The Official Publication of the National Reining Horse Association | August 2026
6666 NRHA Derby Presented by Markel ®
Andrea Fappani and Alpha Viking
The Offi cial Publication of the NATIONAL REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION
August 2026 Vol. 52, Issue 6
nrha.com
EXECUTIVE
Billy Smith Commissioner Alisson Antunez Executive Assistant
ext. 108 ext. 129
ACCOUNTING
John Foy Chief Financial Officer Chris Mossman Senior Director of Accounting Debbie Shupe Senior Accounting Supervisor Casey Lofton Senior Accounting Coordinator
ext. 109 ext. 104 ext. 107 ext. 133
2026 NRHA Board of Directors Executive Committee Mike Hancock President (252) 903-3516 mikehancock@boddienoell.com
Casey Hinton Vice President (903) 821-9742 hintonreining@gmail.com
Karen Shedlauskas Director-At-Large (330) 565-0762 ksheds63@gmail.com
John Tague Director-At-Large (903) 821-9742 jptague@yahoo.com
Tom McCutcheon Director-At-Large (940) 390-7433 TMRHoffice@gmail.com
Ed Bricker Director-At-Large 412-551-7943 hootbricker@hotmail.com
Andrea Stillo Director-At-Large (817) 403-1630 andreastillo@hotmail.com
CORPORATE RELATIONS
Christy Landwehr Senior Director of Corporate Relations
ext. 122
EDUCATION & OFFICIALS
Patti Carter Senior Director of Education & Officials
ext. 103
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Angie Honeywell Senior Director of ReinerSuite & Sales
ext. 123
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Maddie Weber Senior Director of Marketing Haley Carmen Senior Director of Communications
ext. 204 ext. 102
MEMBER & SHOW SERVICES
Christa Morris-Stone Assistant Commissioner Samantha Oldfi eld Senior Director of International Affairs & Development Kristen Liesman Senior Manager of Award & Show Services Krissy Colbath Senior Director of Member & Show Services Hannah Hughes Membership & Licensing Representativea Kiely Larson Member & Show Services Coordinator Lauren Dushay Manager of Affiliate & Events
ext. 105 ext. 110 ext. 113 ext. 117 ext. 118 ext. 119 ext. 115
REINING HORSE FOUNDATION
Leslie Baker RHF Executive Director
ext. 106
Lisé Bulik RHF Sr. Coordinator of Development & NRHyA
ext. 138
NRHA REINER PUBLISHED BY 614 MEDIA GROUP
Board of Directors Jenny Ricotta Southwest (903) 267-5224 ricottaperformancehorses@ gmail.com Bundy Lane Southeast (252) 938-7705 bundylane68@gmail.com Mike Davis North Central (319) 404-2270 mdreiners@gmail.com Matt Murphy Northeast (703) 930-2760 safetymurph13@aol.com Kylie Warn Northwest (503) 703-8587 kyliewarn@yahoo.com
Travis Chapman Mountain (303) 518-3163 tmmedic@yahoo.com
Rudi Kronsteiner Europe 43-676-745-476-0 info@kronsteiner.de
Margaret Fuchs East Central (330) 717-8193 magmfuchs@aol.com
João Marcos South America 55-011-468-800-05 joaomarcos@arrudapires.com.br
Andre De Bellefeuille Canada (514) 578-5757 andre@versapro.ca
Jose Soto Soberanes Mexico 524-423-143-026 jsoto@cnn-law.com.mx
Rick Clark RHF (606) 232-7423 rick.clark@clarkspns.com
Pam Watson Oceania 61-042-422-949-7
Maik Bartmann Europe 49-172-624-801-6 info@vineyardranch.com
Andrea Stillo South Central (817) 403-1630 andreastillo@hotmail.com
pamela_watson17@hotmail.com
The NRHA REINER is published by the National Reining Horse Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the sport of reining. The NRHA REINER is the copyrighted property of the National Reining Horse Association. No information may be reproduced or used without the express written permission of the National Reining Horse Association. We welcome manuscripts pertaining to the reining horse, relevant to the performance horse industry and of interest to reiners. Manuscripts and pictures sent to the address below will be handled with care. Please enclose a SASE.
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Mary McCarthy Associate Editor
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The NRHA REINER (ISSN0199-6762) is published by the National Reining Horse Association, 3021 West Reno, Oklahoma City, OK 73107-6125. Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK 73107 and at additional mailing offices.
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AUGUST 2026
Kole Price
Table of Contents ON THE COVER: Andrea Fappani and Alpha Viking after their Derby record-breaking finals run—marking a 236 for the Open Level 4 Championship. Photo by Aubrey Malone Media
August Spotlight 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel Record-breaking at every turn— from unprecedented entries to historical high-scores, the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel did not disappoint
Features In Every Issue
28 NRHA ELECTIONS
REINER INSIGHTS: From the 34 AGE ADJUSTMENTS
Commissioner
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: 40 MARKEL Reining Horse
Foundation
42 NRHA BUCKLE CEREMONY MILLION DOLLAR MILESTONES
Event Coverage
116
12 16
NRHyA
20
NRHA Event Calendar
141
Advertiser/ Stallion Indexes
144
COWTOWN REINING CLASSIC 130
6 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
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From the Commissioner
Winning the Long Game
N
ow that the dust has settled from the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on what we accomplished together. We didn’t just hold another Derby. We strengthened the future of reining. For the first time in NRHA history, total show payback exceeded $2 million, reaching $2,103,208—a remarkable 29.6% increase over 2025. The Derby’s overall purse climbed to $1.85 million, marking our sixth consecutive year of record growth across the Open and Non Pro divisions. Those numbers matter because they represent opportunity. Every additional dollar paid back finds its way to owners, breeders, professionals, non pros, and the businesses that support our industry. Strong purses create confidence. Confidence encourages investment, investment improves horses, and better horses attract more competitors. That cycle is how great associations grow. This year, we intentionally accelerated that cycle. Earlier this spring, NRHA announced a $150,000 increase in added money for the 4-Year-Old Stakes, expanding competition across every level and bringing total added money for the program to more than $300,000. But financial growth tells only part of the story. This Derby also demonstrated that reining’s audience is growing faster than ever. Across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, NRHA content generated nearly 6.9 million views during the Derby. Facebook alone produced 3.5 million views, a 34.6% increase over last year, while content interactions climbed nearly 37% and new followers more than doubled. These aren’t vanity metrics. Each view represents someone discovering reining. Each share introduces our sport to an entirely new audience. Every new follower becomes a potential exhibitor, owner, sponsor, volunteer, or lifelong fan.
12 | NRHA REINER
Perhaps what encourages me most is that none of these accomplishments happened by accident. They happened because owners continued investing. Because breeders continued believing. Because professionals kept developing exceptional horses. Because sponsors saw value in supporting our industry. Because volunteers gave their time. Because our staff delivered extraordinary work behind the scenes. And because thousands of exhibitors chose to make the Derby part of their season. The 2026 Derby demonstrated what becomes possible when an association chooses to invest in growth rather than simply manage the status quo. Thank you for believing in this association, for believing in the reining horse, and for believing that our best days are still ahead.
Billy Smith NRHA Commissioner We want to hear from you! Please send your feedback on this issue to reiner@nrha.com.
AUGUST 2026
Reining Horse Foundation
RHF Represents Hope RHF has become a symbol of stability, generosity, and long-term vision within the equine industry
Board of Directors
he Reining Horse Foundation (RHF) has become one of the most influential charitable organizations within the global reining community, supporting the sport through education, scholarships, historic preservation, and assistance programs that reach far beyond the United States. Established as the philanthropic arm of the National Reining Horse Association, the RHF has helped strengthen the future of reining by investing in people, celebrating the sport’s heritage, and encouraging community on an international scale. One of the Foundation’s greatest contributions to the industry is its commitment to education. National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) programs create opportunities for future leaders, and RHF helps young riders pursue higher education through scholarships. I encourage you to interact with the youth leaders of NRHyA. They will inspire and energize you about the future. Also, consider how you can mentor a young reiner at a barn or competition near you. The Foundation plays a critical role in honoring reining’s history. By documenting significant milestones, paying tribute to influential horsemen and horses, and supporting historical archives, RHF ensures that the traditions and achievements of the sport are protected for future generations. This is especially important as reining continues to expand globally, allowing international NRHA Affiliates and riders to connect with the roots and values of the sport. Another important aspect of the Foundation’s work is its support programs for individuals facing hardship. RHF helps members of the reining community during times of serious medical crisis and natural disasters. These programs reflect the strong sense of unity within the industry and demonstrate that reining is more than a competition—it is a worldwide family that supports one another. Internationally, the impact of RHF can be seen through youth involvement across Europe, South America, Oceania, and other emerging markets. One of the most visible examples is support for the World Youth Reining Cup, which fosters global sharing through a group of young reining competitors every year. RHF has become a symbol of stability, generosity, and long-term vision within the equine industry. Its influence extends far beyond charitable giving, helping shape the future of reining around the world. Through education, preservation, and humanitarian support, the Foundation continues to elevate the sport and unite the global reining community under a shared passion for excellence.
RICK CLARK, PRESIDENT (606) 232-7423 rick.clark@clarkspns.com
T
Janice Laney RHF Board Member To donate, visit reiningfoundation.com or contact RHF at (405) 946-7400, ext. 106, rhf@nrha.com.
16 | NRHA REINER
ANDREA STILLO, VICE PRESIDENT (817) 403-1630 andreastillo@hotmail.com DEBBIE CONWAY, SECRETARY/ TREASURER (281) 687-0724 debbiejconway14@gmail.com TERRI MAINEY, OFFICER (919) 623-6054 gameangel65@aol.com MIKE MCFARLIN, OFFICER (615) 293-4044 mmcfarlin@mwlginc.com JESSE BOYD (281) 979-9632 jesse.boy@icloud.com DIANA DUFFEY (970) 710-1244 diana.trftgllc@gmail.com PATRICK FLAHERTY (480) 220-6025 Flaherty.performance@gmail.com MIKE HANCOCK, EX OFFICIO (252) 903-3516 mhh@boddienoell.com AMY KIRBY (614) 203-0643 abkirby15@gmail.com JANICE LANEY (205) 639-7878 janiceflaney@gmail.com MORGAN MCCLURE (480) 789-9337 morgan@holdfast.me.uk ALLISON THORSON (419) 357-1488 athorson@thorsportfarm.com CHRISTY TRAUTMAN (608) 215-9542 cmtrautman@gmail.com KEVIN TRUAX (515) 314-0704 kevin.truax@lpl.com BROOKE WHARTON (940) 357-1998 bmw@bmwquarterhorses.com BILLY WILLIAMS (503) 887-7171 billwilliams1330@gmail.com
AUGUST 2026
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Youth Reining (NRHyA)
NRHyA News NRHyA makes waves in OKC NRHyA made a splash at the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel with an “Under the Sea” themed Youth Zone. Throughout the week, members enjoyed creating ocean-inspired crafts such as sea creature bookmarks and watercolor sea salt art. Members also participated in other activities and games designed to bring the youth together. The NRHyA Gathering featured a hilarious crab crawl race in which participants raced while keeping a hula hoop around their ankles, along with decorating “Under the Sea” picture frames to take home with a commemorative photo from the event. The fun continued with a dance featuring a live DJ, giving members the chance to celebrate, make new friends, and create unforgettable memories.
↑ Youth members showing their finished seahorse projects.
↑ Kids attempted to dodge the tropical-themed limbo.
↑ Even the smallest crab finished the race—with a little help from NRHyA officer Kynley Bell. 20 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest The 2026 NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest was a success at the 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel. Youth competitors put their confidence, communication skills, and passion for the horse industry on display while competing for scholarships generously provided by the Reining Horse Association and CINCH. Contestants could compete in Prepared Public Speaking,
AGES 14-18
AGES 13 AND UNDER
Delivering “A: General” 1st: Emily Justice 2nd: (Tie) JG Codell and MK Hardin
Delivering “A: General” 1st: Millie Jean Piper 2nd: Etta Lee Piper
Prepared Speaking 1st: MK Hardin 2nd: Jetsen Minter
Prepared Speaking 1st: Charli Timmerman 2nd: Victoria McClure
Community Service Presentation, delivering “A: General,” or even take on more than one category. First-place winners earned a $700 scholarship, while second-place winners received $200 scholarships. Congratulations to all of the contestants for sharing their knowledge, growing their skills, and representing the future of the reining industry.
Community Service Presentation MK Hardin
↑ Etta Lee Piper, second-place winner in the 13 & Under Delivering A: General division with Cassi Nichols from CINCH, who also served as a contest judge.
NRHyA Gives Back in Oklahoma City Giving back is an important part of the NRHyA experience. On June 18, a team of 23 volunteers made up of NRHyA members, NRHA and Reining Horse Foundation staff, and members of the Reining Horse Foundation Board of Directors spent the morning serving at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
Together, they packed 307 Senior Citizen Food Program boxes, totaling 9,517 pounds of food, helping provide 7,930 nutritious meals to seniors across the state. The project reflects NRHyA’s commitment to leadership through service and making a positive impact both inside and outside the show pen.
↑ Volunteers wrapped up a rewarding morning of service at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 21
News
Magnum Chic Dream Earns 2025 Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award
D
uring the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) recognized Magnum Chic Dream as the recipient of the 2025 Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award. The award was accepted on behalf of the stallion by owner, Viola Scott. Established in 2021, the Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award recognizes the leading sire from the previous year’s NRHA Futurity® based on the total earnings of his offspring. Named in honor of longtime NRHA member and breeder Peter Phinny, the award celebrates excellence in breeding and the lasting influence of stallions whose offspring excel on reining’s biggest stage. At the 2025 NRHA Futurity®, Magnum Chic Dream offspring earned a combined $484,117, led by Belissimo (Magnum Chic Dream x Americasnextgunmodel), ridden by Casey Deary for owner, breeder, and nominator Arcese Quarter Horses USA, who captured the Level 4 Open Futurity Championship and a paycheck of $350,000. Also contributing to the stallion’s impressive total was Nyourwildestdreams (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunna Be Custom), owned by Jose
Fernando Fagundes, bred and nominated by Devin Warren and shown by Maria Luiza Michelin Fagundes. The standout mare earned $68,790 after claiming the Non Pro Level 3 Co-Championship, Non Pro Level 2 Co-Championship, Non Pro Level 1 Co-Championship, and top placings in three NRHA Futurity Challenge divisions. Additional money earners included Ima Dreamin Jeannie (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunnawinya Jac), bred and nominated by Hill Country Reiners, LLC and ridden by Ruben Vandorp for owner Laurie E. Hauck, who tied for eighth in the Level 4 Open Futurity to earn $55,723; Amaze In Grace (Magnum Chic Dream x Miss Sugar Whiz), nominated by Lawrence Ranch, shown by Rodrigo Nieves for owner and breeder Christian Asis, who split eighth in the Level 2 Open Futurity for $9,248. The Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award is presented annually during the NRHA Derby. The perpetual Mehl Lawson Bronze representing the award remains on display at NRHA headquarters in Oklahoma City, serving as a lasting tribute to Peter Phinny’s passion for breeding and his enduring contributions to the reining industry.
↑ Jack and Viola Scott accepting the Peter Phinny award from Frank Merrill. Photo courtsey of the NRHA. 24 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 25
IHP Photo Jen Kasper Media | Graphics
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NRHA Elections
Vote Your Choice NRHA elections are coming soon; Get to know your candidates here Submitted by NRHA Election Candidates
T
he NRHA Executive Committee and Board of Directors are responsible for managing the business of NRHA and for representing the best interests of its members, the horses, and the Association as a whole. Each year, NRHA opens nominations and hosts elections for a variety of leadership positions. Annually, the NRHA election nomination process allows affiliates and members to submit candidates for the upcoming vote. For the 2027–2028 term, three candidates were nominated for the DirectorAt-Large seat on the Executive Committee. The
candidate receiving at least a majority of votes cast will serve on the Executive Committee from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2028. Voting for the 2026 election will begin September 1 at noon CDT and ends September 15 at noon CDT. Be sure to mark your calendars and ensure your NRHA membership is current to vote! Individuals with a General membership (excluding partnerships, businesses and joint memberships) have voting privileges; however, youth and association members do not have voting rights.
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (ONE SEAT) The passion for Reining and the NRHA runs deep in my family. Raised in the sport, I was influenced early by my parents’ involvement—my mother as the first secretary of NRHA Germany and my father as a founding member and professional trainer—giving me a lifelong, firsthand understanding of the association. I began showing Reining horses in 1986 as a youth rider and turned professional at 18. Since then, I have built a successful training business, competed in Reining and Working Cowhorse events, and conducted clinics throughout Europe. For the past 25 years, I have also judged NRHA events worldwide, gaining a broad and balanced perspective on standards and the sport’s evolution across regions. I bring to the Executive Committee a combination of practical industry experience, international perspective, and longstanding service with NRHA. Through roles on the Judges and Stewards Advisory Committee, Board of Directors, European Executive Board, European Affiliate Council, and NRHA Germany board, I understand both the strategic and operational needs of the association. I have worked closely with affiliates, professionals and organizers, and recognize the importance of aligning grassroots development with Osthofen, Germany major international events to support sustainable growth, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities NRHA has provided me and for the chance to give back through service. If elected, I will contribute informed, experience-based decision making, foster strong communication between leadership and membership, and support initiatives that promote growth, consistency, and integrity worldwide. My goal is to help ensure NRHA continues to evolve while staying true to the values that define it.
Maik Bartmann
28 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
NRHA Elections
My journey in reining began in 1994 when the finesse, power, and character of the reining horse immediately captivated me. My wife Gisela and I purchased our first reining horse in 1996, and by 2003 that passion had grown into Galaxy Quarter Horses, a breeding operation with horses in training on both sides of the Atlantic. I have been competing as a Non Pro since the 1990s and intend to keep showing for many years to come. Professionally, I bring decades of executive leadership experience to everything I do. As Founder and CEO of Galaxy Executive Management Solutions and Managing Director at Omniprofs, I have spent my career turning strategy into results and developing people into leaders. That same mindset shapes how I approach my service to this sport. My commitment to the NRHA is long and deep. I have been a member since 1996, served on the Dutch Reining Horse Association Board and as its President, and have been an active member of the NRHA European Affiliate Council and European Executive Board since 2015. I served on the NRHA Board of Directors, chaired the European Major Events Committee, and have most recently contributed to the Non Pro Advisory Committee, the Aged Event Advisory Heide, Netherlands Committee, the Eligibility Advisory Committee, and the Hall of Fame Committee. At the international level, I also served on the FEI Technical Reining Committee in Lausanne. On the competitive side, my horses and I have achieved results I am proud of across Europe and beyond, from European Derby and Futurity championships to a World Reining Championships Individual Senior Open Bronze medal in 2025 and most recently an IRHA Derby Level 3 Championship in 2026. These experiences have given me a genuine, ground-level understanding of what our competitors, owners, and breeders need from the organization that governs our sport. What I hope to bring to the NRHA Executive Committee is something I believe is genuinely rare: a balanced, independent, and global perspective shaped by experience in nearly every role our sport has to offer—competitor, Non Pro, owner, breeder, and governing body leader. Combined with my business background, including an MBA from Erasmus University Rotterdam and recognition as Best CEO in the Electricity Industry in 2015, I am well-equipped to help navigate the strategic challenges and opportunities ahead for the NRHA. My goal is straightforward: to help build a sport with a place for every reiner, everywhere in the world. I am an effective communicator who values trust, loyalty, and genuine engagement with people. I would be honored to earn your vote and continue serving this organization and the members who make it great.
Paulus Beurskens
John Tague Pilot Point, Texas
AUGUST 2026
My journey in the reining horse world began the way the best things in life often do, unexpectedly. More than a half century ago, horses brought my wife Nancy and me together, and we’ve been inseparable from them ever since. We started with American Quarter Horses after finding our footing in the hunter jumper world, but when life brought us to Texas, we discovered what would become our true passion: reining. We have dedicated much of our focus to growing this sport at every level. That commitment led me to NRHA leadership and the Reining Horse Foundation, where I’ve seen firsthand how much this organization means to riders, breeders, and families around the world. Nancy and I built Toyon Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas, with a simple but ambitious goal: to breed and raise the finest prospects this industry has to offer. That goal is only possible with the support of so many across the industry. Because of that support, I’m proud to say Toyon Ranch has become a top producing breeder, including the breeder of two Run For A Million Champions, and home to several Invitational and 100X Stakes enrolled stallions. That foundation of dedication, investment, and love for this sport is exactly what I try to bring to the NRHA. I’m running to continue the work that has created so much momentum for the association—now is the time to bring that momentum deeper and broader across our sport!
