Category: Events

As we move into the busiest time of the year and some may look ahead to the NRHA Futurity, Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (ARC), World Titles, Year-end standings and more – there are already events to look forward to in 2023! Read below to learn more about the exciting events coming. 

Buckle ceremony to be held at NRHA Derby 2023

In February 2022, the NRHA Board of Directors made plans to host a ceremony to honor prior year NRHA Top Ten achievers and Top 20 Professionals, Non Pros and Owners during the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Nearly 200 NRHA members from around the world attended the event and enjoyed an evening of fun, food and recognition. Following a successful event this year, the NRHA Buckle Ceremony will be back in 2023! It is scheduled again during the NRHA Derby and is the perfect stage to honor those horse and rider combinations for the accomplishments they made in the prior year. The exact date of the event will be posted as the show schedule is finalized.

Total of $160,000 Added to the 2023 4-Year-Old Stakes

Debuting at the 2023 Derby will be the reinvigorated 4-Year-Old Open and Non Pro Stakes with an additional $100,000 added. Last year the Tamarack Ranch Open featured $40,000 added with $20,000 in the Colston Paving Non Pro. With the additional $100,000, those added money totals will grow to $110,000 in the Open and $50,000 in the Non Pro.

It was the consensus of the NRHA Board that this would give 4-year-old horses the opportunity to show one more year for good money while not having to compete against older, more finished horses. As in the past, the division will be run concurrently with the Derby preliminaries, and the placings will be decided in the first round. Entry in the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel will be optional.

Masters class added to Affiliate Regional Championships

After requests from NRHA members and affiliates, starting in 2023 there will be an optional Affiliate Regional Championship Masters Non Pro class! The addition of this class offering is another way that the affiliates can expand participation in their region. This will function like the optional ARC Short Stirrup class where it is not a qualifying class for the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship, but the host will be required to buy and present the special ARC awards for this class.

Additional North American Affiliate Regional Championship Support

Along with opening host bids for multiple regions for the 2023 North American Affiliate Regional Championships, we have exciting news! At the August Board Meeting, the board approved a new budget item – NRHA will provide the trophies for all North American ARC classes! NRHA recognizes the financial commitment affiliates must make to host an ARC, and the Board was thrilled to show their support of the grassroots level by providing this future support. Contact your affiliate to inquire about an ARC in your region. 

The National Reining Horse Association Markel Futurity Sales have long been the place to find and purchase top reining prospects from reputable programs. Over the past 22 years, millions of dollars have changed hands, and countless horses have gone on to great success at major NRHA events.

There is a long list of notable Sale graduates, including reigning NRHA Futurity Champion Ten Thirty, who was ridden to the title by NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary. Ten Thirty, Hip number 1030 in the 2019 Select Yearling Sale was consigned by Brooke Wharton and purchased by Cooper Smith for $44,000. The colt, by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Dainty Little Step, was registered at the time as Gunna Go Rogue. When Rancho El Fortin purchased the colt, they renamed him to his hip number, Ten Thirty.

This year’s NRHA Markel Futurity Sales will be held Thursday, December 1, in the Sale Arena of Oklahoma State Fair Park, continuing the one-day Sale arrangement that has been extremely popular with both consignors and buyers.

According to Angie Honeywell, NRHA Senior Manager of ReinerSuite and Futurity Sales, there have been some exciting changes in the format for this year’s Sales.

The Futurity Prospect Sale, which has only been open to two-year-olds, has been changed to a Performance Horse Sale that will include show horses of any age. “The Performance Horse Sale will have horses for every level of rider and will include prospects, futurity and derby horses, and ancillary horses,” Honeywell explained. “This is an exciting new addition to the Sales’ lineup because now there will be show horses available of all ages.”

The other change is in the Elite Yearling Sale. Traditionally, the dams of consigned horses had to have $25,000 or more in progeny and/or lifetime earnings in NRHA only. While the threshold remains $25,000, that money can now be earned from the National Reined Cow Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association as well.

The NRHA Markel Futurity Sales Consignment Deadline is September 7, and consignments can be made online at NRHA.com/Sales

For more information about the l NRHA Markel Futurity Sales, contact Angie Honeywell at sales@nrha.com.

A World Championship in the National Reining Horse Association is one of the most sought-after accolades in the reining horse industry. Exhibitors traverse the highways competing all year at events to earn money that go towards the title race.

The 2021 World and Reserve World Champions will be recognized next month during the Four Sixes Ranch NRHA Derby presented by Markel. On June 18, at 6:15 p.m., those titlists will be presented with their commemorative Montana Silversmiths buckles during the buckle ceremony in the Sale Arena at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds.

“The NRHA Board of Directors knows how important the World Championship race is to our members, and worked together to plan an appropriate way to honor them,” noted Christa Morris-Stone, NRHA Assistant Commissioner. “They felt that recognizing these members during the reining industry’s second-largest event was not only appropriate, but it would allow these accomplishments to be celebrated by each winner’s family, friends, and peers.”

