The Adequan® Arena at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City has been bustling with activity all week, as riders from across North America compete in the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC). Youth competition began Friday with the Adequan® NAAC Youth 13 & Under and the ancillary Short Stirrup class.

In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each of the 17 NAAC classes will be presented an Adequan^® Championship vest the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.

Awards through 10th place are presented in all NAAC divisions, so those riders who haven’t picked up prizes yet are reminded to stop by the awards room.

Madison Rafacz Wins Adequan® NAAC Youth 13 & Under on Whizenboonsmal

Madison Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal have teamed up for numerous titles in the Adequan® Arena during NRHA events, and on Friday night, added yet another line to their resume with the NAAC Youth 13 & Under championship.

Rafacz and the 8-year-old gelding marked a 218 to also win the ancillary division.

“I showed him on Tuesday in the Non Pro (NAAC) and he was really good for me and we marked a 222,” Rafacz shared. ‘I almost felt bad showing him again after he did so well, but today he came in and was just as good as before. My goal for the day was to be penalty free and have a pretty run. He was there for me, and I’m just really happy with him.”

Whizenboonsmal is by Peptoleap out of She Whiz A Star. “I have had him over three years and accomplished so much on him. He’s a very special horse and has made a lot of my dreams come true,” she shared. “I’ll keep him as long as I can. He’s going to be around for a while.”

Madison’s parents, Mark and Shannon Rafacz, own and operate MR Reiners. “It’s been a really good week for our barn. We’ve had a lot of people do well and had a lot of accomplishments,” she said. “I thank my parents especially for all their help. I thank Bud Lyon for helping and supporting me over the last few months, and the entire MR Reiners team.”

The Youth Champion was awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a Custom Montana Silversmith’s Trophy Buckle, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a Classic Equine Fleece Cooler, a Bluebonnet Feeds Gift Certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter, a champion’s vest from Adequan®, which will be presented tomorrow in the Jim Norick Coliseum, and a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket.

Colt Mitchell wins 10 & Under Short Stirrup Championship on Playgun Chic Olena

Colt Mitchell, of Cuba, Missouri, claimed the Championship in the 10 & Under Short Stirrup division for the third consecutive year riding Playgun Chic Olena, aka “Wes.” Mitchell’s presentation of Playgun Chic Olena’s maneuvers was rewarded by the judges with a 225 for earnings of $60.

The 2005 gelding, by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena and out of Mamas Packin, has been part of the Mitchell family since he was 3 or 4 years old.

“He’s so awesome to be around, he’s the nicest horse we have,” Mitchell said. “He’s my favorite to ride, he’s perfect for me. He’s rock-solid in all the maneuvers. I can’t wait to ride him every day. I love him.”

At home, Mitchell enjoys spending time keeping Wes legged up and prepared to go win at the shows. “I love reining, it’s my favorite thing to do,” Mitchell explained.

A seasoned Short Stirrup competitor, Mitchell says he had some nerves to overcome today.

“I was pretty nervous before the run,” Mitchell admitted. “It felt amazing. I can’t complain one bit, he was perfect in all respects. Like I said, he’s good in all the maneuvers. I went in, loped off, I think I heard that I plus-oned my circles, he ran the circles perfectly, his spins were great. My first stop was very good for that horse.”

Reflecting on the final Short Stirrup run of his youth career, Mitchell said, “You know, it felt a little like I really don’t want to leave, but I went out with a bang so I’m as happy as I can be.”

Mitchell, who attends school in Cuba where he plays baseball in addition to riding reiners, was happy that his family was able to watch him today.

“First of all, I would like to thank the good Lord above for keeping me safe, me and my whole family. My whole family helps me. My sister Hannah is showing in the non pro finals today and for the past three years she’s shown at the exact same time as me, so nobody was here to watch me, but this year they got to watch me,” he said.

Mitchell was awarded a weekender duffle from Classic Equine, an Adequan^® bucket and bucket strap, a certificate for Anderson Bean Boots, a Classic Equine top load hay bag, a “Dun Gotta Gun” Breyer Horse donated by Pearce, a CINCH Jeans gift certificate, John Deere gloves, and Classic Equine polo wraps and spur straps.

