When the curtain fell on the National Reining Breeders Classic Open Finals Saturday night, two outstanding horse and rider teams stood as Co-Champions. It started with draw 25 – Jason Vanlandingham and the 4-year-old reigning National Reining Horse Association Futurity Champion A Vintage Smoke. The talented duo marked a 227.5, which spectators knew would be tough to beat as only 11 horses were left to compete.

Then Nathan Piper and Patriot, another 4-year-old, rode into the Coliseum Arena. As the run progressed, it was clear the score would be a big one, and when another 227.5 was announced, the chatter started. What would they do? When the final horse had left the arena, the announcer broke the news that, for the first time in the NRBC’s history, there would be Open Level 4 Co-Champions, with each taking home $63,000.

Prizes include a year’s use of a custom 3-horse Sundowner trailer from Twin Cities Trailer Sales/Twin Cities South and Gary Raak, a saddle sponsored by Kyle Tack, an SPH saddle pad, boots from Anderson Bean, a custom vest from Palmer Performance Horses and Glycoguard Paste, product from Santa Cruz Biotechnology and Back On Track, and numerous prizes from NRBC.

Nathan Piper & Patriot

Nathan Piper is an NRBC veteran, but the Open Championship has proved elusive. Patriot proved to be a game changer. “I think I’m still in shock. Before I ran in, I felt pretty good about it. This horse is such a saint and is so good. He comes out every day and does his job,” he said. “He gives me a lot of confidence because he’s pretty predictable and he was getting better with every ride.”

Pattern 10 provides a great opportunity to make a good first impression with the run-in to a sliding stop. “When I ran in, I felt him drop his neck, and I knew he was in a good spot mentally. He gave me it all,” Piper said.

Piper trains out of Toyon Ranch, who bred and raised the young stallion by Smart Spook out of Dunit Lil Ruf. “They bought an embryo from Ann Salmon, and decided to sell him before the futurity. I didn’t want to lose him so I called Shannon and Hershel Reid and they agreed to buy him. It was a blessing; a gift from God, because I knew he would go quick,” Piper said.

The young age of Patriot and A Vintage Smoke made the decision to stay Co-Champions an easy one. “They have had such a hard two weeks that I think it’s good just to count your blessings,” Piper said.

Jason Vanlandingham & A Vintage Smoke

When Jason Vanlandingham and A Vintage Smoke won the NRHA Futurity Championship, owner Diane Mesmer was already eyeing a Triple Crown win. “The NRBC was the one that kind of eluded me on Not Ruf At All until his very last year of eligibility. With the group of horses we have, against the group of trainers we have, it’s still not going to be easy to get that done, but I’m glad to have this one out of the way,” Vanlandingham said.

He added, “This is probably the toughest horse show we go to all year, and for us to come in with a 4-year-old – and Nathan’s horse is 4-years-old as well – and come out on top is a pretty big deal. I’m pretty fired up about how good our horses worked,” Vanlandingham said.

A Vintage Smoke is by A Sparkling Vintage out of Lady Smoke Peppy, and Vanlandingham said he’s a natural show horse. “He’s a very strong stopper. He came through the gate pretty hard and he swallowed the ground up on that first stop. He turned as good as he can for me tonight. He did the same at the Futurity. The best he turned around all week was on Finals night like here,” he said.

Vanlandingham was standing by and watched Piper’s run. “As soon as Nathan walked out, I said, ‘We have something to talk about.’ He said, ‘You’re two thirds of the way to the Triple Crown, and I’d like to leave it and save my horse,’” Vanlandingham recalled.

After a quick visit with Mesmer, the decision was made. “Diane said if we could save the horses, we would, and we would both leave as champions,” he explained.

