Category: Members

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) officially unveiled its new Leadership Gathering, held Downtown Oklahoma City Omni Hotel February 2–3, 2025.

The two-day event is open to all NRHA members and will feature experts on a variety of important topics including financial planning for horse operations, mastering NRHA governance, finding and retaining farm staff, and federal rules impacting horse owners. All the sessions are designed to engage and elevate leaders and those who want to be leaders in NRHA’s committee and governance structure.

“This event will help us achieve one of our strategic goals to help our members become the most qualified and innovative leaders in the horse community,” said NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith. “If you’ve ever wanted to be engaged in NRHA’s governance, this is where to begin.”

The Leadership Gathering and its new schedule will replace the previous NRHA Winter Meeting, which focused on a traditional meeting format. The new condensed structure, which includes the Annual General Membership meeting set for February 2, will shift its focus to a more innovative design geared toward better equipping members, riders, and trainers to improve their experience with NRHA and their reining businesses.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our members to come together, away from the show pen, and to really engage within our industry,” stated NRHA Director of Governance & Executive Administration Liz Kelsey.

“There will be something for everyone,” Kelsey continued, whether you are a Professional, Non Pro, owner, breeder, you name it. It is a great chance to connect with our leadership and staff and really understand what is going on in NRHA and learn how you can get more involved.”

Registration for the event is free. Learn more at nrha.com/leadershipgathering

Current members can vote for open positions during the NRHA election.

Compiled by NRHA Staff

The NRHA Executive Committee and board of directors are responsible for managing the business of the Association and for representing the best interests of its members and NRHA as a whole. Each year, NRHA opens nominations and hosts elections for a variety of leadership positions.

Each year, the election nomination process gives affiliates and members the opportunity to put forward candidates to be considered in the voting process. Two candidates for the NRHA Board of Directors seat that represents North America’s Southeast region made this June 1 deadline.

The Southeast Region is comprised of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Virginia. Members in the Southeast region can cast their vote for either Bundy Lane (Gates, North Carolina) or Alicia Rapp (Tampa, Florida).

The member receiving the most votes will be elected to serve a term on the board from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026.

Voting

Voting in this year’s election will begin at noon CDT Sept. 3, 2024 will end at noon CDT Sept. 17, 2024. Individuals with a General membership (excluding partnerships, businesses and joint memberships) have voting privileges; however, youth and associate members do not have voting rights.

Voting information will be sent to eligible voters via email. The emails will be sent to the member’s ReinerSuite email address (username email). If the member is not a registered ReinerSuite user, it will be sent to any other email address on that member’s NRHA account information.

For more details on the election, visit the NRHA Elections page, or contact NRHA’s Christa Morris-Stone for assistance (cmorris@nrha.com or 405-946-7400, ext. 105).

Bundy Lane
Gates, North Carolina

From the Candidate: As a member of NRHA for over 40 years and raising my children in this sport of reining, I am now at a time in my life where I think I can help guide this organization forward. The training and experience I have gained from sitting on a Farm Credit bank board for 15 years along with building and managing a family farming business has prepared me well in all matters of finance as well as board functions.

From being the first NRHA Youth 14-18 world champion in 1986 to my daughter competing for Team USA in 2017 and 2019, I have loved this sport and the challenges it presents. Reining is magic when you get it right. I want more people to experience the thrill and excitement I feel when riding a good, broke horse, and helping this sport do that is my goal for being on this board.

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Alicia Rapp
Tampa, Florida

From the Candidate: I believe I would be a strong candidate choice for the Southeast Region director position given [my] extensive and deep passion for the sport of reining. With my leadership skills that I have demonstrated in the reining community, I feel that I am well-equipped to collaborate with fellow board members and help drive NRHA in a positive direction.

I have a solid commitment to ethical integrity and the willingness to dedicate my time and passion for the reining industry and its future, I feel I would be a valuable contribution to the NRHA as the Southeast Region Director.

