When a member of the National Reining Horse Association experiences catastrophe and demonstrates financial need, the Reining Horse Foundation stands in the gap to assist through its Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund. The nature of a qualifying catastrophe may be medical, accident or illness, or natural disasters such as fires, floods, and tornadoes.
With the recent widespread and devastating tornadoes and fires, there is a possibility that an NRHA member could have been affected. “At this time, we have not gotten word of any members who were impacted, but we want members to know that the Crisis Fund is available,” explained Reining Horse Foundation Executive Director Leslie Baker.
The fund is not intended to totally alleviate a member’s distress, but to provide some relief. This is done in the spirit of reiners helping reiners.
To apply for assistance, the applicant must be a current member in good standing for two consecutive years. Applications are subject to approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and all names are removed from the application and materials prior to submission for confidentiality purposes and to honor the member’s privacy. Grants are awarded to NRHA members from around the globe.
“While we hate that there is always a need for assistance, we are proud that the Reining Horse Foundation has helped to lessen the burden experienced by our members. Since 2002, the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund has awarded more than $250,000 and helped nearly 100 families during their time of need,” Baker shared.
NRHA Professionals have committed to voluntarily supporting the Reining Horse Foundation’s Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund when purchasing or renewing NRHA membership. The Crisis Fund is accessible to any NRHA membership category, yet most often stands in the gap for NRHA Professionals during times of significant need. Many other individuals and businesses also make contributions.
For Crisis Fund guidelines and criteria, click here.
For Immediate Release – January 3, 2022 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Reining Horse Foundation set a record for fundraising at its major annual gala, Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch on December 1, and announced a significant expansion of its scholarship program benefiting youth reiners
According to Mike Hancock, chair of the RHF Scholarship Committee, the RHF Board of Directors recently approved growing the number of RHF Scholarships from eight to 10 and increasing annual funding support for these awards from $13,000 to $28,000 per year for the next three years. In addition, several scholarship amounts are rising, including the three top awards, which will increase from $2,500 to $5,000 each effective this year.
“Our national youth officers, delegates and members get involved with fundraising through programs such as the annual NRHyA Stallion Auction and the Buy-A-Pro Auction, so they learn organizational skills and help keep the youth programs funded,” said Hancock. “These efforts are going well, and the reining community has dramatically increased support of the Reining Horse Foundation in recent years. This enables the RHF to make a greater impact on its core programs. Scholarships are one of the best ways to help support young reiners for bright futures.”
In addition to the RHF Scholarships, the RHF makes possible another $32,000 per year in NRHA affiliate and Varsity Reining Club scholarships. This expansion will make the total commitment $60,000 per year.
The 2022 applications are available now at nrhya.com/scholarships. To be eligible to apply, students must be members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association for at least 24 months prior to applying and be a senior in high school pursuing an undergraduate degree in a two- or four-year institution, trade or technical school. A previous recipient of an RHF Scholarship may reapply for a second scholarship if she or he meets all other criteria.
The 10 RHF Scholarships will be structured as three at $5,000; three at $2,500; three at $1,500 and one at $1,000. Selection is based on financial need, academic record, involvement in the school and community, a special essay, and references. Applications must be postmarked by March 1.
Leslie Baker, executive director of the RHF, said, “Donors are a big part of this announcement. There are those who are specifically interested in the leadership development and scholarships available through the NRHyA, and we appreciate and welcome their support.”
For details on contributing toward youth programs, contact Baker at (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or email rhf@nrha.com.
For Immediate Release – October 7, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Reining Horse Foundation is set to once again host Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch, the premier night on the social and charitable calendar of the reining community, on December 1 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.
“Reiners are ready to gather and celebrate two decades of impact by the Reining Horse Foundation and to honor inductees into the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame and recipients of the NRHA Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Leslie Baker, executive director of the RHF. “We didn’t hold Sliders’ Night Out in 2020, so it feels like there is extra excitement this year, which is the third in this format.”
“We have so many donors who have stepped up to make Sliders’ Night Out special,” said Rick Clark, chairperson of the RHF Board of Directors Development Committee and also NRHA President. “Toyon Ranch’s John and Nancy Tague are in their third year as presenting donors. We have several first-time Hall of Fame Table Hosts along with dozens of other committed partners who make this a night to remember. The event raises important funding to support the RHF mission, and I personally get excited that each year Sliders’ Night Out keeps reiners celebrating the history of our sport.”
Inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame will be the late Doug Carpenter and Jose Vazquez for the class of 2021 and the late Sally Brown and the late Jerry Kimmel for the class of 2020. The program also is set to recognize Charles Vaughan and Mike Carrier with the 2021 and 2020 NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Awards respectively.
In 2021, Sliders’ Night Out will include a limited live auction. Sure to be popular is an embryo from the top-producing mare Wind Her Up Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Wind Her Up Doc), donated by RHF President Tim Anderson & Kim Niven. The 2003 bay mare has LTE of $100,000 and has produced foals earning $622,000. Bidders can also watch for a private reining clinic for up to eight people with NRHA Professional Mirjam Stillo at Rancho Los Vaqueros in Pilot Point, Texas. The day will include lunch and conclude with a reception, including food and beverage. The total package is made possible by Gary and Debbie Conway, Mirjam and Andrea Stillo, and Nancy and John Tague and must be scheduled in 2022. Additional auction items will be announced closer to the event.
Since 2018, Sliders’ Night Out has been the single largest annual fundraiser for 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. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, youth scholarships and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association, and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame.
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. Early Platinum Donors are Tim & Kim Niven, Ian & Kristen Cantacuzene, Rick Clark, and Jamie Walters. James Turpen is a Gold Donor. To date, Silver Donors include Mark & Julie Blake, Booth Ranches, Mike & Bryan Hancock, Markel/Frank & Susan Costantini., Mike & Beth McFarlin, Rich & Cartmill Insurance, and the Williams Family Fund by Fidelity Charitable. Baker said additional donor commitments are anticipated and welcomed.
These top-level donors plus many Hall of Fame Table Hosts make it possible for all NRHA Hall of Fame inductees to attend the event as honored guests. All Hall of Fame members are invited to be a part of the program again this year.
Advance reservations are encouraged to ensure a chance to be in attendance at Sliders’ Night Out and enjoy the chef-prepared dinner and celebration. The benefit is held in conjunction with the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. Individual tickets are available.
To make reservations, contact Leslie Baker, RHF, (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or email rhf@nrha.com.
That’s a trilogy of words that could easily describe the action in the arena at the 2021 The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge, which wrapped up August 21 at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.
Taking part in the thrilling finish to the Raise A Million Live Auction are Kevin Truax, Jimmy Nichols and Nancy Wheeler Nichols, RHF Board President and high bidder Tim Anderson, Kim Niven, Janice Dickson, Mark Dickson, RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker, Taylor Sheridan, creator of The Run For A Million and producer for Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, and RHF Board member Andrea Stillo. (Photo by Kelsey Pecsek-Hruska)
They can also illustrate the fundraising efforts between the National Reining Horse Association’s Reining Horse Foundation and TRFAM. The two entities came together to produce and host the Raise a Million Auctions to benefit the reining community. Over the course of the event, more than a half-million dollars was raised between the live and silent auctions and pledged matches from RHF donors!
According to RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker, it was the largest single fundraising effort ever for the foundation. “This is probably one of the most exhilarating and sensational moments in the Reining Horse Foundation’s history, and we’ve already had some incredible ones,” she said. “It’s tremendous to be here at The Run For A Million. To have the industry step up this way is gratifying, especially as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary. It really shows that the future for the RHF is bright.”
The Live Auction, held just prior to the Million Dollar Competition Draw on Friday evening, featured five extraordinary items, ranging from a one-of-a-kind painting to incredible jewelry.
The headline item, though, was an official TRFAM jacket donated by TRFAM presented by Teton Ridge and arranged by Brumley Management. Taylor Sheridan, creator of TRFAM and producer for Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, had originally assured the jacket would be signed by him and the two Yellowstone cast members at the event.
Then Sheridan upped the ante, promising not only to get signatures from all the cast members but also to host the winning bidder and a guest to the set to get autographs from all the cast members in person. In addition to the meet and greet, the winners and their horses, if they chose to bring them – will be cast as extras in an episode of the hit show.
The bidding commenced, and the cheering and encouragement of the crowd rose to a crescendo. When the bidding stalled at $110,000, Sheridan said whoever would match that price would get the same treatment. When it was all over four bidders – each pledging $110,000 – won the prize.
“Taylor Sheridan was honored in 2019 as NRHA’s Reiner of the Year, and it’s an honor well deserved, because of his generosity. We thank TRFAM, Brumley Management, and Mr. Sheridan, all big supporters we are grateful for,” noted Baker. “There was an incredible group of buyers for the live auction items. Thank you to each of them for showing their support in such a big way. Among the high bidders are Tim Anderson and Kim Niven, Mark and Janice Dickson, and Kevin Truax.”