In addition to the buckle presentation to the World and Reserve World Champions, the Top 20 Owners, Professionals, and Non Pros will be recognized. “We will have a special memento for those individuals who made the Top 20 lists, and we will also recognize all the Top 10 winners on screen,” Morris-Stone said.

World & Reserve World Champions

• Open World Champion – Shines Like Spook & Ann Fonck
• Open Reserve World Champion – Cody Rooster Delmaso & Klaus Lechner
• Int. Open World Champion – Mr Gun WR San Jo & Tiara Van Dongen
• Int. Open Reserve World Champion – HA Handsome Harry & Patryk Peszke
• Ltd. Open World Champion – Show Stopping Juice & Jesse Gentile/Julia Beth Henderson
• Rookie Pro. World Champion – Dun It Smoking Gun & Alex Gerard Case
• Rookie Pro. Reserve World Champion – Found By Mistress & Taylor Davis
• Non Pro World Champion – Nikolai Stiller & Hollywood Gunrunner
• Non Pro Reserve World Champion – Adrienne Speidel & ARC Walla Smart
• Int. Non Pro World Champion – Raeanna Thayn & Roseswhiz
• Int. Non Pro Reserve World Champion – Michael Hancock & Nics Custom Dually
• Ltd. Non Pro World Champion – Emerson Madonia & This Chic Is Dreamy
• Ltd. Non Pro Reserve World Champion – Sydney Weaver & Whizards Little Step
• Prime Time Non Pro World Champion – Parker MIchin & Conquered This Town
• Prime Time Non Pro Reserve World Champion – Shawn Reynolds & Shiny Gunman
• Nov. Horse Open L1 World Champion – DP Docs Misstrash & Peter DeFreitas
• Nov. Horse Open L1 Reserve World Champion – Dreaming Of Guns & Bobby Avila Jr.
• Nov. Horse Open L2 World Champion – Dreaming Of Guns & Bobby Avila Jr.
• Nov. Horse Open L2 Reserve World Champion – Good Friday For Guns & Jesse Gentile
• Nov. Horse Open L3 World Champion – DP Docs Misstrash & Peter DeFreitas
• Nov. Horse Open L3 Reserve World Champion – Ruf N Trouble Whiz & Josh Murphy
• Nov. Horse Non Pro L1 World Champion – Lisa Bricker & Lotta Mobster
• Nov. Horse Non Pro L1 Reserve World Champion – Abby Jennings & Low Voltage Chic
• Nov. Horse Non Pro L2 World Champion – Kyla Thurlow & Kachina Olena Tag
• Nov. Horse Non Pro L2 Reserve World Champion – Lynn Miller & Gata Chromed Magnum
• Nov. Horse Non Pro L3 World Champion – Kyla Thurlow & Kachina Olena Tag
• Nov. Horse Non Pro L3 Reserve World Champion – Kary Key & Cant Spook Me
• Youth 13 & Under World Champion – Becca Schaffhauser & Dun Got My Rest
• Youth 13 & Under Reserve World Champion – Reed Selner & Whiz Good To Go
• Youth 14 – 18 World Champion – Shelby Jane Lynch & Jac N Jewels Spark
• Youth 13 – 18 Reserve World Champion – Gracie Mae Stingle & Lucky Little Seven

Complete Top 10 and Top 20 lists can be found here.

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Admission to the Buckle Ceremony is free of charge, and the event is open to everyone, but Morris-Stone asked that people, especially award recipients, RSVP at NRHA.com/RSVP to help with a catering headcount.

Any updates to this event or others held during the 6666 Ranch NRHA Derby presented by Markel will be posted on the event’s schedule at NRHADerby.com and distributed through NRHA’s various news channels.

Arguably one of the funnest benefit events hosted at a horse show, Reiners Rope is returning to the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. Slated for Wednesday, June 22, Reiners Rope is an action-packed benefit for the Reining Horse Foundation’s Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund. Organized by NRHA Professionals Billy Williams and Patrick Flaherty with help from Marshall Kyle, Robert Barshofsky, Jeremy Olsen, and a host of other volunteers including other NRHA Professionals providing awards, the fundraiser has been popular with the large audience gathered for the Platinum Performance Welcome Party.

What began as an evening of fun for a few reining enthusiasts in 2019, quickly grew to become a favorite fundraiser chock-full of comradery, friendly competition, and lots of laughs. The event is open for all to watch as horseless ropers pit their skills against others in this one-of-a-kind dummy roping, and all to benefit the RHF’s Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund that provides grants to NRHA members enduring major hardships, such as illness, accidents and disasters.

In its inaugural year, announcer Jason Jackson and NRHA Professional Matt Armenta emerged as Reiners Rope champions. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a hiatus for the event in 2020, but the next year, when it raised nearly $2,000 for the RHF, two former strangers came together to win the event: Shane Walters and Jett Miser.

