The Brant/Priest Performance Horses fire has shaken the equine world. And, from the heartbreak there are countless positive messages of inspiration, caring and community. The Reining Horse Foundation is honored to announce a $45,000 gift from the DPL Fund, at the direction of NRHA Non Pro Diana Duffey and her husband, Vince Lahey. The gift is in honor of each special animal lost to the fire.
“We are making this gift in hopes that those beautiful horses’ strong and brave spirits may continue to lift up others in need,” Diana shared. “Thank you for all RHF does in support of NRHA members. We are truly blessed to have a resource like RHF in our sport.”
Diana and Vince have issued an #HONORINGTHE45 CHALLENGE in memory of the 44 horses and 1 dog lost in the fire. They hope to inspire others to give.
You are invited to make a donation to RHF in any amount…whether $4.50, $450 or $4,500. Everything helps!
Visit the RHF table in the Super Barn or go to reiningfoundation.com/donate to participate. Your gifts are appreciated!
The Reining Horse Foundation (RHF) is reopening the application window for its Merit scholarship program through July 1, 2024. RHF Merit Scholarships are new and designed to reward NRHA members who have not previously won an RHF scholarship. Eligibility is for students already pursuing their post-high school education at an accredited college or trade school program.
Three awards of $1,500 each are available. To see the complete criteria and access the online application, visit the scholarship application at NRHyA.com/scholarships.
The first section of 2024 merit scholarship winners were selected after a spring deadline. RHF congratulates Ryan Jensen of Loveland, Colorado, and Alex Loftin of Chester, Arkansas.
Ryan Jensen (L) and Alex Loftin (R)
Jensen is a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She is pursuing a degree in corporate communications. She plans to work in commercial real estate communications. She has earned the Baylor Academic Distinction Award and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Jensen also competes on the university equestrian team.
Loftin attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and is pursuing a degree in ag business and pre-law with a minor in legal studies. His goal is to become an attorney. He rode on his university’s Ranch Horse Team in 2023 and was the collegiate novice ranch horse champion. In addition to participating in collegiate organizations, he serves as a volunteer firefighter.
“Congratulations to these students, who are the first to be awarded the RHF Merit Scholarships,” said Terri Mainey, chair of the RHF Scholarship Committee. “The Reining Horse Foundation is proud to have added five new awards for 2024 as part of expanding our total scholarship offerings. We hope more students will take advantage of this opportunity for help achieving their education.”
For nearly 25 years, members of the equine community have been doing good things through the Reining Horse Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Reining Horse Association. With its mission of caring for and honoring the reining community, the RHF has supporters from around the world. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund providing financial relief to reiners enduring major hardships; youth scholarship and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For more information or to give, visit reiningfoundation.com.
The Reining Horse Foundation is proud to announce new scholarships that provide opportunities to students already enrolled in higher education. Along with these new RHF Merit Scholarships, the longstanding RHF Scholarships are available. Applications are due March 1, 2024.
The RHF Merit Scholarships include five $1,500 awards for students who were National Reining Horse Youth Association members, maintain an NRHA membership, and are actively pursuing a college or trade school education full-time at an accredited institution. The eligible applicants may not have previously received any RHF/NRHyA scholarship.
The RHF Scholarships include ten awards in varying amounts from $1,500 up to $5,000. The criteria are weighted toward financial need with additional academic achievement and involvement considerations. Applicants must be NRHyA members for at least 24 months prior to application and be high school seniors. Previous recipients may reapply and are eligible to receive these scholarships one additional time during their post-high school education. Students must be current members of NRHA to apply.
“The RHF Merit Scholarships should be especially attractive to students who have been active in NRHyA and the NRHA. These are designed to encourage students as they keep striving for their education,” said Terri Mainey, chair of the RHF Scholarship Committee. “RHF takes great pride in continuing to expand our scholarship offerings. Our donors believe in the next generation and what they will contribute to reining and the world at large.”
RHF funding comes from a broad cross-section of the equine community, including individuals, businesses, and foundations. NRHyA members, NRHA affiliates and shows, and reiners of all ages hold creative and successful fundraisers benefiting RHF programs.
“There are stories about the RHF Scholarship program coming to life when movers and shakers got together at an NRHA show and started dreaming of ways to help young people involved in the sport,” said Tim Anderson, RHF president. “That’s been decades ago now, and today’s scholarship program is growing thanks to the support of many givers.”
A major program expansion doubled the funding amounts for RHF Scholarships in 2022 and increased them again for 2023. The RHF and Merit Scholarships are part of a larger program that makes more than $60,000 in awards available annually to NRHyA members. Other opportunities are available through the Varsity Reining Club, Affiliate Regional Scholarships, and the NRHyA’s CINCH Speaking Contest.
New in 2024, the application process is completely online. The forms and additional criteria can be viewed at nrhya.com/scholarships.
For nearly 25 years, members of the equine community have been doing good things through the Reining Horse Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Reining Horse Association. With its mission of caring for and honoring the reining community, the RHF has supporters from around the world. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, which provides financial relief to reiners enduring major hardships; youth scholarship and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and the perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For more information or to give, visit reiningfoundation.com.
The Reining Horse Foundation Board of Directors has elected new officers and Board members. Tim Anderson of Milbank, South Dakota, was re-elected to serve a two-year term as president of the nonprofit charitable arm of NRHA. Rick Clark of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, is the new vice president, and Nancy Tague of Pilot Point, Texas, is the new Secretary/Treasurer. Under new Bylaws approved in 2023, as vice president, Clark will be automatically nominated for the office of president for a two-year term beginning in 2026.
