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Sliders’ Night Out Presented by Toyon Ranch Celebrates 20 Years of the Reining Horse Foundation

For Immediate Release – October 7, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Reining Horse Foundation is set to once again host Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch, the premier night on the social and charitable calendar of the reining community, on December 1 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

“Reiners are ready to gather and celebrate two decades of impact by the Reining Horse Foundation and to honor inductees into the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame and recipients of the NRHA Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Leslie Baker, executive director of the RHF. “We didn’t hold Sliders’ Night Out in 2020, so it feels like there is extra excitement this year, which is the third in this format.”

“We have so many donors who have stepped up to make Sliders’ Night Out special,” said Rick Clark, chairperson of the RHF Board of Directors Development Committee and also NRHA President. “Toyon Ranch’s John and Nancy Tague are in their third year as presenting donors. We have several first-time Hall of Fame Table Hosts along with dozens of other committed partners who make this a night to remember. The event raises important funding to support the RHF mission, and I personally get excited that each year Sliders’ Night Out keeps reiners celebrating the history of our sport.”

Inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame will be the late Doug Carpenter and Jose Vazquez for the class of 2021 and the late Sally Brown and the late Jerry Kimmel for the class of 2020. The program also is set to recognize Charles Vaughan and Mike Carrier with the 2021 and 2020 NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Awards respectively.

In 2021, Sliders’ Night Out will include a limited live auction. Sure to be popular is an embryo from the top-producing mare Wind Her Up Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Wind Her Up Doc), donated by RHF President Tim Anderson & Kim Niven. The 2003 bay mare has LTE of $100,000 and has produced foals earning $622,000. Bidders can also watch for a private reining clinic for up to eight people with NRHA Professional Mirjam Stillo at Rancho Los Vaqueros in Pilot Point, Texas. The day will include lunch and conclude with a reception, including food and beverage. The total package is made possible by Gary and Debbie Conway, Mirjam and Andrea Stillo, and Nancy and John Tague and must be scheduled in 2022. Additional auction items will be announced closer to the event.

Since 2018, Sliders’ Night Out has been the single largest annual fundraiser for RHF, which serves as the charitable arm of the NRHA. Through major underwriters and Hall of Fame table hosts, dollars are raised in support of the RHF mission of caring for and honoring the reining community. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, youth scholarships and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association, and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame.

Donors of every level are important. They come from individuals, corporations, ranches, training barns, foundations and groups of reiners joining forces to support the event. Early Platinum Donors are Tim & Kim Niven, Ian & Kristen Cantacuzene, Rick Clark, and Jamie Walters. James Turpen is a Gold Donor. To date, Silver Donors include Mark & Julie Blake, Booth Ranches, Mike & Bryan Hancock, Markel/Frank & Susan Costantini., Mike & Beth McFarlin, Rich & Cartmill Insurance, and the Williams Family Fund by Fidelity Charitable. Baker said additional donor commitments are anticipated and welcomed.

These top-level donors plus many Hall of Fame Table Hosts make it possible for all NRHA Hall of Fame inductees to attend the event as honored guests. All Hall of Fame members are invited to be a part of the program again this year.

Advance reservations are encouraged to ensure a chance to be in attendance at Sliders’ Night Out and enjoy the chef-prepared dinner and celebration. The benefit is held in conjunction with the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. Individual tickets are available.

To make reservations, contact Leslie Baker, RHF, (405) 946-7400, ext. 106 or email rhf@nrha.com.

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NRHA Ceases Negotiations with FEI

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) collaborated for more than 20 years to showcase and expand the sport of reining worldwide while creating historic memories valued by many.

Unfortunately, countless impediments throughout the relationship – legal, cultural, structural, and financial in nature –  presented numerous hurdles over that time, and include recent FEI actions. Therefore, the NRHA leadership made the decision not to move forward with a new FEI agreement.

Although it was announced that FEI had terminated the original agreement in 2020, a new Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations was approved by the FEI Board of Directors in June 2021. The NRHA Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Task Force members were comfortable with that agreement, which would have created a framework for a limited group of international championships.

Then, an entirely different agreement was drafted and submitted to NRHA on September 15, 2021. “We are unsure of what led up to this development, and why NRHA was not consulted,” noted NRHA President Rick Clark. “At this time, the Executive Committee, with the support of the NRHA Board of Directors, has made the decision to not move forward with a new agreement with FEI.”

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter expanded on Clark’s statement. “NRHA has worked diligently over the past two years to collaboratively negotiate a new agreement and made it a top priority for the association. Through our Executive Committee, Board, FEI Task Force, and staff, we remained fully committed to working closely with the FEI, and were excited for what the future held,” he said. “Unfortunately, a lack of direct and clear communication from FEI has been one of the biggest hurdles. We have constantly seen the goal post move further out of reach, to the point where a relationship is no longer feasible or beneficial to our members.”

Both Clark and Carpenter noted there is no ill will towards the FEI, its leadership, staff, and members. “We are thankful for everything the FEI has done for reining and the reining horse over the years, and proud that reining was able to contribute excitement in the form of an alternative discipline in the FEI World Equestrian Games™. We hope that in the future we may be able to work together in some capacity,” Clark shared.

