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Baruch, Leclair, and Pole Win Adequan® NAAC Titles on First Day of NRHA Futurity

The 2022 National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships are in full swing in Oklahoma City. While the Futurity is held in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the NAACs are held in the Adequan® Arena. The NAAC competition spotlights a variety of members and horses from across North America who qualify to compete in Oklahoma City.

In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each NAAC class will be recognized the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.

Adequan® NAAC Open Co-Champion – Makendiamonds ridden by Jared Leclair

Riding Makendiamonds for owner Dorothy Queen, Jared Leclair secured the co-championship of both the Adequan® NAAC and ancillary Open, worth $5,370, with a score of 222.5. It was the cherry on top of a great year for the pair.

“It’s a really big deal to win an NAAC title,” Leclair said. “NRHA has done a great job promoting the NAACs, and there are a lot of competitors now, so it’s really tough. You have to show hard, and your horse has to be really good to win it. I feel lucky to have come out on top.”

Makendiamonds, bred by CDR Farms, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds and out of Makeit In Tinseltown. The flashy 6-year-old mare was started by Abby Lengel, and with Lengel at the reins, the pair finished eighth in the Level 4 Open at the 2019 NRHA Futurity.

Makendiamonds was purchased by Dorothy and her son, Paul Queen, during the 2021 NRHA Futurity. To date, the mare has won upwards of $150,000.

“Abby was very successful with her, and I’ve done well with her too. This was the last hurrah for her and I, and it’s a great way to end the year,” Leclair said. “She was really solid and great today.”

Although Leclair and co-champion Yonathan Baruch could have elected to run-off for the NAAC title, the two professionals elected not to. “This mare did her job today, and we were all winners today,” he said. “I thank Dorothy and Paul, my wife who is a huge supporter of mine, and all our help – both the ones here and at home keeping everything going.”

Adequan® NAAC Open Co-Champion – Peptos Lil Step ridden by Yonathan Baruch

NRHA Professional Yonathan Baruch set the pace early in the Adequan® Arena. Competing as draw two in the NAAC Open classes, Baruch and Peptos Lil Step marked a 222.5 to take the lead. When the last of the scores were tallied, Baruch and Peptos Lil Step, owned by Nancy Wheeler and Jimmy Nichols, had tied for the title, winning a load of prizes and checks totaling $5,370.

“Today was super easy. I just gave him about 30 minutes of a warmup, and I felt like he was ready. I knew the best thing to do is just trust him because that’s when he does the best,” Baruch, of Whitesboro, Texas, explained.

Peptos Lil Step, by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step out of Peptos Lil Melody, is an 8-year-old stallion that Baruch first started riding his 3-year-old year. He admits the stallion’s breeding contributed to being overlooked early in his career. “His dam is a daughter of Peptoboonsmal,” he explained. “He’s really turned into a very nice open horse. I haven’t shown any bred like him before, but I definitely will again!”

Owner Nichols and Wheeler make their home in California but sent Peptos Lil Step to Baruch to show in the Open Shootout at The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge. “We marked a 223 and were 16th, but he was unbelievable. We could have improved the pilot, but that’s just getting used to one,” Baruch explained, adding that he’s looking forward to attempting another TRFAM qualification in 2023.

“It’s a very long list,” Baruch humbly answered when asked who deserved recognition for helping him be successful. “Obviously, I thank the owners, Jimmy and Nancy. I also thank all my help and my beautiful girlfriend, Heidi. She does all the chiropractic work on our horses and is a huge part of them staying so sound. Thank you also to our vets, farriers, and sponsors. It takes a village. No win is ever achieved by just me.”

Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open Champion – Sparkys Shining Doll ridden by Tyrel Pole

With a score of 219, Tyrel Pole and Sparkys Shining Doll claimed the Championship for the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open and the ancillary Intermediate Open. The pair also finished in the top 10 in the NAAC Open and ancillary division, earning more than $4,192. Making the win even more exciting? “Marvel” is owned by Pole and his wife, Rhea.

“We purchased him a year ago and have been hauling for an NRHA world title. Right now, he’s sitting near the top in the Intermediate and the Limited, and he’s been a really fun horse all year,” Pole said of the 10-year-old stallion, is by Friday Night Shiner out of BB Holly Doll.

It was early in the year when the Poles decided to pursue an NRHA world title. “We started in February or March, which might not sound like it was a last-minute decision, but it was. He was showing us he really wanted to be a show horse, and Rhea pulled us aside, said she thought we should try it, and so we went for it,” he said.

