Brad and Amanda Kelly return to sponsor the 2018 National Reining Breeders Classic Kids Academy slated for April 16 – 22 from 1 – 4 p.m. daily at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.

The Kids Academy is a hit each year as the children enjoy lots of learning in a fun atmosphere and through a myriad of craft projects and other activities with their teacher, Bess Bouley. Just like last year, the Kelly’s Adh Mor ranch will be providing stick horses to the kids in the name of their beloved stallion, PS Mega Shine Chic, who is affectionately known as “Crush.”

For the Kellys, returning as the sponsor of the NRBC’s highly popular Kids Academy is a given. Brad said, “It was so much fun watching the kids last year and being involved. We just wanted to do it again.” Amanda said, “The whole theme of the show is that the NRBC embraces the circle of life for reining horses – from breeding to raising foals to showing – and for us, sponsoring kids recognizes a gamut of the same thing – having the horse show kids involved and getting them interested in and submerged in activities all around the show.”

Brad added, “The way to keep people involved in a sport is to keep the kids involved. Having special activities make it special for them.” Amanda said, “We had a ton of fun last year as the first year dipping our toes into being sponsors and it would be hard to not want to do it again. We’ve already been looking at some other items we’re bringing along for the kids.”

For Adh Mor Ranch, there’s a lot of excitement this year in the form of new babies. Brad explained, “We have our first Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic) babies on the ground. That’s been so exciting and the anticipation of getting the breeding program going is great.” The Kelly’s ranch also raises top rodeo cattle and calving begins right after NRBC. Their best bull, Double Bid, is currently on the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Ford Tough Tour. For more information on Adh Mor Ranch, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adhmorbigluck14. For more information on PS Mega Shine Chic, visit Crush’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CRUSHadhmorbigluck.

Equo returns as a National Reining Breeders Classic sponsor in 2018 to name the three CRI*3 classes added to the lineup. NRBC offers these CRI3* classes as a courtesy to help athletes from all over the globe meet their eligibility requirements for the World Equestrian Games and is pleased to have Equo as the title sponsor.

“Equo is a company with just the kind of creativity that we like to bring into NRBC,” said NRBC Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Magoteaux Cody. “With the varied needs for horse transport in the reining world, Equo is a great fit for this industry. We are thrilled to have them back as a Platinum sponsor this year!”

Equo CMO Juan Palacio added, “The NRBC has been amazing for Equo since our partnership came to fruition last year. We have enjoyed being part of an unbelievable organization and look forward to teaming up for many years to come. Sponsoring the NRBC has allowed Equo to establish our brand to the entire quarter horse community all over the country. We want to thank you all for allowing us to sponsor and grow the NRBC!”

The folks at Equo are familiar with the horse industry on an international scale with a team made up of international riders, vets, and horse owners. The innovative company is based in Palm Beach, Florida and its mission is to make finding safe, secure, and affordable horse transportation easy. The mobile app also lets you track your horse’s progress on its journey and then rate the driver after the trip is complete. For more information about Equo and to download the app, visit RideWithEquo.com.

Markel Insurance returns in 2018 for the seventh consecutive year as sponsor of the National Reining Breeder’s Classic Markel Non Pro Draw Party. This popular party is set for Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m., upstairs in the Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.

The Markel Insurance Non Pro Draw Party puts Non Pros on center stage at an event with special touches and special fun! The wine glasses lined up with numbers on the bottoms make for some fun times while each finalist draws a glass one-by-one to determine their running order. Who will get the first run of the finals? Come to the party to find out! Everyone is invited to attend.

Markel Director of Western Disciplines and National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame member, Frank Costantini has been a true NRBC fan and supporter for several years and an integral part of the reining industry. NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Magoteaux Cody noted, “The sponsorship says Markel, but along with that – Frank Costantini is at the helm of Markel’s involvement. Seldom does anyone participate in and volunteer for an organization to a level that their first name becomes a brand. In the NRBC or in the NRHA, just say Frank and everyone knows who you’re talking about. He’s become that entrenched in this world as a Non Pro, an owner, a Board and Committee Member and Chair, donor, President, visionary – you name it! We are thrilled that he chooses to support the NRBC, personally and as the leader of the Markel sponsorship team.”

Frank added, “The NRBC is a very, very important and innovative show in this industry. It’s almost an institution – like a reining coming out party every spring! I don’t think I or Markel has missed an opportunity to be involved since it’s been in Katy. I have family there, so personally – on top of being part of a landmark show it has been fun to see family and be part of their lives.”

Not only does Markel sponsor the Non Pro Draw Party, it also awards the Markel Non Pro Commitment Award annually during the festivities. The announcement is always a surprise with only select NRBC staff and the Markel team of Frank, along with Chloe Lawrence and Karen Shedlauskas knowing the new recipient for 2018. Markel Insurance has a long history of supporting the horse world in general and the reining industry in particular.

Markel has insurance to fill all of your needs. For information on Markel Insurance, visit the booth at the NRBC and the website at http://www.horseinsurance.com.

Twin Cities Featherlite has been a part of the National Reining Breeders Classic since its inception in 1997 and will be continuing its sponsorship in 2018. The 2018 NRBC Classic Champions will receive a one-year’s use of a new horse trailer provided by Twin Cities Featherlite Trailer Sales. This year’s Classic finals are slated for Friday, April 20 for Non Pro and Saturday, April 21 for Open at the Great Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.

“The Open Champion will receive a year’s use of a 4-horse Featherlite and the use of a 2-horse will go to the Non Pro Champion,” said NRBC Sponsor Coordinator, Cheryl Cody. She added, “We greatly appreciate Twin Cities Featherlite returning as a sponsor. ”

NRBC Board Member Tim McQuay was instrumental in bringing Twin Cities on board through his friendship with owner, Gary Raak. Raak said, “We have been proud of our association with the NRBC for the past 21 years. And we look forward to many more years!”

