The Non Pro preliminary round of the National Reining Breeders Classic wrapped up Thursday evening, and the 220+ field was whittled down to the top 30 (plus ties) in the Level 4. Those riders will all compete on Saturday, April 19, in the clean-slate Finals, where the winner will be presented with a check for $50,000!
Although she might be one of the youngest competitors entered in the Classic this year, Emma Vanlandingham once again proved she has what it takes to compete with the best in the sport. During the second section, she piloted Diamond Handz (Dun It For Whizkey x Princess N Pearls) to a 220.5. That score held through the rest of the round, and during the Markel Non Pro Finals Draw Party, Emma was presented with a check for $7,771.
When asked if Vanlandingham’s age adds pressure to her performance in the arena, she answered, “I feel probably the same pressure as everybody else that’s going into this because we all have to compete against some of the best riders in the non-pro and really in our whole industry. I get to compete against people that I’ve looked up to my whole entire life, so it’s not really much pressure – it’s just excitement to get to go do that with so many great riders.”
Diamond Handz, a 5-year-old gelding, was bred by Mark Smith and is owned by 2Star Investments. He’s one of two horses Vanlandingham will show in the Finals on Saturday evening.
The scores needed to advance to the Finals were:
- Level 4 – 215
- Level 3 – 213
- Level 2 – 212
- Level 1 – 210
- Prime Time – 213 (with handicap)
- Masters – 212.5 (with handicap)
The Preliminary round leaders were:
Level 4 – Emma Vanlandingham & Diamond Handz (Dun It For Whizkey x Princess N Pearls) – 220.5
Owned by 2Star Investments | Bred by Mark Smith
Level 3 & Level 2 – Chandler Winard & Whoz Joe Daddy (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Sunshine Annie) – 220
Owned by Chandler Winard | Bred by Bahn Quarter Horses
Level 1 — Nicole Deary & Dun It For Whiz (Dun It For Whizkey x Indians Gunalena) – 217
Owned by Casey Deary | Bred by Calvin Burger
Prime Time & Non Pro Chrome Cash — Kim Muehlstaetter & Smoky Mountain Rein (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Sprats Electricspark) – 220
Owned by Kim & Martin Muehlstaetter | Bred by Texas Horsepower Ranch LLC
Masters – Julie Ridgeway & Ghostface (Pale Face Dunnit x Surpriseinadarkalley) – 217.5 (with handicap)
Owned by Rolling Hills Ranch | Bred by Story Book Stables
Non Pro Novice Horse — Kylie Warn & What A Surprise (Walla Walla Whiz x Surpriseinadarkalley) – 216.5
Owned by Deer Creek Farms | Bred by Story Book Stables
Complete draws, results, news, and more can be found at NRBC.com.