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Other Positions

Several other elected leadership positions will be filled for the same two-year term. The following uncontested seats will be elected by acclamation by the Board of Directors. Those seats are:

Vice President — Nominating Committee Candidate

Casey Hinton
Whitesboro, Texas

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Director-At-Large — Nominating Committee Candidate

John Tague
Pilot Point, Texas

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Mountain Region

Travis Chapman
Eaton, Colorado

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Southwest Region

Jenny Ricotta
Scottsdale, Arizona

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Canada

Andre De Bellefeuille
St-Basile-Le-Grand, Quebec

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking update to the prestigious NRHA Markel Futurity Sales. Starting in 2024, all weanlings, yearlings, and show horses of NRHA Futurity and Derby age sold during the sales will be eligible for a 50% discount on their entry fees for the NRHA Futurity and/or 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel!

“This exciting new incentive is designed to further elevate the value proposition for both consignors and buyers participating in the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales,” said Angie Honeywell, NRHA Director of ReinerSuite and Sale. “Buyers will gain access to top-quality prospects with a significant financial advantage towards their NRHA competition goals, while consignors will be presented with an even more attractive platform to showcase their exceptional horses.”

The NRHA Markel Futurity Sales consistently feature an exceptional selection of reining horses, with graduates going on to achieve success in the NRHA competition arena. This new discount program adds even greater appeal, making the sales a truly can’t-miss opportunity for both buyers and sellers.

The 2024 NRHA Markel Futurity Sales will be held December 5 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The consignment deadline is September 16. For more information on consigning a horse or participating as a buyer, please visit the NRHA website at nrha.com/sales or contact Honeywell at sales@nrha.com or (405) 946-7400, ext. 123.

Are you interested in:

• Giving back to the sport of reining
• Influencing decisions made at the board level
• Growing your network
• Building your reputation as a leader

If so, you may wish to consider pursuing a nomination to be added to this year’s ballot or supporting another member to become a candidate.

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE JUNE 1, 2024

(Received in the office by Monday, June 3)

SEATS UP FOR ELECTION

(All are two-year terms starting in 2025)

• Vice President: Followed by a two-year term as President
• Director-At-Large on the Executive Committee
• Director (One seat for each North American region listed below):
• Mountain (currently Drake Johnson, has reached term limit)
• Southeast (currently Karen Shedlauskas)
• Southwest (currently Ginger Schmersal, has reached term limit)
• Canada (Currently Andre De Bellefeuille)

HOW TO NOMINATE:

• Affiliates in North American Regions may nominate candidates for the respective open seats.
• Any eligible member may become a candidate through a write-in process for any open seat.

More information on this process and official elections contacts can be found at nrha.com/elections.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) hosted the annual European Affiliate Summit in Barcelona, Spain, on January 19–20. The meetings held during the Summit included the European Executive Board Meeting, the European Council Meeting, and the European Affiliate Summit. The meetings were a chance to share updates, have conversations about the state of affiliates across Europe, set goals, and allow affiliates to connect and collaborate.

To help facilitate, NRHA representatives included Sr. Director of International Affairs & Development Samantha Oldfield, NRHA Vice President Mike Hancock, and newly appointed NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith.

On Friday evening, the European Council held a meeting where affiliates with a council seat discussed annual business, such as a review of their bylaws, a 2025 European Affiliate Summit location, and upcoming 2024 reminders and deadlines. The council also connected with the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA), which will host the 2024 NRHA European Futurity in Cremona, Italy, to review the event conditions.

Saturday was dedicated to the European Affiliate Summit, a crucial time for attendees to connect and collaborate with fellow European affiliates and NRHA representatives.  Smith was formally introduced to each European affiliate and was informed about their unique goals and characteristics. Affiliates also had the chance to voice their concerns to NRHA and the other affiliates present to collaborate and problem-solve.

“It is important for NRHA to hear what barriers affiliates are facing so that we can help them remove or work through them,” Oldfield said. “It is also a time for affiliates to work together and share how they overcame certain barriers through different strategies and problem-solving and to learn from one another.”

A highlight of the European Affiliate Summit was the focused conversation and teamwork that occurred. The meeting was a time dedicated to the sport of reining in Europe, and attendees took it as an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, set goals for 2024, and brainstorm creative solutions to challenges they faced.

“This is the one time a year we can get together, other than at a horse show, and discuss what is happening in each affiliate,” Oldfield said. “It is quite amazing to see what affiliates have done through their own ingenuity to grow members and events and to see relationships form out of the [European Affiliate] Summit.”