Baker also added a thank you to the donors and buyers of the other live auction items.
Lot 1 – One-of-a-kind show headstall created and donated by Bob’s Custom Saddles, an NRHA Corporate Partner. Purchased by Elementa.
Lot 2 – Texas Rangers Tickets donated by Debbie Conway/Vaquero Midstream. Purchased by Pete Fulgham, 03 Animal Health LLC.
Lot 3 – Sleipner Trust Harmony Bracelet created and donated by MS Diamonds TX, an NRHA corporate partner.
Lot 4 – Remember Me original acrylic painting created and donated by MJ’s Equine Art Studios (Maggie Leverett). Purchased by Allison Thorson/ThorSport Inc. and Elementa.
The Silent Auction ran through Saturday afternoon and garnered an additional $24,495. Two items tied as the high selling lots in the Silent Auction at $2,000 each: a 2022 breeding to Spooks Gotta Spark donated by Kevin Truax and purchased by Ricardo and Kim Rivero, and an eye-catching show headstall made by Travis Stillson, donated by George & Chloe Lawrence and purchased by Laura Honstetter.
According to Baker, the generosity surrounding the Raise a Million Auctions began well before anyone connected to the event set foot in Las Vegas. When word of the auctions got out, donors pledging to match money raised began to stack up. “We had an incredible group of 15 donors pledge to match the first $19,500 the auction raised, ensuring it would be successful from the start,” she said.
Donors contributing to the match include:
$2,500
Tim Anderson & Kim Niven
Booth Ranches
Rick Clark
Jennifer Greenleaf
John & Nancy Tague
Jamie Walters
$500
Gary & Marian Carpenter
Kevin & Amy Colston
Frank & Susan Costantini
John & Dawn Foy
John & Terri Mainey
Pro Management Inc./Cheryl Cody
Santa Hill Ranch
Andrea & Mirjam Stillo
Joe & Emmy Wolfe
With the matching dollars and both auctions combined, NRHA Chief Financial Officer John Foy says the weekend’s events generated the most net assets in NRHA and RHF history from an event.
The success of the Raise a Million Silent Auctions capped off an incredible week of charity for the RHF, as another major moment was the announcement of a $50,000 gift from the Teton Ridge Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Teton Ridge. Baker said, “The grant from the Teton Ridge Foundation is among the largest single gifts in our history. We thank Mr. Thomas Tull of Teton Ridge, and after meeting with him and other donors, it solidifies for me that every dollar raised means something, whether it’s $5, $50, $50,000, or $500,000. The RHF is going places and will continue to impact the reining community.”
The mission of the Reining Horse Foundation is to care for and honor the reining community. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund to benefit reiners enduring hardships such as major illness, accidents, and disasters; youth leadership development and scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association, and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For information on the RHF, visit ReiningFoundation.com.
Newly formed brand’s contribution will help improve programs which support and honor the reining community, while celebrating the sport’s history
(August 20, 2021) OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – The Reining Horse Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Reining Horse Association, recently received a generous gift of $50,000 from the Teton Ridge Foundation. The donation will help fund programs designed to support youth leadership development, members who are enduring hardships, and both individuals and horses who have made valuable contributions to the sport of reining.
The Teton Ridge Foundation serves as the philanthropic wing of the newly created western brand, Teton Ridge.
The brainchild of visionary entrepreneur Thomas Tull, Teton Ridge was formed to help preserve the values and traditions of America’s iconic western culture, by investing in western performance sports, sponsoring riders, trainers, and events, strategically breeding Quarter Horses, and focusing on long-term land conservation.
Thomas Tull’s appreciation for western culture’s core values — integrity, hard work, and respect, inspired his support of the Reining Horse Foundation, an organization dedicated to hard-working individuals whose livelihoods depend on the western way of life.
According to RHF President Tim Anderson, “The mission of Teton Ridge aligns with ours in many important ways. Certainly, the Reining Horse Foundation shares an interest in preserving the history of reining, which is widely recognized as one of the most exciting disciplines in all of western performance sports.”
The contribution will strengthen multiple programs, including the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, which provides relief to NRHA Members experiencing hardships caused by injury, illness, and even natural disaster.
Additionally, Teton Ridge’s donation will support youth leadership development programs and educational scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association.
Contacts: Leslie Baker Reining Horse Foundation (405) 946-7400 x 106 rhf@nrha.com
