Limited Open [2] & (tie) Limited Open High Point – Nikki Tyndall & Mercedes Shines

Topping the second slate of the Limited Open and tying for the high point buckle was Nikki Tyndall, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aboard Mercedes Shines. Sired by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Cromed Out Mercedes and out of Shining Maid, Mercedes Shines is owned by Deborah Ackley. The team posted a score of 70, which earned $280.

The NRBC is Tyndalll’s first show with Mercedes Shines. “He’s been in our barn for a couple years now,” she said. “This is my first show with him, but I work with him and his owner a lot. It’s super awesome [to win the high point] at a show like this that’s so competitive. I would like to thank the owner of the horse, Deborah Ackley. It has been so much fun to ride him here, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity. Also, I thank my boss Dave Moore and Kim Moore, and the whole team at Sheridan Oaks Stable.”

(tie) Limited Open High Point – Patti Brownshadel & I See Starzz

Co-champions of the Limited Open High Point, Patti Brownshadel and her 6-year-old stallion I See Starzz overcame what some might consider insurmountable odds to achieve success at the NRBC. I See Starzz got a late start to stardom, but for good reason. “This is his fourth show ever,” Brownshadel said. “He broke his shoulder as a 3-year-old and lost a year, but thanks to Dr. McCarroll, who pieced him back together for me, he’s whole now.”

Brownshadel, of Hempstead, Texas, has a deep appreciation of I See Starzz’ bloodline, having ridden his sire Im The Chic Magnet, as well as his grandsire, NRHA $6 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream. “I’ve ridden all three of them, so I’m familiar with the way they feel,” she said. I See Starzz is out of the mare Starzz In Hollywood.

Brownshadel will show once more here at NRBC in the Novice Horse and plans to enter some smaller derbies before returning for the NRBC [Open Classic] next year. Her gratitude for the opportunity to compete successfully runs deep. “Number one, [I thank] God,” she said. “Number two my husband, Elton Brownshadel, who is so incredibly patient and supportive and helpful. He keeps everything going. In these trying times, he’s been right there to help me get through everything.”

Rookie Professional [2] & High Point – Katie Davis and Chicsdundreamin

Chicsdundreamin and Katie Davis are two for two in Katy, having won both slates of the Rookie Pro division. Davis and Chicsdundreamin marked a 71.5 to top Thursday’s class, earn $249, and win the high point buckle. “I’m very thrilled, excited, thankful; it’s my first ever belt buckle I will have won, and I’ll wear it proudly for quite a while,” she said.

The 2007 gelding, by NRHA $6 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream out of Goody Goody Gum Drop, is owned by Nancy Stillwell, of Weatherford, Texas. Davis, who works for Deary Performance Horses, is grateful to Nancy and Allen Stillwell for the opportunity they’ve given her to show Chicsdundreamin. “I also thank Casey and Nicole Deary, the whole Deary Farm, and our farrier Glen Spalding, who is the primary reason that ‘Newt’ can have longevity in the show pen. [I thank] our vets and the whole team at Deary Ranch.”

The week is not quite over for Chicsdundreamin as the next generation at Deary Ranch is gearing up for Friday’s event. “Next up he is going to show in the Short Stirrup [class] for Joy Deary,” Davis said. “She’s very excited and we’ll get him ready for that tomorrow morning.”

Limited Non Pro Slate 2 – Allison Chappell and Trashysara

Trashysara and Allison Chappell, of Collinsville, Texas, took top honors in the second slate of the Limited Non Pro with a score of 144.5.

By NRHA $4 Million Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Sara Goes To Hollywood, Trashysara is a 2014 mare that Chappell and her husband, Alan, recently acquired. “I’ve actually only had a month on her of riding, and I messed it up in the Derby so I wanted to come redeem myself [today],” she said.