Walters, who owns Diamond Dub Quarter Horses along with his wife, Kalicia, said, “One of the great things about Reiners Rope for us was that we got to meet a lot of people that we didn’t know, so it helped grow our network. It’s a great thing to be able to help others in need.”

Miser said, “It was tons of fun. I would recommend [Reiners Rope] to anyone who can swing a rope.”

The 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel will be held in Oklahoma City at State Fair Park June 15 – 26. The best 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old reining horses and riders will be laying it all on the line for a chance at some major prize money.

Formally established as a recognized nonprofit organization in 2001, the Reining Horse Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the National Reining Horse Association. A renewed focus is driving efforts to expand fundraising so that the Foundation can do more to support the reining community. Donations of all sizes are relevant when it comes to helping reiners in need through the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, providing educational scholarships and youth leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association, and perpetuating the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For information visit the website at reiningfoundation.com.

On December 1, 2021, reining enthusiasts will come together for Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch. The event, which regularly draws more than 400 attendees, is the Reining Horse Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser.  The celebration is held during the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. The 2020 event was cancelled, so the night of philanthropy and celebration is one many in the industry are eagerly looking forward to.

A highlight of the 2021 soiree will be the annual live auction, which is limited to a select group of items. This year’s donations are:

• A John Deere TS Gator donated by Equine Discounts.
  • The John Deere TS 4×2 Utility Vehicle features cushioned bucket seating, a 12-v outlet, and a large, durable cargo box for heavy hauling.
• A private clinic for eight people in 2022 with NRHA Professional and former NRHA Professional of the Year Mirjam Stillo.
  • The clinic will be held at the privately-owned Ranchos Los Vaqueros in Pilot Point, Texas. The clinic includes lunch and post-clinic cocktails in the welcoming event space. Hosted and made possible by Mirjam Stillo Performance Horses, Nancy and John Tague of Toyon Ranch and Debbie and Gary Conway of Ranchos Los Vaqueros.
• A custom-made, handcrafted 18K gold pendant from MS Diamonds TX.
  • NRHA Corporate Partner MS Diamonds TX will create a custom 18K gold pendant set with 1ct GVS quality diamonds complete with the winner’s logo.
• A 2022 embryo for Wind Her Up Chic, donated by NRHA Corporate Partners Tim Anderson and Kim Niven.
  • Wind Her Up Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Wind Her Up Doc) is a former NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and National Reining Breeders Classic Open finalist with lifetime earnings exceeding $100,000. Embryos for Wind Her Up Chic, who holds the 16^th spot on the NRHA Lifetime Producers List, are not available publicly outside of the Sliders’ Night Out Live Auction.

“The proceeds raised from this event and through the RHF benefit our members in a variety of ways, including the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, youth scholarships, supporting our Hall of Fame, and more,” Clark shared. “Every dollar donated, whether it’s a big donation or small, adds up and makes a difference. The RHF just keeps growing every day, and I, and the rest of the RHF Board, are thankful for every donor. This is our 20^th anniversary, and the RHF is at a level we dreamed of when it started. We have great leaders with a great vision, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

New in 2021, Sliders’ Night Out will offer live, online bidding powered by Auction Mobility, the same platform that will be used for this year’s NRHA Markel Futurity Sales on December 2. To view the Slider’s Night Out Auction, go to auctions.nrha.com, or download the new NRHA Sales App. Proxy and absentee bidding is also available, and those interested can contact RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker.

In addition to the Live Auction, there will be a pledge auction where everyone in attendance is welcome to contribute to the RHF. Unrestricted gifts of $100 or more will receive donor recognition in the Reiners Club.

Hosted by the RHF, the event will honor and recognize the NRHA Hall of Fame inductees as well as the recipients of the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2020 and 2021. “We are excited to formally welcome 2020 Hall of Fame inductees Sally Brown and Jerry Kimmel, and the 2021 inductees Doug Carpenter and Jose Vazquez,” said Rick Clark, NRHA President and RHF Development Chairperson. “We will also recognize Mike Carrier and Charles Vaughan, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2020 and 2021. These are well-deserved honors, and we are excited to celebrate each of these individuals.”

The RHF, which serves as the charitable arm of the NRHA. Through major underwriters and Hall of Fame table hosts, dollars are raised in support of the RHF mission of caring for and honoring the reining community.

Donors of every level are important. They come from individuals, corporations, ranches, training barns, foundations and groups of reiners joining forces to support the event. Baker said a limited number of tables and seats remain available for the event and encourages anyone wanting to attend, to act quickly.

Advance reservations are encouraged to ensure a chance to be in attendance at Sliders’ Night Out and enjoy the chef-prepared dinner and celebration. Individual tickets are available.

To make reservations, contact Leslie Baker, RHF, (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or email rhf@nrha.com.