On Saturday, October 28, the Limited Open and Rookie Pro divisions of the National Reining Horse Association Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) took place in the Adequan® Arena at State Fair Park. In addition to the aged event taking place in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity features exhibitors from across North America who qualify to compete here in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each of the 17 NAAC classes will be presented an Adequan® Championship vest the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.
Derek Heitland Wins Adequan® NAAC Limited Open With Spooks Gotta Spark
With an impressive 221.5 score, Iowa’s Derek Heitland topped the Adequan® NAAC Limited Open on Spooks Gotta Spark. The pair also won the concurrently run Limited Open ancillary, bringing the day’s paycheck to an impressive $1,128.
“He turned pretty good in today’s run, and when I circled him, he was with me, but his best thing today was his stops. He stopped three times, and he stopped big,” Heitland shared. “That’s his strength.”
Heitland just began riding the 7-year-old stallion, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Dolittle Lena. Just last year the horse, nicknamed Yellowstone, carried NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida to a fourth-place finish in the Run for a Million. The colt was a graduate of the 2015 NRHA/Markel Futurity Prospect Sale.
“We just got him a couple months ago and I started showing him, and he’s been a fun horse,” he said. “I thank the owner Kevin Truax and his daughter and family, and my wife and kids. I also thank Mike Davis who has helped me a lot.”
It wasn’t the only time for Heitland and Spooks Gotta Spark to win good money in the Adequan® Arena. Earlier in the week, the pair earned $4,998 for taking Reserve in the NAAC and ancillary Intermediate Open and placing in the NAAC and ancillary Open class.
“I liked the money they had here,” Heitland said with a laugh, referencing the NAAC’s doubled added money from the previous year. “I thought it was a good day. This was my last time to show this week, and it was a great way to end it.”
Heitland added, “Showing reiners has been my dream since I was 12 years old. To be able to come down here with everything going on is a dream come true. I couldn’t be any happier.”
Heitland will take a bevy of first-class awards home to Iowa for the NAAC Limited Open win, including a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feed gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.
Nikki Tyndall and Stars At Midnite Win NAAC Rookie Pro and Ancillary Rookie Pro
Taking top honors in the Rookie Pro division of the NRHA’s Adequan® NAAC, as well as in the ancillary Rookie Pro class, was Nikki Tyndall riding Stars At Midnite.
Winning the Adequan® NAAC Rookie Pro paid Tyndall $429, while the ancillary Rookie Pro class paid an additional $289. Tyndall also finished Reserve in both the Adequan® NAAC Limited Open and ancillary Limited Open for another $515.
Stars At Midnite is by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Chic Olena Starbuck. The 2013 mare is owned by Edward Frawley. “She’s just a superstar mare,” said Tyndall. “I showed her a bit over the summer but we’ve had her in the barn for about three years.”
Tyndall drew on the mare’s strengths today to clinch the win. “Both runs were awesome,” said Tyndall, who won in a runoff against Taylor Davis riding Missin Walla Whiz (Walla Walla Whiz x Missin My Friend) for Donald Burgy. “When I went to get her [for the runoff] she was practically sleeping in the corner. She’s a low energy gal so she was just awesome, she’s a super solid horse. She’s a huge stopper, great turner and she circles nice too.”
Tyndall originally hails from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she works for Dave Moore.
“I’d like to thank her owner Ed Frawley for letting me show his horse,” said Tyndall. “Also, my boss, Dave Moore and his wife Kim Moore, as well as the whole Sheridan Oaks team, and everyone who put this show together. I’m so excited!”
Tyndall earned a plethora of awards for the NAAC Rookie Pro championship, including a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feed gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.