Abigail Dooley took the Short Stirrup reserve title on Top Haida with a 223. Top Haida, by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz out of Haida Million, is owned by Lon Kraft. Dooley won a weekender duffle from Classic Equine, an Adequan^® bucket and bucket strap, a certificate for Anderson Bean Boots, a Classic Equine top load hay bag, a “Dun Gotta Gun” Breyer Horse donated by Pearce, a CINCH Jeans gift certificate, John Deere gloves, and Classic Equine polo wraps and spur straps.

Like many things in 2020, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Markel Futurity Sales looked a little different this year. In the past, the sales have been held in the sale pavilion in Barn 3 and spread out over several days. This year, four sales were held back-to-back on Dec. 3 in the Barn 6 arena.

“I personally liked having it all the same day,” said Cooper Smith, who purchased a top seller and consigned two top sellers. “I think they had it set up good. They didn’t really have a lot showing today, and I think the guys had a fair opportunity to be able to look at the horses. Yeah, it’s a long day, but you kind of got it one and done and out of the way. It was good for everybody.”

A great absence was felt during the sales this year, as Doug Carpenter, a member of the sale committee, passed away from Covid-19 in November shortly before the Futurity began. Markel Insurance’s Frank Costantini spoke a few words in Carpenter’s memory, followed by a moment of silence. According to Gary Carpenter, Commissioner of the NRHA, though Carpenter was a member of the committee and had been the chair in the past, “he was so much more than that,” and he will be greatly missed.

Futurity Prospect Sale

The Futurity Prospect Sale kicked off by selling donated breedings to 12 stallions to benefit the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA), and the fundraiser collected $16,100. The top-selling breeding was Spooks Gotta Whiz, which sold for $3,700.

Thirty-one horses were consigned to the Futurity Prospect Sale, and it was hip no. 1018, Colonel Chic Gun, who sold for $65,000 as the highest seller.

Consigned by G Reining Horses/Giada Camparsi, Colonel Chic Gun (Colonels Shining Gun x Million Dollar Chic x Smart Chic Olena), a 2018 sorrel colt, was purchased by Smith for a client of his. Smith said they liked the stallion because he checked all of their boxes.

“He’s colored up, he’s a stud, he’s been started the right way and he’s by a good horse and out of a good mare,” Smith said. “If you write down what you want to buy, he’s what you want to buy.”

Colonel Chic Gun spent 330 days in training with Giada Camparsi prior to the sale. He is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, the NRHA Euro Nomination Program and the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC).

Colonel Chic Gun’s sire, Colonels Shining Gun, is an earner of $112,239. His dam, Million Dollar Chic, is an NRHA money-earner whose oldest foal is 3 years old. She is a full sister to Mr Millionnic Chic, an earner of $24,838 in Australia, and to Mexico Reining Horse Association Derby Non Pro Champion Chics Millionnic. Million Dollar Chic’s grand-dam is Mollie Montana, who produced Mister Montana Nic, an earner of $183,354 and 63 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) points.

“Giada has done a great job with that horse,” Smith said of Colonel Chic Gun. “He’s going to go on and get showed probably in the Non Pro and maybe even the Open next year.”

Charleston LK, hip 1006, was the second-highest seller after bringing a bid of $62,000 from Rick Clark. The 2018 palomino colt was consigned by St-Onge Reining Horses/Danny Hostetler and had been in training with St-Onge Reining Horses for 330 days by sale time. The colt is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, the NRHA Euro Nomination Program and the NRBC.

Charleston LK is by Gunnatrashya, the 2009 NRHA Futurity Open Level (L)4 Champion and 2010 NRHA Derby Open L4 Champion. Gunnatrashya is a 2 Million Sire and has produced two NRHA Futurity Open champions.

Charleston LK’s dam, Jacs Shining Fancy (by Shining Spark), is a Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association Summer Slide Futurity Co-Reserve Champion and has produced nine money-earners, including Wimpys Shining Jac, an earner of $12,000, and Classic Crome, who has accumulated 355 AQHA points.

The hammer fell at $55,000 for third-highest seller Spookgotitsmokn, a 2018 dun colt consigned by Randle Tune and Sergio Elia. Teresa Wynn purchased hip 1028, who had been in training with Mirjam Stillo for 330 days by sale time.

Spookgotitsmokn is by Spooks Gotta Whiz, the 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion, 2012 NRHA Derby Open L4 Champion and 2012 NRBC Open L4 Champion. He is the first foal out of his dam, Hollywood Dun Gunnit (by Colonels Smoking Gun), who is a full sister to Hollywood Gun Dunnit, an earner of $34,000, and half-sister to Big Sky Whizard, an NRHA Open World Champion and earner of $65,000. His grand-dam is Isle Bea Dun It, an NRHA Novice Horse Open World Champion.

