Category: Shows

The temperatures were high, and the runs were equally scorching on Sunday, June 20, at the 2021 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. While the marquis event doesn’t begin until Monday, the horse show was in full swing in the Adequan® Arena and Arena 6, with Non Pro and Open exhibitors showing throughout the day.

Franco Bertolani & Masked Gun – Open (1) Champions

Franco Bertolani went one-two in the first slate of the ancillary Open on a pair of incredible athletes owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center. The NRHA Million Dollar Rider won the class with a 148 on Masked Gun and took second with a 147 on Dun It For Whizkey.

“They were pretty good. Both of these horses were off for a year for rest, and then I brought them to the Redbud and here,” Bertolani said. “I didn’t have any problems with either horse, which was great. I just try to do my job and stay out of the penalty box. They are both nice horses.”

Both Masked Gun and Dun It For Whizkey are out of the blue hen NRHA Million Dollar Dam Dun It For Chex. Masked Gun is by NRHA Twelve Million Sire Gunner while Dun It For Whizkey is by NRHA Twelve Million Sire Topsail Whiz.

Bertolani added, “I thank all my crew. I thank Joao Marcos of Cardinal Ranch for letting me ride those two great horses. I thank all my family and team for supporting me at this big show.”

While Dun It For Whizkey has aged out of Derby competition, Masked Gun still has a year of eligibility left. “I’m not sure where we will go next. I want to go home and look at the schedule. We will have the Run for the Million Shootout, so we will see. I might try to show Masked Gun at some derbies,” Bertolani said.

Joshua Crawley & Lil Sancho Joe – Int. Open (1) Champions

With a score of 145, Joshua Crawley and Lil Sancho Joe took the top spot of the first slate of the Intermediate Open, winning $582. The pair also finished fourth in the Open, worth an additional $816. “He’s been really good and he was really well-trained when I got him. He’s been in some good barns and programs, and I just got to enjoy it,” Crawley shared. “He turned really well both ways, circled smooth, and changed leads well today. He was great.”

Lil Sancho Joe is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash and out of Miss Rey O Shine. The 6-year-old is owned by David Hobbs. “We have just been getting him ready for David to show. David showed him at the Redbud, and I got to pilot him today,” Crawley said. “David will show him this week in the Rookie classes. I thank David and Denise for their support. They have been with me since the beginning. They have truly been a blessing. Of course, I thank my wife Kelsey and my daughter Sadie and my team. They do a great job for us.”

Heather Servies & Gunners Genes – Ltd. Open (1) Champions

With a score of 144, Heather Servies and Gunners Genes won the Limited Open and took second in the Intermediate Open, earning more than $830. “He felt good warming up and I just knew going in I could put him where I needed in the maneuvers. He was just there for me, and stayed exactly where I wanted in every maneuver,” she said.

Owned by Sheri Aaberg, Gunners Genes is by NRHA Twelve Million Sire Gunner and out of the prolific producer Taris Designer Genes. “I have had him for a couple clients now. He has been a great little horse,” Servies said. “I’ll be showing him again in two novice classes, and then his owner is going to show him in the green classes later on in the week.”

Servies added, “I thank his owner, Sheri Aaberg. She has been incredibly supportive of me showing him and has been a great client. I also thank the place that I work for, Creekside. They are really wonderful and I’m really happy to be representing them.”

There was a tie for Reserve between Adam Johnson and Jason Franks. Johnson rode Rock On Wimpy (Wimpys Little Step x Spot On N Sassy), owned by Dana Wetherell, while Franks competed on CBK A Nu Kinda Spark (Jacs Electric Spark x HR Wright On Cash), owned by Patricia Ann Jackson.

Sumer Opinker & Concealed Guns – Rookie Professional (1) Champions

Concealed Guns has already had a successful week at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. On Saturday, the 4-year-old gelding finished second in the Limited Non Pro and Prime Time Non Pro with owner Mindy Gray. He returned to the show pen on Sunday to win the first slate of the Rookie Professional, as well as fourth in the Limited Open, with trainer Sumer Opinker.

Opinker works for NRHA Professional Mirjam Stillo. “Sumer has been showing him quite a bit lately. She showed him at NRBC and did really well,” Stillo said of the colt, by Guns R For Shootin out of Sweet Lena Shine. “He’s just been really good. He’s stepping up and is really turning into a good show horse. He’s getting more consistent and better each time. We are really happy with him.”

Concealed Guns can’t rest on his laurels, as he will be showing again in the second slate of the Rookie Professional and Limited Open. 

Second in the Rookie Professional was a tie between Emilie Lind and Katherine Davis, who both marked a 140. Lind rode CTC Go Daddy (HF Mobster x Miss Danakanic), owned by Heather Carta, while Davis piloted Chicsdundreamin (Magnum Chic Dream x Goody Goody Dun Drop), owned by Nancy Stillwell.