Patrick Flaherty of Scottsdale, Arizona, Jamie Walters of Laguna Beach, California, and Billy Williams of Aubrey, Texas, were re-elected to serve their second, three-year terms on the Board. Under RHF Bylaws, the officer and board member recommendations were reviewed and approved by the NRHA Board of Directors at its November meeting. All the positions take effect beginning January 1, 2024.
“What excites me about having been part of the successful leadership of RHF is how far we have come and how far we can possibly go,” said Anderson. “I appreciate those who have dedicated their service to helping us move the organization forward, and I look forward to the next two years.”
The RHF Board meets via conference call at least quarterly. There are working committees to advance the work of the Foundation and make recommendations to the Board. Generally speaking, directors are eligible to serve two consecutive full, three-year terms before retiring for a minimum of one year. Officers may continue to serve while on the Executive Committee.
Retiring from the Board after serving since becoming a Distinguished Director in 2016 is Loren Booth of Orange Cove, California. Booth later served as an officer on the executive committee and as vice president.
RHF Board members are responsible for meeting the duty of care, loyalty, and obedience accepted as well-established principles of nonprofit governance. They support the organization’s mission to care for and honor the reining community. In practice, they facilitate fundraising for the growing RHF, develop and executive the organization’s strategic plan, and give attention to core programs.
Anyone interested in serving on the RHF Board should contact Nancy Tague, the Nominating/Governance Committee chair, or RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker at rhf@nrha.com.
For more than two decades, members of the equine community have been doing good things through the RHF, which has supporters from around the world. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, which provides financial relief to reiners enduring major hardships; youth scholarship and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For more information or to give, visit reiningfoundation.com.
The room glittered brightly as reining industry stars and enthusiasts turned out for the shining event of the charitable season: the Reining Horse Foundation Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch.
Spurs and saddles were set aside in favor of sequins for the gala Nov. 29 in the historic Centennial Building at OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. The event raised more than $300,000 for the Reining Horse Foundation and honored difference-makers during the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.
“This is an annual celebration to come together and honor new and previous inductees into the NRHA Hall of Fame, as well as the recipient of the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award – the highest honors bestowed by NRHA. The second purpose is to raise funding crucial for the RHF and its core programs,” said Rick Clark, chairman of the RHF Board of Directors development committee and a foundation officer. “This is the fifth year the gala will be in this format. I’m proud to say Toyon Ranch has been the presenting donor all five years; we have great appreciation for the leadership from owners John and Nancy Tague.”
The newest members of the NRHA Hall of Fame were inducted:
The late Bob McDonnell, known as “Bob Mac”
Dell Hendricks
Gunnatrashya
The NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to:
Dave Belson
Jenifer Reynolds & Chris Cook
The event recognizes honorees and shines a light on history makers, said Leslie Baker, executive director of the Reining Horse Foundation, while also serving as a primary fundraiser for the Foundation.
“We raised more than $300,000 for the Reining Horse Foundation – a record for this event,” Baker said. “We want to thank all the donors and event supporters. Toyon Ranch, already the presenting sponsor, offered to match up to $25,000 in donations for the Dale Wilkinson Crisis Fund, and donors met that match.”
Since 2018, Sliders’ Night Out has been the single largest annual fundraiser for the Reining Horse Foundation, the charitable arm of NRHA.
“(The donations) give us tremendous momentum to continue growth of the Foundation’s core programs,” Baker said.
Adrianna Runzo, NRHyA president, announced on behalf of the Reining Horse Foundation that beginning in 2024, former youth members who remain active NRHA members can apply for five new Merit Scholarships, which are $1,500 each, available to students in accredited college or trade school programs.
RHF is broadening the pool, Runzo said, as these scholarships will be reserved for students who have never been awarded any scholarships by the NRHyA and Reining Horse Foundation and who have started in higher education programs.
“This is a terrific way to reach more members and help more students,” Runzo said. “There’s a good chance it may even reach some nontraditional students.”
Jeff Tebow led the live auction with six generously donated goods and services. The proceeds will go toward the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, the Hall of Fame, and youth scholarships, among other benefits for NRHA members. The auction raised $241,500.
Would-be buyers excitedly raised the bid on the NASCAR Truck Series experience, donated by ThorSport. The experience, which included an opportunity to put a logo on a ThorSport truck for the season-opening event at Dayton International Speedway, was the high-seller in the live auction, going for $100,000 to 100X Equine.
Other items were:
$80,000 – Toyon Ranch won the bid for a breeding package featuring GeneTech ICSI Services, an embryo from Dun Dry Whiz, the dam of Mic Dropp, and a breeding to Toyon Ranch featuring stallions. The package was made possible by GeneTech, Clark Reining Horses, Cinder Lakes, and Toyon Ranch.
$19,000 – Cooper Smith bought the John Deere Ztrak Zero Turn Mower, Model Z-720E, donated by Equine Discounts.
$14,000 – Mike McFarlin purchased an exclusive VIP Offering and Premium Seating to the American Performance Horseman. This coveted package included limited edition credentials, Texas cuisine, and more. NRHA provided this opportunity
$13,500 – ThorSport purchased the second available American Performance Horseman package.
$8,000 – Spooks Gotta Whiz won the bid for an 18K white gold paved ring featuring gemstones, donated by MS Diamonds TX, a perennial RHF contributor.
$5,000 – Spooks Gotta Spark won the bid for a Reining Horse Foundation whiskey barrel bar/table, donated by Waugh Designs.
$2,000 –The folks at 100X Equine had the last bid on a custom whiskey barrel featuring a photo of the new owner’s choice, donated by Waugh Designs.