That decision sparked a whirlwind of a year. “This horse has been a trooper. I’ve shown him at every show within 200 miles of our house, and he’s been a very good and consistent horse every time. We are very thankful for him,” Pole explained. “

With the top finish in the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open, Pole and Marvel earned a spot in the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown on Dec. 1. “We had a few goals here. Our big goal is for Saturday because we’re sitting so well in the Limited Open standings, but we were also hoping to do well enough to compete in the Showdown. I think going inside the Coliseum to compete for those of us out here will be super fun,” he said. “I think there are a couple of things I need to clean up on myself, but he’s super. I’m just thankful for every time I get to show.”

Pole added, “I thank my wife because, without her, we would be 100 percent lost. I also thank my kids, who have been so good when we’ve been hauling up and down the road, as well as Sophia Kent, who works for us. I also thank the support system from the other trainers who help along the way.”

The top 10 finishers of the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open earn a spot in the clean-slate Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 1. All qualifiers must check-in and confirm their spot in the Showdown no later than noon on Nov. 30.

  • Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifiers:
  • Sparkys Shining Doll & Tyrel Pole
  • Xtra Miss Wimpy & Sebastian Petroll
  • Spooks Gotta Cowboy & Garrett A Thurner
  • Prize Chex & Randy L. Schaffhauser
  • Xtra Voodoos Storm & Drake J. Johnson
  • Walla Be Custom & Jaden Beliveau
  • Goodtime Tinseltown & Morgan Lee Moser
  • Voodoo Gun & Jack Daniels
  • Gallos Estrella & Meaghan Shea
  • Magnifisent & Randall E Dooley
  • With Addy Tude & Naike Bell

Adequan® NAAC competition continues Friday with the Limited Open. Complete draws, results, news, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

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2022 NRHA Futurity & Adequan NAAC—Daily Updates

12.3.22: Shawn Flarida and Andiamoe Win 2022 NRHA Futurity Open Championship

12.3.22: Werner, Rafacz, and Schriebvogel Win NRHA Adequan® NAAC Titles and Showdowns

12.3.22: Sales Exceed $5.9 million During 2022 NRHA Markel Futurity Sale

12.2.22: Schumacher & Clutter Split 2022 NRHA Futurity CINCH Non Pro Championship

12.2.22: 2022 NRHA Adequan® NAAC Rookie and Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year Champions Crowned

12.1.22: A Great Day Eight at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC

11.30.22: Andiamoe and Shawn Flarida Top NRHA Open Prelims with Fiery Scores

11.30.22: Vernon, Gentile, & Vazquez Claim NRHA Adequan® NAAC Non Pro Titles

11.29.22: Cash For Color: APHA’s Chrome Cash Makes a Splash at NRHA Futurity

11.29.22: Sommers & Dont Give A Flinn Lead 2022 NRHA Futurity L3 Open Semi-Finals

11.28.22: Gentile, Asmussen, and Rafacz Claim NRHA Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Championships

11.28.22: Jack Medows Tops CINCH Non Pro Futurity First Round on Fire N Rein

11.27.22: Medows and Fire N Rein Lead CINCH Non Pro Futurity Preliminaries After Day One

11.26.22: Davis & Pole Win NRHA Adequan® NAAC Titles

11.26.22: Shawn Flarida and Andiamoe Seize 2022 NRHA Open Futurity First Round Win

11.25.22: Stephanie Gentile Takes NRHA Limited Non Pro Adequan® NAAC on Joes Lil Wrangler

11.25.22: Tremblay and Lengel Lead NRHA Open Futurity Preliminaries following Second Section

11.24.22: Abby Lengel & Bringnthaheat Lead 2022 NRHA Open Futurity First Round (Day 1)

11.24.22: Baruch, Leclair, and Pole Win Adequan® NAAC Titles on First Day of NRHA Futurity

11.23.22: Reiners Slide into OKC for 2022 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC

Visit NRHAFuturity.com to follow along!

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Reiners Slide into OKC for 2022 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC

The futurity season for reining horses is nearing completion, and on Thanksgiving Day, the best riders in the world will begin the intense preliminary competition at the National Reining Horse Association’s premier and most prestigious event, the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.

The event, which begins Nov. 24 and runs through Dec. 3, draws exhibitors from around the globe, who will vie for a piece of a purse that exceeds $2,000,000, highlighted by a life-changing $350,000 check for the Level 4 Open Champion.

Under the lights of the historic Jim Norick Coliseum, the mettle of talented 3-year-old reining horses will be tested as they navigate through the signature circles, spins, and sliding stops the event is known for. At the same time, top riders and horses of all ages from across North America compete for major titles in the Adequan® Arena, hoping to nab a coveted championship and take major strides to clinch a year-end title as well.