The 2-year-old colt is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.

Select Yearling Sale

There were 121 colts and fillies consigned to the Select Yearling Sale, and the top seller, Starjac Enterprise, came toward the end as hip no. 2119. Consigned by Toyon Ranch LLC, the 2019 red dun colt was purchased for $88,000 in a partnership between Rick Clark, Tim Anderson and Oded Fein.

“What I like about this horse is his dam, Starjac Miss, is the dam of Platinum Vintage and also a couple other horses,” Anderson said. “I really love the mare cross, and so I decided to take a chance on the cross with the Voodoo [Shiners Voodoo Dr] because I have one by A Sparkling Vintage already.”

By Shiners Voodoo Dr, who won $87,098 and was an Open finalist at the 2010 NRHA Futurity, Starjac Enterprise is out of Starjac Miss (by Hollywood Jac 86), whose foals have earned $448,000. She is the dam of Platinum Vintage, who won $248,000 and was the 2015 NRHA Derby Open L4 Champion. She also produced Vintage Glamour, an earner of $60,454.

Starjac Enterprise is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, the NRHA Euro Nomination Program and the NRBC.

“Oded, Rick and I are all good friends, and we decided that we wanted to buy one of the better horses we saw going through the Yearling Sale,” Anderson added of the partnership he formed with Clark and Fein. “I’d been watching this horse since last spring, and so I told Oded and Rick they needed to check this horse out. We went ahead and did it and they agreed, so we’re happy as a partnership. The horse will be going to Andrea Fappani.”

Anderson was also the buyer of the second-highest seller, Vintage Ebony, a 2019 sorrel colt. Hip no. 2095, Vintage Ebony brought $75,000 for consigner Sterling Ranch.

The colt is out of Ebony Spook (by Smart Spook), an earner of $160,000 who is the daughter of Ebony Whiz. Ebony Whiz produced 10 money-earners, including NRHA World Champion The Shiney Whiz. Vintage Ebony is by A Sparkling Vintage, earner of $53,000. He is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, the NRHA Euro Nomination Program and the NRBC.

With a bid of $71,000, Rick Clark bought the third-highest seller, hip no. 2109. Spook Electric, a half-brother to Vintage Ebony, was also consigned by Sterling Ranch and is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program, the NRHA Euro Nomination Program and the NRBC. The 2019 sorrel colt is by Jacs Electric Spark, an earner of $85,000.

Select Breeders Sale

Twenty-one horses walked through the ring during the Select Breeders Sale, and it was hip no. 3016, Im Gunna Shine, who sold for a sale-topping $95,000. Consigned by Cooper Smith, Im Gunna Shine was purchased by Onofre Gomez, of California, who has always dreamed of owning a direct son of Colonels Smoking Gun.

“We liked just everything from his bloodlines, his color and his conformation, to the way he is dispositioned,” Gomez said. “He’ll probably be a pleasure horse for a while for my daughters and I, and we might start breeding him here in the next coming years.”

The 2010 double-bred palomino stallion is an NRHA earner of $36,073, collecting paychecks almost every year since 2013. By Colonels Smoking Gun and out of the Shining Spark mare Shiner Light, he is a full brother to two other money-earners: Palomino Horse Breeders Association World Champion Youth Reining Horse Guns A Shining, and $11,971 earner Shina Gun.

Im Gunna Shine is 5-panel N/N. He is the sire of four AQHA-registered foals from two crops, including Gunna Twist N Shine, a finalist in all levels of the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity Non Pro.

Following right behind Im Gunna Shine as hip no. 3017 was a foal in utero selling for $45,000 to Richard Vernon. Consigned by Toyon Ranch, the 2021 foal is by Colonels Smoking Gun and out of Icing Required (by Smart Chic Olena), who was the No. 1 leading reining producer in 2019. Icing Required’s foals have earned $504,000, including the foal in utero’s full sibling No Smoking Required, who was the 2019 Run For A Million Co-Champion and is the No. 1 all-time highest-earning reining stallion.

A 2020 palomino filly also consigned by Toyon Ranch brought the third-highest bid of $40,000, selling to Story Book Stables. By Colonels Smoking Gun, the filly is out of Dun Its Deja Vu (by Hollywood Dun It), making her a full sister to NRBC Open L3 Champion Gunner Dun It Again, an earner of $113,000.