Proud of the run she made today, Chappell said she was pleased with the outcome. “She was really good. I had a messy roll-back, but aside from that she did everything I asked. She’s a really good stopper, which is my worst part, so it’s nice that she makes up for me a little bit.”

Chappell credits Gunny Mathison for his guidance as her trainer, as well as thanking her husband for buying the mare. Chappell and “Sara” will be taking a break from the show pen following the NRHA Derby because she is pregnant.

Limited Non Pro High Point – Tamara Bush and Little Joe Vintage

Although it had been five years since Tamara Bush entered the NRBC, in 2021 she’s returned to the show pen in top form. In 2016, the native of Kentucky who now hangs her hat in Hempstead, Texas, sustained an injury which caused her to undergo spinal fusion and a subsequent hiatus from horses.

“This is my first show in five years. In 2016 after this show I had spinal fusion and kind of quit riding, stopped showing, and sold everything except for my hat and my chaps,” she said.

About a month and a half ago, Bush decided it was time to gear up for a comeback, and so far she is thoroughly enjoying the ride. “It’s been fun! It’s surreal,” she said. “I never thought in a million years that I’d do this well but it’s the horse.”

Bush’s equine partner is an 11-year-old gelding by NRHA $2 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage out of Snappy N Smart Chic. “Harper [Connor] raised him and he’s just a cool little dude. ‘The little engine that could’ is what we call him.”

Bush will show again on Sunday in the Non Pro Classic/Challenge and thanked Harper Connor and Lorenzo Concarella.

With an adrenaline-charged performance Matthew Palmer, of Elverson, Pennsylvania, guided Gunnatrashtheplace to a 226.5, which earned the Open Classic Challenge championship and $9,374. The 2013 stallion owned by Levine Equine Enterprises, LLC, is sired by NRHA $4 Million Sire Gunnatrashya and out of the mare All Chic N Shiny.

Palmer describes the horse he calls “Beast” as one in a million. “A ride like that where a horse gives you its soul like that… and that crowd, I mean, it was just raucous! There was one point in my circles his ears went straight up. The people were going nuts. It’s a special horse to check in like that to you. He’s one in a million,” said Palmer. 

Gunnatrashtheplace is described by Palmer as an extremely laid back individual that knows when it’s appropriate to go into beast-mode, which is exactly what he did Friday night at NRBC. “The moment that you ask him for something he just clicks into another gear,” said Palmer.

Palmer and Gunnatrashtheplace joined forces a year and a half ago when Palmer moved to Santa Hill Ranch. “I just clicked with him. It’s been incredible,” said Palmer. “We’ve made the NRBC Level 4 Finals, won the Buckeye and then he goes to Scottsdale and keeps on coming and he’s incredible. I think now everybody knows who Gunnatrashtheplace is and it’s pretty cool because that horse deserves it.”

Plans for the dynamic team of Palmer and Gunnatrashtheplace include preserving the stallion’s energy until the time is right to go gunning for a million. “Hopefully I can knock the door down and get in [The Run For The Million] and then just save him for that,” said Palmer.

Palmer graciously thanked his entire support team. “My family, my wife who is behind me 100 percent, my mom, my father upstairs—he’s behind me. Bob and Arlene Santagota, everybody that works for me, and all of my customers. I’m just in a blessed situation. I’m proud to be from the east coast. I’m proud to represent us and I’m blessed to have such an amazing group of people surrounding me.”

$25,000 NRHA Open – Andrea Fappani & Starjac Vintage

Starjac Vintage and Andrea Fappani struck gold in Friday night’s star-studded $25,000 Open with a score of 229.5 that earned $9,033. Starjac Vintage, by NRHA $2 Million Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of Starjac Miss, is owned by Tim Anderson. 

“To be honest, I wasn’t really expecting it because it’s the first time I’ve shown him really hard,” Fappani said of the run. “He’s a horse that I’ve had in training for about a year now, but it took me a long time to get together with him. Tim Anderson sent him to me along with some other horses. The other horses I clicked with right away, but this one is a very sensitive horse, and it just took some time to get together with him. That’s why we didn’t enter the derby here.”

