Kick-starting the week of festivities at the NRBC will be the Gunners Special Nite Welcome Party. After so much positive feedback from last year’s party, Steve and Rita Reed-Harris will again prepare and provide a delicious Charcuterie Board. Steve and Rita Reed-Harris have been supplying the food for the Welcome Party since 2013.

The Gunners Special Nite Welcome Party will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 17 upstairs in the Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club. All exhibitors and guests are invited to attend. NRHA Million Dollar SIre Gunners Special Nite is owned by Sarah Willeman and Phillip Richter of Turnabout Farm.

Sarah noted, “We’re happy to be part of this fantastic horse show again in 2018. It’s an exciting time for Gunners Special Nite, as his offspring earnings are over $1.5 Million, and he is the #1 siring son of Gunner. It’s a thrill to watch his offspring do so well and have such depth of quality and trainability and athleticism. We’re grateful to the reining community for believing in him and being part of his story with us. This welcome party is a great opportunity for us to say thank you and help to kick off one of our favorite events of the year. Wishing everyone the best of luck in the days ahead!”

Turnabout Farm breeds and shows jumpers and reining horses, and its reining division is based at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses in Aubrey, Texas. With earnings and offspring earnings approaching $1 million, Turnabout Farm mares are exceptional show horses and proven producers. The broodmare band includes three daughters of Hollywood Dun It, an outstanding daughter of the NRHA’s all-time leading dam, Taris Little Vintage, and the 2011 FEI World Reining Finals Individual Gold Medalist, Darlins Not Painted. Star reining stallion Gunners Special Nite won over $235,000 and was the Individual and Team Gold Medalist at the 2010 World Equestrian Games then chosen as the US Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year. For information on Turnabout Farm, visit the website at TurnaboutFarm.com.

The NRBC announced in late March that Paramount Network has come on board as the exclusive naming sponsor of the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout. This new event will be a highlight of the NRBC with Rookie Riders vying for an opportunity to make the 5-person Rookie Shootout on Friday night April 20 – center-stage in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center.

“Yellowstone,” Paramount Network’s new epic scripted dramatic series, is written and directed by critically acclaimed, Oscar®-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Wind River, Hell or High Water and Sicario). Sheridan won Best Director Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival for the universally lauded film, Wind River.

The partnership between NRBC and Yellowstone came about because, in addition to being the creator and producer of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan is also a reiner! Sheridan explained, “For me, reining has grown from curiosity to passion to obsession. It is a sport that provides entire families with opportunities to compete and play together in an environment that embraces both camaraderie and competition. And above all, no other equine sport involves such complete trust and connection between horse and rider.”

He continued, “My inspiration to create Yellowstone was to introduce more of America to the ‘cowboy way’ and promoting the sport that I love with the series was something I always intended to do. Likewise, the reining horse industry has been very supportive of me and being a sponsor of the NRBC, the largest derby in the world, I feel will be mutually beneficial to the series and the sport of reining. A career highlight of mine is a scene I wrote where Kevin Costner is looking to buy a stallion for his ranch. Andrea Fappani, Tim McQuay, and Tom Foran performed on modified reining patterns. Andrea rode Lil’ Joe Cash, Tim rode Custom Made Gun, and Tom rode Walla Walla Starbuck. We essentially filmed a sales video for the sport of reining. It was interesting to watch a scene with a pillar of the acting community interacting with a pillar of the reining industry while riding one of the sport’s most impressive stallions.

“Before we started shooting the scene, we were all loping in the arena, warming the horses up, and I couldn’t stop laughing – I was getting paid to ride Lil Joe Cash in the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana. Reining has given me a tremendous amount, and it pleases me to no end when I find ways to the same for the sport of reining.”

In “Yellowstone”, world-renowned actor and Oscar winner Kevin Costner serves in the lead role as John Dutton, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States under constant attack by those it borders – land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park. It is an intense study of a violent world far from media scrutiny – where land grabs make developers billions, and politicians are bought and sold by the world’s largest oil and lumber corporations. Where drinking water poisoned by fracking wells and unsolved murders are not news: they are a consequence of living in the new frontier. It is the best and worst of America seen through the eyes of a family that represents both.

The impressive cast list for “Yellowstone” also includes Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Dave Annable, Danny Huston, Gil Birmingham, Josh Lucas, Jefferson White, Gretchen Mol, Jill Hennessey, Patrick St. Esprit, Ian Bohen, Heather Hemmons, and Denim Richards.

“Yellowstone” premieres on Paramount Network Wednesday, June 20 at 9:00 pm ET/PT.

Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Rules:

The top five composite scores plus ties from Wednesday and Thursday Rookie classes will advance to the Shootout with no additional entry fees. The Shootout final round will be held Friday night prior to the start of the NRBC Open Classic Challenge. At NRBC, everyone gets a chance to win, and many get more than one chance, so on Sunday, everyone who competed in both preliminary rounds of the Shootout except for Friday night’s champion can enter the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Consolation round where another great prize will be given to the champion!

The American Paint Horse Association will again be rewarding the highest-scoring APHA registered horses entered in the National Reining Breeders Classic Open and Non Pro Classic, as well as the Youth, Rookie, and Non Pro classes with a custom Gist Silversmiths trophy buckle. The APHA has commemorated their partnership with NRBC for the past five years with these beautiful buckles and looks forward to awarding High-Point Paint horses again.

APHA Director of Business Development Kurt Crawford said, “APHA is pleased to continue partnering with the NRBC to recognize top-performing registered paint horses.“

NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Magoteaux Cody added, “We’re so pleased to welcome the APHA back for NRBC. The buckles are truly gorgeous, and we look forward to seeing the riders of high-scoring Paints wearing them.”

In addition to these awards, NRBC is also an APHA-designated show on the path for 2018 APHA World Show qualification. For more information about the American Paint Horse Association, go to APHA.com.            

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.