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Judging Contest Returns to NRHA Futurity

The National Horse Judging Team Coaches’ Association, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) collaborated to bring the Collegiate and Youth Reining Judging Contest back to the 2024 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC).

The contest will be held December 3–4 in Oklahoma City. Collegiate and youth competitors will judge live runs and complete a written test and penalty clip test, similar to how NRHA judges are tested.

Student competitors and coaches are also granted entry to the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals on Friday, December 6th, at no additional cost as part of their registration fees. Students will compete as youth teams, junior college teams, university teams, or individuals.

“Participating in the judging contest is essential for shaping the future of our sport,” said Patti Carter, NRHA Sr. Director of Education & Officials. “It not only helps develop the next generation of NRHA judges but also fosters leadership qualities and hones decision-making skills that are crucial both in the reining arena and in life. These contests offer invaluable hands-on experience, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, fairness, and consistency in judging—the very foundation of the discipline’s integrity.”

This will be the first time since 2019 that the contest will be held in conjunction with the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC. The contest will provide collegiate and youth competitors an opportunity to gain education, judge reining horses, and create networking and training opportunities that support careers and interests in the equine community.

More information on the contest and entry forms can be found here.

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Road to the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships

The road to the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) is a journey showcasing the best talent from National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) affiliates across North America. This prestigious event is the culmination of hard work, dedication and skill, offering competitors the opportunity to compete for national titles.

To qualify for the NAAC, it is essential that competitors participate in an Affiliate Regional Championship (ARC) within North America.

Keys to qualification:

  1. Affiliate Membership: Ensure you are a member of your local NRHA affiliate. Affiliate membership within the region you are competing is required to participate; you can join the day of show.
  2. Compete at an ARC: Show at an Affiliate Regional Championship to qualify for the NAAC. The ARCs are held in various locations across North America, allowing competitors to choose a venue best suiting their schedule and location.
  3. Earn Your Spot: Riders who score higher than a zero at an ARC are qualified for the NAAC in that class, on that specific horse. The qualification is not transferrable between horses, riders or classes.
  4. Stay Informed: Keep an eye out for announcements from your local affiliate and the ARC where you are competing. Be sure to enter the ARC designated class to qualify, showing in an ancillary class at an ARC event will not count as a qualification.

While at an ARC, encourage youth to participate in the Youth Team Tournament (YTT) where youth will be placed on randomized teams and compete for a coveted YTT Montana Silversmiths belt buckle. They can also apply for an $800 or $1,000 scholarship just for entering! Scholarship applications are due on December 15.

Congratulations to those who have already qualified for the NAAC! There is still time left to participate in an ARC near you.

East Central Region: Murfreesboro, Tennessee: August 14-18
South Central Region: Tulsa, Oklahoma: August 24–September 1
Eastern Canada Region: Quebec, Canada: August 28–September 1
Western Canada Region: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada: September 3-8
Southeast Region: Jacksonville, Florida: September 5-8
Northeast Region: Logan Township, New Jersey, September 12–15
Southwest Region: Scottsdale, Arizona: October 1-6
Northwest Region: Nampa, Idaho: October 4-12
North Central Region: Lincoln, Nebraska, October 10–13
Mexico Region: Cadereyta, Mexico, October 11–13

Visit nrha.com/affiliate for more information or contact Lauren Waymire at lwaymire@nrha.com.

Photos above are from the 2024 East Central Affiliate Regional Championship.

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NRHA Futurity Judges Selected

The stage is being set for the World’s Richest Reining—the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC). After an extensive review process involving the NRHA Judges Committee and Board, a group of highly respected professionals who bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication were chosen to judge the event taking place November 26 – December 7, 2024 at the OKC Fairgrounds.

With a purse of more than $3 million and titles up for grabs, the competition will be bigger than ever.

Congratulations to the following individuals chosen to judge the 2024 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC:

Jim Norick Coliseum Judges:

  • Eugenio Latorre: Sant Esteve de Palautordera, Spain
  • Mark Turner: Evansville, Indiana
  • Sandy Jirkovsky: Whitesboro, Texas
  • Van Luse: Whitesboro, Texas
  • Kelly Sapp: King, North Carolina
  • Chele McGauly: Elm Grove, Louisiana
  • Mack Weaver: Morgan, Utah
  • Manu Maiocchi: Pavia, Italy
  • Richard “Ollie” Griffith: Sarasota, Florida
  • Alessandro Meconi: Castel Gandolfo, Italy
  • Tom McBeath, Equipment Judge: Union, Mississippi
  • Maik Bartmann, Judge Monitor: Osthofen, Germany

Adequan® Arena Judges:

  • Buddy Fisher: Abilene, Texas
  • Todd Arvidson: Purcell, Oklahoma
  • Kain Emmons: Rancho Cordova, California
  • Kelly Hedges: Perrysburg, New York
  • Douglas Allen, Judge Monitor: Sandhurst, United Kingdom

For more information on what is certain to be another record-breaking NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC visit nrhafuturity.com.

