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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
The 2021 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel kicked off Saturday, June 19, with a full day of horse show action. Increased entry numbers for the event necessitated a few shifts and adjustments to the schedule and location, so the first slate of the Non Pro NRHA classes was moved to Arena 6, while the first section of the American Quarter Horse Association and American Paint Horse Association Open classes were held in the Adequan® Arena.
Morris Kulmer & NVR What A Lucky Joe – Non Pro (1) & Prime Time Non Pro (1)
It’s the last year of Derby eligibility for Morris Kulmer’s standout gelding NVR What A Lucky Joe, and the pair seem primed for success after marking a 145.5 to win the first slate of the ancillary Non Pro and Prime Time Non Pro on Saturday. The two collected checks totaling $1,131.
Morris Kulmer
“My plan going in the arena today was to just have a nice, smooth ride and wait until he made a mistake, then correct him if I needed to,” Kulmer shared. “It was a nice, smooth ride and we didn’t make any mistakes. I hope he carries that over to the Derby, but you never know. There are always last-minute things to change, but we were simply happy to show and bring it home.”
NVR What A Lucky Joe is the highest money-earner by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash and is out of What A Lucky Hit. “I thank my good friend Andrea Fappani who got me this horse. Of course, I thank my trainer Dan Huss and everyone at Huss Performance Horses. They do a great job taking care of my horses and getting them ready. I also thank my farrier, my vet, and the NRHA,” Kulmer said.
After the Derby, Kulmer will set his sights west. “We will go to Reining By the Bay, and then in August I’m excited for the Run For a Million. The reining industry is exciting right now. There is a lot of excitement, and everyone is looking for great horses, including me,” he said.
Tristan Bagby took second in the Non Pro (1) on Shina Gun (Gunner x Shiner Light) with a 144. Mindy Grey finished second in the Prime Time Non Pro with a 141.5 on Concealed Guns (Guns R For Shootin x Sweet Lena Shine).
Kalyn Sanders & Got That Iowa Shine – Int. Non Pro (1) & Ltd. Non Pro (1)
With a score of 142, Kalyn Sanders and Got That Iowa Shine took the win for the first slate of the Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro. The duo also finished third in the Non Pro, bringing their take for the day to more than $1,349.
Kalyn Sanders
Sanders is looking ahead to the $15,000 Added 8 & Up Maturity, which will be held in the Adequan® Arena on Wednesday. “We have a few things to smooth out before then to be ready, but I think we will be ok by then. Regardless, I’m just pleased at how today went,” she said.
“He was really good today. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this at all. We haven’t had a lot of opportunities to practice since the NRBC, but as usual he took care of me and did his job,” Sanders said of “Dillon,” an 8-year-old gelding by Smart And Shiney out of SLJ This Is My Juice.
A Business Development Manager for Chewy.com, Sanders hasn’t been able to ride Dillon as much to prepare. “I thank my fiancé, Josh Murphy, as well as his assistant Daniel Lopez who has kept Dillon legged up and ready for me when I couldn’t ride much because of work,” she said.
Finishing second in the Int. Non Pro was Paul Queen on Outta Dough (Gallo Del Cielo x Dough Olena) with a 141. Mindy Grey finished second in the Ltd. Non Pro on Concealed Guns (Guns R For Shootin x Sweet Lena Shine) with a 141.5.
Ancillary action continues Sunday with the first slate of the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro and Open classes. A complete schedule, results, link to the live webcast and more can be found at NRHADerby.com.
For Immediate Release – June 19, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) 2021 Art & Photo Contest sponsored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum returned for the second year, doubling its participation from 2020.
First place in each age group and category will be on display at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for visitors to see during the 2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. With over 50 entries total, this year’s competition was incredibly tough for the esteemed judges.
“I encourage everyone to take some time away from the heat of the Derby to see these works of art displayed in such a stunning museum,” said Sara Honegger, Youth and Professionals Program manager. “These young artists put so much work into their craft and I am excited how much this contest has grown in just one year, especially with the amount of younger NRHA participants. Congratulations to all!”
The contest judges consisted of Carpenter; Michael R. Grauer, McCasland Chair of cowboy culture/curator of cowboy collections and western art at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum; and Steve Miller, vice president, event marketing at NRHA Corporate Partner Montana Silversmiths.
A fan favorite will be voted on through the NRHyA Facebook page ending June 27 at 5 p.m. CDT. The fan-favorite will receive a gift certificate for a pair of boots from NRHA Corporate Partner Anderson Bean Boot Company.
