Category: Shows

It’s an exciting time for reining down under. That’s because the National Reining Horse Association affiliate organizations that make up the Oceania Region Council have come together to create the inaugural Oceania Regional Championships. The 2021 Championships, slated for June 28 – July 4, will be hosted by the New South Wales Reining Horse Association at its annual State Show at K Ranch in Sydney, Australia.

While the concept of regional organizations hosting major NRHA championships is not new in other parts of the world, it is a first for this region. Rob Lawson, Chairman of the Oceania Council said, “It is an exciting time as it allows us to try new and imaginative ideas to grow our industry through our clubs!”

Lawson, who operates Lawson’s Performance Horses in Bungonia, New South Wales continued, “The offers of support from the other clubs have been heartening, with the overwhelming sentiment that it is ‘our’ Regional Championships. It is these clubs working together that will make this work!”

The clubs involved in the Regional Championships are the NSWRHA, Orana Reining Horse Association, Victoria Reining Horse Association, Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association, South Australian Reining Horse Association, Collie Western Riding Club, Calliope Sliders Reining Horse Association and Southern Cross Reining Horse Association.

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter said, “Observing the energy and vitality of our reining friends in Australia is incredibly rewarding. We can’t fully comprehend the trials they have been through to get to this point. The pandemic, wildfires, and the challenges that change brings – they have overcome them all and are poised to bring a new day to our sport.”

K Ranch’s owner, Mick Kearney has had a significant impact on the NSWRHA as K Ranch has been its home base for the last 6 years and a close partnership has evolved over that time.

More information about the 2021 Oceania Regional Championships can be found here.

The oval arena in CremonaFiere is set to welcome European riders vying for the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity titles.

Open to horses born in 2016 named and nominated in the NRHA European Nomination Program, the 2020 edition counts 111 horses entered in the €160,623,14-added Open division and 60 in the €135.810,00-added Non Pro.

Visit NRHAEuropeanFuturity.com to keep up with the action!

5.13.21 – The Stage is Set for the 2020 NRHA European Futurity

5.14.21 – Europe’s Best Horses and Riders Saddle Up in Cremona

5.15.21 – 2020 NRHA European Non Pro Futurity and IRHA 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity Finalists are Determined

5.16.21 – Ann Fonck and Manuel Cortesi Slide to the Top Spot of the 2020 NRHA European Open Futurity and 2020 IRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity

5.18.21 – 2020 NRHA European Futurity Consolation Tuesday

5.20.21 – 2020 NRHA European Non Pro Futurity: One Mr JJ Slides Gina Schumacher To The Win

5.21.21 – 2020 NRHA European Open Futurity: And the Winners are Manuel Cortesi and AR Vintage Dream!

National Reining Horse Association Announces Massive Futurity Payout Increase

Andrea Fappani’s victory at the 2020 National Reining Horse Association Futurity on All Bettss Are Off was more than memorable; it was historic. Dedication and generosity from a committed group of NRHA members determined to raise the stakes at the world’s biggest reining resulted in the largest championship payments in the event’s history.

Not only did the Open Level 4 Champion receive $250,000, the CINCH Non Pro Champion took home $60,000, and added money for the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships was doubled.

With that accomplished, the Futurity Challenge task force members did not rest on their laurels and began working to raise the bar even higher. At the May 2021 NRHA Board of Directors meeting, their proposal to increase the 2021 MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Championship payout to $350,000 was unanimously approved. That will make the NRHA’s Futurity Open Championship the highest paying aged event title in the western performance horse world!

The additional money earmarked for the Level 4 Open Championship is fully funded by private investors. Rick Clark, NRHA President and member of the Futurity Challenge Task Force is proud of those people who “believe in the future of the reining industry and have pledged their support.” Initially the brainchild of the late Doug Carpenter and former NRHA President Frank Costantini, the Futurity Challenge concept grew quickly. Initial seedstock funding came from Clark along with John and Nancy Tague, Tim Anderson and Kim Niven, and Bob and Arlene Santagata, who were joined by Mark and Julie Blake, Craig and Ginger Schmersal, Mike Hancock, Joao Marcos, Rosanne Sternberg, and Shane Brown. Other investors came on board in the ensuing months and additional commitments are still being received.

Clark said, “I am proud to be President of the NRHA during this time of amazing growth. I applaud the members of the Futurity Challenge group for their commitment of both time and money. Our goal continues to be to increase earning capabilities for both professionals and owners, which will ultimately raise the value of reining horses and create a great future for our industry.”

Because the Futurity Challenge investors have pledged a five-year commitment, the Level 4 Open Champion payout is ensured to not decrease over that time. “The members of the Task Force aspire to enhance participation at all levels of reining by building the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC to the show of a lifetime,” Clark concluded.

The guaranteed payouts in the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals have been further expanded. In 2021, the Level 4 Open Reserve Champion will take home $150,000, while the third-place winner will receive a check for $100,000. There will also be substantial increases in the payout for fourth through tenth places in the Level 4 Open Finals.

