Mason McDowell took strong confidence in himself and his mare to the top of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships in the Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 1 and 2. The event was held at the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Oklahoma City.
McDowell scored a 220 on Xtra Fugged About It in the Adequan® Arena to also win the ancillary Novice Horse Non Pro in Levels 1, 2, and 3. For winning the five classes, McDowell earned a check for $5,626.
“The run was pattern 9, and so I ran her in really hard and stopped,” McDowell said. “She stopped big, and she got back really hard. She always turns great, and then I loped off on that small slow, and she floated so strong going slow. So I pitched a bunch of rein out there. After that, I just went for it, and she was with me every step of the way.”
Xtra Fugged About It is a 2018 mare sired by newly-minted NRHA Million Dollar Sire HF Mobster and out of Lenas Whizabelle by West Coast Whiz. She has more than $19,500 in earnings.
“She’s been a great mare for me all year long,” McDowell said. “She just keeps getting a little bit better and better, and she’s a sweetheart. She’s never thrown me a curve ball, and that’s a real confidence booster going into show pen with her.”
McDowell, 18, purchased the mare about a year ago.
“She has steadily improved the whole time that I’ve had her,” he said. “She’s always been so easy to get along with. She’s a sweetheart, and she’ll never say no. If anything, it’s just making sure that she’s confident and happy doing the maneuvers, and she just keeps getting better and better.”
McDowell and his family are hoping to get some embryos from the kind, athletic mare before gearing up for the 2024 show season.
Complete draws, results, schedules, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
Equine graduates of the National Reining Horse Association Markel Futurity Sales are making a splash at the 2023 NRHA Futurity.
NRHA Million Dollar Rider on NRHA Markel Futurity Sales graduate and 2023 CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finalist Greytest Showman. Photo courtesy of Chelsesa Schneider Media.
Six Open finalists and three Non Pro finalists are riding horses that went through the Premier Sale, the Elite Yearling Sale, the Performance Horse Sale, or the Select Breeder Sale.
Non Pro
Three sale graduates are competing in the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals.
Greytest Showman, ridden by Gina-Marie Schumacher and owned by XCS Ranch LLC. Sired by Lil Ruf Peppy out of the mare Dun Its Enterprise. Nominated by Green Valley Ranch. Consigned through the 2021 Elite Yearling Sale by Heritage Farms, agent for Green Valley Ranch.
Got Strawberry Wine, ridden and owned by Steven M. Allen Jr. Sired by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Red Berry Wine. Nominated by Green Valley Ranch. Consigned through the 2021 Elite Yearling Sale by Heritage Farms, agent for Green Valley Ranch. Consigned through the 2022 Performance Horse Sale by Justin Mathison
Im Chillin The Most, ridden and owned by Chalyce D. Head. Sired by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Im Dun Chillin. Nominated by Rhodes River Ranch. Consigned through the 2020 Select Breeders Sale by Cooper Smith.
Open
Nine horses that have gone through the NRHA Markel Sales advanced to the Open Futurity Semi-Finals. Of those, six have advanced to Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals.
SS ET Fone Home, ridden by Trevor Elliot Dare and owned by Hotel Boulevard Gestin Inc. Sired by Epic Titan and out of Electric Cha Ching. Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine. Consigned to the 2021 Elite Yearling Sale by Siver Spurs Equine.
Hollywood Gunn, ridden by Todd Sommers and owned by John R. White. Sired by Gunnatrashya and out of Dun It Queen. Nominated by Marc Gordon. Consigned to the 2022 Performance Horse Sale by Marc and Kathy Gordon.
Loaded With Spirit, ridden and owned by Raphael Bourdeau. Sired by Gunnatrashya and out of Ima Sailors Gal. Nominated by Linda Campbell. Consigned through the 2021 Premier Sale by Randle Tune.
SS Whatcha Gun Doo, ridden by Gabriel Diano and owned by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC. Sired by Tinker With Guns and out of Xtra Black Magic. Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine. Consigned by Silver Spurs Equine through the 2021 Elite Yearling Sale.
Rock It Whiz, ridden by Gabriel Diano and owned by St-Onge Reining Horses LLC. Sired by Topsail Whiz and out of A Bueno Poco Dunit. Nominated by Roxanne Koepsell. Consigned by agent Roger Daly through the 2021 Elite Yearling Sale.
Spookatrashya, ridden by Nate Burchell and owned by Jamie Walters. Sired by Gunnatrashya and out of Ebony Spook. Nominated by Rosanne Sternberg. Consigned by Rosanne Sternberg through the 2021 Elite Yearling Sale.
The 2023 NRHA Markel Futurity Sales wrapped up Wednesday, Nov. 30, and was the second-highest gross Sale in the last decade. The high seller, Trick R Treat, sold in the Premier Sale for $189,000.
Complete results from the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales can be found here.
Held in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Association Futurity, the Adequan ® North American Affiliate Championships at the OKC Fairgrounds are an opportunity for horses who have aged out of the futurities and derbies to compete, while also offering competitors of all ages and capabilities take a spin through the pen. While the NAAC classes are the main focus, the show offers ancillary classes as well for those who did not qualify.
