The long miles, hard work and hours spent putting the finishing touches on some of the toughest reining horses in the country culminated inside the Great Southwest Equestrian Center at The National Reining Breeders Classic with a crowd-raising performance. The focus of the night was the Open Classic Finals where competitors showed up to battle it out for championship prizes, bragging rights, and $75,000. Finishing the night on top of the field was Andrea Fappani riding Chic Dreamin (Magnum Chic Dream x Skeets Red Dunit) to a score of 229 to top Level 4 and be crowned the NRBC Open Classic champion.

“It never gets old to win anywhere, but especially here,” Fappani said. “It’s a special place. I have a special place in my heart because this is where I marked a 236, which is still today the highest in NRHA history, so it’s a great place where you can really showcase your horse.”

Fappani and the 5-year-old stallion owned by Silver Spurs Equine wowed the crowd with a stellar performance, proving why the NRBC is one of Fappani’s favorite shows and why he had such confidence going into the finals aboard the flashy sorrel. “I was waiting for something to maybe not go as planned,” Fappani said with a laugh. “It kept going as I planned it, everything was just right on. I was having fun to be honest. It was one of those runs where they award a high score, but it’s not like I was trying that hard. I just let it be. A lot of times you get to some of these finals and you know you have to have a big score to win and you almost try too hard then you get into the penalties or you override your horse.

“I knew I had a horse that could really mark in the stops,” he continued. “I had a pattern with four stops so I said as long as I nail my stops and stay out of the penalty box I should be in good shape.”

This year marked the fourth time Fappani has claimed the NRBC Open Finals championship, and he says it’s taken a lot of hard work to get here. “Hard work pays off, that’s what I tell everybody,” Fappani said. “[Some people] think it’s luck and it’s really not. You have to put your head down and work, no matter what you win, the next one’s not going to win itself. You have to go home, go to work and do the best you can.”

Fappani also had success on two other horses in tonight’s finals finishing fourth aboard Smart Shiners Spook (Smart Spook x Ebony Shines) owned by Silver Spurs Equine with a score of 224.5. Aboard Thebettertohearuwith (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chex Out The Cowgirl) owned by Bill Coburn he marked a 220.5 to split 15th place. For some, the fast change between horses in such a high-pressure situation could be nerve-racking; however, Fappani says the many years of practice has prepared him.

“It’s easier now because I’ve done it enough,” Fappani said of how he prepares mentally for each horse. “I have a plan the day before [I show] and then I separate all the horses and think one horse at a time. When I got on my first horse tonight, I knew what I had to think about with that horse and that’s all I focused on. Then when I get off that horse, I think about the next one and don’t remember the last one I rode. I erase it from my memory pretty much.

“I’ve learned that along the way because you just never know what’s going to happen next,” he continued. “I’ve learned to focus on one horse at a time and just go with it.” Along with the $75,000 for the title, Fappani took home one year’s use of a deluxe two-horse horse trailer from Twin Cities Trailer Sales, a custom championship saddle sponsored by Bob’s Custom Saddles, a Gist Silversmiths championship buckle sponsored by NRBC, a crystal trophy from NRBC, Anderson Bean boots, Whisper Bit from M3 Products, Ultra Cruz Equine Wellness and Joint Care plus other NRBC sponsored products like a custom embroidered cooler, a commemorative champion medal, and champion ribbon collar and roses.

Brian Bell and Dany Tremblay each marked a 225.5 to share the reserve championship in the Level 4. Bell rode Turn Down For What (Einsteins Revolution x My Way Marla) owned by Crews Reining Horses. Tremblay rode Adh Mor Big Luck Ranch’s PS Mega Shine Chic (Shine Chic Shine x Megas Sugar Baby).

They each received $41,000 for the reserve co-championship, a Gist Silversmiths reserve champion buckle sponsored by NRBC, a custom embroidered cooler from NRBC, a commemorative reserve champion medal from NRBC, and a 30 day supply of Cosequin ASU Plus from Nutramax.

Tremblay also took home the Level 3 championship aboard PS Mega Shine Chic, worth $20,589. Tremblay has had a big week in Katy, Texas, taking home a myriad of awards and championships over the course of the event. “It’s amazing,” Tremblay said of his win.

“We had the lead for a little bit and then Andrea had a great ride and what a great horse (Chic Dreamin), but ‘Crush’ is really special, and he gave me a lot tonight and I’m really proud of him. I think the best of him is coming in the next few years.”

