinerSuite,” Honeywell shared.

NRHA member Cappy Dryden is delighted with the ease of use. She said, “ReinerSuite has made transferring horses so easy. I wasn’t sure how to start it, so I went to their Help section, and it walked me right through the easy process. I simply scanned the signed transfer, attached it, and submitted it. Within an hour I had my new papers!”

As Dryden said, the process is pretty self-explanatory. Users simply click on “Horses” on the sideboard on the left side of the screen, then click on the “Finder” tab, and enter any part or all of the horse’s info (depending on how the switch is toggled). When the search results come up at the bottom of the screen, click on either the horse’s name or the “Select” button. After the horse’s information appears, find “Transfer Competition License” on the bottom left of the screen. Specify the new owner(s) by typing in the name(s), then click “Browse” to upload the proof of purchase. All that’s left to do is click submit and pay.

To clarify, Honeywell said, “Ownership can be proven in several different ways: a signed transfer, a bill of sale, a breed association transfer or registration papers with the new owner’s name, a cash receipt, or insurance documentation for the horse that lists the owner. This feature is so easy for our members, that I want to encourage more to give it a try.”

To register for a ReinerSuite account or access the library of how-to videos, visit https://nrha.com/reinersuite. Questions can be submitted via email to memberships@NRHA.com.

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Catch Up with NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Graduate Spooks Gotta Spark

Spooks Gotta Spark (Photo by Cam Essick)

(Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena)

Sale: 2015 Futurity Prospect

Consigner: Garth W. Brown, Gainesville, Texas

Purchaser: Gus and Gaynia Revenberg, Oldcastle, Ontario

Even the most magical place on earth couldn’t keep Gaynia Revenberg away from the 2015 NRHA Markel Futurity sales—especially with a prospect like Spooks Gotta Spark available. In previous years, Revenberg spent hours scanning the list of consigned horses, watching preview videos, and discussing prospects. But in 2015, all she wanted was to enjoy a vacation at Disney World with her husband, Gus.

“I was sitting on the balcony at Disney when Shawn Flarida called me and said, ‘There’s a horse here you have to buy,’” Revenberg recalled. “My husband said, ‘Book the flight.’ So, we went to the sale, and Shawn was absolutely correct.”

Since then, Spooks Gotta Spark has held a special place in Revenberg’s heart. “I decided to bring him home so I could ride him myself,” she shared. “I really like this horse, so I asked [NRHA Professional Loris Epis] here in Ontario to show him.”

But as the inaugural Run for a Million in Las Vegas approached, Revenberg knew she couldn’t keep her all-star in Canada much longer. Although she received three inquiries about using her horse in the Million Dollar Invitational, Flarida’s lucrative history with the buckskin stallion made the NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider the obvious choice for Revenberg.

“He didn’t have much time to get him ready, but he did an amazing job,” she said of Flarida’s performance in the Million Dollar Invitational. Spooks Gotta Spark marked a 228, which landed Flarida and the stallion a fourth-place finish and a $65,000 payout.

In February 2020, Bill and Patty Fingland of Rogersville, Mo. purchased the flashy buckskin. With them, he placed in the Top 10 at the 2020 NRHA Open Derby presented by Markel and went on to place 13th in the Level 4 NRBC Open Classic.

It was at the NRBC that Spooks Gotta Spark caught the eye of Kevin Truax and the two bonded instantly. Not long after the team returned from the show, Truax was celebrating the purchase of the most talented reining horse he feels that he has ever owned. “We brought him to our barn the week we bought him. Derek, my daughter, Kiersten, and I each got on him for a bit. He was just so incredible to ride.” Truax said.

As Truax rushed to arrange for Spooks Gotta Sparks’s quickly approaching debut in the breeding barn, Heitland rode the stallion to a Level 2 AQHA Senior Reining World Reserve Co-Championship, and at the 2020 Adequan® NAACs, the talented reiner earned Heitland the NAAC Limited Open title.

Lorenzo Lotti at Foals R Us, in Whitesboro, Texas, made quick accommodations for Spooks Gotta Spark to stand there, and Cam Essick took care of advertisements.

With Spooks Gotta Spark’s future as a sire in the works, Flarida opened up another opportunity for the pair to compete for a million dollars. “Once the next Run For A Million was announced, Shawn worked out a training schedule with Lorenzo. We took Spooks Gotta Spark to Ohio in February and bred with him up there while he was getting in shape.” Truax shared. “In Arizona, we felt good about the qualifier until we found out we were draw number one. I knew it would be tough, so figured we would likely be on the bubble and be nervous all day. After Shawn went, we felt great about qualifying, then realized we may actually win it after abo 70 horses went. To get the high score with all that firepower was unbelievable. Being able to stand in the win picture with all the big names around us was a true dream come true.”

Perhaps Truax’s connection to Spooks Gotta Spark runs even deeper. He said, “My father died last June, so I do feel this has been guided in some way by him.  We have been reining for 40 years, but never at this level. We hope to have one more ride in August to really see what he can do. My goal is to have lots of his babies on the ground for others to enjoy.” 

For breeding information about Spooks Gotta Spark, go to foals-r-us.com/spooks-gotta-spark/.

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Platinum Performance® to Sponsor Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw at NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

The Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party returns to the NRHA Derby presented by Markel on Wednesday, June 23. (NRHA Staff photo)

National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partner Platinum Performance® has supported the reining industry over 20 years. That support continues in 2021, with a much-anticipated, in-person Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw Party to be held during the NRHA Derby Presented by Markel.

The slow return to normalcy has everyone abuzz with excitement and this event is another step in the right direction. Attendees will enjoy a delicious catered meal, drinks, and all of the nail-biting enthusiasm of the Non Pro Finals Draw and after missing a year due to Covid, the popular Reiners Rope dummy roping will be also held. The Party will be held at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, June 23.

“As long-time partners of NRHA, we are excited to sponsor the Platinum Performance® Welcome Party featuring the Non Pro Finals Draw as well as the Platinum Performance® Virtual Open Draw Party at the 2021 NRHA Derby,” said Lauren Thompson, Equine Marketing Manager. “We look forward to maintaining our commitment to provide superior nutrition and unmatched personal service to the valued NRHA membership.”

The support of Platinum Performance® extends well beyond the Party. The company will also provide the exhibitor bags given to every NRHA Derby competitor. In addition, Platinum Performance® will sponsor a Virtual Open Draw Party Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. The decision was made to keep the Platinum Performance® Open Draw Party virtual so that trainers could be available to their non pro finalists.

The 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel takes place at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City June 19-27. For more information about this premier event, visit NRHADerby.com

Platinum Performance® believes in the power of nutrition and supplementation and remains committed to providing formulas that produce superior results in the horse. For 25 years, Platinum has continued to research the role of nutrition with regards to wellness and performance and is committed to providing equine veterinarians, horse owners and trainers the nutritional tools they need to benefit from cutting edge equine nutrition. Horse health is the Platinum Performance® mission, and we look forward to helping you find your Platinum. Learn more at PlatinumPerformance.com.