NRHA REINER | 29
NRHA Elections Additional Seats Several other elected leadership positions will be filled for the same two-year term. The following uncontested seats will be elected by acclamation by the Board of Directors. Statements from these incoming representatives can be found on nrha.com/elections.
VICE PRESIDENT
Margaret Fuchs Canfield, Ohio
NEED MORE INFO? Go online: nrha.com/elections Contact staff: Christa Morris-Stone, cmorris@nrha.com
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (NORTH AMERICAN REGIONS):
30 | NRHA REINER
Travis Chapman
Jenny Ricotta
Eaton, Colorado Mountain Region
Scottsdale, Arizona Southwest Region
Bundy Lane
Meaghan Myers
Gates, North Carolina Southeast Region
Lloydminster, SK, Canada Canada Region
AUGUST 2026
SHOWN BY AN DREA FAPPAN I
GUN N E RS SMOKI N CH EX
LTE $215,548
proud partn e rs of th e n rha
Reiner Insights
Age Adjustments Preparing a futurity horse can be dramatically different than prepping a derby-aged reiner. NRHA professional Bud Lyon describes the mental and physical differences while preparing for NRHA’s premier events By Kate Bradley Byars
S
In 2023, Lyon rode Nic The Whiz at the NRHA Futurity. Photo by Chelsea Schneider Media. ↓
ince its inception, the reining industry has centered around the NRHA Futurity®, the premier event for 3-year-old horses and the first major milestone in a reining horse’s career. While the Futurity remains an important goal, today’s aged-event opportunities provide additional pathways for horses to develop at their own pace, allowing many to continue progressing into successful derby careers. The approach to preparing a horse for either stage depends less on age and more on the individual horse. For NRHA Professional Bud Lyon, every horse develops differently, making flexibility one of the most important parts of a successful training program.
Solid Start
The road to the NRHA Futurity® begins early for horses bred to compete. By the time a wellbred prospect arrives in a trainer’s program like Lyon’s, its education is just beginning. Preparing a 3-year-old for the industry’s premier event is a gradual process focused on developing confidence, consistency, and a solid foundation that will serve the horse throughout its career. Throughout the 2- and 3-year-old years, Lyon builds each maneuver individually before asking horses to connect the pieces into a complete pattern. The progression is designed to help horses understand their job while keeping the learning experience positive. Prior to a 3-year-old showing, he begins to put the maneuvers together, so the horse has a better idea of what to expect in the show pen. Ultimately, though, he wants the show experience to be a positive one.
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Reiner Insights “As we get closer to showing in July at a smaller futurity, like the Denver Slide or the 100X in Waco, where a 3-year-old is going to debut, I make sure I am putting pieces of the pattern together in combinations,” Lyon explained. As the season progresses, Lyon lets each horse’s development dictate the pace. While the goal is continued improvement, he believes confidence and consistency are far more valuable than trying to have a horse at its absolute peak too early. He says that a good Futurity run can come down to confidence and timing. “My goal is always to have a 3-year-old at their best in mid-to-late-November and not necessarily at their full potential in July or August,” he said. “As we get closer to the NRHA Futurity®, I use the experiences of showing those 3-year-olds early on to fine-tune things, even put together entire patterns at home so that we can get all parts of the pattern where we need to be. I want to have a horse that isn’t peaked too early but is confident and relaxed and consistent in their execution.”
Shifting Gears Many successful reiners begin their careers as 3-year-olds before continuing to mature physically and mentally through the aged-event years. Others simply benefit from additional time before making their show pen debut. Lyon says today’s event structure gives trainers greater flexibility to develop each horse according to its individual timeline. Lyon says that the industry has shifted to allow for the 4-year-old year to serve as a development year. “You’ll hear trainers refer to their 4-year-olds as ‘going through some 4-year-old stuff,’ which can be residual issues from the 3-year-old year or that horse is starting to anticipate and recognize they are being shown and start to think ahead of you a little too much than they did when they were a little more innocent as a 3-year-old,” Lyon explained. “Plus, most trainers would agree [a 4-year-old is] a disadvantage to other derby-aged horses, 5, 6, or 7-year-olds, both physically and mentally.” Listening to the horse remains the deciding factor in determining when it is ready to compete. While some horses thrive as 3-year-olds, others benefit from additional time before stepping into the show pen, allowing them to gain confidence and maturity before beginning their aged-event careers. “You have to help those horses a little more
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than you might with an older horse that has more experience, confidence and repetition,” he said. “Then you have your 5-, 6-, 7-year-olds that have, in theory, been exposed to a lot more, been shown more, and are physically and psychologically prepared to show in those aged events. Those horses don’t require the same developmental repetitions.” In Lyon’s program, the focus is on maintaining horses in consistent condition throughout the year before asking for peak performances at major events. The approach helps keep horses mentally fresh while preparing them to perform when it matters most. “I believe the surest way to burn a reining horse out is to keep competing all the time. I think our industry has become conscious of that with trainers doing a better job managing and maintaining those horses for their welfare and longevity,” he said. “We are trying to get the best out of them four or five times a year and are keeping the horse at a maintenance level in between the major shows.” One tool Lyon relies on to maintain both confidence and focus is the use of schooling shows, or paid warmups. He says that schooling has become a “huge” part of the reining industry’s culture, which is beneficial to the horses. Lyon noted that, while helpful, the paid-warm must be implemented intentionally. “Some horses become very smart in that they understand and identify between a show situation and a paid warm up,” he said. “One of the ways that we keep a horse sharp in my program is giving the horse something else to do so that they are not always thinking they are doing a reining pattern.”
Steady Success For horses in Lyon’s program, reining training most often leads to ranch riding classes. The horses are capable of all necessary maneuvers in a ranch riding pattern with their reining training, and competing in both keeps the horses sharp. “If we do the same things on a horse every time, that can lead to a bevy of issues,” explained Lyon. “For us, we are also competing in the ranch classes, and we have seen a lot of value in that in my program because it allows the horse to decompress by doing a ranch pattern. It keeps them guessing a little bit because the ranch pattern tends to be a little different and our horses cannot predict where we are going and what we are doing next.”
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Reiner Insights This especially holds true with his older horses. For both Chillinlikeavillain (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Oaks Steady Star) owned bt Bud and Kimberly Lyon, bred and nominated by Two Doves Ranch, who Lyon showed in the 2022 NRHA Futurity® and to the 2024 AQHA Junior Ranch Trail World Champion title, and Sumac Gunnabeflashy (Gunnatrashya x Chics Graceful Whiz) owned by Leslie Lange, bred by Donals Sobey and nominated by Sumac Farms, who is a two-time AQHA Super Horse, moving between reining and ranch riding keeps the horses attentive in the show pen. Recently, Lyon increased his NRHA lifetime earnings to more than $280,000 with an NRHA Derby® Level 2 top five finish aboard Chillinlikeavillain in the stallion’s last derby-eligible year. Many of the horses that have come through Lyon’s program move comfortably between reining’s premier events and ranch riding. He
credits that versatility to establishing a solid foundation early, allowing horses to build confidence and continue developing throughout long, successful careers. No matter what Lyon is preparing a horse for, and no matter the horse’s age, he instills confidence in it for that event. For him, that is the key to success. “I think confidence is always key showing any aged horse,” Lyon said. “I think you need to be realistic about the horse you’re on and where they are in their training progression. A 3-yearold may need you to be more of a teammate and be there for them a little bit more than a 7-year-old derby horse that has been around the block and knows their job better. An older horse, you can call on that horse a little more because of their experience.” ■
Meet Bud Lyon
↑ Bud Lyon has earned more than $280,000 in the reining arena, and more than $880,000 in ranch riding classes, much of it aboard Chillinlikeavillain. Photo by Kate Bradley Byars.
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Originally from Southern California, Bud Lyon began his career as a youth under the tutelage of Dand Hokana, Todd Crawford and Don Murphy. He launched his professional career in Arizona, riding for seven years under Randy Paul before striking out on his own in Texas. He and his wife, Kim, live in Whitesboro and operate Bud Lyon Performance Horses. Bud has more than $1,000,000 in lifetime earnings in multiple associations, including $280,607 in the NRHA and more than $887,000 in ranch horse classes. An NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open finalist, NRBC and NRHA Level 4 finalist, and 2013 NRBC Level 2 Co-Champion, Bud focused on reining before adding ranch horse events to his program. He is a multiple-time AQHA and APHA World Champion and is the first ranch class NSBA rider to achieve Quarter MillionDollar status, then one year later, surpassed $500,000 in NSBA earnings.
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Corporate Partner Spotlight
Protecting What Matters Most NRHA Corporate Partner Markel’s insurance solutions bring peace of mind to NRHA members By NRHA Corporate Partner Markel
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ith more than 50 years of dedicated experience in equine insurance, NRHA Corporate Partner Markel has earned its reputation as one of the trusted leaders in offering protection for horses and the businesses that support them. Deeply rooted in the horse industry, Markel’s commitment extends beyond coverage—it reflects a genuine understanding of the equestrian lifestyle and the unique risks it entails. Markel offers broad, customizable insurance solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of horse owners, trainers, breeders, and equine professionals across the country. Since 1993, Markel has proudly partnered with NRHA to deliver affordable insurance solutions tailored to the reining community. With many of Markel’s equine insurance specialists being horse owners themselves, the company brings firsthand insight into the emotional and financial commitment of horse ownership. This shared passion has helped shape relationships built on
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trust, longevity, and mutual respect. “As horse people ourselves, we understand the unique needs of the equestrian world,” Markel Senior Director of Western Disciplines Frank Costantini said. “Our decades-long partnership with NRHA reflects not only our commitment to the sport, but also our deep roots in the horse community and our ability to deliver insurance solutions that truly work for horse owners and professionals.” “Markel’s involvement in the horse industry goes far beyond underwriting policies,” Managing Director Emily Springman added. “We’re in the barns, at the shows, and part of the conversations that shape this community. That connection allows us to provide meaningful coverage and guidance that supports the long-term success of NRHA members and the broader equine world.” Whether a customer is a lifelong horse owner, a professional trainer, or an equine service provider, Markel is committed to helping them navigate their insurance options with clarity and confidence.
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Corporate Partner Spotlight Introducing the New Markel Horse Policy
A New Chapter in Farm Protection
Horse ownership is a meaningful investment, and Markel understands the importance of protecting it. The new Markel horse policy offers a streamlined solution that combines essential equine coverages into one plan. From mortality and theft to major medical and surgical expenses, the policy includes agreed value settlements and private horse owner liability coverage. Additional coverages are available through Equine Essentials, which covers tack and equipment, emergency evacuation and burial expenses. With flexible options, 24/7 claims service, and decades of equine insurance experience, Markel empowers horse owners to ride with confidence, knowing their passion and investment have insurance coverage.
Recognizing that a farm is more than a business—it’s a way of life—Markel has introduced a new insurance solution through its internal agency, MKL Services Co. This transition offers broader coverage and greater flexibility, while maintaining the trusted service customers expect. Through MKL Services, policyholders continue working with their current Markel horse specialist, backed by a Markel team with access to a top-tier network of partners. The goal is simple: to offer farms insurance coverage without interruption, with solutions tailored to each customer’s unique needs and delivered with care and expertise.
Personalized Protection for Equine Professionals and Businesses Markel’s commercial equine liability policy is tailored for trainers, instructors, farriers, and operators of boarding and breeding facilities. With coverage limits up to $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, the policy includes premises liability, care, custody, and control for nonowned horses, and optional inland marine coverage for equipment. This policy is ideal for professionals who own or lease property used for equine operations, and for those offering riding lessons, clinics, or training services. Unlike homeowner policies that may exclude commercial equine activities, Markel’s solution fills the gap with protection designed for those who make horses their livelihood. From independent instructors to therapeutic riding centers, Markel offers insurance solutions with confidence and clarity. Markel also offers a dedicated policy for equine service professionals—those who provide bodywork, massage, pulsed electro-magnetic field therapy, cryotherapy, grooming and other specialized care. The equine service professionals policy includes commercial equine liability limits up to $1 million/$3 million; care, custody, and control coverage for non-owned horses; and protection for therapy equipment, such as Magnawave and cold lasers. Whether a customer is a farm sitter, freelance groom, or certified practitioner, Markel’s insurance solution allows them to focus on horse care while Markel handles the risks.
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Covered from Hoof to Paw Expanding its legacy of equine protection, Markel offers insurance for dogs and cats through its collaboration with Prudent Pet. Whether a customer is a horse owner with a barn full of furry companions or a pet parent with a playful pup, Prudent Pet provides headto-tail coverage, 24/7 veterinarian live chat and fast claims processing—all backed by Markel’s commitment to exceptional service. With multi-pet discounts and exclusive savings for NRHA members, it’s never been easier—or smarter—to insure the entire animal family. ■ Contact Markel for more information about Markel’s products or to request an insurance quote, visit markelhorseandfarm.com, call 1-800-446-7925, or speak with one of Markel’s horse insurance specialists at your next NRHA event. This content is intended for general informational purposes only. Contact your licensed insurance producer or Markel equine specialist for a coverage consultation to determine what is best for you. Coverage is provided by one or more of the insurance companies within Markel and policyholder services are provided by the underwriting manager, Markel Service Inc., national producer license #27585, in California d/b/a Markel Insurance Services, license #0645481. Farm package products offered through MKL Services Co., a licensed insurance agency operating nationwide, national producer license #19576597. Insurance carrier, coverage, dividends and services availability may vary by state. Terms and conditions for rates and coverages varies. Nothing herein shall be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation or offer to purchase any products or services. Markel is a registered trademark of Markel Group Inc.
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NRHA Buckle Ceremony
NRHA Buckle Ceremony Honors 2025 World Champions A glimpse inside one of reining’s biggest awards nights of the year By Jack McLaughlin | Photos courtesy of NRHA
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World Championship in the National Reining Horse Association ranks among the most coveted accolades in reining. Competitors spend the entire year traversing the world, at event after event in pursuit of that title. On June 13, the 2025 NRHA World Champions, Reserve World Champions, and Top Ten World Standings honorees gathered for the NRHA Buckle Ceremony in Oklahoma City, a celebration that drew nearly 250 riders, family members, and friends for an evening of well-earned recognition. World Champions received iconic Montana Silversmiths buckles, NRHA Lawson trophies, and Martin Saddlery certificates for a new saddle. Reserve World Champions also received buckles, as well as coveted NRHA Morrison trophies. Top Ten riders, horses, and owners were also recognized for their final standings, a tribute to Many-time NRHA World Champion Melissa Wigen accepts her NRHA Montana Silversmiths World Champion buckle. ↓
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the consistent excellence that defines the sport’s highest level of competition. They were awarded NRHA Morgan trophies for their efforts. “The horses we honored tonight didn’t just have one great day,” said Christa Morris-Stone, NRHA Assistant Commissioner. “Each of them earned a paycheck in the class no less than seven times throughout the year. That is an incredible season by any measure.” The evening also shone a spotlight on others who led the charge across every corner of this sport: the 2025 NRHA Top 20 Professionals, Top 20 Non Pros, Top 20 Owners, sponsored by Morton Buildings, and this year’s NRHA Professionals of the Year award recipients were all recognized during the program. ■ The complete 2025 NRHA World Title Standings and Top 20 lists are available at nrha.com/results.
Winning a world title takes a village. ↓
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Introducing the Toward the Sun Collection
O F F I C I A L AUGUST 2026
S I LV E R S M I T H S
w w w. m o n t a n a s i l v e r s m i t h s . c o m |NRHA REINER | 41
From stables and stall barns to riding arenas, a Morton building is professionally built for your functional needs, your horses’ safety and your budget. Don’t settle for second best — because Morton has a quality that’s unmistakable, just like you.
Visit mortonbuildings.com or call 800-447-7436. 5003
Built Stronger. Lasts Longer. Looks Better.
©2026 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses.
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A NEW BENCHMARK FOR REINING The largest reining horse show in history showcased the continued growth of the sport, with record participation, record purses, and world-class competition. Articles by Abigail Boatwright, Blanche Schaefer, and Sarah Prather
Also at the Derby: The 2025 Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) crowned champions alongside Derby competition. Coverage of the NAAC will appear in the September issue of The Reiner. AUGUST 2026
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A Record-Breaking Run Aboard Alpha Viking, $10 Million Rider Andrea Fappani landed the highest score ever at an NRHA Derby® event By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry
↑ Andrea Fappani holds the highest-ever Derby score of 236, with Alpha Viking in 2026. He also holds the highest marked score at any NRHA event - at the 2007 NRBC, Fappani rode Custom Legend to a 236.5.
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he 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel was, quite literally, one for the record books. With record-setting purses topping $1 million paid out across the Open divisions, more participation than ever before, and a record high score record of 236 from NRHA $10 Million Rider Andrea Fappani, this event was one for the books. The 2026 Open Level 4 Derby Finals will be remembered as one of the deepest finals in NRHA history. Riders needed a 227 just to crack the Top 10, a testament to the exceptional level of
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competition throughout the finals. Among those rising to the occasion was the 2021 palomino stallion Alpha Viking (Gunnatrashya x Rock It With Sass). “Viking,” owned by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC and Vargo Horses LLC of Purcell, Oklahoma, was bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC. After Casey Deary showed the stallion at the 100X Reining Classic, Gabriel Diano of Alpha Quarter Horses and Deary discussed the horse’s future and felt that Fappani would be the best fit for the horse. Having always loved Viking, Fappani swiftly agreed.
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6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel “We clicked pretty quickly,” Fappani said. “I’ve followed Gabriel and Casey with a couple other horses. It’s very easy for me to follow Casey’s program, even if we ride quite a bit different. He does such a good job. It didn’t take me long to click with Viking.” Fappani, of Scottsdale, Arizona, worked with Viking all winter to tweak a few things and prepare. In March, they went to the OKRHA Ride and Slide in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a preview for the NRBC, and to see how the experienced 5-year-old stallion felt in the show pen. He scored a 226.5. “I tried him there and I felt really confident,” Fappani said. “I didn’t push him hard. He felt just like he did outside [in practice].” Fappani says his mental strength is what makes Viking stand apart, beyond his talent. On the ground, he has a calm personality, and in the saddle, he’s on the lazier side. “He’s not an overachiever by any means when you ride him every day, but he really surprised me in the show pen, because he’ll give you way more,” Fappani said. “Most of the horses that I’ve won on and marked big scores on, they’re a bit more challenging to ride every day, because they want to do so much that they’re very busy-minded and it’s hard to keep them concentrated and under saddle, he’s on the lazier side.” At the NRBC, Fappani rode conservatively, and the stallion scored a 227 to land reserve in the Level 4 Open Classic. “I felt that I had more in there, and I probably should have asked for more at the NRBC,” Fappani admitted. “I didn’t, because I wasn’t sure if the horse would handle it well, and I still wanted it to be a good experience.” Going into the Derby, Fappani planned to challenge Viking, to see what he had. “I’m glad I did, because I had no idea he had that much in him,” Fappani said. “He’s a horse that when I pushed in the show pen, he gave me way more than what he does in practice, which if I look back in my career, the great ones seem to have that trait. They seem to know when it’s time to perform. And more than that, I think they know when the rider is asking for everything, they’re willing to give it instead of holding back.” In the go-round, the duo was draw 33 and had a smooth ride. Fappani had three horses in the finals, with a different strategy for each. With Viking and big scores to beat–including Dany Tremblay’s 232– Fappani knew he couldn’t hold back.