Dun Its Deja Vu has produced 14 money-earners, totaling $244,000. Her 2020 filly is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC, and the seller offered to add the NRHA Euro Nomination Program at the buyer’s request.

Marketplace Sale

The Marketplace Sale rounded out a full day of sales at the NRHA Futurity. Hip 4021, Shiners Topgun, sold for the highest amount during the sale, bringing a bid of $69,000 from Rhodes River Ranch for consignor Smith.

Rhodes River Ranch sold the 2019 sorrel colt (by Colonels Shining Gun) to Smith as a foal, and trainer Sean McBurney was excited to have him back in their program. He particularly likes the colt’s dam, The Prima Ballerina (by Topsail Whiz).

“She was a super nice mare to ride,” McBurney said. “I only rode her like three times, but she felt really nice.”

The Prima Ballerina earned more than $34,000 and was Reserve Champion in the Wild Card Reining Challenge Non Pro Stakes in 2017. McBurney’s goal with her colt is to try to expand Rhodes River Ranch’s business.

“He just seemed like a nice colt,” McBurney said. “He’s a very smooth-muscled colt. His conformation, I think, is really good. I think he’s a spectacular individual.”

Hip 4051, Buzz Liteyear (Wimpys Little Step x Moonstone Mega x Marthas Mega Jac), brought the second-highest bid when the hammer fell at $50,000. Cade McCutcheon bought the 2019 buckskin colt, who was also consigned by Smith.

Buzz Liteyear is a brother to NRBC Derby Open finalist Wimpys Mega Step, an earner of $68,000. His dam is an earner of $53,000. The colt is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.

Two horses brought the third-highest bid of $31,000. The first, hip 4029, was SS Diggin For Chex (Pale Face Dunnit x Chexynic x Boomernic), a 2019 sorrel colt consigned by Heritage Farms, an agent for Korey Wright.

Jimmy and Nancy Nichols purchased the colt, whose great grand-dam is Santalina Command. She earned $10,000 and produced four money-earners, including AQHA Reserve High Point Junior Reining Champion Peppy N Company. SS Diggin For Chex is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.

The second colt to bring a $31,000 bid was hip 4039, SS The Wimp Doctor, another 2019 sorrel colt consigned by Heritage Farms as an agent for Tyler O’Neal. SS The Wimp Doctor (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Hermosa Wimpy x Wimpys Little Step) is a brother to Xtra Handsome Shiner, a finalist in the NRHA Futurity Open L3. He is enrolled in both the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity also includes the Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC), which features horses and riders from across North America competing for big money, prizes, and bragging rights.

On Thursday, Rookie riders took over the Adequan^® Arena, with many competing for the title of Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year.

In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each of the 17 NAAC classes will be presented an Adequan^® Championship vest the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.

Awards through 10th place are presented in all NAAC divisions, so those riders who haven’t picked up prizes yet are reminded to stop by the awards room.

Logan Lindberg Ties for Toyon Ranch NAAC Rookie of the Year & NAAC Rookie Level 2 Win

Seventeen-year-old Logan Lindberg, Lafayette, California, rode Custom Banjo, by Banjo Whiz out of Custom Bobbie, to share top honors in the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year with a score of 218. Owned by Megan Lindberg, Custom Banjo is a 2008 bay gelding with more than $102,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) to his credit. Lindberg tied for the win in the NAAC Rookie Level 2 with Allison Rae Thorson.

“He’s a great horse, he’s my mom’s horse and I’m fortunate enough to get to ride him,” Lindberg said. “He does the job he’s supposed to do and gets me there every time. I showed him for the first time about two years ago, just at a smaller weekend show.”

Lindberg says Custom Banjo excels at every reining maneuver, but he added that the horse stops no matter what, which makes him a thrill to show.

An avid team roper and student at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Lindberg says he quit playing football in order to focus more on riding.

Lindberg is grateful to have the support of his parents, saying, “I owe it all to my parents. Also, Liz Rammerstorfer, she’s helped me here in Oklahoma and at home as well. I’m really grateful to have her help, and for my parents too.”

The NAAC co-champions were each awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, Classic Equine ice boots, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter, and a champion’s jacket from Platinum Performance.

