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.
A Full Day of Horse Showing at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel
For Immediate Release – June 14, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Day two of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA presented by Markel Insurance is in the books, with more than 176 entries competing in the horse show classes. Once again, large class sizes dictated the split to two arenas for the classes, with the Open horse show classes being held in the Adequan® Arena, and the Novice Horse Non Pro exhibitors competing in Arena Six.
Fappani and Piper Tie for Win of Open (1)
Andrea Fappani
Andrea Fappani and Nathan Piper tied for the win of the $6k added Open (1) class. Fappani was riding Shine Plum Shine, while Piper rode Ruff Spook, with each winning $1,846.
The decision to show in the Open was a last-minute one for both Fappani and Piper. Piper had planned to show Ruff Spook at another large event. “We were going to show in the Shootout. When they canceled that, I decided to bring him here to show in this Open here,” Piper said.
“This horse is still derby eligible, but it was a last-minute deal, so I figured I’d bring him and show him in this class. It’s great that the NRHA put a $6k open in here. We decided to go for it, and it worked out even though it was last minute,” Fappani shared.
Shine Plum Shine, by Shine Chic Shine and out of Plum Reyning, is owned by Rancho Oso Rio. “I showed this horse the last couple years and he’s been pretty successful. We had a little bobble on the second stop. The ground is a little more slick than what we have in Arizona, and we’ve only been on it one day so it will take a few more days to adjust. Other than that I was really happy with him. He was with me the whole time,” Fappani said. “I thank the owners Jim and Pat Warren of Rancho Oso Rio. I manage the ranch they always make sure I have nice horses to show. Thank you to my whole team. It’s always a team effort, and I appreciate them.”
Nathan Piper
While Fappani is confident about his Derby entries, he’s glad this is his second event back. “We had a show in Arizona a couple weeks ago. It was the first time we showed, and it was a good thing because I was a little rusty. Hopefully, I’m ready now,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll show in the Derby, and Luca is showing a couple in the Non Pro, and then we have a couple other non pros, but it’s pretty chill and we’re going to enjoy it. We’re definitely happy to be showing again.”
Ruff Spook, by Smart Spook out of Ruffle Me Up, is owned by Shannon and Hershel Reid. “He’s an 11-year-old stallion, and he’s had a lot of experience. This was the first time for me to show him and he was great. I’ve had him about three weeks, but he’s a machine, so it was pretty easy out there,” Piper shared. “I thank my Lord and Savior, my family, and everyone who works for me. It takes a village.”
This was also the second event for Piper. “We went to a show in Hamilton, Texas, and were very happy to have that. It will be interesting to see how it goes in the Derby. I had a system for myself, but I could see getting lost on how to prepare these last few months,” he said. “We brought 19 head of horses here. We have people showing in almost every class.”
Debbie Brown and A Glorious Nite Top Intermediate Open (1)
Debbie Brown piloted A Glorious Nite to a 146 to pocket $503 for the Intermediate Open (1) win. The five-year-old mare, by Gunners Special Nite out of Glory B Whiz, is owned by David Silva. “She was very good. She’s not been in the pen a bunch showing even though she’s five. She was really good in the maneuvers. She turned, ran, and stopped really well, and had no penalties, so it was really good,” Brown said.
Brown is a trainer at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses and will be spending most of her week at the Derby helping out the crew. “We have a great team. I thank Tom and Mandy McCutcheon. They’re fantastic to work for. I thank the owners, David and Bonnie Silva, who have been fantastic over the years. They have such great horses and are great supporters,” Brown said.
The NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance, is the first big event back for Brown. “It’s nice to be getting back to the normal routine,” she said.
Wade McDonald and Smart Lil Velvet Win Limited Open (1) and Rookie Pro. (1)
With a score of 142.5, Wade McDonad and Smart Lil Velvet took the top spot of both the Limited Open (1) and the Rookie Professional (1). The dual wins came with more than $616.
Smart Lil Velvet, by Smart Like Juice out of Velvet Pistol, is owned by Bruce Koefoot.
Courtney Battison and Corona Tag Win Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 1 & 3 (1)
Courtney Battison
With COVID-19 protocols in place, Courtney Battison did not think there would be an awards ceremony in the arena, so after competing on Corona Tag in the Novice Horse Non Pro classes, she made the short trip home to Purcell. She and her mare had marked a 143, so when she got the call from Trevor and Laura Dare that there would be awards, she headed back to Oklahoma City. “I rushed back up and made it just in time,” she said. Battison and Corona Tag not only won Levels 1 and 3, they also finished reserve in the Level 2, for checks totaling $1,724.
Battison has owned Corona Tag, by Whiz N Tag Chex out of Kachina Oak Olena, for a few years. “She had a little soundness issue, but she’s all fixed up now so we’re back at it. I showed her last year and now this year,” Battison said. “She’s the same almost every time, and we had a great run today. I think my stops were a little bit better than the last time we showed. We’ve improved on that.”
Battison will stay busy this week with two horses entered in the Non Pro Derby. “I’ll also show this mare again on Wednesday. This is the first time I’ve gotten to show. We went to Tulsa to a horse show in March, and that’s been it. It’s great to be out showing again.” She added, “I thank Trevor and Laura. They’ve helped me a lot this year.”
Indy Roper and Lil Whizzer Gun Take Top Honors in Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 (1)
Indy Roper
Once Indy Roper got off work last Friday, she and her dad loaded up to make the 14-hour drive to Oklahoma City. “We’re here now and we’re ready to go,” she said. Roper is off to a great start, having won the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, and $631, with a 144 on Lil Whizzer Gun.
“He was excellent. I took him to an Indiana horse show last weekend and schooled him a little bit. I was hoping that he would come here and be good, and he showed off his maneuvers today,” she said.
Lil Whizzer Gun, owned by Tim Roper, is by Lil Gun and out of Sugar Baby Whiz. “We bought him as a three-year-old and showed him in some derbies. He’s a horse I have at home to help me stay tuned up for my other derby horses. I have two derby horses to show this week, and then I hope to show this horse again, too,” she said. “I went to the Mother’s Day Slide in Arizona, and that was my first time back out showing. It felt great to be showing again. We put in all that hard work, and now it’s time to be at a horse show. We’re all smiles.”
Roper had several people to thank, including her father and family back home. “They’re great cheerleaders. I also thank Marco Ricotta, who has been instrumental in tuning me up and giving me pointers while we’re here,” Roper said.
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.
