Category: Events

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.

For Immediate Release – Nov. 20, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma –The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is innovating for its highly successful NRHA Markel Futurity Sales by offering online bidding in 2020. The series of Markel Sales have been combined into a one-day super sale, set for December 3 and beginning at 9 a.m. in Arena 6 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Online bidders from around the globe are invited to participate. Bidders are required to be pre-approved by completing the online bidding form no later than December 1 at 11:59 p.m. Online bidding registration is open now and can be completed in advance of this deadline.

Registering can be completed in three easy steps:

1. Complete this online bidding form and return it to onlinesales@nrha.com.
2. Go to DVAuction and create an account (you can skip the bank information portion since payment will be handled through NRHA).
3. Once you’ve created your account, you can go to DVAuction.com to log in to the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales on December 3.

It’s important to note that this pre-approval process only applies to the online bidders. Online buyers also need to have care and shipping arrangements made for their purchases. For questions with registration or the online bidding process, please contact Terry Addis at (405) 370-0901.

Individuals attending the sale in-person need to complete the buyer registration form at nrha.com/sales. Sale attendees are encouraged to complete this online form prior to the event to aid the sales process and assist with following COVID protocols. Forms will be available at the event if needed.

The NRHA Markel Futurity Sales have long been recognized as presenting top-quality equine athletes. Each year, sales records are broken, and the sale alumni often go on to greatness in high stakes reining competition. The digital catalog, including photos and videos, of the consignments is available at nrha.com/sales.

The annual National Reining Horse Association Markel Futurity Sales have long been recognized as venues that present only the finest horses to an always appreciative group of buyers. Each year, records are broken, and sale alumni often go on to greatness in high stakes reining competition. In 2020, the sales, which have previously been spread over three days, have been combined into a one-day super sale, set for Dec. 3.

This year’s sales will take place in Arena 6, and the day will start at 8 a.m. with a breakfast sponsored by Q Stallions, the American Quarter Horse Association’s All Stallions Directory. Auction action will begin promptly at 9 a.m. with the National Reining Horse Youth Association Stallion Auction. Breedings to 12 top stallions will be auctioned this year, and NRHyA officers will be presenting each of the stallions for bidding. These available breedings are listed in the Futurity Sale catalog.

Leading off the horse sale will be the Futurity Prospect Sale, an incredible showcase for two-year-old reiners. Buyers will have the opportunity to see these horses ridden the evening before in Norick Coliseum, where groups of six are presented to the audience.

Following the Futurity Prospect Sale is the Select Yearling Sale, presenting yearling reining-bred horses by top reining stallions. Then the focus moves to the Select Breeders sale which showcases broodmares, stallion, weanlings and even embryos. Wrapping up the day of incredible horses will be the Marketplace sale featuring horses from yearlings to show horses.

Although the sale ring action will not pause, lunch and hospitality will be provided during the sales, sponsored by Vaughn Zimmerman’s Not Ruf At All, Cinder Lakes Ranch and Paramount Network’s Yellowstone.

Bidders have a choice of bidding in person, at ringside, or online. Interested bidders can visit nrha.com/sales to register prior to the sale. To be able to bid at sale time, they must be pre-approved by 5 p.m. on Dec. 1. This online bidding is sponsored by Cinder Lakes Ranch.

Doug Carpenter, longtime member of the NRHA Futurity Sale Committee, is excited about the quality of the horses offered in this year’s sale. “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. It is an incredible set of horses! 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.

Carpenter continued, “I think it’s fantastic that we are doing the sale in one day on the non-showing day for Futurity. People can come to the sale and focus on that without the sale schedule conflicting with the Futurity competition. In the past, we have had complaints from buyers and consignors because of the sale overlapping the show, and this year that is not going to happen.”

For more information about the sale and to view the online catalog visit nrha.com/sales.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)/Markel Sales, held in December during the annual NRHA Futurity, will offer online bidding for the first time in recognition of concerns surrounding the coronavirus and its potential impact on travel and public gatherings.

“We want to be proactive and show that we’re aware that traditional bidding methods might not be practical due to the global pandemic,” said Doug Carpenter, Heritage Place representative and member of the NRHA Sale Selection Committee, which manages the sales. “We’re pleased to offer this additional mode of bidding for our live auctions come December.”

This also assures the best marketplace possible for sellers by expanding the bidding pool across the country and around the world.

Along with in-person and online bidding, the NRHA Sales will continue to offer phone bidding services.

“We support these creative innovations to keep the NRHA/Markel Futurity Sales accessible to all buyers and sellers,” said NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter.

The NRHA/Markel Sales offer an outstanding group of two-year-old reining prospects, yearlings, broodmares, and show horses from leading breeders, owners, and trainers. All sales are managed by the NRHA office with the support and direction from the NRHA Sale Selection Committee. The quality and integrity of the NRHA/Markel Futurity Sales is reflected in the graduates of the previous sales—they have won millions in NRHA earnings since the first 2-year olds sold in 1993.

For more information on the NRHA/Markel Futurity Sales contact us at sales@nrha.com or call sale manager Angie Honeywell at (405) 946-7400, ext. 123.