The National Reining Breeders Classic has been partnering with Shapley’s Equine Products to produce the Shapley’s Best Turned Out awards for the past fvie years. This year’s winner will receive a silver engraved plate paired with a bucket of Shapley’s Superior Equine Grooming products. Both will be presented to the groom of the best turned out horse.

To enter, click here or go to nrbc.com, then click on “Show information” and then scroll down to the form.

You only to fill out the simple free entry form and return it to the show office before the start of the Non Pro Finals on Friday, April 23. A panel of judges including staff at all arenas will have the job of choosing the champion and subsequent placings. Winners will be recognized on Friday, April 21 at the conclusion of the Non Pro Classic finals.

For over 75 years, generations of horsemen around the world have placed their trust in Shapley’s Superior Equine Grooming Products. They offer an extensive line of products, all starting with their initial product – Original M-T-G.  For information visit www.shapleys.com

There will be an exciting new addition to the awards lineup at the 2023 National Reining Breeders Classic, because the NRBC and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop will recognize the leading sires of the event with the NRBC Top 10 Leading Sire Awards.

Along with continuing to award the traditional blue crystal vases to the sires of the champions in all divisions, the foal earnings for each sire will be tracked, and the Top 10 list of sires for the Classic will be tabulated daily. It will be announced each day at all three arenas, published in that day’s Slide Street Journal and on social media, and shown on both the jumbotron and the live internet video feed. At the end of the show, the final Top 10 Sires will be recognized, and the representatives of the stallions will be presented with commemorative crystal trophies.

“We have a lot of great stallions and great owners in our industry, so it’s great to recognize them,” noted Rick Clark, co-owner of Clark’s Pump-N-Shop. “When Cheryl (Cody) approached me with the idea of sponsoring awards, I thought it was a unique way to do so. In our business, awards like these crystal trophies are ones that will be displayed in the barn or kept in the recipients possession forever. We all treasure that recognition.

“The NRBC is such a long-standing show; Cheryl and her team at Pro M do a top-notch job of running it, and it has a great group of people on the Board of Directors and the show staff. I supported it with my stallion when I had him, and I felt it was time to be a part of it again.”

Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary and Treasurer, noted “The board members and management team of the NRBC were excited to debut this new stallion recognition program. The sires are so essential to our industry and to the NRBC and it is important to highlight their accomplishments. Having Rick catch this vision and join as the naming sponsor was a verification of the importance of creating a new way to honor these stallions and their owners. His visibility and prominence in the industry make him a perfect partner!”

Clark is well-known to those in the reining horse industry. He recently finished his second term as President of the National Reining Horse Association and has been active in the reining industry for nearly three decades. He has been involved in all aspects of reining, as an owner, breeder, competitor, Board and Committee member for NRHA and the Reining Horse Foundation. He’s also served on the NRHA Sale Committee and as a leader in the Futurity Challenge.

Clark has long sponsored individual events across the country, so stepping up as the sponsor of the NRBC Top 10 Sire Awards was a natural fit for his patronage.

“I’ve always given back to the reining industry, because I believe that when something is good to you, you should be good to it. I showed for many years, until I got hurt, but I call myself a reining lifer,” he said. “We’ve seen plenty of people who come and go over the years, and then they’re out, but I have so many great friends in reining that I look forward to seeing at every event.”

Clark’s Pump-N-Shop, which operates nearly 70 stores in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida, was established in 1976 by John W. Clark. The convenience store chain is now co-owned by John’s sons, Rick Clark and Brent Clark.

For more information about Clark’s Pump – N – Shop, visit myclarkspns.com.

Twin Cities South Trailers has been supporter of the National Reining Breeders Classic since its inception. For the past 25 years, Twin Cities has awarded the winner of the Open and the Non Pro Classic one-year’s use of a trailer, and this year’s show will continue the long-established tradition.

NRBC Co-Founder Tim McQuay and Twin Cities owner, Gary Raak, are longtime friends. When planning the inaugural NRBC McQuay reached out to Raak to ask for his help, and of course he said yes.

Twin Cities has been in business for 4 decades, serving customers throughout the United States, and Canada. Gary and his wife Tammy take pride in the quality of service they provide, and their goal is to be a one-stop shop for all trailer needs.