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“If there was a 228 or 228.5, you can stay clean and probably beat that without overdoing things,” he said. “But when you have a 232 in front of you, there’s really no way around it other than really opening it up, and seeing what your horse has, asking for everything he’s got.” They came out strong, opening with an impressive first stop before executing two big, penalty-free turns that put them in an ideal position. “That horse’s strength is the circles, because he’s really pretty to look at, and you can really push him and he doesn’t get excited. He doesn’t want to run faster than what you do,” Fappani said. “I challenged him in the circles, and he was there for me.” Fappani focused on staying clean, and Viking answered the call with two quality stops and rollbacks to complete a polished run. Follwing their electric go - Viking stayed solid and focused. “A lot of times when you mark those big scores, you walk out thinking you’ll have to do some damage control and go to schooling shows, because you asked for so much more, that the horse gets a little rattled and maybe loses a bit of confidence,” Fappani said. “But I never had that feeling with him. He walked out just like it was a go-round. He didn’t get excited. He didn’t get overwhelmed.” Fappani and Viking were awarded a 236 score, handily winning the Open Level 4, and bringing home a cool $100,000 in cash prizes. The stallion has now topped $193,000 in lifetime earnings. Scoring that high and still having a mentally strong horse is a testament to how special Viking is, according to Fappani. “We keep breeding more and more talented horses, but it’s very rare to find one that has that type of mind, and that’s what it takes to be able to mark those type of scores,” he said. Fappani thanks Viking’s owners and all who are involved for their trust in him with their horse. Looking ahead, Viking will be competing at the $100,000 Shootout at The Run For A Million, with hopes to qualify for the Million Dollar Competition in 2027. “He’s got a great attitude, and he’s a nice horse to be around—very, very easy,” Fappani said. “There’s not many horses in my string that I could feel confident putting a green rider on, and this horse is one I would trust with a green rider—he’s very forgiving. Unless you really ask him to go, he’ll wait for you. So I think having these types of runs on horses like this, it just keeps improving the genetics of our sport.” ■
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Dream Come True Sam Flarida won the Open Derby L2 and L3—his first Derby titles—with TR Gunna Dream By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Sam Flarida and TR Gunna Dream scored a 226 to win the Level 3 and Level 2 Open Derby, taking home a total of $55,000. →
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he Flarida name has long been synonymous with reining excellence, and Sam Flarida and TR Gunna Dream are adding another chapter to that legacy. When Flarida took the reins of the 2021 palomino gelding at the beginning of the year, he quickly discovered a winning partnership. Just months later, the pair had captured their first two NRHA Derby® titles together. Known as “Rolex,” the son of Magnum Chic Dream and Xtra Gunna Get Itdun was previously shown by Sam’s father, NRHA $8 Million Rider Shawn Flarida. Owned by Royal Wire Products Inc. of North Royalton, Ohio, and bred and nominated by Tamarack Ranch LLC of Alvarado, Texas, the talented gelding has continued to thrive with a new rider. Their partnership showed immediate promise. The duo made the NRBC Open Classic Level 4 Derby finals in their first trip to the show pen together, making the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel only their second competition together.
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“HE’S JUST GOT SUCH A LAID-BACK PERSONALITY, HE’S THE BEST-MINDED HORSE THERE IS.” For Flarida, part of Rolex’s appeal is his easygoing nature outside the arena. “He’s just got such a laid-back personality,” Flarida said. “He’s the best-minded horse there is,” Flarida said. “He’s a very lazy guy. He would rather sleep and walk around than do anything that’s fast, but he’s always willing. He doesn’t ever say no. His favorite thing is stopping, he loves to run down there and stop.” Flarida lives in Springfield, Ohio, so adjusting to the warmer weather in Oklahoma was a priority. That means training at home to take it easy at the show. “This trip, we felt we were ready when we got to the horse show, so that I could ride him softly, keep his energy level up so the horses didn’t get too hot and grumpy at the horse show,” Flarida said. Flarida’s strategy was to not overdo anything, stay out of the penalty box, and be calm and collected, sailing through each maneuver. He showed two horses in the Derby—the other was Spooks Gotta Homerun (Spooks Gotta Whix a A Ruf Mistress) owned by nominator Tracy Cole and bred by Larry Weihing, with whom he won the Level 2 and Level 3 go-round, and made the Level 4 finals. Rolex had a few bobbles in the go-round that kept him out of the Level 4 finals, but Flarida
Like Father, Like Son
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knew he was ready for the Level 2 and 3 finals. He only needed to ride him for about 20 minutes before he felt they were ready. “I knew Pattern 9 would fit him well, loping off into the small, slow [circle] there,” Flarida said. “After we got through our second lead change, it was off to the races for us because he always stops huge. I knew once we got around the ends, we’d have three really big stops, and that’s the best part.” Flarida scored a 226, enough for the win, and to add $55,000 to the horse’s $53,104 lifetime earnings. “It was a dream come true, really,” he said. The whole Derby was for me. I didn’t anticipate winning. I was hoping that I’d have a shot, but when you go and end up winning, it’s always a little bit of a surprise. When everything’s over, and you see yourself at the top of the leaderboards, it’s just like ‘holy cow, we just won.’” Making the Level 4 finals with Spooks Gotta Homerun alongside his father was extra special and felt like a huge accomplishment, Flarida said. Flarida thanked his family and cheering squad, and his girlfriend, Peyton Durst. “She keeps my head on straight, she keeps me level,” he said. “I just want to thank all of those people for everything they do for me. They mean the world to me.” ■
Sam Flarida turned in a big day, securing multiple Open Derby titles in the 2026 NRHA Derby®, but he and Spooks Gotta Homerun also qualified for the Open Derby L4 finals. A familiar name joined in the L4 finals: His dad. Shawn Flarida (who took home the Open Derby Prime Time title this year).
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In the Zone Wyatt Deary’s first Open Derby landed him the Level 1 title aboard Danger Zone By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry and the NRHA Wyatt Deary and Danger Zone won the Level 1 Open Derby with a 222. ↓
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t just 20 years old, Wyatt Deary is proving he’s ready for the next chapter of his career. After turning in his Non Pro card on January 1 to begin the NRHA Apprentice Program, Deary wasted no time making an impact in the Open ranks. At the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel, he earned the Level 1 Open Derby Championship aboard Danger Zone, marking his first Derby appearance as an Open competitor. Known as “G Force,” the 2022 sorrel stallion (Americasnexttopgun x Dainty Little Step), owned by Jody Puno and Puno Performance Horses of Weatherford, Texas, was
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bred and nominated by Brooke Wharton of Fort Worth, Texas. Deary and G Force first teamed up last fall, and the young horseman went right to work developing a partnership with the stallion. As an apprentice under his father, NRHA $6 Million Rider Casey Deary, Wyatt leaned on the experience of the team around him. “I asked everyone [at Casey Deary’s barn] for help on getting this horse turning and stopping better,” the younger Deary said. “David Moore helped me every chance he could when my dad was not helping me. They both helped me a ton. This horse was a great learning experience for me.”
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6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel Building G Force’s confidence has remained a priority for Deary, and that mindset carried into the Derby. Rather than overcorrecting, he focused on maintaining the partnership they had built and allowing G Force to showcase the work they’d already put in. “If he’s worried about me, or worried about his environment, it just doesn’t work out well,” he said. “Every ride, I’ll correct him soft, show him exactly where to go. Physically, I’m expecting high-caliber maneuvers, but mind-wise, the way I’m riding him, I treat him like a two-year-old.” Deary made the Open finals with G Force at the NRBC, but learned he’d over-prepared for the show pen. “My mindset for the go-round of the Derby was I wanted to have him a little fresher, and I was thinking he would fire harder for me, but I ended up having him way too f resh,” Deary said. G Force was good on the pattern, but had a few errors because he got distracted in the show pen. “I can’t get onto him for getting distracted, I’ve just got to keep his mind focused, and keep him wanting to go to work,” Deary said. “So that
kept me f rom making the L2 or possibly the L3 finals. But I knew what I needed to work on for the rest of the week.” He adjusted his warmup for the finals, getting his mind ready while staying fresh physically— which he admitted was challenging. By the finals, they were ready. He entered the pen focused on executing a smooth, mistake-free run, but walked away with far more than he had hoped for. “When I ran in, he ran hard for me. I asked him to stop, and he said ‘yes sir.’ And he fired for me the whole way through our run, and he was very good for me. He ended up giving me the best run yet. I was very happy with him.” Their score of 222 was the highest Deary had marked on him, nabbing the Level 1 title and $10,000 cash. “It feels amazing, I’ve worked very hard for it,” Deary said. “I’ve worked with him, I did the best I could with him, and it paid off. Thank you to Jody Puno for picking me for this opportunity, and thanks to Mom and Dad for always supporting me, pushing me and making me the best version of myself.” ■
Wyatt Deary and Danger Zone won the Open Derby Level 1 with a 222. →
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Cashing In Casey Deary defends his Chrome Cash title, this time taking the top spot with King Arthur II By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry King Arthur II and Casey Deary land the Open Chrome Cash title at the Derby, taking the stallion’s NRHA LTE to just under $175,000. ↓
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ome horses are special from the very beginning, and King Arthur II has been one of those projects for Casey Deary. The NRHA $6 Million Rider has been part of the 2021 sorrel stallion’s journey since day one, and that long-standing partnership continues to
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pay dividends. Most recently, Deary and “Arthur” captured the Open Chrome Cash Championship. Owned by Malson/Acrese/McLain of Weatherford, Texas, and bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, King Arthur II (Gunnatrashya x Shesouttayourleague) has been a horse Deary believed in from the start.
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“THERE’S PLENTY OF FIRE THERE, SO I JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE’S FOCUSED AND STEERING AND HEADED THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO.” “He’s been one of the projects that I’ve been excited about since he hit the ground,” Deary said. Although an injury sidelined Arthur for four months during his 3-year-old year, the stallion returned to make a statement. He finished third in the Level 4 Open at the 2024 NRHA Futurity® and has remained a consistent finalist at every major event he has entered, accumulating $174,022 in NRHA lifetime earnings. Arthur packs a lot of personality, according to Deary. “I don’t want to say he’s mischievous, but he’s always aware of his surroundings,” he said. “He’s the kind of horse that will nudge you and nibble at you once in a while. He’s not a little kids’ horse, but he’s a lot of fun because he’s a super talented athlete.” Deary’s plan for Arthur was to keep him dialed-in between the bridle reins for optimum steering. He doesn’t require a lot of extra miles, Deary added. “He’s a super good-minded horse, he doesn’t ever want any trouble,” he said. “He doesn’t really ever try to get ahead of me. There’s plenty of fire there, so I just have to make sure that he’s focused and steering and headed the direction we need to go.” With the goal of showing off his horse’s strengths, particularly in the turns and circles, Deary and Arthur hit the go-round. “We went to the middle, and he turned really well both ways,” Deary said. “He circled great both directions. Running and stopping, we were really good both times. On his really good lead, he checked me running down, and I sent him a
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little further than I had planned, but the stop still worked well, and his rollback was explosive, so it kept me on the positive side of the maneuver.” The stallion qualified in the Level 4 Open finals. In the finals, Deary’s goal was to start with a quiet, controlled run-in and settle into the pattern. Despite a slight rider error on the first stop, he and Arthur put together a strong overall performance. “I threw my body like I tell every one of my Non Pros not to do, and I wrecked my first maneuver myself, so we had a bit of ground to make up after the first maneuver,” Deary said. “The horse turned really well both directions, circled great and was pretty good running and stopping. I would have loved to have had him out in f ront of me a little bit, but I really called on him in the circles so I kind of felt like we were running out of gas.” Their 226 in the go-round captured the Chrome Cash title and added $3,703 to the stallion’s earnings. Deary won this same class last year, with Custom Dreams (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunna Be Custom) owned by Custom Dreams Brazil, bred and nominated by Devin Warren. Chrome Cash is a division that runs concurrently with the derby go-round. Competitors who are riding APHA registered horses are eligible to enter the incentive. The American Paint Horse Association backs the program for both the Open and Non Pro Derby divisions. “It’s always nice to have that extra money to run at,” Deary said. “And anytime we can open the door for more horses to come to the event, I’m all in favor of that.” ■
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Finding his Stride Kaci O’Rourke and Gunnabegreatagain top the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry
↑ Gunnabegreatagain and Kaci O’Rourke won the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes Level 4 with a 225.5 to take home $32,554.
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fter navigating a few twists and turns throughout his young career, Gunnabegreatagain has found his stride. With Kaci O’Rourke aboard, the 2022 sorrel stallion (Gunnatrashya x Jills Remedy), owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan of Ocala, Florida, is proving he has all the pieces to be a great one. Bred and nominated by Samantha Tully of
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Sulphur Springs, Texas, “Erik” has been part of O’Rourke and her husband Jack Daniel’s Pond Hill Performance Horses program since the fall of his yearling year, when the couple selected him as a prospect. Despite his growing success in the show pen, Erik’s personality remains the same. O’Rourke describes him as kind and goofy on the ground, but all business once he’s under saddle.
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“ANY TIME YOU CAN GO TO A SHOW LIKE THE DERBY AND COME OUT IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE IN ANY OF THE CLASSES, I THINK IT’S A REALLY BIG DEAL. YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT THE BEST OF THE BEST COMPETING THERE.” The stallion made the Level 4 Open finals at the 2025 NRHA Futurity®, where he earned $25,000, and also qualified for the All American Quarter Horse Congress Level 4 Open Futurity finals but scratched from the finals when the horse was feeling a little under the weather. “He’s been a really, really consistent horse,” O’Rourke said. “We’ve always thought he was capable of being right up there in the major events.” NRHA $1 Million Rider O’Rourke’s plan was to execute a clean run with no penalties. “I knew if I did that, and I was pretty clean and smooth, that he has enough maneuvers to be able to end up winning a really good check,” O’Rourke said. Before his run, Erik warmed up well - quiet and calm, responsive and ready to work. “He walked in really nice and quiet,” O’Rourke said. “I got turned clean, which was my goal. That horse, if you go for a 1/2, he gives you a 1. So I tried to be soft and smooth with him, and he got turned really nice.” The stallion stayed honest and had good cirlces and slowdowns. O’Rourke said Erik is a big
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stopper, so being fifth on the dirt, she looked for good ground. “He let me put him exactly where I wanted to—I noticed on my first stop a really narrow patch of ground, and he let me put him right where I needed to put him,” she said. Their score was a 225.5, but they didn’t know if their score would hold until the last set of horses in Sunday’s go-round. It was an anxious stretch, but the prize of $32,554 made it worth the wait. “It was a really good feeling to know that he ended up on top,” O’Rourke said. “Any time you can go to a show like the Derby and come out in the winner’s circle in any of the classes, I think it’s a really big deal. You’re talking about the best of the best competing there.” The win was especially meaningful on Erik, who hadn’t had as much success in his earlier showing career. “That horse is one that I always felt pretty strongly about, I always thought he was a really big-time horse, and he just seemed to have bad luck wherever we went,” O’Rourke said. “I’m just very happy for him to be seen as the horse that I always knew he was.” ■
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Three for One Edouard Winne and Snow Cone win Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes L1 and tie for the top spot in L2 and L3 By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Edouard Winne and Snow Cone scored a 221.5 to win the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-year-Old Stakes Level 1, tying for Level 2 and Level 3, taking home $20,623. ↓
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douard Winne’s mount Snow Cone (Electric Snow x Whizicle) was green to the show pen, but the 2022 stallion’s performance was pure gold, taking home the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes Level 1 title, and tying for Level 2 and Level 3, with a combined paycheck of $20,623. Winne’s partnership with “Leon” began in January. Owned, bred and nominated by Equine Plus of Basile Le Grand, Quebec, the stallion was
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started by Mathieu Buton as a 2- and 3-year-old but saw limited time in the show pen during his 3-year-old season. That winter, Leon was sent to Casey Deary for training, and with Winne working as Deary’s assistant trainer, the two were quickly paired together. “He’s pretty going around, he has a natural style,” Winne said. “He’s a huge stopper—I’d say the stop is definitely his biggest maneuver. He runs really well, he turns great too. He’s very, very
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“I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE THE LAST TIME I SHOWED THAT HORSE, SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OUT THERE AND PERFORM THE BEST I CAN, AND THE BEST WAY THE HORSE CAN, TO MAKE THE OWNER HAPPY.”
talented.” The pair had only a handful of shows together before the 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel, beginning with the Tulsa Ride & Slide, where Winne had the opportunity to get to know the stallion in the show pen. They continued to build confidence at the NRBC, where Snow Cone finished as the Level 1 Open Classic Reserve Champion. “Every time I got to the show pen, he just got better and more locked in,” Winne said. “So I just kept going, and putting the parts together at home.” At home, Leon continued to gain confidence, becoming more comfortable with the maneuvers and giving Winne the confidence he needed heading into the Derby. Once they arrived to Oklahoma City, Winne stayed true to their preparation, relying on the same approach and routine that had worked for them at home. “He had a little bit of a hard time at first getting used to the ground,” Winne said. “It took him a couple days to get used to it.” By the time they went into the go-round, the pair was ready. “He showed up in there,” Winne said. “He stopped really well. He turned well. He circled well. He was just really locked in.” After they scored a 221.5, Winne knew they’d
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won the Level 1 4-Year-Old Stakes, but had to wait to see how the rest of the class shook out for Level 2 and Level 3. Mathieu Buton was in the last set on the last section of the go-round, on the last day, and he ended up tying for Level 2 and Level 3 4-Year-Old Stakes with Winne. “Winning that [Stakes] class—there’s a lot of money in there, which was really cool,” Winne said. “It was great to win the Level 1, 2, and 3. I’m grateful for all the sponsors, like Tamarack Ranch, that put money in there because we made big checks there.” Winne was thrilled to also make the Level 4 Open finals for the first time with the stallion. After the show, he began working for ThorSport Ranch in Aubrey, meaning his partnership with Leon is now over, but he’s thankful for his time with the Dearys, to Leon’s owners - Equine Plus, as for the support of this girlfriend, Taylor Gazga. “Making the Level 4 was very, very special for me,” Winne said. “My girlfriend Taylor told me, ‘You know the horse, you just go in there and do your thing.’ I knew it was going to be the last time I showed that horse, so I just wanted to go out there and perform the best I can, and the best way the horse can, to make the owner happy, without running the wheels off. I was just very happy with the way he was.” ■
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Rise of Raya Mathieu Buton guided Raya Whiz to tie for first in Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes L2 and L3 By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Mathieu Buton and home-raised Raya Whiz were co-champions for the Level 2 and Level 3 Tamarack Ranch Open, taking home a combined $15,612. ↓
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ome horses take the fast track to the show pen. Raya Whiz took the scenic route. Raised by Angela Buton, of Valley View, Texas the 2022 mare (Pale Face Dunnit x Ms Mercedes Whiz) didn’t make her show debut until this year after injury sidelined her for her entire 3-year-old season. Buton and his wife, Angela, own,
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bred and nominated Raya Whiz’s dam, Ms Mercedes Whiz (Cromed Out Mercedes x Ms Hollywood Whiz), and originally planned to keep the mare as her eventual replacement in the broodmare band. But before she begins her career as a producer, Raya Whiz is getting the opportunity to write a show record of her own.
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“SHE’S MINE, IF SHE’S GREAT, THAT’S WONDERFUL. IF SHE’S NOT, NO BIG DEAL. AT LEAST I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO WORK ON. AND SHE ENDED UP BEING VERY GOOD FOR WHERE SHE’S AT.” “I always loved her—she was one of my favorite ones to ride,” Buton said. After focusing on the mare’s recovery and only beginning maneuvers about 40 days before the competition, the 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel marked Buton’s first time showing Raya Whiz. To get a feel for the mare, he first entered the Novice Horse class. “She’s still green in some spots,” Buton said. “But I own her. I told myself I was just going to put her in the 4-Year-Old Stakes. No pressure. And see what she wants to do out there.” Owning the mare gave the Buton family freedom to tailor her program progress at her own pace. “She’s mine, if she’s great, that’s wonderful,” Buton said. “If she’s not, no big deal. At least I know what I need to work on. And she ended up being very good for where she’s at.” The mare is a good mover—naturally lowheaded, she carries herself flat and stays with him in a pattern, he said. She walked into the arena quiet and locked in with Buton from the start. “I asked her to turnaround and I felt like she turned +1/2 both ways, and I nailed my shut off,” he said. “Right away I felt like she was hooked up with me. Her circles were really good, lead change really good. She’s still a little green about running and stopping one-handed because she’s not completely
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confident yet. I just try to help her out a bit more in the show pen to stay between my hand and my leg. But she tries her best, ran down really well and every time you say ‘whoa’ she really gives it her all.” The pair scored a 221.5, which ultimately garnered a combined $15,612 for tying for first place in Level 2 and Level 3 Open 4-Year-Old Stakes. “She was with me the whole time, she did not disappoint me,” Buton said. “She showed me she wants to be a show horse, so I was very happy with her.” Buton regrets not entering her in Level 4. “She would have made the Level 4, if I had entered her in that,” he said. “I was a bit sad about that, but very happy to know that she can do it. I’ve always believed in her.” Buton is good friends with co-champion Eduardo Winne, and had a hand in the training of Winne’s horse Snow Cone, so he was happy to share the win. The Derby was especially rewarding for Buton, whose three finalist entries were all homebred daughters of the same dam, Ms Mercedes Whiz. Together, their performances earned nearly $30,000 in prize money. “It’s always nice as a breeder when you get to raise them, train them, and go show them, and be successful—I’m very blessed with that,” Buton said. ■
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Fit for a King Shawn Flarida wins Open Prime Time Derby with Vintage Royaltee By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Shawn Flarida and Vintage Royaltee topped the Open Prime Time with a 224, to take home $2,124. ↓
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RHA $8 Million Rider Shawn Flarida knows that building a successful partnership takes more than talent—it takes trust. After teaming up with 2022 bay stallion Vintage Royaltee (A Vintage Smoke x Snips Shining Gun) following the NRBC in late April, Flarida spent the weeks leading up to the Derby developing the horse’s confidence and fine-
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tuning their connection. By the time they entered the arena in Oklahoma City, “Tucker” was ready to shine, and the pair was rewarded with the Open Prime Time Derby championship. “I hooked up with him super well—he fits me,” Flarida said. “He’s a super kind horse, and I really enjoy training him.”
