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:
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:
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.
The 2022 National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships are in full swing in Oklahoma City. While the Futurity is held in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the NAACs are held in the Adequan® Arena. The NAAC competition spotlights a variety of members and horses from across North America who qualify to compete in Oklahoma City.
In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each NAAC class will be recognized the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.
Adequan® NAAC Open Co-Champion – Makendiamonds ridden by Jared Leclair
Riding Makendiamonds for owner Dorothy Queen, Jared Leclair secured the co-championship of both the Adequan® NAAC and ancillary Open, worth $5,370, with a score of 222.5. It was the cherry on top of a great year for the pair.
“It’s a really big deal to win an NAAC title,” Leclair said. “NRHA has done a great job promoting the NAACs, and there are a lot of competitors now, so it’s really tough. You have to show hard, and your horse has to be really good to win it. I feel lucky to have come out on top.”
Makendiamonds, bred by CDR Farms, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds and out of Makeit In Tinseltown. The flashy 6-year-old mare was started by Abby Lengel, and with Lengel at the reins, the pair finished eighth in the Level 4 Open at the 2019 NRHA Futurity.
Makendiamonds was purchased by Dorothy and her son, Paul Queen, during the 2021 NRHA Futurity. To date, the mare has won upwards of $150,000.
“Abby was very successful with her, and I’ve done well with her too. This was the last hurrah for her and I, and it’s a great way to end the year,” Leclair said. “She was really solid and great today.”
Although Leclair and co-champion Yonathan Baruch could have elected to run-off for the NAAC title, the two professionals elected not to. “This mare did her job today, and we were all winners today,” he said. “I thank Dorothy and Paul, my wife who is a huge supporter of mine, and all our help – both the ones here and at home keeping everything going.”
Adequan® NAAC Open Co-Champion – Peptos Lil Step ridden by Yonathan Baruch
NRHA Professional Yonathan Baruch set the pace early in the Adequan® Arena. Competing as draw two in the NAAC Open classes, Baruch and Peptos Lil Step marked a 222.5 to take the lead. When the last of the scores were tallied, Baruch and Peptos Lil Step, owned by Nancy Wheeler and Jimmy Nichols, had tied for the title, winning a load of prizes and checks totaling $5,370.
“Today was super easy. I just gave him about 30 minutes of a warmup, and I felt like he was ready. I knew the best thing to do is just trust him because that’s when he does the best,” Baruch, of Whitesboro, Texas, explained.
Peptos Lil Step, by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step out of Peptos Lil Melody, is an 8-year-old stallion that Baruch first started riding his 3-year-old year. He admits the stallion’s breeding contributed to being overlooked early in his career. “His dam is a daughter of Peptoboonsmal,” he explained. “He’s really turned into a very nice open horse. I haven’t shown any bred like him before, but I definitely will again!”
Owner Nichols and Wheeler make their home in California but sent Peptos Lil Step to Baruch to show in the Open Shootout at The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge. “We marked a 223 and were 16th, but he was unbelievable. We could have improved the pilot, but that’s just getting used to one,” Baruch explained, adding that he’s looking forward to attempting another TRFAM qualification in 2023.
“It’s a very long list,” Baruch humbly answered when asked who deserved recognition for helping him be successful. “Obviously, I thank the owners, Jimmy and Nancy. I also thank all my help and my beautiful girlfriend, Heidi. She does all the chiropractic work on our horses and is a huge part of them staying so sound. Thank you also to our vets, farriers, and sponsors. It takes a village. No win is ever achieved by just me.”
Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open Champion – Sparkys Shining Doll ridden by Tyrel Pole
With a score of 219, Tyrel Pole and Sparkys Shining Doll claimed the Championship for the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open and the ancillary Intermediate Open. The pair also finished in the top 10 in the NAAC Open and ancillary division, earning more than $4,192. Making the win even more exciting? “Marvel” is owned by Pole and his wife, Rhea.
“We purchased him a year ago and have been hauling for an NRHA world title. Right now, he’s sitting near the top in the Intermediate and the Limited, and he’s been a really fun horse all year,” Pole said of the 10-year-old stallion, is by Friday Night Shiner out of BB Holly Doll.
It was early in the year when the Poles decided to pursue an NRHA world title. “We started in February or March, which might not sound like it was a last-minute decision, but it was. He was showing us he really wanted to be a show horse, and Rhea pulled us aside, said she thought we should try it, and so we went for it,” he said.
That decision sparked a whirlwind of a year. “This horse has been a trooper. I’ve shown him at every show within 200 miles of our house, and he’s been a very good and consistent horse every time. We are very thankful for him,” Pole explained. “
With the top finish in the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open, Pole and Marvel earned a spot in the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown on Dec. 1. “We had a few goals here. Our big goal is for Saturday because we’re sitting so well in the Limited Open standings, but we were also hoping to do well enough to compete in the Showdown. I think going inside the Coliseum to compete for those of us out here will be super fun,” he said. “I think there are a couple of things I need to clean up on myself, but he’s super. I’m just thankful for every time I get to show.”