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NRHA Reiner Receives Awards and Recognition at 2021 AHP Equine Media Awards Banquet

The annual American Horse Publications three-day conference features the Equine Media Awards Banquet. Held September 16 – 18 in Irving, Texas, this year, AHP’s Equine Media Awards competition featured nearly 600 entries for materials published in 2020. After the entries were reviewed and the judging was complete, the National Reining Horse Association’s monthly publication, the NRHA Reiner, and the marketing department received multiple awards.

Sara Honegger, Manager of Youth, Professional, and Affiliate Programs, helped create one of the award-winning entries. She also works closely with the production team of the Reiner. “These awards are such an honor to be a part of, and we couldn’t be successful without such a strong team. Between our marketing, media and Reiner departments, we have such passion and talent, and I am proud to be part of the team,” she said.

Gary Carpenter, NRHA Commissioner, reflected on the awards received by NRHA. “As proud as I am of what our Reiner and marketing staff accomplished in this competition, the key to me is that competition helps us stay sharp and keep our edge. Ultimately, it’s the value we bring to NRHA members that matters.”

Top NRHA Placing Entries

1st Place – ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION SERVICE TO THE CONSUMER SINGLE ARTICLE

Megan Arszman, Author – Jennifer Paulson, Editor

The Breeding Game: To Show or To Sell? June 2020

Judge’s Comments – This was a great article that easily rose to the top of this class; it was clear, concise, and incorporated a variety of quotes from varied breeders in the industry. All of that input and variability is what made this story so interesting.

2nd Place – BUSINESS EQUINE-RELATED SHORT VIDEO (2 MINUTES OR UNDER)

Together, We Rein On

Sara Honegger, NRHA Youth & Professionals Programs Manager – Lindsay Humphrey, NRHA Public Relations and Communications

Judge’s Comments – This touching, bittersweet short video conveys the plaintive status of the reining horse world in pandemic times. Great footage and stills and the soft background music come together with the voiceover. A good script with a natural delivery that sounds as if it’s spoken by a rider. That much narration is often way too much, but it works here as a special message to the reining horse world.

For more information about the American Horse Publications, visit AmericanHorsePubs.org

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Information on NRHA Futurity Rider Designations

2021 NRHA Futurity Rider Designations are 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 Designations were due on November 1. Horses that were undesignated at that time were put at the front of the draw. This often caused hardship for an owner and rider who might have simply miscommunicated on who was sending in the designation form.

Having the Rider Designation deadline set earlier gives time for undesignated horses to be verified and needed corrections made so that a mistake doesn’t automatically cause a horse to be put at the front of the draw.

For most people showing in the Non Pro and Open Futurities, there is little question as to who will show a horse so it’s one less deadline to keep up with. 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 until noon two days before the first day of futurity.

The key is to get the designations in by October 1, then there is no charge for any rider changes that are completed before the final deadline. 

When a rider change is submitted after the draw is complete and it stays within the same division (Open or Non Pro), there is no fee.

There is a difference when a rider change is submitted after the draw is complete and the rider is switching from the Open to the Non Pro or vice versa. In that case, the draw number will become a negative draw and a $250 fee will be due at the time of the rider and division change.

No rider changes will be accepted after noon two days prior to the first go.

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NRHA Official Commentators to Call the Action for the All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity Open Finals

Get ready to watch the live internet feed of the All American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity Open Finals on October 2. The free webcast will feature the National Reining Horse Association’s premier team of Steve Ross and Rocky Dare, who will call the action and provide insights drawn from their long tenure within the reining industry.

Steve Ross has become a strong voice for the NRHA, doing live interviews and explaining the intricacies of reining. An NRHA Judge who also worked NCAA sports and other broadcast gigs, he recently partnered with The Cowboy Channel’s Jeff Medders on multiple broadcasts of the NRHA Derby presented by Markel and the National Reining Breeders Classic.

NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee and Million Dollar Rider Rocky Dare purchased his lifetime NRHA membership while he was still a struggling neophyte horse trainer because he knew he wanted to ride reiners for a long time. Purchasing the membership, which represented more than two weeks of his salary at the time, was a prophetic move because he’s now been involved in reining in five different decades!

You can view the action and hear the commentary from these elite experts by clicking here or you can click on the link on the NRHA website to take you directly to the webcast, which is provided by the Congress through Bryan Morgan’s National Sports Broadcasting. A great feature of Morgan’s technology is that you can rewind up to four hours, as long as the event is still streaming.

The NRHA and its event management team have tapped Steve and Rocky to help add production value to the sport’s major events, and plans are in motion to grow this important facet going forward. NRHA Events Manager Cheryl Cody said, “Reining is an important sport, and we are poised to begin showcasing the industry and the people in it in a new light. With all the momentum in the industry now, we’ll be stepping up to a new ‘Game Day’ level at the 2021 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships, set for November 25 – December 4.”