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“THIS SPORT IS SO TOUGH, AND ANYTIME YOU’RE UP AGAINST THAT MANY HORSES, THE COMPETITION IS DEEP. IT’S REALLY HARD TO GET TO THE FINALS AND WIN CLASSES. ANYTIME A HORSE HAS SOME ACCOLADES, AND IS SUCCESSFUL, IT’S VERY SATISFYING.” Tucker was bred and nominated by Hilldale Farm of Brashear, Texas, and he’s owned by Broken Board Farms of Wake Forest, North Carolina. Flarida spent time developing Tucker’s confidence in the show pen while making a few adjustments to his maneuvers. “I did a lot of paid warmups on him, a lot of schooling on him, got him to relax and trust me a bit,” Flarida said. “Getting his confidence up and trusting me was a big thing for him.” The pattern was a run in and their first stop was a good start for their go. “The turn to the right was good—we didn’t have any penalties,” Flarida said. “He got turned to the left, circled really cool, changed leads, and he was quiet. Maybe ran out of gas a bit on my second and third stops.” Flarida had to wait to see how their score of 224 fared. But he wasn’t worried. “I knew my horse was good,” Flarida said. “I knew he’d given me his all, and it was just a matter of sitting it out and seeing where we all ended up.”
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When the dust settled, they were 15th in the Level 4 Open finals, winning $7,435; won the Prime Time class with $2,124; and finished third in the Level 4 Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes for $12,975. Flarida said the owners were delighted with the win. “It’s really nice for the horse,” Flarida said. “It was really fun to watch the owners be excited and have success. This sport is so tough, and anytime you’re up against that many horses, the competition is deep. It’s really hard to get to the finals and win classes. Anytime a horse has some accolades, and is successful, it’s very satisfying.” It was extra special for Flarida to make the finals with his son, Sam, who won the Level 2 and 3 Open and also made the Level 4 finals, marking the first time the Flarida duo made the Level 4 Finals at the NRHA Derby® together. “To make the finals for a father and son in that deep a field, it’s quite an honor,” Flarida said. “It was extraordinary. I was so proud of him. He did a remarkable job.” ■
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Going Grillo Walla Deja Cricket and Fernando Salgado take the top spot in the Open Novice Horse Derby By Abigail Boatwright | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Walla Deja Cricket, owned by Rancho Los Palominos, returned to competition with Fernando Salgado after the rider was sidelined for six month with a broken leg. ↓
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ome horses are special from the very beginning. For NRHA $Two Million Rider Fernando Salgado, Walla Deja Cricket (Walla Walla Whiz x Gunners Deja Girl) is one of them. Salgado’s connection to the 2022 buckskin stallion runs deeper than the show pen. He helped Pedro Hernandez of Rancho Los Palominos in Jalisco, Mexico, purchase the mare Gunners
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Deja Girl, (Gunner x Dun Its Deja Vu) bred and nominated by McQuay Stables Inc. trained and showed her, and recommended breeding her to Walla Walla Whiz. The result was Walla Deja Cricket—affectionately known as “Grillo,” the Portuguese word for “cricket”—who rewarded that vision by capturing the Open Novice Horse Derby Championship.
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“I KEPT HIM AS FRESH AS I COULD, AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO SHOW, I JUST PULLED THE TRIGGER AND HE WAS THERE FOR ME,” Grillo’s path to the Derby wasn’t a typical one. After Salgado suffered a broken leg in an accident that sidelined him for six months, he was unable to prepare the young stallion for last year’s NRHA Futurity®. As a result, Grillo remained novice horse eligible, making his Derby victory all the more rewarding. “This year, he’s really been amazing for me,” Salgado said. The pair scored a 221.5 and won second in the Novice Horse class at the NRBC as well as winning the Level 4 Open Derby at the Best Little Derby of the West with a 225, just three weeks before the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel. “He’s been very consistent, I’m very excited for future shows with him,” Salgado said. Grillo is what Salgado calls a “dream Non Pro horse” because he’s so laidback. “He doesn’t need a lot of riding,” Salgado said. “You can give him some days off, and he comes back the same, or even better. Before I show him, I just wake him up a little bit and go in. He’s really easy to show—you really just point and shoot.” To have Grillo at his best for the Derby, Salgado gave the young stallion time away from training, allowing him to recharge mentally and return eager to work. “I kept him as fresh as I could, and when it was time to show, I just pulled the trigger and he was
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there for me,” Salgado said. With the horse being so laidback, Salgado wishes he had woken him up a little more before he showed, as he felt his turns were just “OK,” but the pattern improved from there. “From then on, it was a lot of fun,” Salgado said. “I loped off, and the circles were just me putting my hand down and going. I was just driving him. He circled really hard and stopped really big. The stops and the circles were where we got our points.” Their score of 222.5 landed them first place, and $6,116. With his money earned, this was the last time he was eligible to show in a Novice Horse class. Grillo also placed eighth in the Level 4 Open 4-YearOld Stakes, taking home $7,077. “This horse is a perfect example for what the [Novice Horse] class is important for,” Salgado said. “If I only had the Derby to show him, he’s still not that strong, but that class makes sense for a horse to win good money, and have a good experience, and build on it.” Salgado is pleased with the horse and his progress and sees a bright future for Walla Deja Cricket. “It’s not easy to do that good of a run on a horse that pretty much missed his three-year-old year,” he said. “It is extra special that he won that class at the Derby. It’s really nice when we make a plan, and you are actually able to accomplish it.” ■
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Carrying the Fire Fernando Salgado honors his late brother’s legacy through reining
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pooks Gotta Win is a significant horse for Fernando Salgado, and this year was final chance at the NRHA Derby®. Trained by the Salgado family of Gainesville, Texas, he was the last horse Fernando’s brother, Eduardo worked with. The 2019 buckskin stallion (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Meradas Shining) was his own personal horse. But Eduardo had throat cancer, and when he needed surgery, he asked Fernando to keep riding him, knowing he’d love him. Soon after, Eduardo passed away. Fernando showed “Winner” his 3-year-old year. He won at some shows, and made the Level 4 Open Futurity finals on him, setting the stage for a run that would culminate at this year’s Level 4 Open Derby finals. “It was not easy,” Fernando said. “It was—still is—very emotional for all of us. Not only because he was Eduardo’s horse, but because he was the horse that Eduardo loved the most. He taught everything to that horse, and he was special.” Winner got hurt, and recovery took a long time. He had surgery, but the road back to the showpen was unclear. “I would not push that horse if he was not 100%,” Salgado said. “So we just let him be. We took care of him, and let him be a horse here at the ranch. I’m happy with that.”
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↑ Fernando Salgado shares an emotional moment following his finals run. Photo by NRHA.
Winner was turned out in a pasture for several years, where he gradually improved. This year, with the all clear from the vet, Fernando prepared to take him back to the show pen. “I got on him, and started doing maneuvers, and he not only felt sound, but he felt good, he felt broke,” Fernando said. “I’ve never had a horse that I have a four year break and he came back like that.” This being his last chance at the Derby, Fernando and Eduardo’s wife and kids discussed entering him. He did well at the Redbud Spectacular, and was ready for the Derby. “Mainly in the go-round, it was very emotional for me, having Eduardo’s kids and Eduardo’s wife there,” Fernando said. “That horse means so much to us, that I think I could have shown him better. But I was so emotional, he pretty much did the pattern on his own, and it was good enough to make the finals.” In the finals, Winner scored a 227—an excellent score by any measure, but in an incredibly high-scoring Derby finals, they placed 9th. It was a great way to kick off Winner’s comeback. Fernando hopes to take him to The Run For A Million. “We’ll see what the future holds for him,” Fernando said. “Either way, he’s part of our family. He’s going to stay with us forever. I’m just so happy to be able to do that, mainly for Eduardo’s family and his kids.” ■
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25 Years of Impact Just the Beginning
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6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel
Hat Trick Gina-Maria Schumacher riding Take Out The Trash to her third career Level 4 Non Pro Derby victory By Blanche Schaefer | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry
Gina-Maria Schumacher rides Take Out The Trash. ↓
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ith a score of 224.5, Gina-Maria Schumacher rode Take Out The Trash (Gunnatrashya x This Chicsdundreamin) to the Level 4 Non Pro Derby and Non Pro Chrome Cash championships—taking home more than $50,000. The win marked Schumacher’s third career Level 4 Non Pro Derby victory—she claimed the coveted title in 2023 on CS Sailing Gun (Gunners Enterprise x La Bigia Sailor) owned by Vicki Sandvig, bred by
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Chanay Sky Management SA and nominated by CS Ranch Management SA and then shared a cochampionship on Gunin Addy Tude (Gunnatrashya x Miss Lil Addy Tude) owned by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, bred and nominated by Toyon Ranch LLC in 2024 with Kim Muehlstaetter. She is also the 2025 NRHA Level 4 Non Pro Futurity Champion on CS Sailor Made (Snip O Lution x La Bigia Sailor) owned, bred and nominated by CS Ranch LLC, among a long list of accomplishments.
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“WINNING NEVER GETS OLD. EVERY TIME IT’S A REMINDER TO MYSELF THAT I STILL GOT IT; I CAN STILL KEEP UP. ESPECIALLY AT ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOWS THERE IS, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH SO MANY GREAT RIDERS AND HORSES IS VERY SPECIAL.” A rider with more than two million dollars in NRHA LTE, Schumacher said this win stands out because of the magnitude of competition at the NRHA Derby®. It also represents a milestone for her and the program at her family’s CS Ranch following the exit of NRHA $2 Million Rider Duane Latimer. “It’s been extra special in every way, because Duane isn’t there anymore, and I had a setback at the National Reining Breeders Classic mentally, so it was really good for me to go there and do this on my own. I didn’t sleep at all that night [I won the Derby]. I just laid in bed and couldn’t sleep; that’s how excited I was,” Schumacher said. “Winning never gets old. Every time it’s a reminder to myself that I still got it; I can still keep up. Especially at one of the biggest shows there is, to be able to keep up with so many great riders and horses is very special.” “Valentino” showed for the first time as a 4-year-old after some bad luck as a 3-year-old, Schumacher explained. He was a winner early on, tying with Lane Colston for the $75,000 victory in the 100X Cowtown Classic Non Pro Stakes in May of 2024. He was only shown a few times and then battled muscle soreness in his back throughout 2025, so Schumacher gave him some time off to recover. By this spring, he was ready for the NRBC.
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The 2020 gelding came to the Schumachers’ Gordonville, Texas-based program by way of his breeder Judy Box. By leading sire Gunnatrashya and out of This Chicsdundreamin, a producer of more than one million dollars, he was bred to achieve big things in the show pen. At the 2026 NRHA Derby®, Schumacher and Valentino marked an effortless 221 for second in the go-round to make it back to the finals. Despite an under-turn in their finals go, their score of 224.5 claimed the Level 4 Non Pro Derby and Chrome Cash titles for Schumacher and CS Ranch. “The go-round was very easy for him. He has so much talent, and it’s effortless for him. In the finals, he felt more awake, like he knew something was going on and that it was more special than the go-round. There was more cheering, and I was probably more tense than I was in the goround,” Schumacher admitted. “I under-turned, and he was just following what I wanted him to do. Anything that didn’t work out, I’m to blame. That horse, even though we under-turned, that he was still able to win it was incredible.” Schumacher humbly thanked her family, friends, and entire team at CS Ranch for all they do to keep the program running. ■
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The Best Ever Behind Andrea Fappani’s record-breaking 236 score in the L4 Open Derby finals NRHA Ten Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani celebrates after securing the highest score in the history of the NRHA Derby®. Photo courtesy of NRHA. →
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hile he knew he’d be close to Dany Tremblay’s 232 score, and perhaps had the score to win, Andrea Fappani did not realize he’d mark a 236, the highest NRHA Derby® score of all time with Alpha Viking in the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel L4 Open finals. “In your head, you could try to keep count of the score just to see if you need to push more or less toward the end of the pattern,” Fappani said. “I was keeping track, I knew we were going to have a couple +1½ probably in the circles and one of the turns, which the judges all agreed on. I tried to stay really good in the last maneuvers, but I had no idea it was going to be that high.” This is the second time Fappani has won the Level 4 Open Derby—the last was in 2011 with Tinker with Guns (Gunner x Tinker Nic) owned at the time by breeder, Rancho Oso Rio LLC. He scored a 236.5 at the 2007 NRBC with Custom Legend (Custom Crome x Dry Doc Bobbie) owned by Steven Simon, the highest-ever score in NRHA competition.
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“To be able to mark a 236.5 and come back 19 years later and mark a 236 is pretty cool, it’s a great feeling,” Fappani said. “So many people told me they felt they were lucky to witness it with their own eyes, and it has made them even more passionate about the sport,” Fappani said. “People reached out who don’t own a reining horse, and after watching that type of run, they want to get into the sport and try it out. I think it helps the whole industry to have these types of runs, because it gets everybody excited about the sport.” ■
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Sparks Flying Tristan Bagby and Spark N Inferno win Level 3 Non Pro Derby Championship and L4 reserve championship after also topping the preliminary round By Blanche Schaefer | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Tristan Bagby and Spark N Inferno. ↓
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ristan Bagby and her homegrown stallion Spark N Inferno (Inferno Sixty Six x Shiner Light) dominated the Non Pro Derby, marking a 223.5 in the finals to win the Level 3 championship for $20,000 and tie for the Level 4 reserve championship (alongside Mandy McCutcheon
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and Stoppingforstarbucks) for $17,486. The duo also topped the preliminary round with a 222. The stallion, owned, bred, and nominated by Bagby’s grandmother - Teresa Wynn, rewarded Bagby with a memorable finish to his Derby career.
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“HE’S ALWAYS BEEN INCREDIBLE IN THE FINALS, AND HIS SCORES HAVE BEEN GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR IN THE FINALS. THIS YEAR, I FINALLY GOT IT ALL PUT TOGETHER. HE WAS INCREDIBLE. I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE FINALLY SEES HOW SPECIAL HE IS.” “It was literally a dream come true. Something like the Derby with that horse is something we’ve been working toward forever. I made the Level 4 finals on him two years ago, and last year we had a bobble and made the Level 3 finals,” Bagby said. “He’s always been incredible in the finals, and his scores have been getting better every year. This year, I finally got it all put together. He was incredible. I feel like everyone finally sees how special he is. We’ve known it all along, but now everybody else sees that too.” “I remember the day he was born, so it’s special and full circle, winning on him now. I’ve pretty much been a part of his whole life, his whole training career,” the Benton, Kentucky, resident said. She says knowing Jagger so well has contributed greatly to their success together, as well as his good mind and easy preparation for the show pen. Prior to the 2026 Derby win, the stallion had excess of $66,000 in NRHA LTE, predominantly with Bagby and her fiancé and trainer Jack Berggren. “I know everything about him, so riding and training him is fun. He’s so good-minded. It’s been a very rewarding process,” she said. “We ride him a few days a week, and he gets turned out the other days. He knows his job and doesn’t take a whole lot of prepping. Just exercising,
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doing maneuvers once or twice a week.” Bagby graduated f rom Oklahoma State University this year, where she was an athlete on the equestrian team, and is now working as a medical assistant in dermatology and applying for PA school. She says Jagger and Jack are a blessing—allowing her to compete at a high level while balancing horses, school, and a career. “I don’t have a whole lot of time to ride, but that horse makes it easy. Jack always has him prepared so well. I can just hop on and ride him a couple days, and then he’s ready,” she said. “I thank Jack for having him prepared, my grandparents who actually own the horse for letting me show him, my parents, and our whole barn family and team who made it all possible.” She is especially thankful to showcase her horse on a big stage and show the rest of the world how special she knows he’s been all along. “There was always a little something in every run that kept him from being at the top, but this year we finally got it all put together, which was special since it’s his last derby,” Bagby said. “When it was finalized, it was surreal. It took a couple days to settle in. It’s still not fully settled in yet, because it’s such a dream I’ve been working toward for so long. Jack and I have been working so hard on that horse, and for it to finally come together was incredible.” ■
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Bigger Than a Win Lilly Walters earns emotional Level 2 Non Pro Derby Championship aboard Gunna Prosper By Blanche Schaefer | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Lilly Walters and Gunna Prosper. ↓
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illy Walters rode Gunna Prosper into the show pen for the finals at the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel with a determination that stretched far beyond her own ambition: The 15-year-old didn’t want this win for herself, but for her father Shane Walters. “My dad got sick about two years ago, and he wasn’t able to make this show. I came in more aggressive this show, because I didn’t want to win just for me anymore. I wanted to win for him,” Lilly said. “This show was very emotional for everyone. My
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parents [Shane and Kalicia Walters] weren’t able to be there, and I kept telling myself before I ran that I’m not riding for me anymore. I’m riding for my dad.” The Walters family owns NRHA Partner Diamond Dub Quarter Horses in Marietta, Oklahoma, out of which NRHA Professionals Fred and Dany Tremblay of Tremblay Reining Horses work and train. Lilly was especially thankful for Dany’s coaching that helped lead her to a score of 218 in the finals to win the Level 2 Non Pro Derby for $15,000 and finish fourth in the Level 3 for $8,854.
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“I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH MY RUN—IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FUN RUNS I’VE EVER HAD. MY HORSE STAYED WITH ME THE ENTIRE RUN. HE STAYED HONEST AND RESPONSIVE. WE EXECUTED THE PATTERN VERY GOOD, JUST THE WAY WE PRACTICE AT HOME, AND I’M VERY PROUD OF OUR CONFIDENCE AND PARTNERSHIP THAT WE SHOWED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.” “I ride with Dany and their team, and we love each other like family. Dany is so goofy and helps so much whenever you need it,” Lilly said of Tremblay, who is approaching NRHA $2 Million Rider status and finished reserve champion in the Level 4 Open Derby. “He knows exactly what you need as soon as you ask for help. His program is just really good and efficient.” Lilly and her family acquired her 2020 gelding Gunna Prosper (Gunnatrashya x Whizen Starlight), bred by George King, nominated by Jackson Porath, through Cooper Smith about a year ago. She took a more relaxed approach to the gelding’s preparation for the NRHA Derby®, and it paid off. “He’s been the best horse I think I’ve ever had. He is so goofy but so good in the show pen and athletic,” Lilly said. “We prepared by staying very consistent with our rides, going out of the arena, just walking around outside by the ponds, and taking it easy and slow. He is so athletic and knows his job, so we just focused on keeping his
mind right. I trusted the work we put in while we were at home and made sure my horse and I were both ready when we entered the show.” After a score of 215.5 in the qualifying round to make the finals, Lilly was especially proud of her second run in the finals that earned a memorable—and emotional—championship for the Walters family. “I was really happy with my run—it was one of the most fun runs I’ve ever had. My horse stayed with me the entire run. He stayed honest and responsive. We executed the pattern very good, just the way we practice at home, and I’m very proud of our confidence and partnership that we showed every step of the way,” Lilly said. “I wouldn’t be able to achieve this accomplishment without Dany and Fred and their assistant trainer Jeff [Touroute]. They helped out so much through everything. I thank everyone at the Tremblay reining program. They really stepped in when my parents weren’t able to be there. We all became a family so fast.” ■
Editor's Note: The NRHA and 614 Media Group extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Shane Walters, a longtime NRHA member and owner of NRHA Partner Diamond Dub at the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales.
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AUGUST 2026
On July 1, 2025, JBJ reached a significant milestone with the
achievement further reflects the lasting impact of her pedigree
official opening of JBJ Ranch USA in Pilot Point, Texas, expanding
and her contribution to the future of the sport.
its presence into the heart of the world’s premier American Quarter Horse industry. Throughout its first year, JBJ Ranch USA
Another major milestone came from Americasnexttopgun
established a strong foundation in the United States, bringing
(Maverick), whose influence was on full display at the NRHA
together tradition, excellence, and a steadfast commitment to
Futurity. With 19 offspring entries at the NRHA Futurity, Maverick
investing in elite reining bloodlines.
had 11 semifinalists, further proving his ability to consistently sire elite performers. The highlight came with Maverickbuzzthetower,
One of the year’s greatest highlights came at the NRHA Futurity,
ridden by Casey Deary, who delivered an outstanding performance
the sport’s most prestigious event, where the exceptional
to earn the title of Reserve Co-Champion Level 4 Open at the
broodmare Stop Little Sister was recognized as an NRHA Million
2025 NRHA Futurity. These results further reinforce Maverick’s
Dollar Dam—an honor reserved for mares whose offspring have
reputation as one of the industry’s leading reining sires and
surpassed $1 million in NRHA lifetime earnings. This remarkable
highlight the exceptional consistency and strength of his bloodlines.
