Category: Youth

On Friday, June 23, NRHyA Members proved that their skills extend beyond the show pen in the CINCH Youth Speaking Contest, held at the 2023 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

This contest, sponsored by CINCH, allows youth members to compete for scholarship money in one of three categories, in the 13 & Under or 14-18 age divisions. Prior to 2023, a $500 scholarship was awarded to the winner in each category. This year, CINCH increased their contribution to allow for a $700 scholarship to be earned by the winner in each category, as well as a $200 scholarship for second place, for a total of $5,400 being awarded in total. The three categories members may compete in are Delivering A: General, Prepared Public Speaking, and Community Service Presentation.

Delivering A: General is a contest unique to NRHyA, in which the competitor must memorize, and recite, A: General to a panel of judges. John “JG” Codell won the 13 & Under division, a feat that required extensive preparation. “One of our friends helped me,” Codell explained. “We had nightly meetings over Zoom to prepare for the speech.

For the Prepared Public Speaking contest, youth were asked to choose any leadership and equestrian topic, and present a four-eight minute speech, without the assistance of visual aids. The 13 & Under Prepared Public Speaking category winner, Wade Kiser, conquered his nerves to earn his $700 scholarship from CINCH. “I was nervous at first, but the more and more I talked, the more comfortable I got,” Kiser said. “It was a lot of fun; I’d definitely do it again.”

The final contest offered is the Community Service Presentation, in which youth create an eight-10 minute presentation explaining their completed community service project. Current NRHyA President, Adrianna Runzo, took home the win and the $700 scholarship from CINCH. Runzo’s presentation focused on her involvement with the Akron Children’s Hospital’s Reach Out and Read program, where she collected 500 books. “It’s amazing, especially because the speaking contest is bigger than ever,” Runzo stated regarding her win. “I know the first year I competed, there were only three of us youth kids in the same category. Now that number is 20.”

Runzo and the other youth competing in the contest were grateful to CINCH for their support. “It’s amazing to see the added scholarship money,” stated Runzo. “It really elevated the experience as a youth, seeing that we could win such great scholarships from a corporation that already supports us so much throughout all of our youth endeavors.”

The results for this year’s contest are:

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

The 2023 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest featured more than 30 entries across two categories and three age brackets.

Due to a continued, special partnership with the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, everyone can visit the winning art displayed at the museum during the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel in Oklahoma City. NRHA encourages all its members to take a trip to the beautiful museum during the Derby to support these young artists. Be sure to tell them you are there supporting NRHyA and congratulate the NRHyA members who participated!

The NRHyA thanks the museum for its contribution, as well as this year’s judges: Emily Rush, Membership & Accounting Customer Service Coordinator; Michael R. Grauer, McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture/Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

10 & under mixed media
Rooney Dennis

10 & under photography
Lilah Durbin

13 & under photography
Lily Forzani

13 & under mixed media
Cora Bowman

14-18 mixed media
Stella Rugani

14-18 photography
Carson Masuisui

To celebrate their 25-year partnership anniversary with the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), CINCH is offering increased scholarship opportunities for youth members at the CINCH Speaking Contest.

This annual event serves as an opportunity for National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) members to increase their skills and earn scholarship dollars regardless of their age.

Members compete to improve their skills, but also impressive scholarships. To celebrate CINCH’s milestone, the first-place scholarships have increased from $500 to $700, and a second-place scholarship of $200 has been added.

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.

Scholarships for the 2023 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

2022 NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest Winners:

Becca Schaffhauser: 13 & Under Delivering A: General

McKylie Ivie: 13 & Under Prepared Public Speaking

Haley Turner: 14-18 Delivering A: General

Isabelle Hildebrandt: 14-18 Prepared Public Speaking

Faith Horner: 14-18 Community Service

Youth members interested in competing in this year’s CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest can find more information, including the entry form at NRHyA.com. The entry deadline is June 1. Please email entries to youth@nrha.com.

One of the National Reining Horse Youth Association’s most unique opportunities is the annual Art & Photo Contest sponsored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This partnership allows the first-place piece in each category to be displayed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum during the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance.

“It has been incredible to see so many NRHyA members’ work on the walls of the museum alongside professional artists,” said Sara Honegger, NRHA Director of Marketing, who oversees the Youth and Affiliate programs. “This partnership is so special, and we have even had youth sell their artwork because of it being displayed.”

Last year there were nearly 50 entries in the contest.

Already on board as judges for this year’s contest are NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter, Michael R. Grauer, McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture/Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Other judges will be announced.

“Youth members already frequently send in artwork to the Varsity Reining Club, so sending it into the contest should be a no-brainer!” said Honegger. “Talk to your friends and participate together; you never know what opportunity can come from putting yourself out there!”

The categories for the competition will be Photography and Mixed Media in the following age categories: 14-18, 13 & Under, and 10 & Under based on their age as of January 1.

