NRHA Monthly Service Report—March
2023 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest Deadline Approaching
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.
Taylor Sheridan Named NCEA 2023 Ring of Honor Recipient
Taylor Sheridan, writer and producer, of the Paramount Network’s hit series “Yellowstone,” “1883,” and many other movies and series, has been named the 2023 recipient of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s (NCEA) Ring of Honor.
Annually selected by the National Advisory Board for the NCEA, this award recognizes those individuals who have a major impact in sports or business, with a legacy of service, leadership and achievement.
Sheridan’s ability to mainstream equestrian sport into homes around the world has raised awareness and interest, to a new level, for the western sport and lifestyle.
The Ring of Honor event will be held May 18, 2023 at the River Ranch Stockyards in Fort Worth. For event information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities visit here.
The NCEA is committed to expanding opportunities for young women to compete as student athletes in NCAA competition.
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.
2022 NRHA Professionals of the Year Announced
In 2012, the National Reining Horse Association created the Professionals of the Year awards to recognize and honor individuals who exemplify excellence in the NRHA community. This distinction recognizes the elite individuals who, in all aspects of their career, consistently excel in perpetuating the growth of the NRHA not solely by their success in the show pen but, more importantly, by how they choose to give back to the association and its members. The 2022 recipients are an example of integrity and sincerity within the industry while working to promote and maintain the ideals of the reining horse.
NRHA affiliates may nominate NRHA Professionals, and the NRHA Professionals Committee may write in candidates for the awards, which include the NRHA Professional Horseman of the Year, the NRHA Non Pro Coach of the Year, the NRHA Youth Coach of the Year, the NRHA Becky Hanson Horsewoman of the Year, and the NRHA Up-and-Coming Trainer of the Year. NRHA Professionals then vote on the nominees.
“It is an honor to be voted by your peers for such a prestigious award,” said Patti Carter, NRHA Senior Director of Education & Officials. “NRHA appreciates the Professionals who support the sport of reining and exemplify the characteristics of these awards.”
The 2022 NRHA Professionals of the Year will be honored with custom spurs from Montana Silversmiths and featured in the May issue of the NRHA Reiner Magazine.
Horseman of the Year: Nathan Piper
Whitesboro, Texas
NRHA LTE: $1,571,992
Nathan Piper had a banner year in 2022, becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider and The Run For A Million Champion—all while supporting his local affiliate and NRHA programs such as the Reining Horse Foundation.
Piper was born in Bryan, Texas, where he grew up showing reining horses as a youth. During his junior year at Texas A&M University, he decided to forgo his Non Pro status to become an NRHA Professional. Nathan graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 and married his wife, Jean, in 2000.
After college, Nathan moved to Whitesboro, Texas, to work as an assistant trainer for two-time NRHA Futurity Champion Todd Sommers. In 2004, Nathan and his wife Jean purchased a training facility in Madisonville, Texas, where they successfully built Nathan Piper Reining Horses.
Piper Reining Horses now operates in Whitesboro, Texas. Nathan and Jean have two daughters, Millie and Etta.
Becky Hanson Horsewoman of the Year: Jordan McBurney
Arlington, Washington
NRHA LTE: $375,055
Jordan McBurney found her start in the reining industry after working a job exercising and grooming reining horses. McBurney came from a barrel racing background and showed her first reiner in 2009. She now competes at the highest level and has many accolades.
Not only did she earn 8th place in the million-dollar competition at The Run for a Million in 2022, but she also remains humble and rarely seeks the spotlight, despite often deserving it. She dedicates her time to non professionals in the industry and has coached many, including Non Pro Futurity Champions.
McBurney and her husband, NRHA Professional Sean McBurney, train out of Rhodes River Ranch, located in the foothills of the Cascades. This powerful couple develops award-winning performance horses, such as the offspring of the ranch’s leading sire, Whizkey And Diamonds.
Up-And-Coming Professional of the Year: Jack Daniels
Aubrey, Texas
NRHA LTE: $79,005
Originally from Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, Jack grew up training rope horses and cow horses. After making a name for himself training 2-year-olds and showing in Australia, he came to the United States to further his career.
Daniels not only had a successful year in the show pen earning the 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Level 1 Championship and over $74,000, but he is also active in giving back. He serves on the Affiliate Committee and is eager to assist with international affairs.
He prides himself on his two-year-old program and the solid foundation they receive in his program. Horses he started went on to be incredibly successful in 2022, winning major events nationwide.
Daniels and his wife, Kaci O’Rourke, operate Pond Hill Performance Horses out of Aubrey, Texas.
Non Pro Coach of the Year: Dan Huss
Scottsdale, Arizona
NRHA LTE: $740,761
Starting his professional career in the university sector, teaching at Findlay for almost 20 years, it is no surprise that coaching Non Pro riders has become a passion of Dan Huss’. He specializes in not only preparing his riders and their horses but in helping them become a team.
Huss implemented the training processes at home as he had taught at the college, making his program well known to non pro riders at all levels who want to take the next step in the show pen. Along with riders, Huss is also known for his training program, including starting NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpy’s Little Step.
Huss has NRHA lifetime earnings of more than $740,700 and has well-known accolades, including the 2022 AQHA Senior Reining World Championship, 2021 Prime Time Open Futurity Championship, All American Quarter Horse Congress Championships, along with many finalist and other titles to his name across all major events.
Along with his own accomplishments, Huss’s clients are frequently seen in the winner’s circle from the grassroots level to the NRHA Futurity. Between lessons, clinics, assisting all levels of non professional riders, and consistent coaching and training throughout his career, Huss is incredibly deserving of the recognition.
Youth Coach of the Year: Shane Kelley
Lampasas, Texas
NRHA LTE: $58,469
Shane Kelley’s positive and encouraging demeanor lends him to have successful youth riders in his program and riders who continue on in the industry and make a difference.
From the grassroots level within the Texas Reining horse Association, FFA, and 4-H programs to competing at the highest caliber of NRHA shows, Kelly directly supports and impacts all levels of reining to youth members.
Kelley’s program has had Division 1 scholarship recipients for three years in a row, and they are known for having incredible sportsmanship. His students have also won year-end accolades, The Run for a Million qualifications, and more.
“Shane’s insistence on sustainability for both the horse and the rider and his continual compassion towards both cultivates some of the most passionate kids and happy horses I’ve ever experienced,” said the Texas Reining Horse Association. “He doesn’t look for his youth to sit back and count on others to work through problems, fix issues in training, or even do work around the barn. Instead, he makes a point to work with them through trials, whether on a horse or in life, helping however he can while also casting light on their own capabilities and responsibilities as a horseman. This creates confidence and lends to youth that are not only successful in riding, but willing to put forth the hours and work it takes to be successful in life.”
Italy To Host the 2023 NRHA/RHF/IRHA World Youth Reining Cup
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.