Another memorable moment was the JBJ Ranch USA Open House,
standards of excellence in the reining industry.
which welcomed clients, partners, and friends to experience the ranch, its facilities, breeding program, and long-term vision. The
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without
event strengthened relationships, fostered new opportunities,
the dedication of an outstanding team whose professionalism,
and further established the JBJ brand within the North American
passion, and unwavering commitment transform hard work into
Quarter Horse community. JBJ also reinforced its commitment to
results every day. This first year marks only the beginning of a
the future of elite reining genetics by joining the ownership group
journey built on vision, innovation, and excellence. With strong
of Inferno Sixty Six, one of the most influential and sought-after
roots and an unwavering focus on the future, JBJ Ranch USA
stallions in the American Quarter Horse industry. This strategic
continues to build its legacy while helping shape the future of
investment further strengthens JBJ’s world-class stallion roster
American Quarter Horse reining genetics around the world.
and reflects its continued commitment to advancing the highest
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Super Superman Jennifer Vannietvelt guides Krypttonite to Level 1 Non Pro Derby title By Blanche Schaefer | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Jennifer Vannietvelt rides Krypttonite. ↓
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ennifer Vannietvelt and her 4-year-old gelding Krypttonite (Gunners Special Nite x Genuinely Jo) had only been a team for about a month when they stepped into the show pen at the NRHA Derby®. After a score of 214 in the goround, they marked a 217.5 in the finals to win the Level 1 Non Pro Derby championship and $5,000. “I had a lot of fun getting him ready to show
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that week. Jack Daniels helps me and trained him, and my horse made it fun for me both times,” Vannietvelt said. “I wish I had pushed him a little harder in the first go. He was ready to go; I was just a little too soft showing. I knew what I needed to do in the second run, and he was really great for me again. I’ve had a lot of fun with him already, so I’m excited to keep showing him.”
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“IT’S REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO RIDE ONE FROM [JACK AND KACI’S] PROGRAM OUT OF A MARE THAT THEY LOVE AND BELIEVE IN. HE’S ONE OF HER FIRST FOALS, SO IT’S BEEN FUN ALL AROUND.” “Superman” was bred, nominated and trained by Jack Daniels and Kaci O’Rourke of Pond Hill Performance Horses. The couple thought the gelding might be a good fit for Vannietvelt, and their intuition proved to be correct. “Jack had a couple really good rides on him already and marked some good scores on him, so I tried him the week after [National Reining Breeders Classic] and loved him,” the Whitesboro, Texas, resident said. “I’ve been around Jack and Kaci for a couple years and always liked [Superman]. I’ve had a lot of fun with him.” Superman’s dam, Genuinely Jo (Lil Joe Cash x Peppy Chic Finale) owned by Pond Hill Performance Horses, bred and nominated by Janna Imrie, is another reason Vannietvelt was drawn to him. Genuinely Jo won more than $52,000 and has already started producing money earners. “Jack and Kaci still own his mother in partnership with Felix Garcia, and they bred, raised and trained Superman. It’s really cool to be able to ride one from their program out of a mare that they love and believe in. He’s one of her first foals, so it’s been fun all around,” Vannietvelt said. “They have several younger ones coming up out of her that look really nice, too. They have a
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great breeding program, so it’s been fun to see all the babies and siblings and getting to see the generations now.” Vannietvelt has been riding her entire life and competed on the Auburn University equestrian team. After college, she started a successful equine media and marketing business, Jen Vannietvelt Media, which she’s been operating for six years. She manages several trainers’ and stallions’ social media pages and also provides photography, horse sale photos and horse show coverage. “It’s a very rewarding job. It’s my dream job and keeps me in the industry, plus the freedom of owning my own business. It allows me to be very involved at all the horse shows and the freedom to be at the barn and still be a Non Pro,” she said. Vannietvelt thanked Daniels and O’Rourke for their support as coaches and friends. “My biggest shout-out is to Jack and Kaci. Jack works so hard for everybody. He helps every single one of us with our horses, prepares his own, and did a great job getting this horse ready for me. I have a lot of appreciation for him and everything he does to help each of us have a good horse show,” she said gratefully. ■
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Hail the Queen Tricia Leone and Alpha Queen earn second career Non Pro Derby Prime Time championship By Blanche Schaefer | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Tricia Leone on Alpha Queen. ↓
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onsistency has been Alpha Queen’s greatest quality for owner Tricia Leone. The 7-yearold mare and Leone demonstrated that dependability at the NRHA Derby® by marking a 218.5 in the go-round and a 219 in the finals to earn
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the Non Pro Derby Prime Time championship and $5,000. Leone accomplished her goal of showing more aggressively, and even with a few bobbles in each run, she was proud of her mare’s effort and try.
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“I FEEL REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE THIS HORSE. I DIDN’T KNOW IF I WOULD EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK IN [TO REINING]. I’D ALWAYS DREAMED OF HAVING A DERBY HORSE BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO DO THAT.” “In our go-round, my goal for myself was to be aggressive and focused, so I tried to really run to my stops. As a Non Pro, I’m trying to get comfortable to run hard to my stops. We had a really good run going, and in the last stop she stopped so hard she grabbed a front boot, so that unfortunately kept us out of level 4 finals, but we at least made first section of the finals. She was super honest and didn’t make any mistakes,” Leone explained. “In the finals, I ran her so hard in her circles and she was a little winded, so she took a couple trot steps coming out of a rollback. That hurt us, but I blame myself. The mare tried hard, and her card was marked really well.” Alpha Queen (Wimpy Chic x Chexanicki) bred and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses, LLC and Leone have been a team since Leone purchased the mare as a 4-year-old out of NRHA Professional Trent Harvey’s barn in Marietta, Oklahoma. She credits Harvey’s support and coaching for much of the success she’s had on “Shakira,” or “Kira” as she’s affectionately known. “I want to give a huge thank-you to Trent, because he lets me keep this horse at my house 100% of the time, and he has for three years and still coaches me, even though that’s crazy,” the Fowler, Colorado, resident said with a laugh. “Trent’s been such a blessing to me. He really knows the horse inside and out. He had her as a 3-year-old and showed her at the NRHA Futurity®, so he helped me transition to her. He also gives me space to let me make her mine. He’s a really good coach — patient, encouraging, doesn’t overpressure me. He lets me get the experience I need
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to keep making better decisions in the arena.” Leone’s husband, Dr. Rick Leone, DVM, works as a mixed animal veterinarian, and the couple also ranches, meaning Leone stays busy with bookkeeping and office work for their businesses. She took a break from reining for around 15 years to raise their family. Leone says jumping back into the sport when she got Shakira has been a remarkable experience. “I feel really blessed to have this horse. I didn’t know if I would ever get the opportunity to get back in [to reining]. I’d always dreamed of having a Derby horse but was never able to do that,” Leone said. “I purchased this horse wanting that. She’s made the finals at pretty much every major she’s been to.” The NRHA Derby® puts Shakira’s lifetime earnings over $70,000. The win also marked Leone and Shakira’s second Non Pro Derby Prime Time championship after the pair won the Prime Time and Level 1 titles in 2024. Last year, they finished as Level 3 Non Pro Reserve Champions at the Derby and won the Amateur at The Run For A Million. Leone can’t put a price on the value of her mare’s consistency. “She’s been super consistent, and to be in that winning lineup three years in a row at the Derby and make these finals time after time, she’s so reliable. She just likes to be a show horse,” she said graciously. She thanked her husband and family for their support and barn family for always cheering her on from the gate. ■
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Forty Years in the Making Greg Hall captured the first major reining championship of his 40-year career, winning the Masters Non Pro Derby aboard Dontletheblondfoolya By | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Greg Hall rides Dontletheblondfoolya. ↓
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or the past three years, Dontletheblondfoolya, bred and nominated by KR Smith, has been Mary Ann Hall’s horse. Purchased from Yonathan Baruch as a 4-year-old, the 2019 mare was intended to be Mary Ann’s Derby mount. This year, however, Greg Hall took the reins, piloting
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the mare to a 222 and the Masters Non Pro Derby championship. “She’s a point-and-shoot type of horse, and everything is simple for Mary Ann—it was a good match for her,” Hall said. “Mary Ann just liked the mare right f rom the start. She’s a good show
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“I GET BUSY CARING FOR THE RANCH AND AM MORE OF A HOMEBODY. BUT IT’S A REWARD WHEN YOU GO AND DO WELL AT A BIG SHOW LIKE THAT AND MAKES YOU WANT TO GO DO IT AGAIN.” horse, really, that’s probably her best quality— she goes out there and has just remarkable ring presence and she’s just a trooper in f ront of the judge. She doesn’t swish her tail or pin her ears, she’s just a good little mare.” While Mary Ann has enjoyed success with “Belle” (Pale Face Dunnit x Cinnabars Lil Whiz), Hall said the atmosphere of the Derby in Oklahoma City can test anyone’s confidence. “Sometimes my wife gets a little nervous in front of the big chairs. We all do,” he said. Hall showed the palomino mare, nicknamed “Belle,” at last year’s NRHA Derby® and hoped Mary Ann might take her back this season after the pair put together several successful runs. “She somehow talked me into it, and I went ahead and did it, and it worked out fine,” Hall recalled with a laugh. His first go wasn’t exactly what he had envisioned. A 214 qualified him for the finals, but Hall knew there was more in the tank. “I would say that I got in her way a little too much in the first go and we got into the penalty box,” Hall said. “I watched my run. I just got in her way, so it was all my fault. I took some things for granted—the mare wants to be good out there.” Armed with a better game plan for the finals, Hall trusted Belle’s strengths on Pattern 10, opening
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with one of the mare’s signature maneuvers. “For me, I’m guaranteed a plus half when there’s a stop and back because she can just rattle back and as long as she sticks her butt in the ground, which she usually does, and she gets the judge’s attention right off the bat,” he said. After competing in reining for nearly 40 years, the Masters Non Pro Derby title marked Hall’s first Derby championship. He and Mary Ann, who have been married for 30 years, live on a small ranch in Gainesville, Texas. “We have a couple foals every year,” he said. “I care for our horses in the morning, and then I shoe horses in the afternoon to pay for those horses. It’s an interesting business, but they get under your skin and you just stick with them, at least we do, anyhow.” Although Hall doesn’t compete often, he credits Mary Ann for keeping their show schedule active. “I don’t show a lot, I only hit two shows last year,” he said. “My wife really likes going—she’d go every weekend if she could. I get busy caring for the ranch and am more of a homebody. But it’s a reward when you go and do well at a big show like that and makes you want to go do it again.” Now, with a Derby championship under his belt, Hall hopes Belle will continue to carry Mary Ann into the show pen at the sport’s biggest events. ■
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Three for Three Sarah Rose Jons had a busy Non Pro finals en route to securing the 2026 Non Pro Youth Derby title By Megan Arszman | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Sarah Rose Jons pilots Super Inferno. ↓
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ew exhibitors return three horses to the finals of the 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel. Fewer still accomplish the feat as youth riders. Sarah Rose Jons did just that, collecting three checks and adding a new title to her résumé after winning the Youth Derby aboard Super Inferno. Jons set the bar early in the Non Pro Finals, piloting Let Err Rip (Magnum Chic Dream x
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Gunner Be Custom) owned by Sotol Investments, LLC bred and nominated by Rodion Cantacuzene Jr. JR., to a 219 late in the first section of the draw. She followed with a 217 aboard Trashya Quik, giving herself two scores to chase before returning for her final ride on Super Inferno (Inferno Sixty Six x Secret Rider), owned by Sotol Investments, LLC, bred and nominated by Curt & Cindy Engen.
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“‘SHARKY’ WAS SO GOOD RUNNING IN. HE DRAGGED HIS BUTT AND BACKED UP NICELY. HE TURNED GREAT AND SHOWED OFF SO WELL. HE’S JUST SUCH A GOOD HORSE. HE’S VERY WILLING AND HAS A LOT OF TRY IN THE ARENA.” During the intermission, Jons reviewed video of her first two runs, looking for the small adjustments that could make the difference. “I knew where I needed to do better to beat my high score,” she said. With scores of 219 and 217 already on the board, the pressure came not from her competitors, but from herself. Still, Jons embraced the opportunity. “It was fun,” she said. “(Winning first and second is) what everyone hopes for.” After marking a 220 in the go-round, Jons knew it would take another standout performance to climb to the top of the leaderboard. She delivered just that, guiding “Sharky” to a 221.5 to secure the Non Pro Youth championship, while Let Err Rip finished as the Reserve champion and Trashya Quik (Gunnatrashya x Nestle Quik Chic) owned by Sotol Investments, LLC bred and nominated by William Newman Jr., claimed fourth. “My ride was truly amazing,” she said. “‘Sharky’ was so good running in. He dragged his butt and backed up nicely. He turned great and showed off so well. He’s just such a good horse. He’s very willing and has a lot of try in the arena.” Although the 16-year-old f rom Comfort, Texas, still considers herself relatively new to reining, she’s spent the past three years training with
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NRHA $3 Million Rider Cade McCutcheon—who matched her with Super Inferno. “Thankfully Cade knows me so well that when he saw (Super Inferno) he knew that this was the horse I needed,” Jons said. “We purchased him last year before Vegas and Cade showed him for the first time in the 100X in Tulsa. He said I could easily show him next year, so I was happy to have him as part of my show string this year. I’m super thankful for Cade.” The partnership wasn’t instant. “In the beginning, it was tricky because he’s super feely and quirky, and very forward,” Jons admitted. “But these last couple of months, I’ve figured him out more. I’m thankful that he’s so willing and very good-minded.” While Jons and her family live about four hours f rom the McCutcheons in Aubrey, Texas, she keeps herself in the saddle year-round. In addition to preparing with McCutcheon before major reining events, she trains and competes in ranch riding under the guidance of AQHA/NSBA trainer Reid Thomas. “I’m just very grateful and thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given, especially to my parents, Cade and God,” Jons said. ■
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Buzzworthy Gina Marie Schumacher pilots CS Buzz Lightyear to a co-championship in the Level 4 Colston Paving Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes By Megan Arszman | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Gina Marie Schumacher rides CS Buzz Lightyear. →
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espite his name, CS Buzz Lightyear isn’t known for blazing through a pattern. Instead, the 4-yearold gelding (Snip O Lution x Wimpys Cute Tune), owned, bred and nominated by CS Ranch LLC, stands out for his steady, unflappable demeanor—a quality that has made him one of the easiest young horses Gina Maria Schumacher has ever ridden. “I’ve been riding him since midway through his 3-year-old year, and he was the easiest, simplest 3-year-old I’ve ever had,” said Schumacher. “Normally, when you have a young horse in a big pen like this, you’re worried about the horse going too fast, but with him I’m worried about going too slow. He’s just relaxed all the time.” It’s a trait that Schumacher, an NRHA $2 Million rider, has seen in her Snip O Lution babies, citing that they’re all true show horses who always try their hearts out in the show pen for their riders. “You can always count on the Lution babies, and Buzz is very much just like him,” she said.
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“I THINK IT’S GREAT TO GIVE HORSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP AGAINST HORSES THEIR OWN AGE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE OF HAVING TO RUN AS HARD IF THEY’RE NOT READY... THIS IS SOMETHING THE INDUSTRY HAS NEEDED.” Sliding into a tie for the Level 4 Colston Paving Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes was just one part of Schumacher’s game plan at the 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel. After her primary derby horse was sidelined with an injury earlier in the week, Schumacher was grateful she had cross-entered CS Buzz Lightyear in both the Stakes and the Non Pro Derby. The Stakes title became even more meaningful when Schumacher’s 219 tied the score posted earlier by longtime friend and fellow European Francesca Sternberg. “If I’m going to tie with somebody, there’s no one better to tie with,” Sternberg said. “I’ve known Gina Marie since she was teeny.” The coincidence made the moment even sweeter. “I was heading to the Coliseum on ‘Buzz’ when I saw Francesca, and she told me she was heading to the airport,” Schumacher said. “It was
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pretty crazy that I went in and tied her score.” Schumacher is looking to the future with Buzz to continue building on their partnership at some of the larger aged events. But she’s grateful for the opportunity to choose the best fitting competition for her horses, whether they’re 4-year-olds or older. “I think it’s great to give horses an opportunity to go up against horses their own age without the pressure of having to run as hard if they’re not ready,” she said. “You have the option to either make one run on your 4-year-old and take home one check, or, if you feel they’re ready, you can go into the finals and earn even more money on that horse. This is something the industry has needed.” “I would like to thank my team at the ranch,” Schumacher added. “I always say it, and I’ll keep saying it that this isn’t a one-man show, and I truly appreciate their support every day.” ■
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International Rein English rider Francesca Sternberg was only in the country for five days, but that didn’t stop her and Holy Smokz from earning multiple Derby titles By Megan Arszman | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Francesca Sternberg pilots Holy Smokz. ↓
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f you didn’t get a chance to see Francesca Sternberg while in Oklahoma City, it might have been because she wasn’t there very long. The international rider was only in the States for five days to practice and compete in the Colston Paving Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes and Novice Horse Non Pro Derby before she had to fly back to the United Kingdom for a pressing engagement.
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“I didn’t want to show her in the rest of the Derby because (Holy Smokz) is only 4 and I also had a pressing engagement in the UK which I had to get back to,” explained Sternberg. “Two of my very best f riends had very special birthdays in a castle and they asked if I could be back in time. So, in 48 hours, I went f rom stepping off Holly in the arena in boots to stepping into a ball gown in a fairy tale castle. It was just surreal.”
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“THIS RIDE WAS JUST AS GOOD AS IT GETS. I CAME OUT AND I WAS TEARY BECAUSE SHE WAS SO GOOD AND SO WILLING. YOU KNOW THEY SAY ENJOY THE RIDE, WELL I REALLY, REALLY DID.” Only a special 4-year-old could handle learning a new rider in such a short amount of time, and Holy Smokz (A Vintage Smoke x Holly Trashya) is that special horse. Bred and nominated by Sternberg, the black mare is almost a carbon copy of her dam. When Sternberg’s daughter, Tabatha, asked her mother to breed Holly Trashya, (Gunnatrashya x Hickorys Holly Cee) owned by Sternberg, bred and nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, to A Vintage Smoke, she was hoping for a “Holly 2.0” that she could show once she was finished with her veterinarian studies. “We got literally a Holly 2.0, except she’s about two hands taller,” Sternberg said. “Same white socks, same blaze...absolutely identical.” Sternberg asked to borrow “Betsy” for the NRBC and NRHA Derby® this summer while Tabatha completes her residency with Equine Sports Medicine. Unfortunately, an injury in Tulsa prevented the NRBC ride, but Sternberg was able to make the trip to Oklahoma count, tagging on a 219 to tie with Gina Schumacher for the Level 4 Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes, as well as clinching the win in the Levels 2 and 3 4-Year-Old Stakes and the Non Pro Novice Horse Derby. The mare is trained by NRHA $1 Million Rider Mirko Midili, whom Sternberg has known since he lived in Europe, and he now trains her string of horses in the U.S. “He’s a phenomenal trainer— if he can get a 4-year-old ready for a non pro tourist to fly in and jump on, then fly
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back in five days, that’s pretty impressive stuff,” said Sternberg. When asked how Betsy was just like her mother, Sternberg said that on top of mirroring her looks, she also mirrors her personality and mannerisms. “She has really big ears and she uses them—she listens to you,” she says. “She uses her ears—when she’s ready to go, she puts them forward, then when you ask something, one will come back and it’s like she asks if I’m sure. It’s interesting. The ears tell you so much. They tell you if they’re with you or not with you. Mares are very expressive. You just can’t beat a good mare.” Sternberg watched the remainder of the Non Pros compete to see if her score was able to hold up while she was flying over the ocean. “Who would have thought that at 40,000 feet, I would have been able to watch if my horse won?” Sternberg laughed. For considering herself just a tourist in the saddle, Sternberg felt like she had the ride of a lifetime. “This ride was just as good as it gets,” she said. “I came out and I was teary because she was so good and so willing. You know they say enjoy the ride, well I really, really did. There’s a very telling picture of me; I was just about in tears because it was just wonderful. And that’s what we strive for, and that’s what fuels the addiction. I’m very lucky to have been able to show her and have Tabatha let me show her. It was just wonderful, really.” ■
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#
T W E N T Y
T W E N T Y
F I V E
OWNER AMERICAS MVP ANDREA FAPPANI
BEST IS YET TOO COME ANDREA FAPPANI
GUNNERS SMOKIN CHEX ANDREA FAPPANI
HF LIVIN THE DREAM SHAWN FLARIDA
ADDYS LIL DREAM SEAN MCBURNEY
THANK YOU TO ALL RIDERS AND HORSES!
