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Reiners Slide into OKC for 2022 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC

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.

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NRHA Futurity Challenge Donor Program Earns Another Contributor—Robert and Linda Rosenfeld

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has challenged its members over the last few years to grow the purse at the NRHA Futurity. Many members came forward to do just this, the most recent being Robert and Linda Rosenfeld from London, Ohio.

“My reason for sponsoring Level 1 Open is that NRHA has more than 14,000 members, and not everyone can participate in the higher levels due to the cost of horses at those levels or finding the right trainer that can compete at those levels,” says Bob. “We all pay the same entry fees, so I thought I would help richen the pot for those riders and owners in Level 1.”

Bob got into the sport back in 2000 because of his son’s love of horses, and now it has become a family affair with him and his wife, Lin, both riding and showing. They have 15+ horses, the majority at home in Ohio with their in-house trainer Bill McGuire and others with Brandon Brant and Shawn Flarida.

“When Bob called me to ask, ‘why does Level 1 Open Futurity not have a guaranteed payout?’ I explained we did not have a Futurity Challenge Sponsor for Level 1,” said NRHA President Rick Clark. “Bob immediately stepped up as a Challenge Sponsor, and all the money goes into the Level 1 Open Futurity. I am extremely grateful to Bob and Lin Rosenfeld for their Futurity Challenge Sponsorship. This will help to grow our reining industry even more.”

“The best thing about NRHA is the friendships that we have developed over the years,” says Bob. “Some of our very best friends have come through NRHA, and those friendships make it easy to want to help and contribute to a great sport and a great organization.”

To see the list of current NRHA Futurity Challenge Donors, visit nrhafuturity.com/sponsors, and to find out more about donating, contact NRHA Sr. Director of Corporate Relations, Christy Landwehr, at clandwehr@nrha.com

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2022 NRHA European Derby—Daily Updates

8.25.22: 2022 NRHA European Derby: Non Pro Action Opens the Show

8.26.22: $208,000-Added NRHA European Derby: The Non Pro Qualifier

8.27.22: $208,000-Added NRHA European Derby: The Non Pro Qualifier

8.28.22: 2022 $84,187-Added NRHA European Non Pro Derby: Youth Riders Steal the Show In Lyon

8.29.22: 2022 $153,234-Added NRHA European Open Derby: Fonck and Ludwig Share the Championship

8.30.22: Successful $237,422-Added NRHA European Derby Closes in Lyon, France

Follow the action at nrhaeuropeanderby.com

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The Skydance Bridge Will Shine NRHA Futurity Gold in December

The National Reining Horse Association Futurity, long-standing as the world’s largest reining show, has been hosted by State Fair Park since 1986. Along with the steady growth of the show, the economic impact on Oklahoma City’s surrounding communities has also increased exponentially. In outstanding merit of that impact, the city management has approved a request to illuminate the Skydance Bridge in hues of gold on Saturday, December 3, during the NRHA Open Futurity Finals.

Inspired by Oklahoma’s state bird, the scissor-tailed flycatcher, Skydance bridge soars over Interstate 40. The bridge is a 380-foot-long pedestrian bridge with a 197-foot-tall sculpture. Completed in 2012, the double-winged structure serves as a sculptural landmark and provides support to a pedestrian deck that connects two portions of Oklahoma City’s Scissortail Park. The design includes fully programmable LED lights that illuminate the bridge from dusk to dawn, often shifting between a wide range of colors; however, in honor of the NRHA Futurity, the bridge will display a golden glow after the sun goes down.

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Judges and Stewards Selected for 2022 NRHA Futurity

The 2022 National Reining Horse Association Futurity, set for November 24 through December 3, is the premier reining event in the world. Fans travel to Oklahoma City from around the globe to watch NRHA’s top trainers and riders make the big stage debut for elite 3-year-old reining horses.

The landmark event will pay $350,000 to the Level 4 Open Champion and $75,000 to the Level 4 Non Pro Champion, and will also determine the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. Not surprisingly, being chosen to score the performances of the exhibitors as a judge is both an honor and a serious responsibility.

The individuals chosen to officiate at the NRHA Futurity this year blend veteran experience with freshman enthusiasm. For the Open Futurity in the Jim Norick Arena, the team includes Sandy Jirkovsky from Mississippi, Van Luse of Texas, Italian Manuela Maiocchi, Kim Myers of Pennsylvania, and Mark Turner from Indiana.

Evaluating performance for the Non Pro Futurity will be Buddy Fisher from Pennsylvania, Oklahoman Don Flohr, Margaret Fuchs of Ohio, Hiram Resende Silva Filho from Goias, Brazil, and Pat Wickenheiser from California.

Jan Dublin of Texas, Linda Hitt from Colorado, and New Yorker Kelly Hedges are the judges chosen for the NAAC classes in the Adequan® Arena.

Ed Cridge and Jeff Buckley, both from Texas, will serve as Equipment Judges in the Jim Norick Arena and the Adequan® Arena, respectively. Monitors for the event will be Eugenio Latorre of Spain and Doug Allen of Arizona.

The group includes four first time Futurity judges, including Maiocchi, Dublin, Hedges and Buckley.

The Futurity Show Steward team is headed by Ed Bricker. He will be joined by Lyle Jackson, Alessandro Dezzutto, Walt Larson and Marlin Holroyd.

“The Judges and Stewards committees take the task of Futurity Judge, Monitor and Steward selection very seriously. These are key positions that move the reining industry forward and set the standard for future competition. We are proud of this year’s lineup of officials and look forward to an exciting event,” said Patti Carter, NRHA Senior Director of Education & Officials.