Jessicah Keller & Its Snippin Time – Nov. Horse Non Pro Level 2 (1) Co-Champion/Level 3 (1) Champions

Riding Its Snippin Time, Jessicah Keller tied for the win of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, pocketing $557. Its Snippin Time is by Shine Big Time out of Snip O Satellite. The talented mare was bred and is owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Hilldale Farm. The duo also took sole possession of the win in the Level 3, worth an additional $561.

Kyla Thurlow and Kachina Olena Tag took reserve honors in the Level 3 with a score of 144. Kachina Olena Tag is by NRHA Two Million Sire Whiz N Tag Chex and out of Kachina Oak Olena.

Raeanna Thayn & Roseswhiz – Nov. Horse Non Pro Level 2 (1) Co-Champions

NRHyA member Raeanna Thayn optimized her time in the Adequan® Arena, using her runs to prepare for the Non Pro preliminaries which begin Monday.

On her 4-year-old mare Roseswhiz, Thayn scored a 144.5 to tie for the win of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2. “She was really good today. We were just schooling before the preliminaries. I just wanted to have a clean run. Since she’s only four, I wanted to let her do what she wanted to do,” Thayn said of the mare by NRHA $3 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Rose Electric Step.

In addition to being entered in the Non Pro Levels 4, 3, 2, and Youth, Thayn and Roseswhiz will also compete in the new Colston Paving, Inc., Non Pro Stakes. Thayn purchased the mare through the 2018 Marketplace Sale at the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales. “I have only showed her a few times. I thank my parents, as well as my trainer Josh Murphy for helping me out,” she said.

Thayn recently won the Graphic Design division of the NRHyA Art and Photo contest and finished third in Photography. She said, “It is good to have a different outlook on the industry and all of the scholarship opportunities that NRHyA has. A couple of my friends did photography when I was younger, and I got to watch so I picked it up from them.” Raeanna plans to visit her artwork, displayed at the National Cowboy Museum and Hall of Fame, this week.

Lisa Bricker & Lotta Mobster – Nov. Horse Non Pro Level 1 (1) Champions

With a score of 143.5, Lisa Bricker won the first slate of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 on Lotta Mobster.

Bricker began showing Lotta Mobster, by HF Mobster out of Alottachic N Lilwhiz, a year ago. “He has been really fun to ride and show. He was a little green when we got him, so my dad and I showed him a lot and my dad spent a lot of time on him. Everything is starting to click these last few shows,” Bricker explained.

Lisa added that her father, Donnie Bricker, has been her trainer her whole life. “There have always been horses that are sort of projects, and it’s fun seeing it all come together. When I come back from school, they always improve so much with him riding them. It’s so rewarding when it all does come together,” she said.

Bricker attends Texas A&M at College Station, Texas. “I get to show reiners while I’m in school, so riding is automatically built into my schedule,” she explained. “I am lucky because I know that it’s not the case for everyone who grows up riding.”

Bricker and Lotta Mobster also finished fourth in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 and third in the Level 3 for total earnings of $1,196.

Sarah Armenta and Hangin On The Line took second in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 with a 143, earning $514. Hangin On The Line is by Shine On Line out of Spooks Hangten.

Wiener Neustadt, June 2—The 2020 edition of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Derby will be held at Western Training Center H&D Schulz Quarter Horses Wiener Neustadt, Austria, on June 28 – July 3, 2021.

Originally scheduled to be held in May during the Western Horse Show Fair in Wels, Austria,—and following cancellation of the same due to COVID restrictions—Austrian Reining Horse Association (ARHA) President Helmut Schulz of Western Training Center graciously offered his facility to host the €106,200-added* Colonels Shining Gun Open Derby and €45,510-added* Smart Spook Non Pro Derby (*subject to change in nominations).

The event presented by NRHA Corporate Partner Markel, Official Equine Insurance Partner of NRHA, is open to NRHA nominated horses that are 6 to 9 years old and will be held behind closed doors.

The entry deadline is June 10, 2021.

For online entries click here or email Show Secretary Andrea Papaianni: shows@ai-pap.com

For further information:
nrhaeuropeanderby.com

The 2021 NRHA European Derby will be held in Lyon, France in conjunction with Longines Equita Lyon October 27–31, 2021. This event will be open to NRHA nominated horses that are 5 to 8 years old in 2021.

NRHA European Derby Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
Email: internationalhorsepress@gmail.com

Important Title Sponsorship Raises Payouts in All Divisions!

The 2021 NRHA Derby welcomes a naming sponsor in 2021 as it becomes the 6666 Derby presented by Markel. The sponsorship brings an incredible new payout framework for both the Open and Non Pro Derby, thanks to 6666 Ranch and Taylor Sheridan.

Sheridan explained, “The 6666 Ranch and Bosque Ranch have joined Paramount TV’s Yellowstone to support the NRHA Derby.” Created to reward NRHA Derby Champions of every level – from Open to Non Pro – this sponsorship helps create excitement and rewards reiners of all levels. 