Allison Thorson Ties for Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year and NAAC Rookie 2 Championship on Smart Cowboy Whiz

The Adequan® Arena at Oklahoma Fair Park has been good to Allison Thorson and her horse Smart Cowboy Whiz. Just a month after purchasing the gelding in 2019, Thorson piloted him to wins at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance in the Green Reiner classes. At the 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance, the pair teamed up again to win the high-point championships of Rookie Levels 1 and 2. Then, on Thursday night at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC, the duo marked a 218 to tie for the win of the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year and NAAC Rookie Level 2.

“It’s pretty neat. Oklahoma City and the Adequan® are really lucky for us,” Thorson said. “His spins were awesome today. It was probably the best we’ve turned and spun. Our stops have been hit or miss because sometimes we’re really on it, and sometimes it feels like I’m on another planet. Today we were together every single step, and we were penalty free.”

Smart Cowboy Whiz is by Who Whiz It and out of Little Smart Jac. “I love him so much. He’s good everywhere, and then he’s pretty, too. If he was a human, I don’t know that I would want to date him because he’d be too proud of himself,” Thorson said with a laugh.

“It’s very hard to get to this point. It’s not easy, and it’s only possible because of a big team of people supporting you every day. I have a great group of friends and family supporting me each and every day,” she said. “I also thank Craig and Ginger Schmersal and their team. I live in Tennessee, and my horse is with them. They have a first-class program from top to bottom, and they really push me to be a better rider.”

The NAAC co-champions were awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.

Erika Belden Wins NAAC Prime Time Rookie Championship with Dun Git A Nicadual

Erika Belden borrowed her husband’s horse, Dun Git A Nicadual, to compete in the Rookie classes this year, and capped the season off with the NAAC Prime Time Rookie Championship on Thursday evening.

Belden and Gun Git A Nicadual marked a 214.5 to win the division and earn a top 10 finish in the Rookie Level 2. “This is my final show of the year, and I was hoping to do well because it’s my last year in the rookie,” Belden said.

Dun Git A Nicadual is by Mister Nicadual out of Gotta Git Ya Dun. The 12-year-old gelding has amassed an impressive win record under numerous riders and boasts lifetime earnings in excess of $100,000. “He’s just a magnificent horse, who has had a long line of fabulous riders, so it’s an honor to own him and be able to show him,” Belden said.

Next year, Erika’s husband James Belden will take back the reins. “I thank my husband for giving me the chance to show this horse. I thank my trainer Dave Moore and his wife Kim, and Nikki Tyndall his assistant, and the whole team of Dave Moore Reining,” she said.

The NAAC Prime Time Rookie champion was awarded a Continental Saddlery Saddle, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter, and a champion’s jacket from Platinum Performance.

Anticipation mounts as a field of more than 300 entries has been narrowed down to the cream of the crop that will compete in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 5.

Competition began last Thursday, with the top 75 from each division advancing to the semi-finals. The Level (L)4 Open semi-finals, presented by Not Ruf At All and Tamarack Ranch, today featured the top 75 L4 horses, plus ties, following the preliminary round. The 30 competitors with the highest composite scores in Levels 1-4, plus top 10 in Prime Time, will advance to the Finals.

For the first time in NRHA history, the L4 Open Futurity Champion will win a quarter-million dollars during the MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Finals. This year, the NRHA Futurity boasts a record $1,033,530 in added money for the Open and CINCH Non Pro Futurity combined, thanks in large part to NRHA Futurity Challenge sponsors and the NRHA nomination program.

Guaranteeing his spot in the L4 Finals and topping that division with a composite of 448 was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Brian Bell and Gunnabebigtime. Bell and Gunnabebigtime marked a 223.5 in the first round and a 224.5 in the semi-finals. Gunnabebigtime, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Big Time Jazzy, is owned and was nominated by Tami Nelson.

Holding down top honors in the L3 Open was Kole Price riding Trendsettter owned by Thomas Moffit and Kole Price. Trendsettter, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Timed To Shine, scored a 223 in the first go to combine with a 219.5 in the semi-finals for a 442.5. Cinder Lakes Ranch nominated Trendsettter.

Arno Hostetter held on to the top spot in the L2 Open on Blue Inferno, owned by Story Book Stables. Blue Inferno, sired by Inferno Sixty Six and out of Showtimes Lil Step, scored a 220.5 in the first go and was a 219 in the semi-finals for a 439.5 composite. The nominator of Blue Inferno is Jeffrey Palmer.