Dany Tremblay and PS Mega Shine Chic Win Second Open Level 3 Championship

Two years ago, Dany Tremblay and PS Mega Shine Chic won the Open Level 3 and tied for the Open Level 4 Reserve Championship. For Tremblay, this year’s win is just as exciting. “It’s awesome. To do it again with the same horse is awesome. I’m so happy. Last time he was a 4-year-old. I remember it like it was yesterday. He had a great run then, and today he was so honest,” Tremblay recalled. The pair also tied for seventh in the Level 4, bringing total earnings to $36,870.

The win also came with a custom saddle from Superior Saddlery LLC, an SPH saddle pad, a custom vest from Palmer Performance Horses, and product from M3 Products and Back On Track. Competing as draw three, Tremblay knew he’d have to go for it. “I tried to do everything I could, and he was so good. He’s a great show horse. He wants to be a Champion – he likes pictures,” he said with a laugh.

PS Mega Shine Chic, a 6-year-old stallion by Shine Chic Shine out of Marthas Sugar Baby, is owned by Adh Mor Ranch. “He’s owned by Brad and Amanda Kelly. This is another great moment for them, for me, and for this horse,” he said. “This horse has a great future ahead of him. He has beautiful babies on the ground now. They’re gorgeous. We can’t wait.”

Cade McCutcheon Wins First NRBC Open Title on Shes Got Good Guns

It was Cade McCutcheon’s first time to compete in the NRBC as an Open rider, but he proved he was ready, qualifying two horses to the Level 4 finals and winning the Level 2 on Shes Got Good Guns with a score of 221. The pair also finished second in the Level 3 finals and tied for ninth in the Level 4. “It went as good as I could have imagined,” McCutcheon said following the awards ceremony. Altogether, McCutcheon’s earnings on Shes Got Good Guns for the Open Levels 2 – 4 totaled $35,198.

Cade also won a custom saddle from Bob’s Custom Saddles, an SPH saddle pad, a custom vest from Palmer Performance Horses, and product from M3 Products, Nutrena, and Back On Track. The NRBC was only the second show for McCutcheon and Shes Got Good Guns, a 6-year-old mare by Colonels Smoking Gun out of A Bueno Poco Dunit.

She was trained by Duane Latimer, who made the Futurity finals with her, then shown by Todd Bergen at the NRBC, where she also made the finals. “She’s been a good mare for everyone, and she just keeps getting better. Tonight, I knew she wouldn’t do anything wrong, so I let her stay a little more fresh and it worked,” McCutcheon said.

It’s early in McCutcheon’s open career, which makes the opportunity to show Shes Got Good Guns even more special. “Roxanne Koepsell has been a client of ours for as long as I can remember. She’s been awesome. I’m really happy she trusted me with this horse. Not a lot of people would have trusted me with a horse as good as she is this early in my career, but she did, and I’m grateful,” McCutcheon said.

McCutcheon also noted that Shes Got Good Guns would get some much-needed rest before the NRHA Derby.

Josh Tishman and Magnum Style Claim Level 1 Championship

With a score of 217.5, Josh Tishman and Magnum Style claimed the Level 1 Championship, earning $2,968. It was the first time for Tishman to make the finals at the NRBC. “It’s pretty special to win today. This horse was actually my second of the day to show, and I just wanted to go in and be clean,” he explained. “He has tons of talent, so I knew if I was clean he would be good.”

The Level 1 title also came with prizes including a custom saddle from Continental Saddlery, an SPH saddle pad, a custom vest from Palmer Performance Horses, and product from M3 Products and Back On Track.

The 6-year-old gelding, owned by Mark Hurd, is by Magnum Chic Dream out of Easy Whiz My Money. “Mark’s daughter Elena rides this horse. They’re from the east coast, but she goes to TCU, so we have him at Casey Deary’s place so she could show him. She was actually at the college finals in Waco, so she asked me to show him,” Tishman explained.

While the pair were successful, Elena will likely take the reins back over for the NRHA Derby. “I thank Mark, Elena, Casey and Nicole and the whole Deary crew,” Tishman said.