It raises the Open L4 Derby championship from paying $60,000 to paying $75,000 – while in many levels the money awarded to the champion more than doubles! These substantial increases extend to all the Non Pro divisions, including a guaranteed $30,000 to the L4 Champion.  

A quick look at these new benchmarks compared to 2020’s payments:

Division	2020  Derby Champion Earnings	6666 Derby Champions Guaranteed Payment
Open L4 Champion	$60,000	$75,000
Open L3 Champion	$23,477	$35,000
Open L2 Champion	$9,596	$20,000
Open L1 Champion	$4,263	$10,000
Open Prime Time Champion	$2,205	$5,000
Non Pro L4 Champion	$18,800	$30,000
Non Pro L3 Champion	$14,351	$20,000
Non Pro L2 Champion	$8,690	$15,000
Non Pro L1	$3,220	$5,000
Non Pro Prime Time Champion	$2,602	$5,000
Youth Champion	$1,318	$2,000
Non Pro Masters Champion	$1,122	$2,000

Sammi Miller, NRHA Sr. Director of Corporate Relations & Communications, noted, “We are thrilled to welcome Four Sixes Ranch as the naming sponsor of the NRHA Derby. This iconic ranch is a treasured part of our western heritage and we are honored to be associated with it, as well as with Bosque Ranch and Paramount TV’s Yellowstone, thanks to Taylor.”

Sheridan summarized, “Expanding both awareness and participation in equine events such as the NRHA Derby is vital not only to the sport of reining but all equine sports, just as it is vital to the preservation of the quarter horse and paint horse. The horse is a cowboy’s most precious tool and closest friend, and the cowboy is an irreplaceable gear in the engine of American agriculture. Events such as the NRHA Derby not only preserve the rich heritage of the horse, they preserve the heritage of the rider as well.”

Clearly, Sheridan is committed to the success of the 6666 NRHA Derby and his commitment to give back mirrors the dedication shown by long-time NRHA sponsor Markel Insurance. Miller added, “We thank Markel Insurance, which remains the presenting sponsor of the NRHA Derby. It is because of Frank Costantini and Markel Insurance’s commitment to the reining industry, and this event in particular, that the Derby has grown so much.”

Along with its rich history from its beginning in 1870, legendary American quarter horses and superior Angus cattle are hallmarks of the Four Sixes Ranch. The ranch not only offers state-of-the-art reproductive services and a full range of equine veterinary services but stands to the public some of the most well-respected AQHA stallions in the industry. Its exceptional broodmare band produces elite race, ranch, and performance horses.

Bosque Ranch, owned by Sheridan, is the premier livestock provider in the film and television industry, providing horses for the cast of ‘Yellowstone’ as well as films such as ‘Hell or High Water’, ‘Wind River’, and Warner Brother’s ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’, along with the upcoming ‘Twelve Mighty Orphans’. It has also produced performance horses such as Walla Walla Starbuck: 2019 AQHA Senior Reining Reserve Champion, 2021 Run for a Million Non Pro qualifier; Setting Off To Town: 2020 NRHA L4 Open Futurity finalist, 2021 NRBC L4 Open finalist, 2021 Run for a Million Open Finalist;  and Kreyzy Horse, a six-year-old stallion with $97,000 in earnings.

Yellowstone is the highest-rated cable drama since its premiere in 2018. It returns to Paramount Network for its fourth season in 2021 as the chronicle of the Dutton Ranch continues.

For information on the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel visit the website at NRHADerby.com.

2021 NRHA Futurity Rider Designations will be due October 1, the same day as the last payment. This was a change made by the NRHA Board of Directors in an effort to streamline the entering process. In the past, the Rider Designation’s due date of November 1 and subsequent policy that undesignated horses were put at the front of the draw at that time often caused a hardship for an owner and rider who might have simply miscommunicated on who was sending in the designation form.

For most people showing in the Non Pro and Open Futurities, there is no question as to who will show a horse so it’s one less deadline to keep up with. And NRHA Professionals needing extra time to decide whether they or an assistant trainer will show a particular horse, can simply designate a rider by October 1 and then change as necessary with no penalties up to noon two days prior to the first go.  

NRHA Show Secretary Kathy Gould explained, “At the NRHA Events Office we always try to catch what might be an entry oversight when we see an undesignated horse, but it has often been impossible to make contact with the owner of every undesignated entry in the short window as the draw deadline approaches. We want to make sure everyone gets the benefit of being included in the futurity draw if that is their intention!”

She continued, “Having the Rider Designations come to us by October 1 will give us time to verify that undesignated horses are not actually intended to go forward and to find any that were undesignated due to some error. The key is to get the designations in by October 1, then there is no charge for any rider changes that are completed before November 1. However, there is a $50 late fee that will apply if a designation is not received by the October 1 deadline.”

More information and Rider Designation forms as well as Rider Change forms can be found at NRHAFuturity.com/forms.