While there are several futurities throughout the year, only one is known simply as “The Futurity.” Since its debut in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, the show has grown from a handful of entries to more than 600 in the main event alone.

The payout has expanded, and to say it has done so significantly would be an understatement. This year’s L4 Open Champion will leave Oklahoma City $350,000 richer and in possession of one of the largest limited-age event championship check in the western performance horse industry. Not only that, but the L4 Open Reserve Champion will win a guaranteed $150,000, and third will take home $100,000.

Winning the Level 4 Open Championship is a three-step process. All Open entries compete in the first round, with the top 75 (plus ties) advancing to the L 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Nov. 30. There, the top 30 (plus ties) move on to the clean-slate MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Futurity Finals on Dec. 3.

Some big changes have happened in the payouts for Open Levels 3, 2, and 1. The L3 Open Champion will receive $70,000, the Reserve titlist will take home $50,000, and third $35,000. The guaranteed payouts continue in Levels 2 and 1, with the L2 Champion pocketing $50,000, the L2 Reserve Champion winning $25,000, and the third-place finisher in the L2 pocketing a cool $15,000. The L1 Open winner will win $13,000, and the L1 Reserve will receive $7,000.

Open riders in Levels 1, 2, and 3 who are in the top 75 of their levels (but not in the top 75 of the Level 4) will compete in the Semi-Finals on Nov. 29. The top 30 in each of those levels (plus ties) will earn a spot in the first section of the Open Finals on Dec. 3.

Non Professional riders will also win big, with the L4 Non Pro title being accompanied by a check for $75,000, the Reserve Champion winning $45,000, and third taking $35,000! The top three in the L3 Non Pro will also be guaranteed big checks, with $40,000 going to first, $25,000 awarded to second, and $15,000 to third. The CINCH Non Pro Finals will be held Friday, Dec. 2, beginning at 9 a.m. with Levels 1, 2, 3, Youth, and Prime Time, and the CINCH Non Pro L4 Finals beginning at 4 p.m.

In addition to world-class competition, the NRHA Futurity boasts an impressive trade show with vendors ranging from clothing to furniture, western tack, décor, and more. In fact, the first three days of the event feature free admission so that everyone can come to enjoy some post-holiday shopping to prepare for Christmas.

One of the best, largest, and most exciting shopping opportunities will be on Dec. 1. That’s because the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales will be held in the Sale Arena. It’s a great opportunity to see some of the best horses the industry has to offer, from prospects to producers and everything in between. Last year the high seller – a yearling mare named Deja Vue (Gunnatrashya x Dun Its Déjà vu) commanded an impressive $170,000! Find more information about the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales at nrha.com/sales

Tickets for the 2022 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC are on sale now and can be purchased here.

Complete information, including draws, results, and more, can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.

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Electric Code Becomes an NRHA Million Dollar Sire

Fifteen years ago, NRHA Professional Jared Leclair accepted a raw-boned 2-year-old into training. With a royal pedigree and phenomenal confirmation, the colt showed outstanding promise as a performance prospect, but that is where Leclair’s plans for the colt ended. Even still, Leclair made a deal with the colt’s owner, Danny Dugan, and joined in a partnership for the ownership of Electric Code.

“You could just tell that he was special,’ Leclair explained. “He was a great mover, a huge stopper, and really good-minded. If you ride enough of these horses, the special ones stand out. It was pretty early in my career to show one of my own, but I knew I needed a horse like that to get me on the map.”

As the colt’s training progressed, he continually impressed his owners with his intelligence, athleticism, and willingness. “He was just a really cool horse to train,” Leclair said. “He was really strong and could handle pressure really well. He was obviously a show horse and enjoyed doing his job.”

Electric Code, by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Jacs Electric Spark out of Hot Coded Candy, went on to claim multiple futurity titles, including winning the 2008 NRHA Level 3 Open Futurity Championship and placing 3rd in the level 4 with Leclair in the saddle. He was the #1 Reining Horse All Ages/All Divisions in 2008 and the highest-scoring stallion at the NRHA Open Futurity! The horse and rider team went on to win multiple major event championships during the stallion’s derby years, bolstering his lifetime earnings to more than $204,000.

Through an unfortunate turn of events, the L & D Partnership was dissolved, and Leclair retained ownership. He found himself deciding on the future of the promising young stallion alone. “A horse has to prove himself to be a stallion. There are a lot of them out there that shouldn’t be studs. Cody had to prove to us that he was capable to produce babies that people are going to want to go horse show, and he did that,” Leclair said.

Once Electric Code had done his part, Leclair felt the pressure to do the horse justice as a stallion. “I tried to pair him with really good mares and actively invited people to breed to him. I stood him with the McCutcheons because I believe they are the best at what they do. I put my customers on his offspring, and they would breed mares to him, too. I just tried to be as involved as I could possibly be,” he said.