Twin Cities Featherlite is a full-service operation selling both new and used trailers and providing servicing and financing. The company has locations both in Elko, Minnesota and in Pilot Point, Texas.

Twin Cities Featherlite’s Elko location is conveniently located just 24 miles south of Minneapolis, Minnesota on Interstate Highway 35 and County Rd 2, exit 76. Twin Cities South is located at 8448 Hwy 377, just south of Pilot Point. Contact Twin Cities at 952-461-6548 or at featherlitetrailers.com, or at the south location at 855-585-6548 or twincitiessouthtrailers.com.

Since its inception, the National Reining Breeders Classic has grown to include more than 220 subscribed stallions. For information on the NRBC, visit the website at http://www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.

NRBC has become one of the top reining shows in the country for a lot of reasons, one of the biggest being the dedication and generosity of its sponsors. Many sponsors return year after year to provide great collectible gifts for those entering the Classic.

Seen on reiners around the globe are the fashion-forward Electric Code ball caps that Jared Leclair provides. The caps are designed by Monica Mathison’s Just Stitch It and are always favorites. To learn more about Electric Code, go to ElectricCode.net.

Zimmerman Performance Horses continues to provide fashionable NRBC Not Ruf At All t-shirts for the warmer days at the show. Cam Essick designs these T’s with a flair for flattering everyone who wears them! For more information about Not Ruf At All, visit NotRufAtAll.com

Classic entries will also receive carry-all bags from another long-time sponsor. Jack and Viola Scott with their stallion, Magnum Chic Dream, have returned in 2018 to provide these handy bags, and reiners will be seen using them at other shows around the world. Visit MagnumChicDream.com for more information about the stallion.

The National Reining Breeders Classic welcomes Tamarack Ranch back as naming sponsor of the Open Draw Party. The Tamarack Ranch Open Draw Party – one of NRBC’s most popular events- is slated for Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 pm. It takes place upstairs in the Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.

The evening features a Calcutta for attendees to bid on Open Finalist teams to raise money to benefit Rein In Cancer. Attendees may also look forward to a catered meal, drinks, and great camaraderie with the top reiners in the industry. Everyone is invited to attend and to bid on items in the silent auction.

As in years past, the Draw Party will be conducted using collectible finalist wine glasses that feature both the NRBC and Tamarack Ranch logos.

NRBC Secretary-Treasure Cheryl Cody spoke for the NRBC of the importance of Tamarack Ranch’s participation. “Our sponsors are the lifeblood of the NRBC Show each year,” she said. “We work hard to create an event that everyone can enjoy and Tamarack has become an important part of our sponsorship family.”

Tamarack Ranch Head Trainer Gabe Hutchins praised the event. “The NRBC is one of the best-reining shows – the purses, the great management and how exhibitor-friendly it is. Plus it’s a strong horse show for the future. We at Tamarack Ranch want to invest in the future so being an NRBC Sponsor fits with our goals.”

Tamarack Ranch was established by Pat and Suzy Simar. Located in Oregon’s mountainous northeast corner, the picturesque ranch is home to one of the country’s most exciting young reining operations and to an exceptional set of broodmares.

Hutchins has been in residence at the ranch for the past two years and easily admits that the time has gone by quickly. “The ranch has changed quickly; it’s come along faster than we thought. Our broodmares are the heart of our program and this year we have a futurity string of horses that were born and raised on the ranch and that’s exciting. Our goal is to have our horses get better each year and we aim for 25 babies a year.” For more information about Tamarack Ranch, call (541) 910-REIN or visit the website at www.tamarackreiners.com.

At the NRBC each year the double slate of NRHA Classes yields more than just class championships. The high point winners for each receive special custom Gist buckles created by our long-time sponsor Gist Silversmiths.

This year those high point categories are: Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Rookie Professional, Limited Non Pro, Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1, Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2, Rookie Level 1, Rookie Level 2, Rookie Prime Time, Novice Horse Open Level 1, Novice Horse Open Level 2, $25K Open Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, Green Reiner Level 1, Green Reiner Level 2, Rookie Shootout Consolation, Youth 13 & Under, Youth 14 – 18, Unrestricted Youth, and 10 & Under Short Stirrup.

News is huge at National Reining Breeders Classic, with large payouts and classes for everyone! That is why it’s so special that Quarter Horse News keeps coming back to sponsor the Slide Street Journal year after year.

Quarter Horse News has been a longtime supporter of the NRBC and of the reining industry. At the NRBC, Quarter Horse News sponsored the NRBC Victory Party for over a decade then increased its support becoming the sponsor of The Slide Street Journal.

Quarter Horse News Senior Publisher Patty Tiberg is glad to support the event. “We are pleased to have a long-standing relationship with the NRBC as it is one of the most prestigious reining events in the world,” Tiberg said. “Through our sponsorship of the NRBC, Quarter Horse News is better able to serve the reining community by keeping competitors and enthusiasts informed on the sport of reining with an up-close and personal perspective during this premier event.”

Emailed periodically year-round, The Slide Street Journal is the voice of the NRBC, with news of the program and the event. During the show, The Slide Street Journal is printed and hand-delivered to the stall area early each morning along with being emailed around the globe in digital form.

The leading source for news in the western performance world, Quarter Horse News is a staple for any serious reining participant or fan for event coverage, profiles and in-depth reporting on issues that impact the industry. For information on Quarter Horse News, visit the website at www.quarterhorsenews.com For more information about NRBC, visit www.nrbc.com.