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Platinum Performance® to Sponsor Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw at NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

The Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party returns to the NRHA Derby presented by Markel on Wednesday, June 23. (NRHA Staff photo)

National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partner Platinum Performance® has supported the reining industry over 20 years. That support continues in 2021, with a much-anticipated, in-person Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw Party to be held during the NRHA Derby Presented by Markel.

The slow return to normalcy has everyone abuzz with excitement and this event is another step in the right direction. Attendees will enjoy a delicious catered meal, drinks, and all of the nail-biting enthusiasm of the Non Pro Finals Draw and after missing a year due to Covid, the popular Reiners Rope dummy roping will be also held. The Party will be held at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, June 23.

“As long-time partners of NRHA, we are excited to sponsor the Platinum Performance® Welcome Party featuring the Non Pro Finals Draw as well as the Platinum Performance® Virtual Open Draw Party at the 2021 NRHA Derby,” said Lauren Thompson, Equine Marketing Manager. “We look forward to maintaining our commitment to provide superior nutrition and unmatched personal service to the valued NRHA membership.”

The support of Platinum Performance® extends well beyond the Party. The company will also provide the exhibitor bags given to every NRHA Derby competitor. In addition, Platinum Performance® will sponsor a Virtual Open Draw Party Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. The decision was made to keep the Platinum Performance® Open Draw Party virtual so that trainers could be available to their non pro finalists.

The 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel takes place at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City June 19-27. For more information about this premier event, visit NRHADerby.com

Platinum Performance® believes in the power of nutrition and supplementation and remains committed to providing formulas that produce superior results in the horse. For 25 years, Platinum has continued to research the role of nutrition with regards to wellness and performance and is committed to providing equine veterinarians, horse owners and trainers the nutritional tools they need to benefit from cutting edge equine nutrition. Horse health is the Platinum Performance® mission, and we look forward to helping you find your Platinum. Learn more at PlatinumPerformance.com.

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NRHA Futurity Rider Designation Deadline Changed to October 1

2021 NRHA Futurity Rider Designations will be due October 1, the same day as the last payment. This was a change made by the NRHA Board of Directors in an effort to streamline the entering process. In the past, the Rider Designation’s due date of November 1 and subsequent policy that undesignated horses were put at the front of the draw at that time often caused a hardship for an owner and rider who might have simply miscommunicated on who was sending in the designation form.

For most people showing in the Non Pro and Open Futurities, there is no question as to who will show a horse so it’s one less deadline to keep up with. And NRHA Professionals needing extra time to decide whether they or an assistant trainer will show a particular horse, can simply designate a rider by October 1 and then change as necessary with no penalties up to noon two days prior to the first go.  

NRHA Show Secretary Kathy Gould explained, “At the NRHA Events Office we always try to catch what might be an entry oversight when we see an undesignated horse, but it has often been impossible to make contact with the owner of every undesignated entry in the short window as the draw deadline approaches. We want to make sure everyone gets the benefit of being included in the futurity draw if that is their intention!”

She continued, “Having the Rider Designations come to us by October 1 will give us time to verify that undesignated horses are not actually intended to go forward and to find any that were undesignated due to some error. The key is to get the designations in by October 1, then there is no charge for any rider changes that are completed before November 1. However, there is a $50 late fee that will apply if a designation is not received by the October 1 deadline.”

More information and Rider Designation forms as well as Rider Change forms can be found at NRHAFuturity.com/forms.

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Inaugural NRHA Oceania Regional Championships Set for June 2021

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.

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2020 NRHA European Futurity: May 15-22, 2021 (Daily Updates)

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!

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CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest Returns to 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

At the 2021 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel, reining will not be the only competition occurring at the prestigious event. The CINCH National Reining Horse Youth Association Speaking Contest will return this year, cultivating and encouraging leadership and life skills amongst reining’s talented youth.

In the CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest, participants will be divided into two age groups, 13 & Under and 14-18, and have the option to compete for $500 scholarships in three different categories: Delivering A:General, Prepared Public Speaking and Community Service Presentation. In the Delivering A:General, contestants recite A:General from the NRHA Handbook, which is a guide to judging reining horses. 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 that showcases a community service project they have completed.

“I am excited for this scholarship opportunity for youth members to return to the 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. I encourage NRHyA members to grab a friend, get out of their comfort zone, and try this contest. It’s a great way to practice a life skill around people who want you to succeed, all while having the potential to win a scholarship,” NRHyA Youth Programs Manager Sara Honegger said. “First place in each category of each age group will receive a $500 scholarship, which is such a fun way for youth at any age to start stacking up scholarship dollars. Youth members and their parents would be amazed at how much they can accumulate if they start early in their NRHyA careers.”

Youth members interested in competing in this year’s CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest can find more information, including the entry form at NRHyA.com. Entry deadline has been extended to June 9 at 5 P.M. CDT. Please email entries to youth@nrha.com.