Tremblay also qualified Magnums Guns R Reddy (Magnum Chic Dream x Guns R Reddy), owned by Ruth Hamlin and marked a 217 aboard the mare.

Abby Lengel rode ARC Gunna Mark Ya (Gunnatrashya x Shiney Miss Marker) to a score of 223.5 to win Level 2 as well as second place in Level 3. Making her win even more impressive was the fact Lengel competed with a tack malfunction.

“On my way to my first stop, I felt my stirrup break. My Blevins buckle came undone and I lost my stirrup and so I just held my right leg in there really hard and she’s a nice enough horse and broke enough that she just took me through it. It wasn’t a good feeling when it happened, but after the first stop I thought maybe I can do this,” she said with a laugh.

Lengel has been working hard to claim a title at this show and this year, all her hard work paid off. “It feels fantastic [to win the NRBC Level 2],” she said. “I’ve been wanting to do well at this show for a long time. It’s kind of been a long process getting [ARC Gunna Mark Ya] ready for this show, but she finally started feeling locked in here and she did really, really well. I’ve wanted to put a run down here for a while and I’ve been praying about it and God said yes tonight.”

Lengel pocketed $8,128 for the first place win, plus $12,533 for the second place Level 3 finish. She also received a custom saddle sponsored by Deshotels and Luke Gagnon, a Gist Silversmiths championship buckle sponsored by NRBC, Whisper Bit from M3 Products, Ultra Cruz Equine Wellness and Joint Care. Plus, other NRBC sponsored products such as a crystal trophy, a commemorative champion medal, a custom embroidered cooler and champion ribbon collar and roses.

A tie in the Level 1 saw Alejandro Ortiz Vazquez and Barak Gibori share the co-championship each with a score of 217.5. Ortiz Vazquez rode She Is A Chexinic (Smart Like Juice x Muskegs Chexinic) for owner Smart Like Juice Inc., and Gibori rode Pearl Haggard (Hollywoodstinseltown x Gunners Pearl) for owner David Silva Sr.

Ortiz Vazquez has had a long journey getting to this point and She Is A Chexinic’s owner, Jose Vazquez said he expects even bigger things for his future. Originally from Mexico, Ortiz Vazquez tried coming to work for Vazquez in the United State as a trainer, however, the long process of getting a work Visa made the transition difficult. Therefore, Vazquez sent six 3-year-olds to Ortiz Vazquez in Mexico to train, She Is A Chexinix being one of them. When he was finally granted his Visa, he moved to the United States and started working for Vazquez full-time.

“[The win] is great as an owner, but for Alejandro, he’s been working really hard and put in a lot of effort and I think he has a bright future as a trainer,” Jose Vazquez said. “He’s been working for me two and a half years and day one he stepped up and he’s getting better and better in the show pen. He has a lot of talent and a lot of respect for the sport.” Ortiz Vazquez pocketed $2,457 for the win.

Gibori and Pearl Haggard had a great showing in Katy, Texas, with the 4-year-old, who has led him to other wins such as the 2016 Tulsa Reining Classic Level 1 futurity champion. Stamina in the show pen continued to shine tonight in the Open Classic Finals.

“I feel great,” Gibori said. “He’s a great horse and he showed really well for me. This is a great show and some of the best horses come here, so it’s nice to get a win here.” Gibori also finished 16th in the Level 3 to tie with Mathieu Buton, Ortiz Vazquez and Matthew Armenta to pick up an extra $750. All totaled Gibori banked $3,207.

Martin Larcombe rode Hang Ten And Shine, who’s by Hang Ten Surprize and out of Ebony Shines to a score of 224 for owner Christine Brazeau to top the Open Prime Time, worth $1,950. “There’s an advantage to being old sometimes I guess,” Larcombe said with a laugh. “It’s good though. [During my run] I was thinking I needed to do as good as I could, to go as hard as I could, and the horse stayed with me pretty well. We just had one little problem coming around a loop where we popped out of lead and that hurt us quite a bit. Other than that, he was very good.” The 6-year-old has been with Larcombe since he was three and has continued to do well for Larcombe qualifying for the Level 4 finals at many shows over the course of his career. This year, Larcombe admits the stallion stepped up his game, which made the NRBC even more special for the pair. “Tonight was the best run I’ve probably ever had on him, just that little bobble that cost us,” he said. “This event here is where the best horses come and the best competitors and if you can just be in amongst it somewhere it’s something to feel great about.”