Marie Kleiner riding Xtra Needs A Drink and Billy Williamson Gunners High Roller tied for Reserve honors with scores of 216.5. Each collected $1,581. Gunners High Roller, owned by Eitan Abu, is a 6-year-old stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun out of Yoplait Light. Xtra Needs A Drink, owned by Thiago Boechat, is a 4-year-old stallion by Wimpyneedsacocktail out of Ruby Chic Olena.

Dean Brown Wins Prime Time and Development Division

Dean Brown qualified three horses to the finals and won the Prime Time division on Gunnatrashtheplace with a score of 219. He also won the Development Division on Einsteins Lil Prize during the preliminary round. Gunnatrashtheplace is a 6-year-old stallion owned by Jeff Levine of Levine Equine Enterprises. “He’s been a very good horse for me. I’ve made the finals at all the major events with him. I’ve had him since he was a 2-year-old. H’e just a very nice horse,” Brown said.

Gunnatrashtheplace is by Gunnatrashya out of All Chic N Shiny. “He did really good tonight. He showed really well,” Brown allowed.

There is no other entry fee to enter the Development Division, but to be eligible, a horse must not have won more than $2,000 prior to March 15. The purse is paid out to the highest advancing horses in the Open preliminaries. Dean Brown and Einsteins Lil Prize marked a 220 in the preliminary round to win the division, collecting $6,000. “He’s a newer horse for me. He got a little stargazed by the crowd tonight, but in the prelims he was focused and easy to show and did everything I wanted him to do,” he said.

Einsteins Lil Prize, a 4-year-old stallion by Einsteins Revolution out of the good producing mare Smart Lil Prize, is owned by Robert Santagata. “I thank both Robert and Jeff for the opportunity,” Brown said.

Fernando Salgado and RSC Ramiro finished second in the Development Division, worth $4,764. RSC Ramiro, by Gunner and out of Shesa Wimpy Lilqueen, is owned by Miguel Cavazos Guerrero.

The 2019 National Reining Breeders Classic welcomed a large group of Non Pro competitors to compete for the coveted NRBC Non Pro Championship. Those hopefuls were reduced to 73 finalists in five divisions with Mandy McCutcheon, of Aubrey, Texas, and Party Nite walking away with the title during the Non Pro Finals competition Friday, April 19.

McCutcheon has now won more NRBC Championships than anyone; her wins total seven. Still, she was quick to point out that each one is special. “It never gets old. Never! I love it,” she said following the awards ceremony where she picked up a check for $30,000.

Prizes also include a year’s use of a Sundowner trailer from Twin Cities Trailer Sales/Twin Cities South, a saddle from Bob’s Custom Saddles, an SPH saddle pad from SPH Performance Gear, a pair of Rios of Mercedes Boots from Anderson Bean, product from San Juan Ranch and Santa Cruz Biotechnology, a Whisper Bit from M3 Products, as well as numerous awards from the NRBC.

McCutcheon and Party Nite were draw 21 in the field of 33 and marked a 219.5. “My game plan was to have a nice smooth run. She’s a lot of horse, and I’m just now starting to figure out how to keep it all together,” she said. The 4-year-old mare is by Gunners Special Nite out of Topsail Survivor, and was bred and raised by Sarah Willeman of Turnabout Farm, Inc.

“We bought her as a late 2-year-old or early 3-year-old. We won the Best of the West Futurity, but then we had nine penalty points in the preliminaries of the Futurity, and you don’t get very far doing that,” McCutcheon said.

Despite the bobble at the Futurity, many people were trying to buy the mare; and not for a small amount of money. “Tom said, ‘I hope you made the right decision,’ because it seems like bad karma to turn down money like that, but I just kept feeling like she had more in there. Actually, I still feel like she has more. Today she was very good and showed very well, but she keeps getting better all the time.” She added, “I just think time is what is going to do it for her.”

