Category: Youth

The National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest, sponsored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This annual contest invites youth members to express their creativity and passion for the Western lifestyle through original artwork and photography.

This year’s entries reflected both technical skill and heartfelt storytelling, capturing the spirit of the reining horse industry and life in the Western world. Judged by professionals from the Museum’s education and marketing team, the winning submissions stood out for their composition, originality, and overall impact.

Each first-place winner will have their work on display at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum during the event and we encourage everyone to visit!

Winners of the 2025 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest:

Mixed Media Division

14–18

• 1st Place: Kynley Bell – “Window to the Soul”
• 2nd Place: Cassie Hacking – “Customize My Dream”
• 3rd Place: Emily Justice – “Said In Silence”

13 & Under

• 1st Place: Victoria McClure – “The Colt”
• 2nd Place: Ella Justice – “Ready and Waiting”
• 3rd Place: Harper Ruppel – “Reining Horse Legends”

10 and Under

• 1st Place: Savannah Mize – “King of Heavenly Pastures”
• 2nd Place: May Shaw – “Punk Pony”
• 3rd Place: Caroline Carpenter – “My Turn”

Photography Division

14–18

• 1st Place: Gracie Reeder – “Details in the Saddle”
• 2nd Place: Cassie Hacking – “‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength’ (Philippians 4:13)”
• 3rd Place: Ella Wolff – “Eyes on the Prize”

13 & Under

• 1st Place: Victoria McClure – “Cotton Candy Clouds”
• 2nd Place: Ella Justice – “Judge”
• 3rd Place: Katherine Timmerman – “In the Eyes of the Horse”

10 and Under

• 1st Place: Charli Timmerman – “Annie”
• 2nd Place: JP McClure – “Windmill at Sunset”
• 3rd Place: Charli Timmerman – “Let’s Go”

Each first-place winner will have their work on display at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum during the event.

For more information on the NRHyA and its scholarship, educational, and leadership opportunities, visit nrhya.com.

Youth attending the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel can participate in the CINCH National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) Speaking contest to earn scholarships.

This annual event serves as an opportunity for NRHyA members to increase their skills and earn scholarship dollars regardless of their age. NRHyA is a program funded through the Reining Horse Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. RHF scholarships offered across several NRHyA programs will offer nearly $90,000 in 2025.

The contest will take place on Friday, June 20, in the Bennett Event Center on the OKC Fairgrounds.

Participants will be divided into two age groups, 13 & Under and 14-18. The three categories will be Delivering A: General, Prepared Public Speaking, and Community Service Presentation.

In the Delivering A: General, contestants recite A: General, a guide to judging reining horses and a hallmark of the NRHA Handbook. Prepared Public Speaking involves contestants delivering a five-to-eight-minute speech on either a leadership or equestrian topic. Lastly, the Community Service Presentation allows participants to create an eight-to-10-minute presentation showcasing a completed community service project.

To enter, participants must fill out this form by June 10.

Scholarships for the 2025 NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest:

Age 14-18

Delivering A: General
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Prepared Public Speaking
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Community Service Presentation
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Age 13 & Under

Delivering A: General
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Prepared Public Speaking
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Community Service Presentation
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

A. GENERAL for 13 & Under

To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.

A. GENERAL for 14-18

To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of/or temporary loss of control and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation.

Learn more about NRHyA and RHF at nrhya.com and reiningfoundation.com.

At the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), we know our youth members shine in the arena—but their talents don’t stop there. Many of our National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) members also excel in creative expression, and we’re proud to provide a platform to celebrate that through the annual NRHyA Art & Photo Contest.

We’re thrilled to once again partner with the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for the third consecutive year as the official sponsor of this special event. Thanks to this valued collaboration, the first-place entries in each category will be displayed at the prestigious museum during the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel—an unforgettable honor for our young artists.

We encourage all NRHyA members to join in. Whether you’re already active in the Varsity Reining Club or simply looking to explore your artistic side, this is your chance to get creative and be recognized.

This year’s contest will feature two categories, Photography and Mixed Media, and will be broken up by three age categories: 10 & Under, 13 & Under, and 14-18.

At NRHA, we’re committed to supporting and celebrating the diverse talents of our youth. The NRHyA Art & Photo Contest is one of the many ways we empower the next generation of leaders in and out of the arena.