Twin Cities is a company that provides the following:

• Horse, livestock, flatbed, skid-loaders, motorcycle, car haulers, utility, and custom-built trailers
• Aluminum trailers to serve every need
• A huge inventory of both new and used trailers for easy one-stop shopping
• Aggressive trade-in policy
• Knowledgeable sales and support staff
• Full shop facility for customization and warranty work
• Easy financing with approval while customers wait
• Trailers delivered anywhere in the 48 states

Twin Cities South Trailers is located just south of Pilot Point, Texas and keeps more than 200 new and used trailers in stock.. They are a full-service operation providing servicing, and financing, new and used trailers. For more information, visit their website at TwinCitiesSouthTrailers.com, or call (855) 585-6548.

The 26^th annual NRBC will be held at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 16-23. For more information about the event visit NRBC.com or call (580) 759-3939.

Matt Mills Reining Horses returns to the National Reining Breeders Classic in 2023 as the sponsor of the Open Draw party for the third consecutive year.

National Reining Horse Association Professional and Million Dollar Rider Matt Mills, along with his wife, Karen, are enthusiastic long-time sponsors of the NRBC, supporting the show in varying ways for nearly 20 years.

Matt said, “We look forward to the NRBC every year, and this year is no different! We are excited for the new venue for the NRBC at Tulsa, Oklahoma! We love supporting this event because we appreciate all of the hard work and attention to detail that goes into putting this it on. If you can, come out and watch the best of the best in the reining horse industry, or watch the live feed!”

Matt has been featured on Paramount Network’s “The Last Cowboy” since its inception. He trains and shows futurity and derby horses and is passionate about coaching youth and Non Pro riders as well. Recently, Matt moved to Weatherford, Texas to become a premier horse trainer for Bosque Ranch, owned by Taylor Sheridan.  He is in high demand for clinics in the United States, Mexico, and Europe, and is also committed to producing his popular online instructional videos.

Finishing 2022 as one of the National Reining Horse Association’s top five riders,  Matt will be featured at the inaugural American Performance Horseman. The top five year-end money earning professionals from the NRHA, the National Reined Cow Horse Association, and the National Cutting Horse Association, will come together for the first time ever for a one-of-a-kind event. Matt will face off against other top names in the reining industry for his share of the million-dollar purse.

The National Reining Breeders Classic is set for April 16 – 23, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square. The Matt Mills Reining Horse Open Draw Party will be held Thursday, April 20, and everyone is invited to attend.

For more information on Matt Mills visit MattMillsReining.com

For more information on the NRBC visit NRBC.com

Horse shows can be expensive, especially for parents with multiple children showing reiners. Most kids need more experience in the show pen to improve their scores, so it can be extra costly to get enough arena time for each child. Tremblay Reining Horses is easing that financial pressure at the 2023 National Reining Breeders Classic, by their sponsorship that pays all Youth Entry fees.

Tremblay Reining Horses is run by Fred and Dany Tremblay. Originally from Canada, they are now based out of Diamond Dub Quarter Horses in Marietta, Oklahoma. The brothers have made a name for themselves through Dany’s abilities in the show pen and Fred’s marketing skills working in the background. Together, they have grown their business into one of the most successful reining horse training, coaching, and marketing programs in the industry.

Dany crossed the National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Rider milestone in 2021 and has claimed multiple NRHA major event titles and American Quarter Horse Association World and Congress Championships on some of the best horses in the industry. He was named NRHA’s Non Pro Coach of the Year in 2020 due, in part, to Fred’s exceptional ability to successfully match riders with the right horses. More information about the Tremblays can be found at tremblayreining.com.

Through their work with Non Pro riders, Fred and Dany feel that encouraging youth participation now will ensure reining’s imminent success. Fred said, “We are very proud to be able to support the kids and their families. It’s fun to see the kids’ smiling faces when they show, and if we can help make that happen, it is a mission accomplished for us; after all, they are the future of our industry so keeping them involved is very important.”

The NRBC has bolstered its youth for years, since celebrating its 10^th year with the debut of the first Youth Scholarships, which have been paid out to high-scoring young exhibitors every year since. For more information about the show, go to nrbc.com.

Toyon Ranch will continue to sponsor the rookies at the 26^th annual NRBC, under the headline Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All. Thanks to Toyon Ranch owners, John and Nancy Tague, Rookie riders can compete at the NRBC this year without having to pay entry fees or judges fees!

The sponsorship is a significant one because the two slates of Rookie Classes at the 2022 NRBC grew to a total of 161 entries.