Luca Fappani & Sharp Dressed Spook Claim Non Pro Level 3 and Level 2 Titles

With a score of 219, Luca Fappani and Sharp Dressed Spook claimed the Championship of the Non Pro Level 3 and Non Pro Level 2, and the Reserve Championship of the Non Pro Level 4. Altogether, his earnings totaled $29,500. Fappani also received two Bob’s Custom Saddles, two SPH saddle pads, product from San Juan Ranch and Santa Cruz Biotechnology, product from Back on Track, a Whisper Bit from M3 Products, and several other awards from the NRBC.

“It feels really good. To win at such a big event is crazy. It’s mind-boggling,” he said. “This horse was riding great, but I don’t know that I expected him to show as good as he did. He was awesome!”

It was Fappani’s first time to make the finals at the NRBC; his first attempt was in 2018. “Last year I had a bobble in the prelims, but this year both of my horses were really good,” he said, referring to not only Sharp Dressed Spook, a 5-year-old stallion by Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Dolittle Lena, but also Spooks N Jewels (Smart Spook x Whiz Jewels) who also qualified for the Level 4 finals, winning an additional $2,150.

Fappani only began showing reiners a few years ago. He had been more into riding dirt bikes, but after several injuries, decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I decided I really liked the horses, so I started showing a couple of old geldings. At the beginning of last year, I told my parents I was ready to step up to the derbies, and my mom gave me an incredible horse (Spooks N Jewels). Then they bought me this horse in September of last year,” Fappani said. “They support me completely and I can’t thank them enough.”

He smiled and added, “I thank my parents, brother, and all my friends and family who are here to watch me and get in my win pictures.”

Jennifer Neudorf Wins Non Pro Level 1 Championship on Shining In Town

It might have been the first year for Jennifer Neudorf to show in the Derbies, but she managed to qualify for all levels of the Non Pro Finals, excluding the Prime Time. In fact, she would have done that if she’d have been old enough, but she’s only fifteen. “It is unbelievable. I am so happy. I just got this horse at the Futurity and this is my second time to show him,” she said.

With a score of 217.5, Neudorf collected $17,804 for winning the Level 1 and tying for third in Levels 2-4 on her horse Shining In Town, a 6-year-old mare by Hollywoodstinseltown out of Shine Ann. She also took home a saddle from Continental Saddlery, an SPH saddle pad from SPH Performance Gear, and several other awards from the NRBC.

From Canada, Neudorf competes in high school rodeos in barrel racing and goat tying but was introduced to reining by a friend. “My friend’s reining horses looked so cool, and all her pictures of her stopping with the dirt flying looked awesome,” she explained.

About a year ago, Neudorf needed a to step up her game, and bought a horse from Craig Schmersal. “I’ve come a long way since I started riding with Craig. He helps me get focused,” she said. “Today he told me if anything bad happens to not focus on that, just keep going. I missed our first stop, but I didn’t focus on that – just the rest of the run.”

Although her horse stays in Arizona with Craig, Neudorf travels south as often as she can. “I thank my mom, dad, Craig, and the whole crew. My mom and dad are so great, and the crew is so supportive. I couldn’t do it without any of them,” she said.

Karen Mills Pilots Pale Faced Dancer to Non Pro Prime Time Championship

It might have been a few years since Karen Mills made the Level 4 finals, but she made the most of it, earning a finals position in every single Non Pro division. Mills and her horse, Pale Faced Dancer, marked a 217 in the finals to win the Prime Time division, place second in the Level 1, fifth in the Level 2, sixth in the Level 3, and tie for sixth in the Level 4. All totaled, Mills collected $13,837 in finals money, as well as many awards from the NRBC and product from San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Biotechnology and Back On Track.

“This horse is so much fun, and I have to say that she dealt with my nerves very well. She’s so honest. You know, there are some things I’d do different, but I couldn’t have asked her to be better. She was really, really good,” Mills said.