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Young Guns 14-year-old Rafael Christians brings home first big US win aboard Fifth King Gun in the Level 1 Colston Paving Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes By Megan Arszman Rafael Christians on Fifth King Gun. Photo courtesy of Waltenberry. ↓
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t didn’t take long for 14-year-old Rafael Christians to find his way to the winner’s circle at the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel. The Brazil native moved to Purcell, Oklahoma, and just two years later he claimed the top spot in the Level 1 Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes aboard Fifth King Gun, owned, bred and nominated by Eduardo Christians. “My dad used to be a trainer in Brazil, so all
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my life I’ve ridden reiners,” said Christians. What really helped the Brazilian reiner feel at home was scoring a 216 in the Colston Paving Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes aboard the horse his father rode in the Non Pro Futurity finals last November. The plan was for Eduardo to pass down the gelding (Sugar Pop Step Ahead x No Tears Rooster) to Rafael for the remainder of the horse’s career.
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“HE WAITED FOR ME FOR EVERY MANEUVER IN THAT PATTERN. IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL RIDE, I WAS SO HAPPY WITH HOW WE DID.” Rafael Christians celebrates his win. Photo courtesy of NRHA. →
“We were looking for a horse for me, and we found ‘King’ in Brazil,” said Christians. It was a full circle moment: The Christians bred the gelding, then sold him when they moved. “When the opportunity came to buy him back after the Brazilian Futurity, my dad didn’t hesitate,” Christians said. “He’s a really nice horse with a good mind and is really easy to ride.” Working with Leonardo Kellermann, Christians has learned to work with the young gelding. Christians says he looks up to his trainer. “I really like his style, the way he rides and how nice a person he is,” he said. “He has a big heart and is always trying to make me a better person and a better rider. I’d consider him like an older brother.” The pair have been riding together in the afternoons after school and during the summer months, and even with high school on the horizon, the incoming freshman managed to secure finals spots in the in the Level 1, 2 and 3 Non Pro Derby. “He’s been improving a lot throughout the year,” he said. “We had a plan for the first go to be clean, take a half when he could score a plus half and to stay connected. He waited for me for every maneuver in that pattern. It was such a wonderful ride, I was so happy with how we did.” Christians felt more pressure in Oklahoma City than he has at shows in Brazil, but he found a way to settle in.
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“American reining is on another level and has more pressure than the Brazilian shows. I just try to stay focused on my run and my horse, and not worry about the others.” He said. The young man is grateful for all the help he received during the Derby. “I’m really thankful to Leonardo, my parents and the team at 7 Lakes Ranch—God has been good for me.” ■
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A Real Thriller Madison Rafacz and CSchicchicdrem moonwalk into the arena and to a score of 230 in their Michael Jackson freestyle By Sarah Prather | Photos courtesy of Carolyn Simancik
Madison Rafacz, in Michael Jackson attire, and and CSchicchicdrem. ↓
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ith less than 24 hours to prepare, Madison Rafacz and CSchicchicdrem, owned by Molly White, bred and nominated by CS Ranch LLC, wowed the crowd with a 230 to win the $20,000 NRHA Invitational Freestyle Reining, presented by Visit OKC. The team took home $6,935 for their classic performance to Michael Jackson’s mash-up of hit songs, and they also were crowned the 2026 People’s Choice Award sponsored by Tricked Out Spook.
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Rafacz originally planned to compete on another horse, but after practicing, she realized he wasn’t the right fit for the f reestyle. That left her searching for another option. Fortunately, “Gus,” the 2016 sorrel gelding CSchicchicdrem (Magnum Chic Dream x All The Right Motion), had made the trip to Oklahoma City as a companion horse and wasn’t scheduled to compete. His owner, Molly White, agreed to let Rafacz ride him.
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“THE FREESTYLE IS SO FUN BUT IT IS SO MUCH HARDER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE DOING, AND BE SURE YOU’RE DOING ALL OF THE MANEUVERS THAT ARE REQUIRED.” “I called my mom and she suggested “Gus” and I was like, well, Gus it is,” Rafacz said. “I rushed back to the stalls, saddled him, and rode him for the first time ever. All I did was try to figure out somewhat of a routine and that’s how it came to be.” Back at the stalls, Rafacz was discussing what type of music she should perform the routine to, and her friend suggested something to Michael Jackson to honor the biopic, Michael, released this year. Next, she had to pull the outfit together. “I frantically got on Amazon hoping I could get something for the outfit to be delivered in time by the next day,” Rafacz said. “Thankfully there was just the right amount of things I needed that would be delivered between 7 and 11 a.m. the next day, the day of the freestyle. I was really hoping it was going to show up.” While the preparation was anything but typical, Rafacz has experience on her side. With more than $380,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings, and more than a decade in the show pen, she has competed in several freestyle events, including the
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All American Quarter Horse Congress. She adds that she doesn’t necessarily get nervous but the freestyles are more of an adrenaline rush. “The freestyle is so fun but it is so much harder than people realize because you have to think about what you’re doing, and be sure you’re doing all of the maneuvers that are required,” Rafacz said. Although it was Rafacz’s first ride on Gus just the night before, her freestyle experience helped guide the pair through the routine. For Gus, it was his first freestyle performance as well. The lastminute pairing proved to be exactly what Rafacz needed, as the duo’s 230 topped the field and secured the freestyle title. She credited her parents, Mark and Shannon, for helping pull everything together on short notice. She also thanked White for trusting her with Gus, noting that not every owner would be willing to loan a horse for a f reestyle with little preparation. Most of all, she was grateful to Gus for taking everything in stride during his first f reestyle performance. ■
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Back to Back Beth Kelley and Pale Face Whiz overcame unique challenges to arrive back at OG&E Coliseum and successfully defend their ParaReining Championship title By Sarah Prather | Photos courtesy of Carolyn Simancik Beth Kelley rides Pale Face Whiz. ↓
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fter six months away from the show pen due to injuries affecting both horse and rider, Beth Kelley and Pale Face Whiz returned to defend their Para-Reining Championship title sponsored by Hart Trailer at the 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel. The ParaReining Championship marked the pair’s fourth
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competition during Derby week, making the win all the more special. The duo resumed preparing for the event in March and made one start at the NRBC before arriving in Oklahoma City. Their preparation paid off, as Kelley and Junior marked a 208 to successfully defend their title.
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“WE STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT TO GET IN SYNC, IF YOU’RE RIDING A LOT YOU STAY IN SYNC BUT IF YOU HAVE A BREAK IT IS EASY TO LOSE THAT CONNECTION; SIX MONTHS IS A LOT OF TIME OFF. IT JUST ALL SEEMED TO COME TOGETHER THAT NIGHT.” “We struggled a little bit to get in sync, if you’re riding a lot you stay in sync but if you have a break it is easy to lose that connection; six months is a lot of time off,” Kelley said. “It just all seemed to come together that night.” Junior, a 2015 gelding (Pale Face Dunnit x Lady Naskiia Whiz) is owned by Lucky Quarter Ranch and was bred and nominated by Everett Wiggins, and has earned more than $100,000 in NRHA competition. The gelding, who is deaf, presents unique challenges, but Kelley says she trusts him completely. “He is in tune with the way my body works and because of my bum leg, my balance is off a lot so he tries to take care of me,” Kelley said. “When I’m off balance, Junior will not go forward. He will be really slow and he will peter to a stop because he recognizes I am not steady in the saddle.” Pattern 8 has historically been a challenge for Kelley, who had overspun in her previous two championship runs. “The first two championships, I actually overspun each time so that has always been my biggest fear to do that again,” she said. Kelley competes both as a Grade 5 para rider
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and non-pro, crediting trainer Jared LeClair and his team for helping her return after months away from the show pen. “I want to thank Jared LeClair and his team; he probably has the best assistants in the world,” Kelley said. “I call them the pit crew, they are the best pit crew ever, and they really seem to have a true love for the horses. We can’t do it without them.” Kelley also expressed gratitude to Tracy Hart Graham and Hart Trailer for their continued support of Para-Reining. “I would like to thank Hart Trailer for always sponsoring the Para-Reining. She’s [Tracy] a really big component to the Para-Reining,” Kelley said. Without her sponsorship, we probably wouldn’t even have the Para-Reining championship.” Looking ahead, Kelley hopes to see ParaReining continue to grow. She attends each show hoping to welcome new competitors into the class and believes greater awareness will encourage more riders to give it a try. Competitors don’t need to own a horse or have an NRHA competition license to participate, making the division more accessible than many realize. For Kelley, helping grow the sport is just as rewarding as winning another championship. ■
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The Race to Vegas A partnership built on consistency and experience, Allison Thorson and Pale Light head to The Run For A Million Non Pro Championship By Sarah Prather | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Allison Thorson rides Pale Light. ↓
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or Allison Thorson, qualifying for The Run For A Million never gets old. But this year, earning a place in the Non Pro Championship meant navigating a new qualification process that made the accomplishment even more rewarding. After qualifying for the Semi Finals at the Florida
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Classic, Thorson and Pale Light (Pale Face Dunnitt x Luz Del Conquistador) owned by Thorsport, bred and nominated by Ginger Schmersal, delivered when it mattered most at the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel. Their winning run secured one of the qualifying spots for the Non Pro Championship at The Run For A Million, held Aug. 9–15 in Las Vegas.
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“SOMETIMES THINGS DON’T WORK OUT. IT DOESN’T MEAN WE HAVEN’T BEEN WORKING HARD OR PRACTICING–LUCK WAS ON OUR SIDE THAT DAY.” “It’s super fun when I have the chance to qualify for something,” Thorson said. “There are a lot of shows on the reining circuit where you just enter and show up, so this format is very exciting.” When it came time to choose which horse to ride in the Semi Finals, the decision was an easy one. Thorson selected Pale Light, the 8-year-old palomino stallion she has owned since he was 3 years old. With years of experience together, she trusted the consistency they had built as a team. “I thought when it counts, I need to ride the horse that I know well,” she said. “He is bighearted, and one I am most consistent with so I picked him. When it counts I need to ride a horse that feels great and very confident, and that was Pale Light.” Competing on the final day of the Derby presented its own challenges. After nearly two weeks in Oklahoma City, horses and riders alike were feeling the long week. “Everybody was hot, tired and ready to go home,” Thorson said. “I had to block all of that out because ‘Heath’ and I had a job to do.” Working alongside trainer Duane Latimer, Thorson focused on executing one maneuver at
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a time rather than thinking about the pattern as a whole. “I take it piece by piece,” she said. “Duane has coached me to slow myself down—even though everything is happening fast in the show pen.” While Thorson was thankful to qualify, she knows success in reining is never guaranteed. “Sometimes things don’t work out,” she said. “It doesn’t mean we haven’t been working hard or practicing—luck was on our side that day.” Las Vegas won’t be unfamiliar territory for Thorson. She has previously finished as reserve champion in The Run For A Million Non Pro Championship, she hopes this year could be the one that moves them to claim the championship. As she prepares for another trip to Las Vegas, Thorson knows the accomplishment belongs to far more than herself. “I’d like to thank everyone who makes it possible,” she said. “My trainers, my family, our farriers, veterinarians, feed companies—it takes everyone. Getting to show is the easy part. Working toward this goal with the people I’m surrounded by is a dream, and I feel very lucky to share it with them.” ■
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Fab Five The Youth Run for A Million Semi Finals ends in a historic five-way tie By Sarah Prather | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry
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ot one, not two, not even three, but five. Five riders finished tied atop this year’s The Run For A Million Youth Semi Finals at the 2026 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel, a truly uncommon occurrence reflecting the depth of competition that was present. The score of 214.5 earned the five horse-and-rider combinations a place in the Youth Championship to be held Aug. 9–15 in Las Vegas. Elle Russell, Lilly Walters, Joy Deary, Elouise Moffett, and Anna Leigh Flint will compete in Las Vegas to see who will take the championship title.
Elle Russell, Secondhand Smmoke (A Vintage Smoke x Wallawhizagun)
Lilly Walters, Gunna Prosper (Gunnatrashya x Whizin Starlight)
Owner: RKE Reining, LLC Breeder: Tamarack Ranch
Owner: Diamond Dub Quarter Horses Breeder: George R. King
Russell gives credit to her trainer, Josh Tishman, and his great team for helping her in the semi finals and prepare for the championships. “Josh Tishman really helped me a lot through everything with Vinny,” Russell said. “He’s been a huge help and I’m very grateful for him and that whole team, that whole barn really helped a lot support wise.”
Walters has high hopes going into TRFAM because others at her barn also have done well in the past. “My whole team has done great in Vegas— it isn’t something that scares our team, it excites us,”Walters said. “I’m just excited to hopefully do very well, and I have really high hopes for Vegas. Vegas is one of my favorite shows, and I’m ready to bring back the buckle with the diamonds.”
Elle Russell and Secondhand Smmoke. ↓
Lilly Walters and Gunna Prosper. ↓
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Anna Leigh Flint and Dun Wearin Wranglers (Gunnatrashya x Dun Wranglin)
Elouise Moffett aboard Chics Guna Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Gun Whiz It)
Owner: High Meadow Ranch LLC Breeder: Cooper Smith
Owner: Kelsey Flessner Breeder: Guy A. Du Ponchel
Flint doesn’t keep her horse in full-time training, instead relying on lessons, Casey Deary’s online training videos, and guidance from Shannon Rafacz, Corey and Whitney Rogers, and Charlie Smith. She credits each of them, along with her parents, for helping make the accomplishment possible. “They were all a huge part of me being able to have my horse at home and ride on my own, along with the subscription videos,” she said. “Another huge part of the success so far has definitely been my mom and dad, Steve and Allison, to help me get to where I am today.” While Flint is quick to thank those who have supported her along the way, she says her faith remains at the center of her success.
“She is a really great mare, and I can trust her in the show pen,” Moffett said. She credits the strong women in her family for helping her reach this milestone, her mom, grandmother, and sister. She thanked her mother, Blair, for believing in her even when she struggled to believe in herself. She is grateful to Booth for giving her the opportunity to ride Chics Guna Dream. Additionally, her younger sister recently began showing, and Moffett is excited to share their family’s passion for horses and the sport of reining. Elouise Moffett and Chics Guna Dream. ↓
Anna Leigh Flint and Dun Wearin Wranglers. ↓
Joy Deary and Gotta Custom Spook.. ↓
Joy Deary and Gotta Custom Spook (Smart Spook x Custom Spinderella) Owner: Joy Deary Breeder: Marne Martin-Tucker Before heading to Las Vegas, Deary plans to continue showing Gotta Custom Spook to build on their partnership. She thanked her parents, everyone in the barn, and Gunny Mathison for helping them find the mare at the NRBC. “I’m really excited to be back in Vegas,” she said. “I feel like I really know how to show her now, so I’m excited to show her the best that I can.”
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Finding a Way With a new mount and little time to prepare, Leila Palestrant piloted Mr Selfie through the TRFAM Rookie Level 1 and Level 2 semis, en route to securing a place in the event finals in Las Vegas By Sarah Prather | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry Leila Palestrant rides Mr Selfie. ↓
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ualifying for The Run For A Million (TRFAM) is no easy feat, but Leila Palestrant and her new partner, Mr Selfie, made the most of their opportunity at the 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel with little time to prepare. They earned a spot in the Rookie Level 1 and Rookie Level 2
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Championships at The Run For A Million. Riders qualify for TRFAM throughout the season before advancing to the Semi-Finals at the NRHA Derby®, where a select number of horse-and-rider combinations earn a trip to Las Vegas.
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“I WAS PRETTY BLOWN AWAY WITH HOW HE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND HOW FUN HE WAS TO SHOW. IT WAS MY FIRST TIME SHOWING HIM, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW HE WAS IN THE SHOW PEN.” For Leila, the accomplishment was even more rewarding considering the Derby marked her first show aboard Mr Selfie (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Juicy Shiner) owned by Elevations Sport Horses LLC, bred and nominated by Smart Like Juice Inc.. Because the horse was gelded shortly after being purchased in April, Leila had only ridden him a handful of times before making the trip to Oklahoma City. “We just bought Mr Selfie in April, so this was our first horse show with him,” Leila said. “He exceeded all expectations, and I’m really excited to continue showing him throughout the rest of the season before I go to college in August.” Despite having only a short time together before the Derby, the pair quickly found their rhythm in the show pen. “I was pretty blown away with how he stepped up to the plate, and how fun he was to show,” she said. “It was my first time showing him, and I was really excited to see how he was in the show pen.” Leila’s 218.5 not only marked one of the highest scores of her career, but also secured her place in
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Rookie Level 1 and 2 championships in Las Vegas. “The score was unexpected in a way,” she said. “I felt like I had put together a good run, but it’s hard to know how good you did until you see the score. I am grateful to have a horse that can perform to that level.” Leila credited much of the pair’s early success to trainer Dan Huss and his program, saying their preparation gave her confidence heading into the Derby. Before heading to Las Vegas, Leila plans to continue showing throughout the summer to prepare for the championship. “We have a few horse shows between now and Vegas,” she said. “The plan is for Dan to continue to prepare the horse and coach me, and we’ll keep putting in the work until we get there.” Leila expressed her appreciation for everyone who helped make the accomplishment possible. “I’d like to thank my trainers, Dan and Wendy Huss, and their whole team. They do such a great job. I’d also like to thank my parents for always making this possible and supporting me.” ■
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Built Stronger. Lasts Longer. Looks Better.
x2 LT E
LT E
$190,963
$170,685
pe: 1.2 million +
pe: 3.8 million +
2016 BAY AQHA/APHA STALLION pe: 16 million +
2016 BAY AQHA/APHA STALLION pe: 1.2 million +
SPOOKS GOTTA GUN × TINSEL TIARA
GUNNATRASHYA × SNIP O GUN 7 PA N E L N / N
7 PA N E L N / N
2X TRFAM QUALIFIER | 227.5 + 222.5 TRFAM QUALIFIER RESERVE CHAMPION THE RUN FOR A MILLION COMPETITION TOP SIX
2X TRFAM QUALIFIER | 227.5 + 228.5 TRFAM QUALIFIER RESERVE CHAMPION 100X BRAZOS SLIDE SUPER SLIDE CHAMPION 100X TULSA SUPER SLIDE RESERVE CHAMPION
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NRHA Million Dollar Rider Brandon Brant
Best of Both Worlds How Brandon Brant merged hockey and horses; East Coast and West Clast reining styles, en route to million dollar rider status By Lindsay Humphrey | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry
Brandon Brant found early success with Lenas Dunnit Again at the 2026 NRBC when the pair pulled checks in the Open Levels 3 and 4. Photo by Emily Thurner. →
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randon Brant grew up a hockey player, discovering his passion for the sport at the age of seven. It wasn’t much later before he uncovered a second love, however. “My dad got horses for my sister, but she never really took to them; I was probably 12 at the time, and it turned out that I loved to ride,” Brandon said about growing up in Somerset, Pennsylvania. “They were just trail horses, but I found my way to the performance arena pretty quickly.” Still an avid hockey player, Brandon had a teammate, Brent Specht, whose mother owned an equine training facility. Brent’s father also owned a wood shaving company, and the duo would help with deliveries to horse arenas. Brandon saw a wide array of performance horses through those work experiences, but probably most importantly he was introduced to the University of Findlay through Brent’s mother.
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NRHA Million Dollar Rider Brandon Brant
Brandon Brant grew up playing hockey before he started riding horses. Photo courtesy of Brandon Brant. →
Over to Ohio Brant chose to attend Findlay as he was told during recruitment he could be a D1 athlete and be active in the horse program, but he quickly learned he would have to make a choice. “When I got to campus, that narrative changed abruptly, and I decided to drop hockey and focus on horses full time.” It wasn’t at all an easy decision for Brandon, but it’s certainly one he stands by today after reaching one of the goals he set for himself not long after this pivotal moment: to be an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. “It was more about trying to make my passion my paycheck; I figured it was my only opportunity to work with horses and people of that high a caliber,” Brandon said. “I was around some of the greatest legends in the reining industry: Clark Bradley, Dale Wilkinson, Mike Flarida.” It was during his f reshman year in the Western program that Brandon became laser focused on reining. A fellow student, and now also an NRHA Million Dollar Rider, Jared Leclair, put Brandon on his first reining horse. “I’ll never forget that bay Custom Chrome mare that Jared put me on,” Brandon said. “I had done some roping and other things, but there was nothing I liked more than reining. I enjoyed learning how to build one; how to prep 2 - or 3-year old and get them ready to show.” The first time Brandon entered the show pen as an open rider was after graduation when he worked for Gabe Hutchins outside Columbus, Ohio. Three years later, Brandon left the East Coast bound for Texas where he worked for NRHA $3 Million rider Jordan Larson.