When asked about the qualities that make Starjac Vintage exceptional, Fappani said, “You know, I think I just found his particular strength. You can train and train and train, but until you go show them you don’t really know.”

Fappani was pleasantly surprised by Starjac Vintage’s ability to shine brightest on the big stage like he did Friday night in Coliseum Arena. “He’s a full brother to Platinum Vintage and he reminds me a lot of his brother in that he’s a show horse. When you ask for it in the show pen he steps up.”

After consulting with his owners, Fappani says this year’s competition schedule for Starjac Vintage may include major events like the NRHA Derby and Run For The Million, among others.

Fappani was quick to credit his support team for their respective roles in his success. “Of course the owners, Tim Anderson and Kim Niven. They’ve given me the opportunity to ride a lot of nice horses the last 12 months, and I’m looking forward to going forward with that. Also, the whole Fappani team. I’m the one here doing the interviews but there’s a lot of guys behind me—my wife and my kids—there’s a lot of people to thank.”

Madaline Callaway Wins Yellowstone Rookie Shootout on Codes Whizard Merlin

Five qualifiers to the Yellowstone Paramount Network Rookie Shootout finals battled for bragging rights and a one-of-a-kind award on Friday evening in the Coliseum Arena. Winning the Rookie Shootout was Madaline Callaway, of Loveland, Colorado, and Codes Whizard Merlin, a 2015 gelding by Electric Code out of KR Freckledface Whiz. Callaway—a back-to-back winner of the shootout—won a Yellowstone branded sitting bench sponsored by the Paramount Network and Taylor Sheridan.

Callaway said the win was unexpected. “The Shootout run was super good,” she said. “He acted a lot better than I thought he would for sure. I felt great about my stops. He’s a huge stopper. I kind of messed up my turnarounds, but he was a really good boy.”

Callaway acquired Merlin at the NRHA Futurity and hadn’t ridden him much prior to arriving at the NRBC. “I first rode him at the Futurity when I tried him,” she said. “I compete on a college equestrian team at Baylor, so I wasn’t able to ride him or practice before this [show]. It ended on a good note for sure.”

Callaway thanked her parents, as well as trainer Jared Leclair for his advice. “Jared told me to just go in there and ride what I feel,” said Callaway.

With the Short Stirrup and Youth divisions kicking off today in Wheless Arena, it’s only fitting to recognize PS Mega Shine Chic, affectionately known as “Crush,” and owners Brad and Amanda Kelly at Adh Mor Ranch for instituting a program to benefit the next generation or reiners by “Crushing the Fees.” No entry fees are charge to any of our NRBC youth riders because Adh Mor Ranch and Crush pay them all!

Crush, a 6-year-old stallion by Shine Chic Shine and out of Megas Sugar Baby, was the 2017 and 2019 NRBC Level 3 Open Champion and 2017 Level 4 Open Co-Reserve Champion.

14 & Under – Lisa Pirtle & Neon Pepto Sign

Riding her 8-year-old mare Neon Pepto Sign, 17-year-old homeschool student Lisa Pirtle claimed the win in Friday’s Youth 14 & Under and Unrestricted Youth with a score of 72.5.

Pirtle has traveled from her home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the past several years to compete at the NRBC. Neon Pepto Sign, sired by Peptoleap and out of Neon Cola Sign, has been teamed with Pirtle for the past three years as well. Pirtle said their run today was smooth and solid, as is characteristic of her mare. “It was really good, she did everything perfect for me, her rundowns and her circles. She slowed down really nice for me.

“I thank my trainers, Dave [Moore] and Nikki [Tyndall], and my family for supporting me and also the team members at Dave Moore Barn.”