Making the wins even more impressive is the fact that Mills has been riding Pale Faced Dancer, a 6-year-old mare by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Dancer Nic, for less than two months. “We bought her six or eight weeks ago from our good friend Tommy Rodden who really loves her,” she said.

The NRBC is only the second show for the pair, who collected Non Pro Level 1 win as well as a Prime Time Reserve Championship at the Cactus Classic. “She was awesome there and earned about $7,000. That was the highest I’d ever marked, so I felt good coming here,” Mills said. “And here she was so good. It’s like she’s right every time. She is so good-minded and a lot of fun. She feels like you can do it over and over again and she’ll be the same.” The next show for Mills and pale Faced Dancer will be the NRHA Derby, but she’ll show in the GSEC Coliseum one more time. “I’m going to try to show her and qualify for Las Vegas, so I’ll show in the Non Pro on Sunday and see what happens,” she said.

It was an exciting Friday evening. The National Reining Breeders Classic in Katy, Texas, ended the day with the Open Classic Challenge and $25k NRHA Open.

The field of horses was tough, but in the end, Martin Muehlstaetter and the 9-year-old stallion Blo Gun won both classes with a score of 225. Earnings totaled $17,687, and a saddle sponsored by Kyle Tack was also awarded. “This is a great place to bring an older horse. I think this is one of the higher-paying seven and ups there are. It’s great. I’m glad the NRBC Board of Directors keeps promoting it,” Muehlstaetter said.

Muehlstaetter and Blo Gun aren’t strangers to the Classic Challenge competition. In fact, they tied for the win of the class in 2017. “He’s a fantastic horse. He has a huge heart and no quit in him. I took him to WEG last year. He’s pretty special,” he said. Blo Gun, by Colonels Smoking Gun out of The Hot Jewel, is owned by Michael and JoAnne Garnett. “I think he’s going to go to the Select World Show with Joanne, and I don’t know, but hopefully back here next year,” Muehstaetter said. Gennaro Lendi and Colonels Dancing Gun tied Craig Schmersal and Hot Hollywood Whizky for Reserve in the $25k Added Open with scores of 224.5, worth $6,254. Traveling all the way from Italy, Colonels Dancing Gun, by Colonels Smoking Gun out of Dance Little Spook, is owned by Quarter Dream Italy. Schmersal and Hot Hollywood Whizky, by Topsail Whiz out of Hot Hollywood Jewels, also finished second in the Classic Challenge, earning an additional $6,478. Hot Hollywood Whizky is owned by Mark Blake.

The National Reining Breeders Classic is in full swing, and while the main event, the Classic, holds court in the Coliseum, there are many more championships being awarded. The Tellepsen and Wheless Arena are busy every day with tough National Reining Horse Association-approved classes. There are two slates of every class, and the first circuit championships were awarded on Thursday, with the winners receiving beautiful buckles. Also, the field of five rookies that will compete Friday in the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout, and automatically qualify for the Run for the Million Rookie Challenge in Las Vegas, was finalized.

Novice Horse Open Level 2 (1) Co-Champion Jared LeClair & Lime A Rita

Jared LeClair had never shown Lime A Rita prior to Thursday’s competition, but it didn’t matter as the two circled, spun, and slid their way to a score of 150 – tying for the win of the Novice Horse Open Level 2. Lime A Rita, a 7-year-old mare, is owned by Susan Meyer.

“Arno Honstetter trained this mare, and we bought her last year while in Vegas for Susan to show in the Non Pro. She’s done really well on her. I never showed her before, but I said let’s see if we can win a bronze on her since we’re here,” Leclair explained.

Everything lined up. “She worked really well and showed great for me. She’s a great horse, great-minded, and is the kind of mare that the more you get out of her way and trust her, the better she is,” he said. “This is one of my favorite patterns to run because you can really show your horse off and take your time.”