The judge selection process for the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel and the NRHA Futurity begins several months before the first horse enters the pen. The selection process for each judge is outlined below:

  • Each eligible judge is contacted for their availability for the event.
  • All available judges are compiled into a list and sent to each member of the Judges Committee.
  • Judges Committee members make selections from the list to fill the allotted slots for the event.
  • These names are compiled into a shortlist and discussed on a conference call with all members of the Judges Committee. Nominations are allowed on this conference call.
  • The committee members, except for the chair, then rank their choices, and each ranking equates to a certain number of points. The points are compiled and submitted to the committee chair.
  • The committee chair reviews and makes recommendations based on the outcome of the vote and the needs of NRHA.
  • The ranked list with the Judges Committee Chair recommendations is submitted to a seven-person panel subcommittee for final selection.

This process is set in place to ensure the Futurity and Derby are well-judged competitions with quality, professional judges.

For more information, visit NRHA.com/judges

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NRHA European Affiliate Championships: July 17–21 (Daily Updates)

7.20.24: Bernard Fonck and Girinon Share the $10,000-Added NRHA European Affiliate Championship Open; Jodie Fonck Clinches the $500-Added NRHA EAC Donut Limited Open

7.20.24: A Youthful Morning at the NRHA European Affiliate Championships in France

7.19.24: The NRHA European Affiliate Championship Start With A Bang

7.18.24: The NRHA European Affiliate Championships Offer the Second Day of Ancillary Action

7.17.24: NRHA Ancillary Action and NRHA Youth Team Tournament Members Take Center Stage At the NRHA European Affiliate Championships in Le Pin, France

7.16.24: Le Petit Far West welcomes the 2024 edition of the NRHA European Championships

For more, go to NRHAEAC.com

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Celebrating Unprecedented Success at the 6666 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to announce another record-breaking year in the 45th edition of the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. This year’s event, held June 11-23 in Oklahoma City, set new records in both participation and prize money, solidifying its status as a premier competition in the reining horse community.

Record-Breaking Purses and Participation

The 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel saw an unprecedented level of competition, with record-breaking entries and purse. The total prize money awarded exceeded $1.67 million, thanks to the consistent, increasing success of the NRHA Nomination Program, generous sponsor support and the dedication of participants. As an additional bonus, exhibitors were paid out at record-breaking speed! Checks were available in the show office the next day, including the Level 4 Non Pro finalists’. The open finalists’ checks were sent out only three days later, with only a handful of champions’ checks held pending medications testing results.

Highlighting Excellence and Dedication

For 45 years, the NRHA Derby has been a celebration of skill, dedication, and the incredible partnership between horse and rider. This year was no exception, as riders from across the world showcased their talents and the culmination of countless hours of training and preparation. The exceptional horsepower was a testament to the dedication of breeders, nominators, and owners who continue to propel the industry forward. The heightened purses rewarded excellence and highlighted the sport’s growth and popularity.

Growth in Fans

This year there were many ways to be part of the action at the OKC Fairgrounds without being physically present. The free live feed at nrhaderby.com hosted 20,545 viewers for the non pro finals and 31,984 viewers for the open finals.

The Level 4 Non Pro and Open Finals were also streamed on the Cowboy Channel with 952 total hours streamed. Additional television coverage was featured on local Oklahoma City news stations, highlighting the horse and rider bonds featured in reining and the excitement of the Derby itself.

Ride Guess, powered by Spooks Gotta Whiz, was a new edition to the show that brought in participants from across the globe. This interactive game placed reining fans in the judge’s seat at the Level 4 Open Finals—allowing them to guess the scores of each horse and rider pair and receive points for the correct answers. Produced by NRHA Corporate Partner Teton Ridge, Ride Guess is a product of Inside Rodeo sweepstakes games, which has taken the Western industry by storm. On a peak night at premier Western events, this game sees 100-300 players. At the 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, over 500 players worldwide participated.

Ceremonial Honors

The event also featured the NRHA Buckle Ceremony on June 15. Champions and top performers were recognized for their exceptional achievements throughout the 2023 season. The World and Reserve World Champions were presented with custom-crafted buckles by NRHA event sponsor Montana Silversmiths, a testament to their hard-earned victories. The Top 20 Professionals, Non Pros, and Owners were also honored, reflecting the depth of talent and commitment within the NRHA community. This year, the NRHA Professionals of the Year were also recognized on stage and received custom Abby Cosenza spurs.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the success of this year’s Derby, NRHA looks forward to continuing to elevate the sport of reining. We remain committed to providing premier events, enhancing prize opportunities, and supporting our members in their pursuit of excellence. The record-breaking achievements of the 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel are a testament to the bright future of reining, and we are excited to build on this momentum in the years to come. Join us at the The World’s Richest Reining—the 2024 NRHA Futurity—the last Futurity to be held in the historic Jim Norick Arena, November 26–December 7.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We extend our deepest gratitude to our title sponsors, 6666 Ranch and Markel Insurance, and all our NRHA corporate partners, event sponsors, and buckle sponsors, whose support has been instrumental in making this year’s Derby an unparalleled success. Their commitment to the sport and the NRHA community is invaluable.