Pole added, “I thank my wife because, without her, we would be 100 percent lost. I also thank my kids, who have been so good when we’ve been hauling up and down the road, as well as Sophia Kent, who works for us. I also thank the support system from the other trainers who help along the way.”
The top 10 finishers of the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open earn a spot in the clean-slate Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 1. All qualifiers must check-in and confirm their spot in the Showdown no later than noon on Nov. 30.
Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifiers:
Sparkys Shining Doll & Tyrel Pole
Xtra Miss Wimpy & Sebastian Petroll
Spooks Gotta Cowboy & Garrett A Thurner
Prize Chex & Randy L. Schaffhauser
Xtra Voodoos Storm & Drake J. Johnson
Walla Be Custom & Jaden Beliveau
Goodtime Tinseltown & Morgan Lee Moser
Voodoo Gun & Jack Daniels
Gallos Estrella & Meaghan Shea
Magnifisent & Randall E Dooley
With Addy Tude & Naike Bell
Adequan® NAAC competition continues Friday with the Limited Open. Complete draws, results, news, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
The futurity season for reining horses is nearing completion, and on Thanksgiving Day, the best riders in the world will begin the intense preliminary competition at the National Reining Horse Association’s premier and most prestigious event, the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.
The event, which begins Nov. 24 and runs through Dec. 3, draws exhibitors from around the globe, who will vie for a piece of a purse that exceeds $2,000,000, highlighted by a life-changing $350,000 check for the Level 4 Open Champion.
Under the lights of the historic Jim Norick Coliseum, the mettle of talented 3-year-old reining horses will be tested as they navigate through the signature circles, spins, and sliding stops the event is known for. At the same time, top riders and horses of all ages from across North America compete for major titles in the Adequan® Arena, hoping to nab a coveted championship and take major strides to clinch a year-end title as well.
While there are several futurities throughout the year, only one is known simply as “The Futurity.” Since its debut in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, the show has grown from a handful of entries to more than 600 in the main event alone.
The payout has expanded, and to say it has done so significantly would be an understatement. This year’s L4 Open Champion will leave Oklahoma City $350,000 richer and in possession of one of the largest limited-age event championship check in the western performance horse industry. Not only that, but the L4 Open Reserve Champion will win a guaranteed $150,000, and third will take home $100,000.
Winning the Level 4 Open Championship is a three-step process. All Open entries compete in the first round, with the top 75 (plus ties) advancing to the L 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Nov. 30. There, the top 30 (plus ties) move on to the clean-slate MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Futurity Finals on Dec. 3.
Some big changes have happened in the payouts for Open Levels 3, 2, and 1. The L3 Open Champion will receive $70,000, the Reserve titlist will take home $50,000, and third $35,000. The guaranteed payouts continue in Levels 2 and 1, with the L2 Champion pocketing $50,000, the L2 Reserve Champion winning $25,000, and the third-place finisher in the L2 pocketing a cool $15,000. The L1 Open winner will win $13,000, and the L1 Reserve will receive $7,000.
Open riders in Levels 1, 2, and 3 who are in the top 75 of their levels (but not in the top 75 of the Level 4) will compete in the Semi-Finals on Nov. 29. The top 30 in each of those levels (plus ties) will earn a spot in the first section of the Open Finals on Dec. 3.
Non Professional riders will also win big, with the L4 Non Pro title being accompanied by a check for $75,000, the Reserve Champion winning $45,000, and third taking $35,000! The top three in the L3 Non Pro will also be guaranteed big checks, with $40,000 going to first, $25,000 awarded to second, and $15,000 to third. The CINCH Non Pro Finals will be held Friday, Dec. 2, beginning at 9 a.m. with Levels 1, 2, 3, Youth, and Prime Time, and the CINCH Non Pro L4 Finals beginning at 4 p.m.
In addition to world-class competition, the NRHA Futurity boasts an impressive trade show with vendors ranging from clothing to furniture, western tack, décor, and more. In fact, the first three days of the event feature free admission so that everyone can come to enjoy some post-holiday shopping to prepare for Christmas.
One of the best, largest, and most exciting shopping opportunities will be on Dec. 1. That’s because the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales will be held in the Sale Arena. It’s a great opportunity to see some of the best horses the industry has to offer, from prospects to producers and everything in between. Last year the high seller – a yearling mare named Deja Vue (Gunnatrashya x Dun Its Déjà vu) commanded an impressive $170,000! Find more information about the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales at nrha.com/sales
Tickets for the 2022 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Complete information, including draws, results, and more, can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