Adequan® NAAC 13 & Under Champions – Isabella Sobral & Frame Draggin
Isabella Sobral and Frame Draggin claimed the Adequan® NAAC 13 & Under Championship with an impressive score of 217.5.
“I’m really excited. This is my first time to show at the Futurity,” Sobral said excitedly.
Frame Draggin is an 11-year-old gelding by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Einsteins Revolution and out of Coronas Major. Sobral owns the gelding herself, and he was bred by Jackspar Enterprises.
When she grows up, Sobral wants to be an equine lameness veterinarian, so the opportunity to show and learn more about horses is something she thinks is great.
“My goal wasn’t to win the class; it was just to do good for our own sake,” said Sobral. “So my next goal is just to make it back to this point of showing and winning.”
Sobral thanked her parents, who run Sobral Performance Horses.
Ancillary Youth 13 & Under Champions – Heidi Flint & Bulletproof Shiner
It was just the third time in the showpen when Heidi Flint and Bulletproof Shiner walked into Arena 6. Since the pair had only been together a short time, they hadn’t qualified for the NAAC classes but were able to enter the concurrently-run ancillary classes.
The duo shined, putting together an impressive run that garnered a score of 218 from the judges.
“I just got him, so he’s pretty new. This is very exciting that I got such a good score,” she shared following the awards ceremony.
Bulletproof Shiner is an 8-year-old gelding by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Smart N Bulletproof.
Flint has big plans for her new mount. “I hope to win a bunch, like everybody does, but I also want to learn a bunch on him so I can get better and keep progressing,” she said. “Hopefully, I’ll get to bring him back to the Derby and win something there.”
Flint thanked her mother, Josianne Gauthier, for allowing her to show her new horse in Oklahoma City. “I begged to bring him, and she agreed. We’re from North Carolina, so it takes a lot to get her,” Flint said.
While she’s contemplating a career in cosmetology, making a big decision like that is still a ways off. “Mostly, what I think about is being exactly like my mom – a trainer and NRHA Professional,” she said.
Short Stirrup Champions – Bryndle Sveen & Revvin My Motor
In the class that is consistently the most difficult to score, as the judges must focus only on the execution of the maneuvers and not how charming the horse and rider may be, Bryndle Sveen claimed the championship.
But not before having to complete Pattern A twice.
The competition in the Short Stirrup class was so fierce that there had to be a run-off to determine the winner. Sveen and Harlyn Heule tied for first with a score of 213 and had to run it off in order to see who could come out on top. Heule was a fierce competitor, scoring a 212, but Sveen managed to earn just one more point, making her the champion with another 213.
“It was my last time in the short stirrups, so I’m really excited,” Sveen said.
The win was claimed aboard Revvin My Motor, an 8-year-old gelding by Wimpys Littlecolonel out of Miss Daisy Solano.
Sveen had plans to head back to the stalls and let Revvin My Motor enjoy some apple slices and special treats but first thanked her parents, her step-dad, Brandon Freiheit, and the gelding’s owner, Jennifer L Beyl-Lee.
Update from the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro
The Adequan® Arena hosted the first section of the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro classes, which featured 119 entries, including those in the ancillary divisions. Awards for all classes will be presented Friday at the conclusion of Section 2, but Mason McDowell currently leads all divisions. He piloted Xtra Fugged About It to a 220 to take the lead, securing the Adequan® NAAC Championships for the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 and Level 2.
Xtra Fugged About It, owned by McDowell, is a five-year-old mare by NRHA Million Dollar Sire HF Mobster out of Lenas Whizabelle.
Mathieu Buton celebrated sweet redemption Nov. 30 as he piloted Quinns A Tricky Chic to a 219.5 and the win in the Honorable Mention Futurity class at the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Futurity at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
“I started her as a 2-year-old,” Buton said. “I’ve had her the whole time in my program, and I loved that mare from the get-go. She’s owned by my very dear friend and customer, Jeremy Zangl. They’ve been with me pretty much since I went on my own, and she’s probably the best horse they ever got to raise at this point.”
At the Futurity, Buton had bad luck with her and wasn’t able to show her to her full ability.
“We talked about it – we all know the potential of that mare,” Buton said. “So we decided to put her in there for one more run and go at medium speed. That way, she could have a nice, clean run and then build up for next year.”
That second chance was the Honorable Mention Futurity class, and Buton had his plan to stay safe and give the mare a soft, clean run.
“She’s such a great mare, and she just gave me everything, and we had no bobbles that time until the last rundown and stop,” Buton said. “Everything stayed right. We’re at 19 and a half, and she can do that all day long every time if I do my job.”
Quinns A Tricky Chic is a 2020 mare sired by Tricked Out Spook and out of BT Smartest Tivito by Smartest Chic Olena. Jeremy Zangl is the owner and breeder.
The mare has $3,095 in earnings from the 100X Reining Classic Invitational.
“I think it’s just the beginning,” Buton said. “Great things I hope will happen for her down the road. So I want to thank Jeremy so much for all the support and never giving up, and always being there for me, my wife, my whole team, all my customers. I’m just very blessed to have all those great people around me.”
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.