Electric Code’s first foals became performers in 2011 and quickly made a name for their sire. The stallion produced 195 NRHA money earners that carried the stallion to the elite rank of NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2022. His top five money earners are:

Coded N Karma out of Whiz N Snap – $78,347.44

Electro Star out of RG Miss Starlight – $70,011.09

Fille Code out of Smartest Sister – $56,641.55

Codalicious out of Custom Easy Breezy – $54,034.32

Darlins Cody Boy out of Darlins Not Painted – $47,219.34

Leclair thanked everyone who has supported him and Electric Code on this journey, including the McCutcheons, the owners, customers, and his friends. He also thanked his wife, Karla, for helping him get Cody to where he needed to be. Then he added, “I’m glad to be a part of it because I don’t think there are very many horse trainers who own Million Dollar Sires, so it’s pretty cool.”

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Arno Honstetter Passes $1 Million in NRHA Earnings with Recent Wins

In the fall of 2022, Arno Honstetter rode the talented mare Ms Dreamy, owned by Frederick Christen, to finish fifth place at The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge. The $60,000 prize – the second largest in the German native’s career, was enough to push him to the precipice of a major milestone – a million dollars in earnings.

Just two months later, the talented professional passed that marker and joined an elite group of million-dollar earners in the National Reining Horse Association.

“Reaching a million dollars in earnings hasn’t always been the goal. When I came over here in the beginning, I never thought I could be a million-dollar rider,” Honstetter admitted. “But when I started getting closer, maybe to a half-million in earnings, I thought maybe I could do it.”

He added, “So this accomplishment means a lot. It’s what I do all day long. I love to ride, train, and raise horses. I gave up everything in my home country to come over here to try to be a horse trainer, so it’s pretty special.”

Honstetter grew up in Liggeringen, Germany, in the southern part of the country in the Bodensee on the Lake of Konstanz. His family didn’t have horses, but he’d always wanted to ride one. His parents purchased his first horse when he was eight years old, and while he tried his legs in an English saddle at first, he soon set his sights on western disciplines.

He was introduced to cutting, and when he was 16 years old, his father began asking where he could send his son to learn more about training horses. That’s when he met National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Famer Ken Wold and spent several years working with Wold in the United States, honing his skills in multiple disciplines, including cutting, cow horse, and reining.

“I learned everything about training, showing, and breeding horses there. We did everything on that ranch,” Honstetter recalled. “Kenny, his wife Ramona, and his mom were like family. It was probably the best time of my life.”

After spending four years with the Wolds, Honstetter moved back to Germany. “I started showing, and Andrea Fappani saw me show. I can’t remember what year it was – maybe 2004. We had a big show over there, and all these guys from the United States came over. Andrea asked me if I wanted to come work for him, and long story short, I ended up being there for several years.”

Honstetter spent eight years total with Fappani, the NRHA’s All-Time Leading Rider, but he also took a year to ride with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Randy Paul, as well.

Eventually, he went out on his own for several years before accepting the position of head trainer for Brenda Joyce and Rick Christen’s Story Book Stables, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2020.

“I thank Brenda and Rick for the opportunity they have given me, as well as all the owners over the years who have trusted me to ride such nice horses,” he said. “I thank Andrea Fappani, Randy Paul, and Ken Wold for what they’ve done for me, as well.”

Arno and his wife, Laura, welcomed daughter Tatum nine months ago. He added that he hopes to help Story Book Stables become even more successful in the future.

“My biggest goal is to train and raise nice horses and do a good job running the ranch. I want us to produce really nice horses here at the ranch more than just buying and training them,” he said.

Honstetter’s Top 10 Wins:

  • 2011 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – $113,176 – Show Me The Buckles
  • 2022 The Run For A Million 5th Place – $60,000 – Msdreamy
  • 2013 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th Place – $50,947 – Holier Then Thou
  • 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 5th Place – $47,642 – Chicsdundreamin
  • 2016 NRHA Futurity Level 3 Open Champion – $28,061 – Whizkey Chaser
  • 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion – $23,789 – Chicsdundreamin
  • 2014 NRHA Derby Level 3 Open Champion – $22,302 – Colonels Splashy Gun
  • 2021 High Roller Reining Classic 4-Year-Old States Reserve Champion – $18,534 – Electric Whizkey
  • 2016 NRBC Level 4 Open 8th Place – $16,625 – Gunners Special Glo
  • 2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 14th Place – $15,873 – See U Saturday Night

For more information about Arno Honstetter, visit ArnoHonstetter.com or StoryBookStables.com