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2025 CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest

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.

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2026 Rule Changes

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Executive Committee and Board of Directors met via Zoom to discuss and vote on 2026 Rule Changes and other topics relating to the future of reining.

Every other year, NRHA Members and committees may submit rule-change proposals for addition to the following year’s official handbook. The NRHA Board of Directors discusses the proposals, sends them to NRHA Committees for feedback, reviews opinions shared by the membership, and casts votes after reviewing the proposals twice.

The board considered and voted on the following proposals. To review a full list of rule changes, comments, and details, visit the Library in ReinerSuite at reinersuite.nrha.com.

APPROVED

  • 35-1-26 MEMBERSHIPS ONLINE AT SHOWS
  • 38-1-26 NON PRO INELIGIBLE TIME PERIOD
  • 38-2-26 NON PRO RELINQUISHMENTS
  • 39-1-26 IMMEDIATE FAMILY CLARIFICATION
  • 43-1-26 COMPETITION LICENSING
  • 44-1-26 FORFEITED EARNINGS
  • 44-2-26 CLASS ELIGIBILITY TIMEFRAME
  • 45-1-26 CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION CLARIFICATION
  • 47-1-26 PARA REINING
  • 52-1-26 CATEGORY 12 TOP 20
  • 54-2-26 EQUIPMENT AND ATTIRE
  • 55-1-26 EUROPEAN EVENT DEADLINES
  • 55-2-26 ANCILLARY EVENT APPROVAL
  • 56-1-26 EVENT APPROVAL STEWARDS GUIDELINES
  • 56-2-26 EVENT CLASSIFICATIONS; C EVENT
  • 57-1-26 EVENT CANCELLATIONS
  • 62-1-26 AGED SHOW AND CLOSED AGED SHOW CONDITIONS
  • 66-1-26 ENTRY LEVEL RIDE & SLIDE FEE
  • 70-1-26 PAYOUTS
  • 89-1-26 SHOW STEWARD REPORTS
  • 91-1-26 JUDGING PRIVILEGES
  • 94-1-26 HACKAMORE MEASUREMENT CLARIFICATION
  • 94-2-26 BIT GUARDS
  • 96-1-26 ALTER REIN LENGTH
  • 97-1-26 SIMPLE LEAD CHANGES
  • 97-2-26 WALKING PENALTY
  • 98-1-26 WALKING WHEN EXITING THE ROLLBACK
  • 150-1-26 5 POINT PENALTIES

POSTPONED

  • 46-2-26 MATURITY DEFINITION
  • 48-1-26 RANCH REINING
  • 51-1-26 SLIDE CONTESTS

NO ACTION

  • 48-2-26 NOVICE HORSE GREEN
  • 46-1-26 AMATEUR FUTURITY
  • 42-1-26 COMPETITION LICENSES IN SHORT STIRRUP CLASSES
  • 54-1-26 YOUTH SHORT STIRRUP HELMET
  • 54-3-26 TRADITIONAL ATTIRE
  • 55-3-26 SHOW MANAGER AND REPRESENTATIVE REQUIREMENT
  • 71-1-26 YEAR-END AWARDS
  • 151-3-26 PENALTIES IN DOWNWARD TRANSITION
  • 153-1-26 SIMPLE LEAD CHANGE PENALTIES
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Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC Joins Ranks of NRHA Million Dollar Owners

The National Reining Horse Association welcomes Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC as the association’s newest NRHA Million Dollar Owner.

Following a strong showing at the 2025 National Reining Breeders Classic, where NRHA $3 Million Rider Jordan Larson and Need I Say Mor (Gunnatrashya x Shesouttayourleague) made the Level 4 Open Derby Classic Finals, Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC officially crossed the seven-figure threshold in lifetime owner NRHA earnings. Larson also earned the Level 3 Open Championship at the 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel on the Curtis Performance Horses LLC-bred stallion.

With locations in both Weatherford, Texas and Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC has established itself as a leading breeder of high-performance reining horses. Though the NRHA membership officially began in 2010, the Vargas Sánchez family’s involvement in Western performance horses began in 2005 with the formation of the Charro team “3 Regalos” in Mexico.

This passion soon led to the founding of Xtra Quarter Horses in Purcell, Oklahoma, a program that left a significant mark on the industry through the acquisition and promotion of elite stallions including Wimpys Little Step, Shiners Voodoo Dr, and Wimpyneedsacocktail. These stallions not only brought widespread recognition to the program but also played key roles in pushing the boundaries of performance and production within the sport.

After selling Xtra Quarter Horses in 2017, the Vargas Sánchez family returned to Mexico to establish Ixtul Quarter Horses at Rancho Ixtul. There, they developed one of Mexico’s most advanced breeding operations, complete with comprehensive reproductive technologies and a vision for excellence that spans borders.

Now operating out of both Mexico and Weatherford, Texas, Ixtul Quarter Horses continues to influence the sport with a growing roster of standout athletes and a focus on thoughtful, performance-driven breeding.

NRHA congratulates Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC on reaching this remarkable milestone and looks forward to their continued impact on the sport of reining.

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NRHA’s This Right Here is Reining Podcast Wins Best Podcast at 2025 AHP Equine Media Awards

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to announce that its official podcast, This Right Here is Reining, has been awarded Best Equine-Related Podcast during the 2025 American Horse Publications (AHP) Equine Media Awards, held in Dallas, Texas.

The AHP Equine Media Awards have honored excellence in journalism, storytelling, and multimedia since 1976. Winning Best Podcast is a significant achievement that highlights NRHA’s ongoing commitment to education, storytelling, and connection within the reining and equine community.

Launched in 2023 through a partnership with Horses in the Morning, NRHA’s This Right Here is Reining was developed as a platform to bring the heart of reining to life through in-depth conversations with industry leaders, riders, breeders, owners, and fans. Hosted by Sara Honegger and Christy Landwehr, the podcast blends engaging storytelling with behind-the-scenes access, offering listeners a unique and authentic perspective on the sport.

The episode titled ‘Kaci O’Rourke Makes History, Plus More from NRHA Futurity’ earned the award and can still be listened to here.

The NRHA thanks its members, listeners, and the broader reining family for their continued support and congratulates all the other outstanding finalists and winners at this year’s Equine Media Awards.

To listen to This Right Here is Reining, visit nrha.com/podcast or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

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NRHA European Futurity: 20–24 May / Cremona, Italy

2025 NRHA European Futurity Presented by DeNiroBootCo: Non Pros Hit the Ground in Cremona

NRHA European Futurity 2025: Europe’s Only $1 Million Reining Breaks Records Alongside Host Event ‘Salone del Cavallo Americano’

$1 Million-Added NRHA European Futurity Presented by DeNiroBootCo: Zehetbauer and SS Gunnafreezeya Top the $300.000-Added European Futurity Non Pro Qualifier

$1 Million-Added NRHA European Futurity Presented by DeNiroBootCo: Fappani and Hosss Take the Lead in the $700.000-Added Open Qualifier

$1 Million-Added NRHA European Futurity Presented by DeNiroBootCo.: Zehetbauer and SS Gunnafreezeya Soar To Victory in the $300.000-Added NRHA European Futurity Non Pro

They came, they rode, they conquered! Fappani and Hosss Win the $700,000-Added MS Diamonds TX NRHA European Futurity Open Championship

Visit nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com for more!