Meyer showed the mare earlier in the week, placing in her class. “She’ll show her the rest of the week, and I’ll probably show her again in the Novice Horse. We’re going to try to qualify for the affiliate finals in Tulsa.” He added, “I really appreciate Susan and thank her for the opportunity to show this mare.”

Novice Horse Open Level 2 (1) Co-Champion Novice Horse Open Level 1 (1) Champion Colin Fitzpatrick & Chics Love Affair

Colin Fitzpatrick piloted Chics Love Affair to a 150, claiming the Novice Horse Open Level 2 Co-Championship and the Level 1 win as well. The pair also showed earlier in the week in the Intermediate Open, finishing third. “She was good Tuesday, but even better today. I had a game plan of letting her choose the speed. She felt really hooked up, so I went ahead and asked her, and she was a machine. I couldn’t have been prouder of her,” Fitzpatrick said.

Chics Love Affair is a 6-year-old by Shine Chic Shine and out of the blue hen producer Memorable Affair. “She has been a late bloomer because we had to deal with some soundness issues earlier in her career. We got her all put together, and she just gets better and better every run,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick and Chics Love Affair still have a busy week, showing Saturday in the Wheless Arena in the second slate of the Novice Horse, and then in the Coliseum Sunday for the Open ancillary classes.

Limited Open (2) & High Point Champion Patti Brownshadel & Magnetised

Patti Brownshadel and her 8-year-old stallion, Magnetised, tied for the win of both the Intermediate Open (1) and Limited Open (1) on Tuesday in the Tellepsen Arena, then took home a win the Wheless Arena on Thursday in the Limited Open. Not only did the duo win the class with a 72.5, they also claimed the Limited Open High Point Championship.

“This horse never lets me down. He’ll make mistakes like any other horse, but he always tries, and he has a heart of gold, and is with me every step of the way,” Brownshadel said of Magnetised, who’s by Im The Chic Magnet out of Gee Golly Whiz. “Generally, if there’s a mistake, it’s on me.”

Brownshadel noted that Magnetised was “spot on” in the pen, mentioning that her husband said the horse was showing off, especially in his backup. “We might enter one more class this week, but I don’t want to overdo it with him,” Brownshadel said. “I’m trying to build us back up after our time off. I want to get him in better shape so he can hopefully go to some other big shows.”

Ever grateful, Brownshadel added, “I thank God, my family, and my friends. You don’t do this by yourself; it’s a group effort. I’m just the lucky one that gets to train and show this horse.”

Rookie Professional (2) Wade McDonald & Hot Rockin Spook

Wade McDonald had only planned to school Hot Rockin Spook for owner Jamie Walters, who would show the horse later in the day, but he managed to do much more. The pair won the Rookie Professional (2) with a 72.

“Jamie is one of Craig Schmersal’s customers. I was just going to school him to make sure he was good for her, and he was,” McDonald explained. “He waited on me everywhere and was very honest.”

Walters showed Hot Rockin Spook, by Smart Spook out of Hot Rockin Badger, the day before in the Rookie classes. “She’ll show him in the second set of Rookie classes this afternoon. This horse was really good and honest for me today,” McDonald said.

Rookie Professional High Point Champion Eduardo Maranho Giannasi & Ruf Till The End E

duardo Maranho Giannasi and Ruf Till The End, who won the Rookie Professional (1) on Tuesday, marked another solid score of 71 in the Rookie Professional (2). While it may not have been a high enough score to win the class, it did put the team in solid position to claim the high point buckle.

“Tuesday, we showed in the Tellepsen arena and she was really good, but I felt I had to work on a couple things with her. I was happy with her today and how she showed. I had fun with it,” Giannasi said.

Ruf Till The End, a 6-year-old mare, is by Lil Ruf Peppy out of Remedys Sure Slide. She is owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center. “I think she improves every time we go in the arena. Now I have to focus on helping Franco (Bertolani) in the Classic as well as helping our non pros,” he said.