New Style While in Texas, the Pennsylvania-born Brant strove to connect the East and West Coast styles of horse training. “The East Coast style was more about keeping a horse straight and functional where the West coast wanted to break the body parts f ree and do things a little differently,” he said. “I thought it would be interesting to understand both sides and use both types of logic to train a horse.”
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That manner of thinking proved to be exactly what Brandon needed when he relocated to Ohio to launch Brant Performance Horses in 2007. His native East coast may have been home to some of the biggest icons in reining history, but it still isn’t a major hub for the Western performance horse industry. “I haven’t always been able to get top of the line horses, especially in the beginning, so it’s been important for me to be able to adapt to the horse,” Brandon said. “Coming back to the East coast with a diverse training background, I’ve been able to get things done on horses that maybe other people wouldn’t have been able to.” To illustrate that point, Brandon rode Dun It With A Splash (Reminic N Dunit x BB Holly Doll)—owned at the time by Joe Wolfe and bred by Susan Goldman—to a 226 at the 2010 NRHA Derby®, which won the Levels 1 and 2 Open and took home reserve in the Level 3 Open. He’s also won multiple levels at the All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity which is probably the closest show to home for his team.
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NRHA Million Dollar Rider Brandon Brant
No matter how far he’s come, Brant still cites the formative influence of others, like Million Dollar Riders Kole Pride and Mike Flarida. “When I first went out on my own, I rode with Mike Flarida and he taught me how to teach a horse to really run,” he said. “I’ve implemented some of my own techniques, but the core of my run and stop foundation comes f rom Mike.” After Brandon crossed the million dollar threshold, Price made a nod to Brandon’s work with Mike when he called him the “master of the run and stop.”
From the Ashes When everyone at Brant Performance Horses woke up on June 8, 2024, they had no idea that day would forever be engraved in their memory. A fire broke out around 12 p.m. in the 60,000-square-foot barn where Brandon’s horses lived. More than forty horses were trapped inside as the fire spread quickly and most of their lives were lost that day. “I think most people would’ve thrown in the towel after that, but Brandon and his family picked up the pieces and started over again,” fellow trainer and f riend Jesse Beckley said. The NRHA community surrounded Brandon’s family with support of every kind in the aftermath. The Reining Horse Foundation was of course one of those, but a multitude of entities and individuals filled the many gaps as Brant got his feet back on the ground. His father and stepmother, Brett and Laura, temporarily moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio after the fire to help Brandon and his family put their lives back together, one brick and board at a time. “I want to thank everybody f rom our industry and my community and my customers; that preserved humanity for me in the way people swarmed us in the aftermath,” Brandon said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I wouldn’t have been able to bounce back without all of them. And it’s hard to name who deserves credit.”
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↑ Brandon Brant and his family. Photo courtesy of Brandon Brant.
More than just a talented horseman; Brant is armed with a tenacious work ethic that’s only eclipsed by a contagious attitude. He’s backed by an army of loyal employees but it’s his wife, Cathy, and their kids, Brayden and Finley, who hold everything together, according to him. “Cathy keeps all the ends tied up; I can’t do any of this without her,” Brandon said. “She’s been with me from the beginning and she’s the one who tells me what I need to hear even if I don’t want to hear it. Our kids are my world and I couldn’t do it without their support either. My daughter loves the horses and helps with them while my son is all about maintaining the farm and does a lot to keep up with the place. I appreciate them for the sacrifices they make for me to be able to do this.” ■
AUGUST 2026
Million Dollar Milestones
Million Dollar Milestones
More Than a Dream After a successful NRHA Derby®, Magnum Chic Dream became an NRHA $15 Million Sire and is only the third horse to do so in reining history By Lindsay Humphrey
Patti Brownshadel (pictured) quickly realized how much potential he had to become a great sire. Photo courtesy of Patti Brownshadel. →
V
iola Scott knew there was something special about Magnum Chic Dream, but she never expected he would become an NRHA Million Dollar Sire someday. In fact, breeding wasn’t even on her radar when she first saw the yearling by Smart Chic Olena who is out of Sailin Barbee (by Topsail Cody). Magnum was born in 1996, just three years before Smart Chic Olena would become an NRHA Million Dollar Sire. Breeder, Guy A. Du Ponchel of France, could not have predicted how special Magnum Chic Dream would be. “He was a small, furry, potbellied yearling but to me he was a diamond in the rough,” said Patti Brownshadel who facilitated the sale of the young prospect between Guy and Viola. “When Viola and Jack [her husband] watched him ride around, the decision to purchase him was immediate. They could see how effortlessly he responded to anything asked of him.” It was Patti Brownshadel who not only trained Magnum but took him into the showpen those first few years. And as he matured, Magnum became a well-balanced and athletic prospect, and it was those physical traits that Patti Brownshadel believed made him a natural at reining.
All Business “He’s always been a very black and white horse, there’s no gray area to his personality,” said Kathy Hinton who’s been the stallion’s breeding manager for more than 20 years. “He’s all business all the time. If he was a person, he’d be a very serious businessman.”
110 | NRHA REINER
Magnum is about as uncomplicated as his rich brown coat that’s only disrupted by a sliver of a blaze down his face and Guy’s brand on his hip. At 30 years old, Magnum sticks to a routine that’s carried out by his longtime caretaker who’s been by his side since 2004. “Every morning Magnum gets turned out to the pasture and he gets a bath every single day,” said Casey Hinton who’s had the privilege of showing the stallion while also watching his wife handle his career in the breeding shed. “He’s had a very long and enjoyable life.” While the term “healthy as a horse” is an oxymoron for anyone who owns them, it’s been true for Magnum.
AUGUST 2026
Million Dollar Milestones
↑ Belissimo, 2025 NRHA Open L4 Futurity Champion sired by Magnum Chic Dream. Photo by Carolyn Simancik.
“This horse has been sound his entire life and he still looks like he could go out and show tomorrow, he’s still in great shape,” Kathy Hinton said. “He’s just always been a low maintenance horse. He’s only had one medical incident in his entire life that had nothing to do with soundness.” He’s the picture of health, partially from his genetics but also because of the care he’s been given since day one. Every decision made about Magnum’s life puts his health at the forefront. “The only reason Viola decided to stop collecting Magnum was to protect him from injury,” Casey Hinton said. “As horses age, their balance changes and it becomes easier to get hurt even when they’re doing something they’ve done a thousand times. A lot of horses stop breeding as they get older because their semen quality goes down, but that’s never been an issue for Magnum. He had the best semen quality of any horse we’ve ever seen in our career.”
AUGUST 2026
Foals by Magnum are still hitting the ground thanks to the science that created Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) where a single sperm cell is injected directly into an egg for fertilization. It’s an efficient way of breeding mares that naturally preserves the limited amount of semen on hand from Magnum.
The Birth of a Dynasty More than his ability to get a mare bred easily, Magnum is praised for passing along some of his best traits. It’s clear that his offspring are athletic and talented to boot, but they’ve been proving themselves to be top quality breeders themselves. At the 2025 NRHA Futurity®, Magnum’s offspring led the field in earnings when the dust settled after the Level 4 Open finals. Thanks, in large part, to Belissimo (out of Americasnextgunmodel) owned, bred and nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses USA was piloted by NRHA $6 Million Rider Casey Deary to a 231.5 to take home all the roses.
NRHA REINER | 111
Million Dollar Milestones
Now 30 years old, Magnum Chic Dream spends his days in the pasture and he’s just about as fit and healthy as he was when he was three years old. Photo by John Brasseaux. →
“The most impressive thing about the Magnum horses that I’ve had is their brain; they’re trainable and always trying to figure out what I’m teaching them as quickly as possible,” Casey Deary said. “And they become great partners in the showpen because they adapt to their surroundings to accomplish their job. A great partner in the show pen is a horse that understands their job and tries to give their best regardless of the circumstances.” In 2019, Smart Chic Olena became an NRHA $7 Million Sire and two years later Magnum Chic Dream reached the same milestone. “Most of us think we’ve bought the perfect sire but that was actually true for Magnum [Chic Dream],” Kathy Hinton said. “When we buy yearlings, we all say that we’re buying the dream, but Viola actually did it. Everything about him has turned into gold.” While it was Viola Scott who allowed Magnum’s career to propel forward, it all began with Patti Brownshadel who saw his potential as a stud. “His bloodline indicated a stallion prospect and as his training progressed, I realized what
he had to offer as a stallion was evident in his maneuvers and his mind,” Patti Brownshadel said. “When he hit the showpen, people loved him. That’s when it was clear: the choice to keep him a stallion was a necessity.” His first foal crop hit the ground in 2000, and they began making a name for their sire and themselves almost immediately. “Originally, Viola bought Magnum to be her non pro mount and the plan was to geld him for that,” Patti Brownshadel said. “I think many owners and trainers would agree that it would’ve been a crime against nature to geld him.” ■
Industry Chatter “The best thing about Magnum horses is that they’re rider friendly; they’re easy to train, they go in and do their job to the best of their ability, and you can’t ask for anything better than that from a show horse. We’ve bred a lot of them and they’re proving to be great producers themselves, particularly the daughters for us. I’m excited about my stud – Customize My Dream (out of Gunna Be Custom) – being a great producer just like his sire. It doesn’t seem to matter what we’ve crossed with the Magnums, he just stamps them. The very first horse by Magnum that we bred is 17 years old and he’s still riding around doing his job and was marking 72s when he was still showing. There aren’t many horses that age still doing things like that.”
112 | NRHA REINER
– NRHA Profesional Devin Warren
AUGUST 2026
s i e r u t u f The
BRIGHT HONSTETTER PERFORMANCE
STORY BOOK STABLES, AZ I HONSTETTERPERFORMANCE@GMAIL.COM honstetterperformancehorses
AUGUST 2026
Honstetter Performance
NRHA REINER | 113
Million Dollar Milestones
Where There’s Smoke The Triple Crown-winning stallion A Vintage Smoke is NRHA’s newest million dollar sire By Melinda Green | Photos courtesy of Waltenberry
Jason Vanlandingham and A Vintage Smoke. →
H
e’s a $600,000-plus earning reiner. A Triple Crown champion. And now, legendary stallion A Vintage Smoke (A Sparkling Vintage x Lady Smoke Peppy), owned by Diane Mesmer, bred and nominated by Karl Hapcic, has secured his status as a Million Dollar Sire. “Cole” has been a work of divine intervention for owner Diane Mesmer and trainer Jason Vanlandingham f rom the beginning. Back in 2015, with Vanlandingham and Andrea Fappani winning “everything” on A Sparkling Vintage sons, Mesmer set out to buy a Sparkling Vintage colt for her first reiner. “One day, I was up at 5 in the morning and saw Karl Hapcic put this colt online for sale,” Mesmer recalled. The colt’s dam was a “spicy” mare trained by Fappani, more cow horse than reiner. Mesmer likes cow horse bloodlines for their mind and athleticism, so she messaged Hapcic right away.
114 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
Million Dollar Milestones
↑ 2018 NRHA Futurity® Champion, A Vintage Smoke..
And she bought the colt sight unseen. At four months old, his rough, sun-bleached, winter coat had landed him in the registry as brown. But Mesmer color tested him and found he was “as black as black could be.” She nearly sent him cow horse. “I think he could have done well at whatever he was put into,” she said. “He will track cow dogs like a cutting horse.” But Cole proved himself in the reining pen from the beginning, Vanlandingham said, “There were several times I thought, ‘Man, I don’t know if he’s enough horse.’ But then he’d do something that day that made me think, ‘I’ve got to hang on to him.’” “He was just such a show horse. He won the Futurity, won the NRBC twice and was second once. And then he was third once at the Derby and won the Derby. If I didn’t make a mistake, he won the event. I don’t think that any other horse in history has had that type of a sheet, where you could go down there and just count on them.” Both Vanlandingham and Mesmer believe that Cole’s mind makes him a standout in the breeding shed as well as the show pen. “He was probably the best minded young horse
AUGUST 2026
I’ve ever had,” Mesmer said. “Anything you asked him to do, he was very good about. ‘Okay, what do you want next?’ I can remember taking a big lunge line and whapping it on the ground right beside him, and he just stood there and looked at me. And you know, with my stick in the round pen, I had a plastic bag on it and usually that spooks anything. He just went around like he’d done it all his life.” Vanlandingham noted, “He was a 15, 20 minute horse. Once he had it, he had it. You just get on him and keep him legged up, and then he goes and wins. Very, very, very great minded horse.” “I think that a lot of other people would have passed on him because one, nobody rode black horses, and two, he’s just out loping around in the makeup pen. He wasn’t anything special. But whenever the lights shone brightest, he always stepped up.” Cole quickly proved that he passes that mind on to his foals. Vanlandingham recalled, “When we started riding his first crop of babies, I was sitting in the truck with Alan Chappell, and he said, ‘Do you think A Vintage Smoke is going to be a sire?’ And I said, ‘I think he’s going to change the industry.’”
NRHA REINER | 115
Million Dollar Milestones
↑ Jason Vanlandingham and A Vintage Smoke.
And that prediction is coming true. “If you look at his average offspring’s earnings, it’s higher than everybody else’s,” Vanlandingham continued. “He’s one of those that makes good minded horses.” “The breeders tell me that the thing they notice about his offspring, they are the f riendly ones,” Mesmer said. “They’re the ones who they can’t hardly get pictures of, because they’re right in their pocket. Carol Rose said, ‘Diane, you can already see him stamping his foals and that’s a sign of a great sire.’” And not only for reining—Cole’s stamping foals with his cow horse roots, too. Mesmer noted, “He’s not only a Million Dollar Sire in reining. He’s producing in cow horse. The ropers
116 | NRHA REINER
are loving them, the ranch, trail, cutting. He’s an all around sire.” “A Vintage Smoke is one of those horses that does good to every life he touches,” said Lorenzo Lotti, Owner of Foals R Us Repro Center & Stallion Station, where Cole stands at stud. “The opportunity to stand him at stud is undeniably incredible. From watching his first foal crop being born to following them in the show pen has been an incredible experience.” Will any of A Vintage Smoke’s offspring follow in his Triple Crown footsteps? Time will tell. But, with his mind, athleticism, and readiness shining through across the reining pen, the chances might be good. ■
AUGUST 2026
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 117
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AUGUST 2026
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NRHA REINER | 123
Cowtown Reining Classic
Cowtown Crowns By Jack McLaughlin | Photos courtesy of Ruehle Photographix
4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4, L3 AND L2 Shannon Rafacz and Gotta Get The Chex Pedigree: Spooks Gotta Whiz x Snip O Chex Owner: Marjorie Sugarman Breeder: Judy Box Score: 221.5 Earnings: L4 - $5,119, L3 - $2,898, L2 - $2,272
4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Pawn Stars
PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck
Dany Tremblay
Smith Ranch
Adh-Mor Ranch
219.5
$4,331
T-3
Gunna Enter To Win
Gunnatrashya x Dany Tremblay Magnums Enterprise
Diamond Dub Quarter Horses
Judy Box
217.5
$2,166
T-3
Thoughtyoushouldknow
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Miss Sunshine Annie
Clemerson Barbalho
Mary Cachat
Trey Walker 217.5
$2,166
T-3
Gunna Be A Genuis
Gunners Special Nite x Just Plain Genius
Peter DeFreitas
Mallory Bell
Mallory Bell 217.5
$2,166
4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L3 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
2
Thoughtyoushouldknow
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Miss Sunshine Annie
3
KR Wait For It
4
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
Clemerson Barbalho Mary Cachat
Trey Walker
217.5
$1,971
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Smart Shiney Lena
Sam Schaffhauser
Erin McFarland
Pete Kyle
215.5
$1,391
Dead Eye Jo
Colonels Shining Gun x Willow Whiz It
Hava Vital
Mindy De Michele
Kara Lande
213
$1,101
T-5
CBK A Star With Cash
ARC Gunnabeabigstar x HR Wright on Cash
Josh Murphy
William & Corliss Kellogg
William & Corliss Kellogg
212
$754
T-5
Moonliting
Gunnatrashya x Moonlite Chex
Benjamin Gerst
Hilldale Farm
Hilldale Farm
212
$754
T-5
Chillinlikeavillain
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Oaks Steady Star
Bud Lyon
Kim & Bud Lyon
Two Doves Ranch
212
$754
T-5
No Solution Required
Snip O Lution x Icing Required
Shannon Rafacz
Valerie Sturgeon
Toyon Ranch, LLC
212
$754
124 | NRHA REINER
OWNER
AUGUST 2026
Cowtown Reining Classic
4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L2 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Thoughtyoushouldknow
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Miss Sunshine Annie
Clemerson Barbalho
Mary Cachat
Trey Walker
217.5
$1,482
3
KR Wait For It
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Smart Shiney Lena
Sam Schaffhauser
Erin McFarland
Pete Kyle
215.5
$1,037
4
Dead Eye Jo
Colonels Shining Gun x Willow Whiz It
Hava Vital
Mindy De Michele
Kara Lande
213
$889
T-5
CBK A Star With Cash
ARC Gunnabeabigstar x HR Wright On Cash
Josh Murphy
William & Corliss Kellogg
William & Corliss Kellogg
212
$642
T-5
HD MoonLiting
Gunnatrashya x Moonlite Chex
Benjamin Gerst
Hilldale Farm
Hilldale Farm
212
$642
T-5
Chillinlikeavillain
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Oaks Steady Star
Bud Lyon
Kim & Bud Lyon
Two Doves Ranch
212
$642
T-5
No Solution Required
Snip O Lution x Icing Required
Shannon Rafacz
Valerie Sturgeon
Toyon Ranch, LLC
212
$642
4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 Luca Ciresola and Gunna Make U Miss Me Pedigree: (Im Gunna Shine x Miss Boo Twist) Owner: Four JS Ranch Breeder: Teresa Wynn Score: 211.5 Earnings: $1,246
4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
TR Hell Of A Year
Inferno Sixty Six x Whizzen For Chex
Mark Rafacz
Sofia Roberts
Tamarack Ranch LLC
211
$1,054
T-3
Too Nite
Gunners Special Nite Desiree Kelts x Darlins Not Painted
L & W Equine, LLC
Tom McCutcheon
210.5
$575
T-3
Epic Night
Epic Titan x Electra Cha Ching
Rhea Pole
CS Ranch, LLC
Silver Spurs Equine
210.5
$575
5
Spooks Graceful Guns
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Graceful Guns
Jeromy Lipps
K Bar L Ranch
Tammy Brown
209
$431
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 125
Cowtown Reining Classic
NON-PRO 4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4, L3, L2, L1 Its Wishful Thinking and Mary Cachat Pedigree: Spooks Gotta Whiz x Black Custom Chex Owner: Mary Cachat Breeder: Mark Weissman Score: 218 Earnings: L4 - $5,421, L3 - $2,644, L2 - $2,137, L1 - $1,376
NON-PRO 4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
SV Total Splash
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Lil Rene Gun
Becca Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser
James Fanello
216
$3,686
3
Shocked Again
Gunner Dun It Again x Miss Electric Shock
Abigail Ehringer
Abigail Ehringer
Patsy Schutz
215.5
$2,602
4
Mann In Tha Mirror
FM Cottonwood x Mizz Freeze Frame
Madison Hayden Rafacz
Shannon Rafacz
Alejandro Ramirez
213.5
$2,060
T-5
Renegadin
Guns R For Shootin x Hollywood Footprints
Allison Thorson
Thorsport
Humphrey Quarter Horses
213
$1,518
T-5
Shinin Solo
Shine On Line x Nu Chex Solano
Amber Morgan
Amber Morgan
DeFreitas Performance Horses, LLC
213
$1,518
T-5
LV Smart Gun
Spooks Gotta Gun x Smart Kachina Olena
Rachel Olson
Rachel Olson
Ixtul Quarter Horses, LLC
213
$1,518
“He loves to perform and doesn’t turn away from the pressure that the arena can place on horses. It is almost like he is more locked in and focused when he sees the arena, the judges, the bright lights, and the cheering crowd. Not only was it special to watch him mature into the athlete he is today, but to be able to ride him after I suffered a serious injury at last year’s
126 | NRHA REINER
NRBC has not only given me my confidence back in riding but also has helped me find the joy in it again. I am so thankful to everyone who was by my side during that time, and especially to my trainer Clemerson Barbalho who has always believed in us. I can’t wait to show everyone what Donkey and I are capable of.”