Photography 14-18 First Place: Faith Horner Second Place: Jaiden Cohlmia Third Place: Raeanna Thayn
Photography 13 & Under First Place: Kynlee Cohlmia Second Place: Gracelyn Hansmeyer Third Place: Claire Holoubek
Mixed Medium 14-18 First Place: Alexandra Nicole Mueller Second Place: Hannah Schuck Third Place: Hannah Schuck
Mixed Medium 13 & Under First Place: Cassandra Hacking Second Place: Gracelyn Hansmeyer Third Place: Cassandra Hacking
Graphic Design 14-18 First Place: Raeanna Thayn
Graphic Design 13 & Under First Place: Cassandra Hacking
Honorable Mention Victoria McClure
Not only did Victoria’s art come in just shy of the top three finishes in the Mixed Medium 13 & Under class, but her work also inspired a new category for next year. Starting in 2022, the contest will have a 10 & Under class so younger budding artists can have a space to showcase their talents as well. Congratulations, Victoria, on this honorable mention award!
Faith Horner
Kynlee Cohlmia
Alexandra Nicole Mueller
Cassandra Hacking
Raeanna Thayn
Cassandra Hacking
Victoria McClure
We had a total of nearly 50 entries, almost double from 2020. Congratulations to all who entered and we encourage each of you to enter again next year!
Josselyn Mumm Michelle Fumagalli Lillian Bains JP McClure Julie Warnick Isabelle Hildebrandt Ava Bush Hayden Jones Hailey Jones Logan Putvinski Cambrey Hedges Dakota Woodring
With a career that has spanned disciplines, decades, states and roles, it’s fitting that Casey Hinton of Whitesboro, Texas, has achieved a career milestone that few have. The National Reining Horse Association Professional, who has also had an impressive career in the show pen, became a Million Dollar Owner in April.
Just a few thousand dollars away from that milestone, the success of Hinton’s horses at the National Reining Breeders Classic clinched the achievement.
“I think this is a major accomplishment in your career, but when I started out, this wasn’t my goal. You start out with a love of horses and training, owning, and showing them,” Hinton explained. “To reach a milestone that few have accomplished is very exciting.”
Growing up in Ohio, Hinton began showing horses in 4H. The All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, provided plenty of inspiration to the budding trainer. “It is such a big influence on every part of the horse industry. It gets you thinking that the horse business is something to be a part of,” he said.
While at Findlay College, Hinton was able to work with Dale Wilkinson. “He was the grandfather of reining, so with that exposure in college, the NRHA Futurity and the Congress both being held in Ohio, I wanted to direct myself towards a more advanced level of training,” Hinton recalled. “I saw what the successful horsemen were doing and wanted to emulate that.”
Hinton later worked for professional horse trainer Doug Lilly, and when Lilly made the move to Arizona, Hinton followed as his assistant. Soon after he began working for renowned horseman Al Dunning. “At that time, the horse training world hadn’t reached the point of specialization yet, so we trained cutters, cow horses, reiners, western riding horses, and more, because the all-around titles were the thing to win,” he explained.
Hinton soon went into business for himself, taking numerous youth and adult riders to all-around titles. His barn, however, began to evolve, transitioning from having a few reining horses to a specialized reining facility.
It was when Hinton and his wife Kathy moved to Texas that his business and career really flourished. The couple created Cedar Ridge Stallion Station, and began to diversify, not only with a training and competition division, but also breeding and selling. “We have been entrepreneurs and invested in ourselves by buying or raising our own prospects. We’ve had success with that, and are fortunate it has worked out,” he said. Cedar Ridge Stallion Station is home to NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream, NRHA Triple Crown winner Not Ruf At All, and two-time AQHA World Champion and earner of $188,000 In Like Flinn.
Hinton has owned several standout athletes, including Smarty Starlight, Lil Magnum Jessie, Black Hails Gold, Guaranteed A Magnum, and Mega Mag. It was on Lil Magnum Jessie, by NRHA $7 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream, that Hinton won the 2009 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Championship. Hinton won the NRHA Level 3 Open Futurity Championship in 2013 on Black Hails Gold (by Shine Like Hail), and in 2017 on Mega Mag (by Magnum Chic Dream).
While Hinton initially competed on Guaranteed A Magnum (by Magnum With A Dream), he passed the reins to his assistant Jimmy van der Hoeven, who piloted the gelding to back-to-back NRHA Derby Championships in 2018 and 2019 (owned by Chad and Molly Cherry).
Hinton was adamant that his success as both an owner and showman is due to help from people surrounding him. “You can’t accomplish something like that without a team. We have had many great assistants help us over the years, and we have been a real team. I don’t think this is an individual honor for me by any means,” he said. Hinton shared that Kathy, who has owned NRHA earners of more than $720,000, has been the driving force behind the couple’s success.
The current team at Casey Hinton Reining Horses includes Casey and Kathy, along with NRHA Professional Jimmy van der Hoeven, Abby Kampman, Mateo Argentero and Rodrigo Nieves.
While achieving Million Dollar Owner status is a huge accomplishment, Hinton is not resting on his laurels and is less than $115,000 away from becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. “We still have some more goals, and we hope we have the endurance to reach them. The fact that we can do what we love, which is raising, training, and showing reining horses makes us fortunate. It’s fulfilling, so we hope to continue for a long time,” he said.