The Tagues are glad to continue to advocate for the rookies because they realize that boosting this fundamental membership level is good for the growth of the entire industry. “It is always worthwhile to experiment with what might grow our sport and engage new participants. The response has been terrific, and we will know for sure in a few years if it makes a difference,” John said.

“We feel that this promotion is a great way to encourage participation in rookie classes. Of course we hope these rookie members will continue their reining careers as they grow in experience and skill,” said NRBC Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Cody. “So many Non Pro members began their careers in the Rookie classes; it is a great place to get new people involved in the sport of reining.”

The Tagues have been committed patrons of the reining industry for years. They have served on various boards and committees, along with strongly backing the grassroots members of the National Reining Horse Association.  John added, “I think we, as reiners, should be the most welcoming discipline riders can choose, and this is a tangible way of doing just that. The NRBC has always been one of our very favorite events. We loved Katy, and like the Tulsa facility just as much. The community, itself, just makes it a great place to show no matter where it is held.”

They have long funded the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year North American Affiliate Championship held during the NRHA Futurity. In 2022, they began the Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All at the National Reining Breeders Classic. That was such a hit that they continued it at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

Toyon Ranch is located in the heart of horse country in Pilot Point, Texas. Focusing on breeding and raising the finest prospects the reining industry has to offer, they have accumulated an exceptional band of broodmares with over $4 million in combined show and produce earnings along with thirty Big 4 champions. The mares are crossed on the industry’s top stallions in an effort to create the highest quality and most diverse group of reining prospects every year.

In addition to the mare program, Toyon Ranch now stands an array of top-level stallions: No Smoking Required, Gunna Stop, Shine Chic Shine, Inferno Sixty Six, Jerseys Baby Driver, Maytheforcebewhizyou, Gunner Dun It Again, Dun It For Whizkey, Shine N Spook, and Colonels Smart Spook. For more information about Toyon Ranch, visit the website at toyonranchllc.com.

Slated for April 16-26, 2023, the National Reining Breeders Classic is moving to its new home at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The innovative and historical show has paid out more than $26 Million in its 25 years. The majority of the prize money comes from its successful stallion and foal enrollment program. For more information, visit nrbc.com.

Deary Performance Horses and Americasnexttopgun return to sponsor the 2023 National Reining Breeders Classic Open Finals Sponsor Reception, planned for 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, in the sponsor area at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Open Finals Sponsor Reception is the premier place for watching the action in the Open Classic Finals while enjoying great food, beverages, and camaraderie.

NRBC Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Cody noted, “We are proud that the Dearys continue to choose to be a part of the NRBC and have brought Americasnexttopgun on board with them for the past few years. They are committed to giving back to the reining industry and their support is so important in making the NRBC special.”

National Reining Horse Association $3 Million Rider Casey Deary owns and operates the ranch along with his wife, Nicole. He echoed Cody’s sentiments when he said, “We are happy to give back to an organization that has given so much to us.”

Nicole added, “The NRBC is host to so many great parties and events for all of the reining community to enjoy. Deary Performance Horses and Puno Performance Horses, under the banner name of their stallion, Americasnexttopgun, love being a part of that and being able to share with others our mutual goals within the industry.”

Deary has always been a strong contender in the reining arena, but in recent years, his success has been meteoric. He earned top honors in the 2022 NRHA Derby, the 2021 NRHA Futurity and the 2020 NRBC, as well as The Run For A Million Open Shootout in 2022 and the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity in 2022. He tied himself for reserve in 2022 at the NRBC and in 2021 at the NRHA Derby and gained another reserve championship at the 2020 NRBC along with the win. He finished the Futurity and NRBC in the Top 10 rankings for the past three years, often with two horses. To learn more about Casey and his team at Deary Performance Horses, visit dearyperformance.com.

Deary’s recent success was due, in part, to having Americasnexttopgun in his string. Lovingly called “Maverick,” the sorrel stallion has earned more than $425,800, and carried Deary to the 2020 NRBC win, the 2022 NRHA Derby Championship, and so much more. Owned by Jody and Jolan Puno of Puno Performance Horses, Maverick is sired by NRHA $4 Million Sire Walla Walla Whiz out of Americasnextgunmodel. He currently stands in Weatherford, Texas, at Oswood Stallion Station. For more information, visit the website at oswoodstallionstation.com/americasnexttopgun/.

The 26^th Annual NRBC will take place at Tulsa’s Expo Square April 16-23. For information about the event and its stallion incentive program, go to nrbc.com.

