Riders Ready to Show At the 2021 NRHA European Futurity
Baeck and Americasnextcovrgirl Lead the NRHA European Futurity Open Go Round
Top Score for Blessing and Smart Spook Surprise in the NRHA European Futurity Non Pro Go Round
NRHA European Futurity Non Pro Champions: Blessing and Smart Spook Surprise Leave the Best for Last
See more at nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com
2021 NRHA European Derby Non Pro Finals: De Iulio and RS Cronos Jac Soar to Top Honors
2021 NRHA European Open Derby: It’s A Win for Czechowicz and Frozen Shining Gun
NRHA European Derby Ancillary Action in Lyon
Verschueren and Smart Little Ruffle Lead the 2021 NRHA European Derby Non Pro Qualifier
Cira Baeck and Phantom Face Lead the NRHA European Open Derby Qualifier
Researching, bidding, and buying a horse at the National Reining Horse Association Markel Futurity Sales just got easier. The Futurity Sales Task Force has unveiled a new and interactive website and app for the Sales, which are slated for December 2 at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The new website will also streamline the online bidding process. Instead of several steps across different platforms, everything – from registering to credit card authorization to bidding – will all be done through the new site at auctions.nrha.com.
The NRHA Markel Futurity Sales will also be live-streamed on the new site, and there is are plenty of new features to make researching and sharing favorite horses simpler.
“I think my favorite feature of the new website and app is that the horses’ photos, videos, and pedigree are all on one page. This makes it quick and easy for buyers to see all the information easily on their phone, tablet or computer,” noted NRHA Senior Manager of ReinerSuite and Futurity Sales. “My other favorite feature is the app for your phone. Most people always have a phone handy. The app makes it easy to look at sale horses on the phone or bring up a horse quickly to show it to someone else.”
The website and app boast cool features such as push notifications, the ability to mark favorite horses, and more. “For example, if a buyer ‘watches’ a lot, it will notify them five lots before it sells so they don’t miss it. It makes it quick and easy to buy online,” Honeywell shared.
Honeywell noted that the new website and app are just the latest changes made by the Futurity Sales Task Force to continue upping the game and maintain the Sales’ position as the preeminent sale for reining horses. “The feedback from our consignors has been incredible. They are excited about the increased marketing potential the new platform offers,” she said.
Registration is simple.
Registering to bid is equally simple.
Honeywell strongly urges all prospective buyers to complete the registration process early, including credit card preauthorization. “We do suggest doing this prior to the Sales in case buyers have any issues we need to help them with. Of course, people can just register by supplying their name and email address to start watching the horses,” she said.
To view the consigned horses, visit auctions.nrha.com
Find the NRHA Futurity Sales app on the App Store or Google Play.
Join the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales Facebook group for Sale Horse previews and the latest news.
With more than $8,000 in earnings at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, National Reining Horse Association Professional Brian Bell has unofficially surpassed the two million dollars in NRHA lifetime earnings.
Bell, of Pilot Point, Texas, first became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider in 2013 following the NRHA Futurity, where he qualified two horses back to the Level 4 Open finals. “I first got started around the time Bill Horn became NRHA’s first Million Dollar Rider, and that made me want to have that success, too,” Bell shared. “The first million was the hardest. I’ve learned so much since then and can do a better job now.”
That knowledge made it possible for Bell to earn his second million in less than eight years. In 2020, he won his biggest check to date when he piloted Gunnabebigtime (Gunnatrashya x Big Time Jazzy) to the NRHA Futurity Open Level 4 Reserve Championship for $113,033.
With Turn Down For What (Einsteins Revolution x My Way Marla), Bell finished fourth at the 2015 NRHA Futurity. The pair then finished as the National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Reserve Champions in 2017.
Recent performances with standout athletes including Mr Royal Hollywood, Cee Mr Stop, Mr Hollywood Cee, Mr Boaz, and Ruf Steppin have all helped propel Bell’s lifetime earnings upwards. “Most of the credit has to go to the good horses I’ve gotten to ride; the ones that want to do the job for you,” he said. “I also thank the owners who have had faith in me and have given me nice horses to ride.”
Bell started his reining career at 18 years old. He moved into the professional ranks in 1995 and quickly made his mark there as well winning several major event titles. He has successfully competed at the highest levels of reining competition, including USET Reining Championship finals, the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, NRBC, All American Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show.
