Category: Futurity

Competition in the Adequan® Arena of the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City continued Saturday with the Rookie Professional and Limited Open classes of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.

NAAC Limited Open Champion – Sparkys Shining Doll & Tyrel Pole

Sparkys Shining Doll and Tyrel Pole have been riding a wave at the Adequan® NAACs, picking up several titles, including the NAAC Limited Open Championship Saturday, November 26.

“He’s been an absolute trooper. We’ve shown him all year, and two days ago, we got lucky enough to win the NAAC Intermediate Open. He’s just a show horse. You can call on him whenever you need him,” Pole said.

With a score of 220.5, Pole earned $1,082 for owner and wife Rhea Pole. The score also secured Sparkys Shining Doll the Limited Open ancillary win. The 10-year-old stallion is sired by Friday Night Shiner and out of BB Holly Doll.

“If you want to go have a 72-style run, he just podunks around, but if you want to go mark big scores, he will every time,” Pole said. “When you need him the most, and you call on him—that’s when he’s his best.”

Pole set out to earn a Limited Open World Title on the stallion this year and has unofficially secured the Open Reserve World Championship. The Intermediate and Limited Open standings are not decided yet, but Pole is hopeful.

Pole thanked wife Rhea, employee Sophia Kent, his children, and his parents for coming down from Canada to watch.

NAAC Rookie Professional Champion – Sugarwhizngun & Katie Davis

At nine years old, Sugarwhizngun is as honest and pure in the show pen as ever, according to rider Katie Davis. The two of them secured the NAAC Rookie Professional Championship on Saturday, November 26, with a score of 216, worth $727. The team also claimed the win in the ancillary division of the class.

“I first showed him at the NRBC two years ago and made the Level 1 Open Finals, and he’s since [gotten] a new owner. A wonderful little girl, Peyton Langford, let me borrow him for this,” Davis said.

For Sugarwhiznguns’ and Davis’ run together, she focused on keeping the energy up for the often-lazy gelding.

“He’s a Gunner, so you have to be a little careful on the slow down, but he was really clean and smooth for me,” Davis said. “He’s an honest horse in the pen. He doesn’t know what pattern he’s doing even though he’s been doing it all these years.”

According to Davis, Sugarwhizngun (Gunner x Starlights Sugarwhiz) has been a great confidence builder for his young owner. She’s been competing in the rookie classes, and Davis believes she’ll be shooting for Rookie of the Year in 2023.

“I want to thank the whole Langford family, the Deary team, our farrier Glenn Spalding, and our vet Frank Fluitt,” Davis said. 

The stakes are higher than ever before at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity, with a record-breaking number of Open entries and $2,010,040 up for grabs in the Open alone. The first round of Open competition concluded Saturday, Nov. 26, with more than 400 riders vying for a spot in the Semi-Finals.

The top 75 from the Level 4 will advance to the L4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Wednesday, Nov. 30, while the top 75 from L3 and L2, and the top 50 from L1, will compete in the Semi-Finals round on Tuesday.

The NRHA continues to build momentum, and the Futurity boasts the highest payouts ever in all four levels of the Open, breaking records that were set as long ago as 2012. From 2021 – a record-breaking year – the total Open payout has increased by $202,516 to break the $2 million mark for the first time ever.

The mare who topped the Level 4 Open, Andiamoe, has NRHA Open Futurity Champions on both sides of her pedigree. Guided by Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida, the All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Champion posted a bold 228.5 to take control of the leaderboard. Her balanced stops and stylish circles were rewarded by a gentle pat from Flarida at the end of NRHA Pattern 12.

Bred and owned by Two Million Dollar Owner and NRHA Corporate Partner Arcese Quarter Horses, Andiamoe is sired by Eight Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Million Dollar Dam Wimpys Little Chic.

With scores of 224.5, CD Gunnas Chex Olena and Guglielmo Fontana tied for the lead of the L3 Open with CS Especially Moody and Duane Latimer.

Fontana and CD Gunnas Chex Olena (ARC Gunna Sparkya x Mistis Chex Olena) also finished with the high score in the L2 Open. CD Gunnas Chex Olena was bred, nominated, and owned by Società Agricola CD Horses SRL.

CS Especially Moody, bred, nominated, and owned by XCS Ranch of Gordonville, Texas, is sired by Five Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Judys A Little Moody.

Shineoncrazydiamond and Vanessa Strotmann topped the L1 Open with a score of 220. The stallion, bred and nominated by Stefano Calcagnini, is owned by Strotmann and is sired by Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine and out of Cashing In Diamonds.

It took a 218 to advance to the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All, a 215.5 to advance to the Level 3 Open Semi-Finals, a 212 to advance to the Level 2 Open Semi-Finals, and a 208.5 to advance to the Level 1 Open Semi-Finals. Prime Time entries already advancing in other levels also earned a spot in the Semi-Finals.

Find complete results, news, and more at NRHAFuturity.com. 

On Friday, Nov. 25, the Limited Non Pro competition of the National Reining Horse Association Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships took place in the Adequan® Arena at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In addition to the aged event taking place in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the NRHA Futurity features exhibitors from across North America who qualify to compete for prestigious titles in Oklahoma City.

Thanks to NRHA Corporate Partners, the champions of each of the 17 NAAC classes are presented with incredible prizes along with coveted titles. Furthermore, they are recognized the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.