13 & Under – Juliana Gonzales & SS Frankie Blue Eyes

Juliana Gonzales and her 8-year-old gelding SS Frankie Blue Eyes, aka “Frankie,” scored the Youth 13&Under win today with a 71.5. SS Frankie Blue Eyes is by NRHA $2 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of the mare Tuckachic.

“I’m from Houston, Texas, and I’ve been showing my horse Frankie for about the past two months,” Gonzales said. “I love his stops. I love his blue eyes too.”

Gonzales is 13 years old and enrolled in homeschool, which allows for more time to enjoy her favorite activity, which she says is riding. Gonzales thanked her parents and trainers for their guidance and support. “I want to thank my parents, Tracey and Steven, and my trainers, Thiago Sobral, and Emily.

10 & Under Short Stirrup – Joy Deary & Chicsdundreamin

Winning Friday’s popular 10 & Under Short Stirrup class was Joy Deary, age 9, of Weatherford, Texas, riding Chicsdundreamin. Joy said her favorite part of her crowd-pleasing, class-winning 74-point performance was “The stops. He’s very sweet and he does really big stops,” she said.

Chicsdundreamin is a horse that is beloved by the entire Deary family and everyone at Casey and Nicole Deary’s ranch. The 2007 golden palomino belongs to Nancy Stillwell, who is Nicole’s mother. “I thank my grandma for letting me show him,” Joy said.

The future clearly looks bright for the next generation of reiners coming out of Deary Ranch. “She’s very driven to do well and excited for the opportunity to get to show,” echoed Nancy. “She loves to prepare; she studies the patterns and she’s so excited to get to do this. This is going to be a fun journey.” Chicsdundreamin is by NRHA $6 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of the mare Goody Goody Gum Drop.

Imagine trying to decide between gas to get to a cancer treatment or a meal to build your strength.
Or the choice could be between hay for your horses or dietary counseling to stop the endless nausea that accompanies chemotherapy.
The horrible truth is that these are not uncommon choices for those diagnosed with cancer.
“Facing cancer is a battle no one should have to fight, but unfortunately that horrible disease affects millions of people each year, including those in the reining industry. Helping those in the industry is the reason 501c3 Rein In Cancer was created,” noted Rein In Cancer co-founder and NRBC Sponsor Shorty Koger of Shorty’s Hattery.
The tumultuous year that was 2020 created even more of a hardship for many battling the disease.
“Food insecurity has become a major problem for cancer patients because of loss of income due to the pandemic,” noted NRBC Media Director Savannah Magoteaux. “Nutrition can be the key to survival when fighting cancer, and there are so many patients who are struggling now. That’s why NRBC and Rein in Cancer are teaming up again to bring relief to the ones who need it most.”
In addition to the annual Rein In Cancer Silent Auction, which brings in substantial funds each year, the NRBC is asking its participants to bring storable food items as well. “Rein In Cancer is run by volunteers, so nearly 100 percent of money raised goes directly to cancer patients. Still, if a person would still like to help but isn’t sure about giving money, bringing canned or boxed food to the NRBC Show Office is a great way to help,” Magoteaux noted.
Rein In Cancer Silent Auction items can be dropped off at the NRBC Sponsor/Media Office, or shipped to the NRBC Office prior to the event.
Food items can be dropped off at the Show Office.
Best donated food items for cancer patients include nut butters, low-sodium or no-salt-added beans, canned meats and fish in water, no-sugar-added applesauce and dried fruit. Canned vegetables are always welcome, as are brown/wild/white rice, no-butter popcorn, plain oatmeal, whole grain crackers, and canned soups.
“Other items that are commonly forgotten are can openers or even simple blenders for patients being fed through tubes who have to blend their food. There are so many needs.” Magoteaux added, “Anything we can do to help, we want to do it. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had someone they know be diagnosed with this disease. Our reining family is generous, caring, and we can help make a difference in many lives.”
For more information about Rein In Cancer, visit reinincancer.com or call Cheryl Cody at 580-759-2572 or Shorty Koger at 405-232-4287.