Last year’s winners were:

Photography 14-18: Kalena Reynolds
Mixed Medium 14-18: Sofía Carreño Becerra
Mixed Medium 13 & Under: Pip Brown
Mixed Media 10 & Under: Lynleigh Jo Durbin

Entry forms for the 2023 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest can be found on nrhya.com. Entries will be accepted until May 10.

For information on the NRHyA, visit the website at nrhya.com.

Following the inaugural edition held in Avaré, Brazil, last year, the 2023 World Youth Reining Cup is yet another opportunity created and brought to our reining family by Joao Marcos through his love of the sport and knowledge that the youth are our future. Organized by the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) and supported by IRHA President Eleuterio Arcese and the Reining Horse Foundation (RHF), the event will take place in Cremona, Italy.

The 2023 WYRC event will be held in Cremona, Italy, where the first Global Youth World Cup took place in 2019 and will run during the NRHA European Futurity (May 23-27). To date, the following countries will be represented: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, USA. We are expecting worldwide youth to join us in making history once again – join us!

The details:

The selection criteria of the youth representative are up to the affiliates. All youth must be NRHA members and will be issued a FISE (Italian Equestrian Sports Federation) guest license which includes an insurance policy for the riders at no extra cost.

Open to youth age 18 and under (18 years old on January 1, 2023) with the exception of youth who had put their name forth to compete in the 2022 WYRC which did not take place in Cremona, Italy.

The horses will be supplied by local contributors and a random draw will be done for ALL entries to select which participant will be riding which horse.

If you, your trainer, or someone you know has a horse that they would like to submit to be part of this event, please notify Simona Diale at simonadiale@gmail.com or Manuela Maiocchi manumaio28@libero.it

Each affiliate needs to put forward their country’s representative by April 15. Submissions must be sent to youth@nrha.com. Once representative names are received, communication will be sent to them for entry by April 30.

A companion is required to travel with each youth participant and it is recommended a coach travels with the. NRHA nor the host of the event is responsible for any participant, coach, or traveling companion. Participants are responsible for their own airfare, hotels, food, entry, and competition fees, and transportation to, during, and from the event.

Airports that you can fly into are Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Milano Bergamo Airport Orio Al Serio, and Verona Valerio Caputo Airport.

A list of hotels may be found here: https://www.visititaly.it/dove-dormire/cremona.aspx

Tentative Schedule & Entry Fees:
WYRC participants may arrive at CremonaFiere on Monday, May 22The WYRC Welcome Party and Draw will be held on Tuesday, May 23WYRC Youth may ride their horses starting Wednesday 24 The WYRC competition will be held in the morning Saturday 27Entry fee into the World Youth Reining Cup: $250Stall fee: $50

Coordinating the youth participants during the week will be FISE Lombardia Regional Reining Representative and NRHA Judge Laura Quaglia.

Awards:

1^ Place $3,000 + NRHA Trophy for rider and horse owner + Champion buckle

2^Place $2,000 + Reserve Champion buckle

3^Place $1,000

Prizes and gifts to all participants.

Certain that the event will once again be a huge success, for all other details regarding the event, please contact Simona Diale at simonadiale@gmail.com / Cell. +39 340 5354629.

“There was a lot of work behind these events and I have to thank the super teams that put it together,” said RHF, and ANCR Board member Joao Marcos. “It was wonderful in Brazil and I am certain it will be in Italy. My goal, since I first came into this world over ten years ago, was to promote the youth worldwide and my motto has always been ‘globalization.’ We should all carry on in this direction and the first World Cup in Brazile was another step forward in that direction. Italy hosted the event in 2019 and this year we look forward to having close to 30 countries represented in Cremona. A huge thank you to NRHA, RHF, ANCR, IRHA, the riders, the owners that loaned their horses, and to all those that make it happen.”

“We are so thrilled that Joao Marcos has created these events for our youth to showcase their talent on a global scale,” said NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter expressing his gratitude to Joao Marcos.

Leslie Baker, RHF Executive Director added: “The Reining Horse Foundation proudly supports youth leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA). The Youth World Reining Cup is a unique event that promotes global connection and awareness for our reining community. We are excited for everyone who is involved.”

The inaugural 2022 NRHA/RHF/ANCR World Youth Reining Cup was held in the beautiful Parque de Exposições Dr. Fernando Cruz Pimentel horse show facility set in Avaré, Brazil. Winning the Championship was Gabriel Cordeiro Martins riding Evando de Oliveira’s Doc San Whiz.

(Photo – Foto Perigo)

In 2019, an amazing 19 countries were represented in the NRHA/RHF/IRHA Global Youth Reining Cup held in CremonaFiere during the IRHA Derby. Tying for first place was Andreu Nogue Puig of Spain riding A Whiz N Cash and Italy’s Matteo Bonzano riding High Point Reiner. Winning the Invitational Global Cup was USA’s Grace Wilson aboard Jokin Whiz.

(Photo – Foto Bonaga Communication)

Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
internationalhorsepress@gmail.com

The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for the information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests, or questions.