Those boosts, as well as the doubled added money for Adequan® NAACs and the secured $60,000 for the L4 Non Pro Champion that will continue in 2021, are funded by NRHA’s monetary commitment.

For more information on the NRHA Futurity Challenge, email Sammi Miller, NRHA Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Communications at  smiller@nrha.com. For information on the 2021 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC visit NRHAFuturity.com.

Thanks to National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partner Tamarack Ranch, 4-year-old reining horses will have the chance at even more money at the 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. That’s because the Oregon-based ranch is the sponsor of the new $40,000-added Open Stakes!

The Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes is open to 4-year-old horses. The Stakes will run concurrently with the NRHA Derby go-rounds, and while cross-entry into the NRHA Derby is allowed, it is not mandatory.

“Suzy Simar and Tamarack Ranch have supported NRHA for several years through corporate partnership and before that, event sponsorship.  This year, 4-year-old horses have the opportunity to compete for big money,” noted Sammi Miller, NRHA Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Communications. “Thank you to Gabe Hutchins of Tamarack Ranch for sponsoring the new division. Tamarack Ranch is forward-thinking and committed to raising the bar at events.  When they saw a need in our industry, they worked to find a solution. As with so many of our corporate partners, that kind of initiative and dedication has helped NRHA thrive over the years.”

Hutchins, head trainer for Tamarack Ranch, shared the thought behind the Stakes. “We just saw a big need for more promotion of our 4-year-olds, especially since the derbies have been changed to include 7-year-olds. That’s a big change in horsepower over that age range,” he shared. “We thought we could give 4-year-old horses the opportunity to show one more year for good money while not having to compete against the older, more finished horses.”

Hutchins and Simar spent time discussing the idea with other owners and trainers before presenting it to NRHA. “We believe in the welfare and longevity of the horse and giving those 4-year-old horses another year to finish and get ready will help them in the long run,” he said.

He added that the feedback from fellow trainers has been overwhelmingly positive. “I have spoken with a few just in the last week who told me they hadn’t planned to bring a 4-year-old to the Derby but would now.” He added, “We are committed to sponsoring the Open Stakes for the next three years, and hope it takes off and is accepted like we feel it will be.”

Tamarack Ranch, located in Joseph, Oregon, focuses on raising, selling, and showing elite reining horses. “We are just now coming into year five, and it takes a while to get into full swing. Now our breeding program is going, and we have quality horses, from yearlings to show horses, to sell and we have a good show string, too,” Hutchins shared. “It feels phenomenal to start seeing horses we have raised go compete and do well.”

For questions or to schedule a visit, please e-mail tamarackranchreiners@gmail.com, or call (260) 249-0158 or (260) 416-1377. Be sure to visit the website at www.tamarackranchreiner.com. 

Exhibitors competing in select divisions at the 2021 National Reining Horse Association Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships can earn the opportunity to perform center stage in the Jim Norick Coliseum. That is because longtime NRHA Corporate Partner Bob’s Custom Saddles has expanded its sponsorship to include a bonus round for three classes.

Those classes – Intermediate Non Pro, Intermediate Open, and Rookie Level 2 – will be held in the Adequan® Arena, with entries competing for 2021 Adequan® NAAC titles. The top 10 for each class (plus ties) will earn a spot in one of the Bob’s Custom Saddles Showdowns.

A staggering $10,000 will be awarded during the Showdowns for each class. That means that, for no additional entry fee, the Bob’s Custom Saddles Showdown Champion will win $5,000, the reserve champion will take home $2,500, third will receive $1,500, and fourth will earn $1,000. Money won in the Showdown will be considered Category 7 affiliate earnings.

“There are so many exciting aspects to this new sponsorship, and we are thrilled for our NAAC competitors to have this opportunity. Someone could win both an NAAC Championship and a Bob’s Custom Saddle Showdown title, but it also gives someone who might not have shown their best in the Adequan® Arena a redemption round,” noted NRHA President, Rick Clark. “We appreciate Chris Weaver of Bob’s Custom Saddles for always stepping up when there is an opportunity to grow our sport and support our riders.”

Chris Weaver, Vice President of Bob’s Custom Saddles, noted, “We are focusing on growth for the reining industry and for ways to attract new people and increase the longevity of the sport. This sponsorship is based on not only expanding the overall Futurity but also strengthening the reining industry.”

The Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Non Pro and Intermediate Open Showdown will be held Friday, Dec. 3, and the Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie 2 Showdown will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4.

The new Showdown format will also apply to the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year. Rookie Level 1 riders will compete for Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year honors in the Adequan® Arena, and then the top 10 in that class will also advance to the Toyon Ranch Showdown, which will run concurrently with the Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie Level 2 Showdown on Saturday, Dec. 4.

“The reining industry as a whole is blessed with many generous sponsors, and Bob’s Custom Saddles and Toyon Ranch are two of the best. Their vision is to grow this sport beginning with specific NAAC division while benefiting the industry as a whole,” noted Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Communications, Sammi Miller.
For more information about the NRHA Futurity, visit NRHAFuturity.com.