AUGUST 2026
Cowtown Reining Classic NON-PRO 4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L3 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
SV Total Splash
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Lil Rene Gun
Becca Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser
James Fanello
216
$2,237
3
Shocked Again
Gunner Dun It Again x Miss Electric Shock
Abigail Ehringer
Abigail Ehringer
Patsy Schutz
215.5
$1,424
T-4
Shinin Solo
Shine On Line x Nu Chex Solano
Amber Morgan
Amber Morgan
DeFreitas Performance Horses, LLC
213
$966
T-4
LV Smart Gun
Spooks Gotta Gun x Smart Kachina Olena
Rachel Olson
Rachel Olson
Ixtul Quarter Horses, LLC
213
$966
NON-PRO 4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L2 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Shocked Again
Gunner Dun It Again x Miss Electric Shock
Abigail Ehringer
Abigail Ehringer
Patsy Schutz
215.5
$1,453
T-3
Shinin Solo
Shine On Line x Nu Chex Solano
Amber Morgan
Amber Morgan
DeFreitas Performance Horses LLC
213
$919
T-3
LV Smart Gun
Spooks Gotta Gun x Smart Kachina Olena
Rachel Olson
Rachel Olson
Ixtul Quarter Horses, LLC
213
$919
5
Wildniteinhollywood
Hollywood Dun It x Best Nite Ever
Kennedy Williams
Kennedy Williams
Ubere Agropecuaria Eireli
211
$684
NON-PRO 4-, 5-, 6- & 7-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Shocked Again
Gunner Dun It Again x Miss Electric Shock
Abigail Ehringer
Abigail Ehringer
Patsy Schutz
215.5
$936
3
Wildniteinhollywood
Hollywood Dun It x Best Nite Ever
Kennedy Williams
Kennedy Williams
Ubere Agropecuaria Eireli
211
$660
4
Big Nite Out
Gunners Special Nite x Inshine For Big Chex
Jeremy Woodhouse
223 Ranches, LLC
Nichole Ingram
209.5
$523
5
Shes Tricked Out
Tricked Out Spook x Gunni Junebug
Robin Walters
Robin Walters
J.M. & Teresa Bell
208
$440
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 127
Cowtown Reining Classic
OPEN 3-YEAR-OLD SWEEPSTAKES L4 & L3 Sam Schaffhauser and Cookie Dough Pedigree: (Gunner Dun It Again x This Duallys Tiny) Owner: Jan Fisher Breeder: Sam Schaffhauser Score: 218.5 Earnings: L4 - $1,667, L3 - $1,161
3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
217.5
$1,200
2
Mygunzsmokin
Gunner x Dun Dry Whiz
Ruben Vandorp
Bluesky Ranch, LLC
Clark Reining Horses, LLC
T-3
Expert Only
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Ruf Lil Joe
Ruben Vandorp
Ann Anderman
Ann Anderman
216
$700
T-3
Megatron 86
Alwaysshineyergunsup x High Five Surprize
Josh Tishman
Jeremiah Keller
Jeremiah Keller
216
$700
T-3
Ice Powers
SG Frozen Enterprize x Lil Rene Gun
Sam Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser
James Fanello
216
$700
3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L3 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
217.5
$790
2
Mygunzsmokin
Gunner x Dun Dry Whiz
Ruben Vandorp
Bluesky Ranch, LLC
Clark Reining Horses, LLC
T-3
Expert Only
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Ruf Lil Joe
Ruben Vandorp
Ann Anderman
Ann Anderman
216
$457
T-3
Megatron 86
Alwaysshineyergunsup x High Five Surprize
Josh Tishman
Jeremiah Keller
Jeremiah Keller
216
$457
T-3
Ice Powers
SG Frozen Enterprize x Lil Rene Gun
Sam Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser
James Fanello
216
$457
128 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
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Cowtown Reining Classic
3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 AND L2 Christina Croston-Boyes and Weaponizer Pedigree: Modern Gun x Sheez Smart N Chexy Owner: Tanner Boyes Breeder: Ms Stables Score: 219.5 Earnings: L2 - $731, L1 - $424
3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L2 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Cookie Dough
Gunner Did It Again x This Duallys Tiny
Sam Schaffhauser
Jan Fisher
Sam Schaffhauser 218.5
$540
3
Ice Powers
SG Frozen Enterprize x Lil Rene Gun
Sam Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser
James Fanello
216
$381
4
Low Brim Stetson
Colonels Shining Gun x Starbucks Hat
Garth Brown
Karla Gragg
Jose Zarate
215.5
$286
5
American Shootist
Americasnexttopgun x Reed Her Like A Lady
John Irish
John & Rosie Irish
Rosie Irish
215
$254
3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
American Shootist
Americasnexttopgun x Reed Her Like A Lady
John Irish
John & Rosie Irish
Rosie Irish
215
$333
3
Gunners Royal Flush
Walla Walla Whiz x Gunners Deja Girl
Matteo Argentero
Kaleigh Argentero
Pedro Hernandez
214.5
$258
4
KA Turnnin Tricks
Tricked Out Spook x Walla Whizinnicki
Nici Walker
Tom & Mandy McCutcheon
Kristine Anderson
211.5
$151
T-5
Thedvldoesntbargain
Inferno Sixty Six x TN Jacs And Aces
Liam Macneill
Amanda Parks
Kristy Chandler
210
$129
T-5
Jacs Modern Moonshine
Modern Gun x Moonstone Princess
Catherine Johnson
Jeremy Zangl
Jeremy Zangl
210
$129
130 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
Cowtown Reining Classic
NON PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4 Jessicah Keller and Downshift Pedigree: Shift N Gears x In Ur Wildest Dreams Owner: Hilldale Farm Breeder: Hilldale Farm Score: 215 Earnings: $1,755
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L4 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Miss Addy Tude
Gunna Stop x Miss Lil Addy Tude
Dani Latimer
Dean Latimer
Toyon Ranch, LLC
214
$1,316
3
Gotta Guns Legacy
Spooks Gotta Gun x TR Cash Only
Rachel Olson
Riverwind Performance Horses, LLC
Riverwind Performance Horses, LLC
213
$878
4
Cookie Dough
Gunner Did It Again x This Duallys Tiny
Jeanna Schaffhauser
Jan Fisher
Sam Schaffhauser 208
$439
5
Ice Powers
SG Frozen Enterprize x Lil Rene Gun
Becca Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser
James Fanello
$0.00
205.5
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L3 Dani Latimer and Miss Addy Tude Pedigree: Gunna Stop x Miss Lil Addy Tude Owner: Dean Latimer Breeder: Toyon Ranch, LLC Score: 214 Earnings: $1,003
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L3 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Gotta Guns Legacy
Spooks Gotta Gun x TR Cash Only
Rachel Olson
Riverwind Performance Horses, LLC
Riverwind Performance Horses, LLC
213
$752
3
Cookie Dough
Gunner Did It Again x This Duallys Tiny
Jeanna Schaffhauser
Jan Fisher
Sam Schaffhauser
208
$502
T-4
Pardee Line
Heavy Duty Chex x Gunnalicious
Sarah Lynn Goetz
Hilldale Farm
Hilldale Farm
205.5
$125
T-4
Ice Powers
SG Frozen Enterprize x Lil Rene Gun
Becca Schaffhauser
Sam Schaffhauser James Fanello
205.5
$125
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 131
Cowtown Reining Classic
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L2 Rachel Olson and Gotta Guns Legacy Pedigree: Spooks Gotta Gun x TR Cash Only Owner: Riverwind Performance Horses, LLC Breeder: Riverwind Performance Horses, LLC Score: 213 Earnings: $661
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L2 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
2
Cookie Dough
Gunner Did It Again x This Duallys Tiny
3
Gunna Makeya Dream
4
Pretty Guns R Reddy
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
Jeanna Schaffhauser Jan Fisher
Sam Schaffhauser
208
$514
ARC Gunna Sparkya x Chic Whiza Dream
Sandy Lockwood
Sandy Lockwood
Nichole Ingram
194.5
$294
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Guns R Reddy
Analyse Diaz
Mike Diaz
Mary Jansma
185
$0
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 Jeanna Schaffhauser and Cookie Dough Pedigree: Gunner Dun It Again x This Duallys Tiny Owner: Jan Fisher Breeder: Sam Schaffhauser Score: 208 Earnings: $393
NON-PRO 3-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES L1 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Gunna Makeya Dream
ARC Gunna Sparkya x Chic Whiza Dream
Sandy Lockwood
Sandy Lockwood
Nichole Ingram
194.5
$306
3
Pretty Guns R Reddy
Spooks Gotta Whiz x Guns R Reddy
Analyse Diaz
Michael Paul Diaz
Mary Jansma
185
$175
132 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
Cowtown Reining Classic
NRHA 8-YEAR-OLD & OLDER REINING SWEEPSTAKES L2, L3, L4 Alex Case and Out Of The Furnace Pedigree: Inferno Sixty Six x Shinaka Owner: Patty Henry Breeder: Joe Hayes Score: 219 Earnings: L4 - $1,124, L3 - $900, L2 - $450
NRHA 8-YEAR-OLD & OLDER REINING SWEEPSTAKES LEVEL 4 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Sumac Gunnabeflashy
Gunnatrashya x Chics Graceful Whiz
Bud Lyon
Leslie Lange
Donald Sobey
217
$749
3
Ms Pale Face Penny
Pale Face Dunnit x Sujos Nica
Andrew Fox
Jennifer Kandlik
Heather Slemp
209
$0.00
NRHA 8-YEAR-OLD & OLDER REINING SWEEPSTAKES LEVEL 3 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Sumac Gunnabeflashy
Gunnatrashya x Chics Graceful Whiz
Bud Lyon
Leslie Lange
Donald Sobey
217
$600
3
Ms Pale Face Penny
Pale Face Dunnit x Sujos Nica
Andrew Fox
Jennifer Kandlik
Heather Slemp
209
$0
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 133
Cowtown Reining Classic
NRHA 8-YEAR-OLD & OLDER REINING SWEEPSTAKES LEVEL 2 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Sumac Gunnabeflashy
Gunnatrashya x Chics Graceful Whiz
Bud Lyon
Leslie Lange
Donald Sobey
217
$350
3
Spooks Come In White
Spooks Gotta Run x Supermans Fancy Ways
Isabella Crawford Isabella Crawford Brenda Miles
214
$200
4
Ms Pale Face Penny
Pale Face Dunnit x Sujos Nica
Andrew Fox
Jennifer Kandlik
Heather Slemp
209
$0
5
Trash Man
Gunnatrashya x She Whiz Pretty Juicy
Kyle Schurig
Janis Dickerson
Green Valley Ranch
200.5
$0
NRHA 8-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES LEVEL 1 Isabella Mae Crawford and Spooks Come In White Pedigree: Spooks Gotta Run x Supermans Fancy Ways Owner: Isabella Mae Crawford Breeder: Ralph and Brenda Miles Score: 214 Earnings: $450
NRHA 8-YEAR-OLD REINING SWEEPSTAKES LEVEL 1 RANK
HORSE
PEDIGREE
RIDER
OWNER
BREEDER
SCORE
EARNINGS
2
Ms Pale Face Penny
Pale Face Dunnit x Sujos Nica
Andrew Fox
Jennifer Kandlik
Heather Slemp
209
$300
3
Trash Man
Gunnatrashya x She Whiz Pretty Juicy
Kyle Schurig
Janis Dickerson
Green Valley Ranch
200.5
$0
134 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
ANDERSON BEAN | THE OFFICIAL BOOT OF THE NRHA
136 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
On exhibit September 12 – October 18, 2026
SEPTEMBER 25 – 26 ART SAL E WE E KE ND
Showcasing the best in Saddlemaking, Bit & Spur making, Silversmithing and Rawhide Braiding
RESERVATI ONS & PROXY I NFORMATION thecowboy.org/tcaa
Scott Hardy, Large Bracelet, Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition & Sale 2026
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 137
NRHA Affiliates Affiliates UNITED STATES East Central Central Ohio RHA Grafton, Ohio www.centralohioreining.com Illinois RHA Waverly, Illinois www.ilrha.org Indiana RHA Lebanon, Indiana www.inrha.com Kentucky RHA Versailles, Kentucky www.krha.info Michigan RHA Manchester, Michigan www.mrha.org Ohio Valley RHA Jackson, Ohio www.ovrha.org Tennessee RHA Speedwell, Tennessee www.tnreining.com Tri-State RHA North Jackson, Ohio www.tsrha.com Mountain Cowboy States RHA Banner, Wyoming www.cowboystatesreiners.com Intermountain RHA Draper, Utah www.irha.com Montana RHA Kalispell, Montana www.montanareining.com Rocky Mountain RHA Longmont, Colorado www.rmrha.com Western Slope RHA Grand Junction, Colorado www.wsrha.com YellowstoneRHA Wilsall,Montana www.yellowstonereining.org North Central Central Plains RHA Clarkson, Nebraska www.cprha.com Midwest RHA East Troy, Wisconsin www.mwrha.com North Central RHA Welch, Minnesota www.ncrha.com Northeast Central New York RHA Wellsville,NewYork www.cnyrha.net East Coast Reiners Association Bohemia, New York www.ecraonline.com
138 REINER 104 || NRHA NRHA REINER
Eastern Pennsylvania RHA Gettysburg, Pennsylvania www.eprha.com Yankee RHA Holland, New York www.yankeereiners.com Northwest Columbia River RHA Albany, Oregon www.crrha.com Great Western RHA Idaho Falls, Idaho https://gwreining.com/ Idaho RHA Rigby, Idaho https://idrha1.com/ RHA of the Northwest Manson,Washington www.rhanw.com Snake River Reining Alliance Mountain Home, Idaho www.snakeriverreining.com Washington RHA Brier, Washington www.wrha.net West Coast RHA Wilton, California www.wcrha.com South Central 4 States RHA Nash, Texas https://www.facebook.com/p/FourStates-Reining-HorseAssociation-61573914805437/ Kansas RHA Spring Hill, Kansas www.kansasreining.org Oklahoma RHA Kiefer, Oklahoma www.okrha.com South Texas RHA Pipe Creek, Texas www.strha.com Southwest Missouri RHA Miami, Oklahoma https://moreininghorseassc.wix site.com/momrha Southwest RHA Byars, Oklahoma www.swrha.com Texas RHA Hemptstead, Texas www.texasreining.com Southeast Florida RHA Webster, Florida www.frha.com Heart of Dixie RHA Ringgold, Georgia www.dixiereiners.com South Florida RHA Miami, Florida www.sfrha.com Southeastern RHA Wilson, North Carolina www.serha.org
Southwest Arizona RHA Scottsdale, Arizona www.azrha.com California RHA Templeton, California www.crhareining.com CANADA Eastern Canada Association Quebecoise de Reining (AQR) Repentigny, Quebec www.reiningquebec.ca New Brunswick Codiac Reining Association Pineglen, New Brunswick https://codiacreiners.ca/ Ontario RHA Waterford, Ontario www.orha.on.ca Western Canada Central Canada RHA Sunnyside, Manitoba http://www.ccrha.com Reining Alberta Airdrie, Alberta www.reiningalberta.net Saskatchewan RHA Prince Albert, Saskatchewan www.saskreining.com Western Canadian Reining Association Smithers, British Columbia www.wcra.info EUROPE Austria Austrian RHA Sulz, Vorarlberg www.nrha.at Belgium NRHA Belgium O.L.V. - Waver, Oost-Vlaanderen www.nrha.be Denmark NRHA Denmark Vejle www.nrha.dk Finland NRHA Finland Kempele www.nrha.fi France NRHA France Ponteilla, www.nrha-france.com Germany NRHA Germany Amorbach, Bavaria (Bayern) www.nrha.de
AUGUST MAY2026 2025
NRHA Affiliates
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 139
Thank You Futurity Sponsors
Dates to Remember August 6-9 NRHA Potosí Sin Límites International Reining Cup (San Luis Potosí, Mexico)
August 9-11 International Judges School
Since 1984
Upcoming Show
(France) Contact Patti Carter at pcarter@nrha.com for more information
September 2-16 Electronic Voting Open Voting opens online at noon for five American directors (one seat each for the Northeast, Northwest, East Central, South Central, and North Central regions). For more information, contact Christa Morris-Stone at cmorris@nrha.com
September 8 NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Consignment Deadline for more information visit nrha.com/sales or contact sales@nrha.com
October 1 Deadline for partner/sponsors for Futurity amenities
Oct 5-11, 2026
Southwest Affiliate Regional Championships, Derbies & Futurities More Added Money Two slates of Ancillary Last show to qualify for NAAC Join us!
for more information contact Christy Landwehr at clandwehr@nrha.com
October 5-7 International Judges School (Japan) Contact Patti Carter at pcarter@nrha.com for more information
October 30-November 1 Judges School (Oklahoma City, OK) Contact Patti Carter at pcarter@nrha.com for more information
NRHA Affiliate Championship Schedule
Thank you Sponsors & Exhibitors for a sucessful INSIDE SLIDE and “All Bettss Are Off” Futurities! It was bigger & better than ever.
Trainers Directory Tucker Clark
Ph: 520-273-8230 2035 N Conestoga Ave, Tucson, AZ tucker270@aol.com
Jim Greendyk
Ph: 623-225-4846 30644 N 156th St, Scottsdale www.jimgreendykhorses.com www.reiningmasterclass.com
Adam Hendrickson
Ph: 303-834-0000 15828 E Jomax Road, Scottsdale, AZ hph1776@yahoo.com FB:/adam.hendrickson.606134
Martin Muehlstaetter
Ph: 480-686-2919 27101 N 148th St, Scottsdale muehlstaetter@aol.com FB: /muehlstaetterperformancehorses
Marco Ricotta
Ph: 940-206-2561 15419 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale ricottaperformancehorses@gmail.com www.ricottaperformacehorses.com
Linde Von Koeding
Ph: 940-445-7629 30515 N 144th St, Scottsdale lindevk89@gmail.com IG: lvkperformance
www.AZRHA.com
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 141
142 | NRHA REINER
AUGUST 2026
AUGUST 2026
NRHA REINER | 143
Advertiser Index Adequan
117
American Hat Company
136
AML Reiners
119
Anderson Bean
135
Arcese
IFC, 3
Arizona Reining Horse Association
141
Capitol Ranch Real Estate
BC
Carol Rose/ Shining Spark
122
Cassell Equine Insurance
127
Cinch/ Miller International
5
Clark Reining Horses
88
Elementa
146
Empire Ranch
118
Enjoy LLC
105
Foals-R-Us
14-15
Four Sixes Ranch
13. DeFreitas Performa Performance Horses
Peter DeFreitas 1823 Quail Hill Rd. Whitesboro, TX 76273 Phone: 603-686-0073 Email: defreitasperformancehorses@gmail.com Training · Sales · Showing Located at Humphrey Quarter Horses
Golden Coins
25
Hart Trailer
IBC
Honstetter
113
Ixtul
123
JBJ Ranch
75
Markel
8-9
Montana Silversmiths
41
Morgan Reiners
37
Morton Buildings
42, 104
MS Diamonds TX
27
Muehlstaetter Performance Horses
17
National Cowboy & Westeren Heritage Museum 137 NCRHA NTRA- John Deere
140 101
OQHA
58-59
OSS
100
Platinum Performance Priefert Reining Horse Foundation Reliance Invitro
7 109 65 18-19
Ron Anderson
23
Schmersal Reining
22
Silver Spurs Equine SWRHA
144 | NRHA REINER
89
10-11 142-144
Tamarack Ranch
32
Tami Nelson
13
ThorWorks Industries/Tenda
31
Throsport
74
Tim Anderson- 21 Ranch
33
Traux Investments
26
Unbeetable Feeds
69
Visit OKC
129
AUGUST 2026
Stallion Index
Modern Gun
Stallion Index A Vintage Smoke
14
Alpha Viking
3
Arc Gunnabeabigstar
14
Electric Code
14
Gangsta Sixtysix
14
Golden Coins
25
Gunnabebigtime
13
Headlinner
14
Heart Stoppin
14
HS Marshal
14
Lucky Moonstone
14
Magnums Custom Dream
14
AUGUST 2026
14
No Smoking Required
14, 74
Picture Perrfect
14, 23
Payoso Rojo Gunner Shining Spark
14 14, 122
Shining Lil Spark
26
Smoking Trash
105
Spooks Gotta Spark
14
Spooks Gotta Tinsel
105
Spooks Grand Slam
17
Spooks N Jewels
14
The Firemen
37
Tricked Out Spook
14
Wimpys Little Colonel
14
NRHA REINER | 145
ELEMENTARESORT.com
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