Enter the contest here by May 10.

The National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) is thrilled to announce the winners of the highly anticipated 2024 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest sponsored by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This annual competition celebrates the creative talents of our youth members, showcasing their unique perspectives and artistic interpretations of the reining community, their love for equine athletes, and the Western culture.

After careful deliberation, we are excited to recognize the following youth members for their talents. The winning entry in each category is displayed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum throughout the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. This showcase allows the broader Western community to appreciate and celebrate the artistic achievements of our youth members. We encourage everyone to visit the museum to view these inspiring works.

“The NRHyA Art & Photo Contest is a wonderful opportunity for our youth members to express their creativity and passion for reining,” said Sara Honegger, NRHA youth program manager. “We are continually inspired by the incredible talent and dedication of our young members, and this year’s submissions were truly exceptional. Congratulations to all our winners!”

The NRHyA Art & Photo Contest is a cherished tradition that encourages young artists and photographers to explore their passion for the reining horse sport through visual arts. This year, we received more than 30 impressive submissions, each reflecting the dedication and enthusiasm of our talented youth members.

10 & Under Mixed Media

1. JP McClure
2. Harper Ruppel
3. Ella Justice

10 & Under Photography

1. JP McClure
2. Harper Ruppel
3. Lilah Durbin

13 & Under Photography

1. Victoria McClure
2. Rooney Dennis
3. Brooke Schwebach

13 & Under Mixed Media

1. Kynley Bell
2. Deanna Davidson
3. Millie Jean Piper

14-18 photography

1. Kayla Gibson
2. Chloe Hansen
3. Kayla Gibson

14-18 mixed media

1. Graci Reeder
2. Emily Justice
3. Chloe Hansen

The NRHyA extends its heartfelt thanks to all participants, judges, and supporters who made this year’s contest successful. We look forward to continuing this tradition and inspiring future generations of artists within the reining horse community.

About the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA): The NRHyA is dedicated to promoting the sport of reining among youth members and providing opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and community involvement. The NRHyA aims to inspire and empower young individuals to excel in the reining horse industry through various programs and events.

CINCH and the National Reining Horse Youth Association are proud to again offer the CINCH Speaking Contest at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

Not only is CINCH continuing to offer increased scholarship opportunities for youth members, but each participant will also receive products.

“CINCH is proud to once again support the NRHyA Speaking Contest in its initiative to offer opportunities to some outstanding young individuals,” said Cassi Nichols, CINCH Marketing Coordinator. “CINCH appreciates the efforts of NRHA staff to offer industry-driven opportunities and rewards for the next generation.”

This annual event serves as an opportunity for NRHyA members, regardless of age, to increase their skills and earn scholarship dollars. NRHyA is a program funded through the Reining Horse Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. RHF scholarships offered across several NRHyA programs will exceed $70,000 in 2024.

Participants will be divided into two age groups, 13 & Under and 14-18. The three categories will be Delivering A: General, Prepared Public Speaking, and Community Service Presentation.

In the Delivering A: General, contestants recite A: General, a guide to judging reining horses and a hallmark of the NRHA Handbook. Prepared Public Speaking involves contestants delivering a five-to-eight-minute speech on either a leadership or equestrian topic. Lastly, the Community Service Presentation allows participants to create an eight-to-10-minute presentation showcasing a completed community service project.

To enter, participants must fill out this form by June 1

Scholarships for the 2024 NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest:

Age 14-18

Delivering A: General
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Prepared Public Speaking
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Community Service Presentation
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Age 13 & Under

Delivering A: General
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Prepared Public Speaking
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

Community Service Presentation
1st place: $700
2nd place: $200

2023 NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest Winners:

Age 14-18

Delivering A: General
1st place, Isabelle Hildebrandt: $700
2nd place, Lilian Roush: $200

Prepared Public Speaking
1st place, Lilian Roush: $700
2nd place, Emma Klug: $200

Community Service Presentation
1st place, Adrianna Runzo: $700
2nd place, Chloe Hansen: $200

Age 13 & Under

Delivering A: General
1st place, John ‘JG’ Codell: $700
2nd place, Millie Jean Piper: $200

Prepared Public Speaking
1st place, Wade Kiser: $700
2nd place, Presley Timmerman: $200

Community Service Presentation
1st place, Cavannah Hansen: $700