Stephanie Gentile, of Medina, Ohio, topped the Adequan® NAAC Limited Non Pro riding Joes Lil Wrangler to a 219 for earnings of $583. Gentile also won the ancillary Limited Non Pro class that was run concurrently for an additional $235. The pair also won prizes, including a Bob’s Custom Saddle, and numerous awards from NRHA Corporate and Event Sponsors, including Bluebonnet Feeds, OK Equine Hospital, Classic Equine, Platinum Performance, Adequan®, SmartPak, Equine Oasis, Brandt Blankets, and Tenda.

Joes Lil Wrangler, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash out of A Chic In Wranglers, is owned by Lori Baker. “I got the opportunity to lease him through the end of the year, and he’s been a ton of fun. He’s super talented, and my husband [NRHA Professional] Jesse has been showing him, too, and doing well. It’s been fun to share him with Jesse, and today was extra sweet,” Gentile said. “He exceeded my expectations. I know he’s really good, but I was glad I could step up and be the level he needs as a rider and show what we can do together.”

Jesse added, “I am extremely proud of her. That’s the best I’ve seen her look showing. She was confident, and so I was super happy.”

Gentile and the 5-year-old gelding will have a day of rest, then prepare to show in the Novice Horse Non Pro on Monday and the Non Pro that begins on Tuesday.

“First and foremost, I thank Jesse for helping me and giving me the opportunity to have these nice horses and Lori Baker for leasing him to me. I love that horse to death!” She added, “I also thank all my family and friends here and at home who have supported me along the way.”

Complete results, as well as the latest news, updates, and draws, can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

The National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity preliminary round continued Friday, Nov. 25, with the second section of the first go. More than 130 horses walked through the gate of the Jim Norick Coliseum at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, but only one was able to match the 226 score marked by Abby Lengel and Bringnthaheat in the first section.

That team was Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay and Thee Assassin. The flashy roan stallion, owned by Show Stoppin Stables and nominated by Heritage Farms, is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Jerrys Sippin Soda.

Lengel and Bringnthaheat, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six out of Tackie Dreams. Lengel and her owned and nominated horse currently lead the race to win the American Paint Horse Association’s Open Futurity Chrome Cash Incentive, which is paid out following the first round.

The first round wraps up Saturday evening, and from there, the top 75 Level 4 Open contestants will advance to the L4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The top 75 in Levels 3 and 2, along with the top 50 in the L1, will vie for a Finals berth during the Semi-Finals round on Nov. 29.

Those advancing to the Open Finals will compete for the last time of the year on Dec. 3, where the Champion of the MS Diamonds L4 Open Finals will be presented a check for $350,000!

Current Level and Division leaders of the Open Futurity preliminaries are:

• Level 4 – Abby Lengel & Bringnthaheat – 226
• Level 4 – Dany Tremblay & Thee Assassin – 226
• Level 3 – Trent Harvey & Trashya Quik – 224
• Level 3 – Duane Latimer & Pale Whizkey – 224
• Level 3 & Level 2 – Adam Hendrickson & Swinginforthefences – 224
• Level 1 – Benjamin Gerst & Time To Be Trashy – 217.5
• Level 1 – Hannah McCullough & Aloha Sixty Six – 217.5
• Open Prime Time – Duane Latimer & Pale Whizkey – 225.5 (includes handicap)
• APHA Chrome Cash – Abby Lengel & Bringnthaheat

Complete results, as well as the latest news, updates, and draws, can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

The 2022 National Reining Horse Association Futurity is in full swing, and at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, the first section of the preliminary round of the Open Futurity is in the books.

Dreams come true every year at the NRHA Futurity, and there’s no doubt there could be another fairytale ending in the books for 2022.

Abby Lengel, of Whitesboro, Texas, currently leads the Open Level 4 preliminary round with a 226 on her mare Bringnthaheat. The pair also lead the American Paint Horse Association’s Open Chrome Cash incentive, which will be awarded at the conclusion of the preliminary round.

Chrome Cash classes are offered as part of both the Level 4 Open and Non Pro Futurities, with $3,000 and $2,000 added, respectively. Both solid and regular registry Paints can compete in the Chrome Cash classes, which are paid out according to the NRHA payout schedule. Participants can enter until noon the day prior to competing.

Bringnthaheat is by newly minted NRHA Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six and out of Tackie Dreams. Lengel has earned nearly a half-million dollars in her career and is always a serious contender at reining’s most prestigious events. If she and Bringnthaheat were to win the Championship on Dec. 4 during the MS Diamonds Level 4 Open Finals, her lifetime earnings would almost double with the $350,000 first-place check!

Since the first step to winning that momentous prize is to advance to the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on November 30, the pair is sitting well.

Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 1, are:

• Level 4 – Abby Lengel & Bringnthaheat – 226
• Level 3 – Trent Harvey & Trashya Quik – 224
• Level 3 – Duane Latimer & Pale Whizkey – 224
• Level 2 – Rodrigo Nieves & Spooks Lil Whiz – 223.5
• Level 1 – Matteo Rondanina & CBK Wrightkindashine – 217
• Open Prime Time – Duane Latimer & Pale Whizkey – 225.5 (includes handicap)
• APHA Chrome Cash – Abby Lengel & Bringnthaheat

The first section of the NRHA Open Futurity continues through Saturday, after which time the top 75 plus ties in Levels 2 through 4, and the top 50 in L1, will advance to the semi-final round, with Levels 1 – 3 competing on Tuesday and the L4 on Wednesday in the Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All. The clean-slate MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Futurity Finals will be held Saturday, Dec. 3.

Complete results, as well as the latest news, updates, and draws, can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.