Bell noted his father, George Bell, has been a major part of his career, beginning with youth horses and continuing to support him with good horses over the years. “My dad used to sit out on the track on a stump to watch. He did that so long that the stump finally rotted and we had to put a new one out there,” Bell recalled.
Brian Bell’s Top 10 Wins:
2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Gunnabebigtime – $113,033
2006 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Collenas Finest Tafy – $103,110
2015 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th – Turn Down For What – $52,636
2008 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open 3rd – Great Sun Burst – $43,000
2017 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open Reserve Champion – Turn Down For What – $41,000
2007 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open 4th – Starbucks Jazz – $37,000
2006 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open 4th – Lean With Hollywood – $36,000
2021 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 4 Open 3rd – Mr Royal Hollywood – $30,000
2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 8th – Mr Boaz – $27,481
2006 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open 4th – Lean With Hollywood – $23,281
Bell and his wife Naike own and train out of their facility in Pilot Point, Texas. For more information, visit BrianBellPerformanceHorses.com.
After the success of the summer workshops, NRHA Professional Gil Friedman of Mental Athletics is looking forward to the three additional sessions this fall that are aligned to be great preparation for the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.
The workshops will be free of charge to all NRHyA members thanks to the event sponsorship provided by Mental Athletics, aimed to benefit the youth of the association. The sessions will provide knowledge, techniques and training tools for the personal development of every competitive rider.
“The journey starts now and it is a journey of learning,” said Friedman. “This is an opportunity to explore ourselves and open new doors that can empower us as competitors, youth and future leaders. Teamwork isn’t just between us and our friends, but us and our horses. This workshop will build upon the idea that you need to be the leader of that team as well.
“I truly believe that the youth of the NRHA are the future of our industry and will frame the competitive culture for years to come,” Friedman shared. “This group of young and passionate riders will one day be the leaders of our sport. Mental toughness is widely considered a foundation for the development of successful athletes and leaders in the world of competitive sports. The reining industry deserves those kinds of athletes and leaders.”
This will be the second three-part virtual workshop provided by Mental Athletics this year. The mindset coaching program practiced around the globe was thoroughly enjoyed by NRHyA members in June as a precursor to the NRHA Derby presented by Markel.
NRHA Manager of Youth, Professional and Affiliate Programs Sara Honegger says she is excited for the second series. “I believe all of the members who joined in the first sessions found so much benefit in and out of the show pen,” she said. “Gil has a great way of connecting with the youth and simplifying mental toughness to where it seems very attainable to everyone. Leading into the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships is a perfect time to sharpen that skill set.”
The scheduled dates for the first Mental Athletics Online Workshop are:
To sign up for the workshop email youth@nrha.com
For more information about Mental Athletics, visit their Facebook page or the website at www.Mental-Athletics.com.
Feedback from participants from the June session with Mental Athletics:
“The mental athletics workshop helped me look at my mindset inside and outside of the show pen. It allowed me to find areas to improve, helping my overall performance in the show pen. I enjoyed getting to learn more about myself, as well as having the opportunity to work to better my mindset. I would highly recommend everyone to attend the workshop as it can help you improve yourself in all areas of life.” — Olivia Klug, 2021 NRHyA President
“I liked them very much because they help you to be mentally and physically prepared. They help you realize that when you’re at a horse show you can notice how your body is, what your mind is thinking at that moment, and with several tips, you can change your mindset and at the same time relax your body to be ready for the competition.
Another thing I liked was that they help you when you’re walking for the show and if you’re very nervous and stiff because people will see you or because something can go wrong, well, with these techniques and tips you can concentrate and be relaxed all the time and so you will see better results.” — Diego Marquez, NRHA Mexico Delegate
“I enjoyed the workshop because it made me think about a lot of the things I tend to neglect. The expectations aspect really struck a chord with me. It reminded me I need to stay in my own game, and I do not need to overthink everything I hear. Being able to think through that stuff for some of my recent shows has come in very handy!!” — Jenna Woody, NRHyA member
“The youth years are really about building a foundation for the rest of your horse show career. In our household, we try to focus on our own mental game (because that’s 75% of showing horses). Gil’s approach to thinking through your mental game and potential roadblocks in a factual way really helped to approach the show pen in the right way! It was great to come to realize that your horse show mindset starts WAY before you get to the show pen, and you have to be careful how to let your thoughts wander.” — Jeanna Schaffhauser, Youth Committee Chair