All Roads Lead to Tulsa for the 2023 NRBC

Tulsa’s Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square will be the site of a new era for the National Reining Breeders Classic. Not only is the central location appealing to a larger geographic range of reiners, but the added money will take a giant leap.

For NRHA Professional and longtime NRBC attendee Bobby Avila, the move to Tulsa is a game changer. He said, “I’ll be taking twice as many horses this year as we have taken in the past. It’s closer for us and for our clients, and I think you’ll see people from further up north at the show who have not come in the past because it’s not so far away.”

He added, “The facility at Tulsa is outstanding for what we do in the reining horse world. There’s not a place I’ve been to that has that much space to go ride – rain or shine. There are a half dozen outdoor arenas, plus a lot of indoor arenas to ride, too.”    

Besides the location, a dramatic increase in added money makes the already important event even more attractive than ever.  Beginning in 2023, the added money for the Classic will be increased by approximately $350,000 over the previous year’s $1.1 million. Those funds will be distributed throughout the different divisions, both in Open and Non Pro.

NRBC President Tom McCutcheon is excited about the changes. He said, “I believe the NRBC has been a leader in the industry for more than 20 years, and we want to continue that momentum and that tradition of providing great opportunities for owners and riders. With the move this year, I think the NRBC will open the door for a lot of people to be able to attend who haven’t been able to in the past.”

For the first time ever, the NRBC Open L4 Champion will receive $100,000 and the Non Pro L4 Champion will earn $50,000.  The increase will impact other divisions as well. At the 2022 NRBC, the Open L3 champion earned $24,921 but in 2023 that championship will be guaranteed $40,000.  The Reserve L3 title will come with a guaranteed $25,000, compared to $15,169 in 2022.

The Open L2 champion’s check will be for $20,000, over double what was paid in 2022, and the Open L1 champion will earn $7,500, also well over double the previous year.

The increases extend to the Non Pro as well, where the L3 champion will earn $15,000, the L2 $10,000, and the L1 $5,000.

And the added money in the Open Novice Horse division (originally the Open Development division), has been tripled – increasing from $10,000 to $30,000 – while the new Non Pro Novice Horse division will debut with $20,000 added! Both the Open and Non Pro Novice Horse divisions are for horses that have won less than $10,000.

There will also be enhanced focus on NRBC enrolled sires beginning at the 2023 show. Along with continuing to award the traditional blue crystal vases to the sires of the champions in all divisions, new recognition for sires is planned. The foal earnings for each sire will be tracked, and the top 10 list of sires for the show will be tabulated daily. The top 10 list will be updated and announced each day at all three arenas, published in that day’s Slide Street Journal and shown on both the jumbotron and the live internet video feed. At the end of the show, the final Top 10 sires will receive special commemorative awards.

The 2023 NRBC Show is set for April 16-23 at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For information about the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.

When a foal is born, it’s an exciting time for everyone involved, and right away, its owners start thinking about its future, including required nominations.

The National Reining Breeders Classic has set the standard for stallion programs in the reining industry, and has become a must-attend event for Derby-aged reining horses. That means nominations begin to pour in early in the foaling season and peak over the holiday season so owners can beat the December 31 deadline.

NRBC Nomination Coordinator Meredith Harrison said, “We noticed the number of nominations increasing as we approached the December 31 deadline. The excitement grew as the numbers soared higher, and when enrollments passed the 2,900, it was a real thrill.”

In 2021, the NRBC received 2,674 nominations, and in 2022 that number reached a record-shattering 2,914 – the highest number of enrollments since the program’s inception in 1997.  The sire leading the number of enrolled foals in 2022 was Spooks Gotta Whiz with 185, followed by A Vintage Smoke with 124, and Colonels Shining Gun in third with 117. Rounding out the top five were Inferno Sixty Six and Spooks Gotta Spark with 115 and 108, respectively.

 Harrison added that the upward trend is not a new phenomenon, but this year’s jump was unprecedented. “The numbers have climbed every year since the previous high in 2007,” she explained.

Click here to check enrollment status of foals from 2022.

Since its inception, the NRBC has grown to include more than 200 subscribed stallions, and has paid more than $26 million since it was created in 1997. The 2023 NRBC Show will take place April 16-23 at the Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, for the first time ever, the NRBC Level 4 Open Champion will receive $100,000 and the L4 Non Pro Champion will win $50,000.

For information on the NRBC, call 580-759-3939.