Dallas Cunningham and RFR Voodoos Fuego, owned and nominated by Peter Smith, claimed the top spot of the L1 with a 435.5, thanks to a 219.5 in the first go and a 216 in the semi-finals. RFR Voodoos Fuego is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Show N Tag.

Magnums Custom Dream, ridden by Casey Hinton for owner Nancy Murfin-Moxley, tied for the high composite score in the Prime Time Open thanks to a 218 in the first go and 217.5 in the second for a cumulative 441.5. Magnums Custom Dream, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Gunna Be Custom, was nominated by Garth Hystad.

Gunna Whoa, ridden by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Sommers for owners Stephany S. Monteleone and Martin Bonneson, is by Inferno Sixty Six and out of Whoawhiz. Gunna Whoa scored a 217 in the first go and a 218 in the second for a 441.5. The nominator of Gunna Whoa was Doug Milholland.

The score needed to earn a spot in the L4 Open Finals was a 438.5, while it took a 433.5 to advance in the L3. Riders with a score of 428 in the L2 earned a spot in the Finals, as did L1 riders who marked at least a 420.5. Making the top 10 for the Prime Time Open were scores of 436 or more.

Riders not advancing to the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Finals had the option of entering the $1,000-added Honorable Mention Futurity. Emerging as champion was The Voodoo That U Do ridden by Trapper Lowndes, of Whitesboro, Texas, for owner Sally Wendy Padey. The pair marked a 219 to top the class for $427.

“We bought her as a 2-year-old from Trevor Dare up at Silver Spurs Equine. We’ve had her this past year and she’s been a really fun horse. We’d like to continue on and show her as a derby horse, try to win some more money on her and make her a mama pretty soon,” Lowndes said.

The Voodoo That U Do, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Starlet Revolution, was nominated by Jeanine Stovall.

Lowndes says his goal in the Honorable Mention Futurity was to relax and make a penalty-free run, which he was confident would allow the mare’s incredible ability to shine.

“I really tried not to try,” Lowndes said. “We had a lot of penalties over in the big pen earlier this week, so I just tried to let her be what she is and she’s a really, really nice horse. The more I stay out of the way, the better she is.”

Lowndes, who has shown more reined cow horses lately, expressed appreciation for his family as well as a few horsemen in the reining world who’ve helped him with The Voodoo That U Do.

“I have the world’s best owner, Miss Sally, who has been wonderful to us and very trusting and provided such a nice horse. My family, my wife. There have been several horsemen help me through the year with her; I’ve stepped away from the reining for almost eight years, so it’s been really important that those guys have been so gracious to come forward and help me.”

Reserve in the Honorable Mention Futurity was Sharee Schwartzenberger and Spooks Matrix with a 215.5. Spooks Matrix, by Smart Spook out of Mates Matrix, is owned by Inga Guernsey and was nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch.

Riders Advance from CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation

Although the preliminary round of the NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity concluded Tuesday evening, the Consolation round, which took place in Adequan® Arena on Wednesday, December 2, provided a second chance to those who missed initial qualification. In the Consolation, the top five, including ties, from each of the four Levels move on to Friday’s competition.

Kim Muehlstaetter and Gunnaoutdunya topped the CINCH Level (L)4 Non Pro Consolation with a 218. Gunnaoutdunya, owned by Kim L. and Martin Muehlstaetter, is by Gunnatrashya and out of Stop Little Sister. Gunnaoutdunya was nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses USA.

James Morgan, DVM, guided his horse Trash Talking Tim to the high score of the L3 Non Pro with a 215. Trash Talking Tim is sired by Gunnatrashya and out of Awhiz Called Wanda, and was nominated by James Morgan, DVM.

Finishing with the high score in the L2 Non Pro was Jacob Zimmerman and Rufin Up The Chics, owned and nominated by Justin Zimmerman, with a 214.5. Rufin Up The Chics is by Not Ruf At All and out of Ms Playalotta Chic.

Marking the high score of the L1 Non Pro was Courtney Brooke Battison and her horse Marvelous Sixtysix with a 212.5. The nominator of Marvelous Sixtysix was Janna Imrie.

The cutoff scores to advance to the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals on Friday, December 4 from the Consolation were 214.5 for the L4, 210.5 for the L3, 209 for the L2, and 210.5 for the L1.

Draw positions for the finals will be decided during the Platinum Performance Virtual Draw Party, which takes place via the webcast Thursday, December 3 at 10 a.m. CST.