Earlier this year, the National Reining Breeders Classic Board of Directors elected to add to the popular Shootout roster. The excitement for the three divisions – Green Reiner, Masters, and Legends – quickly grew. The new Shootouts will debut at the 2024 NRBC, held April 16-27 at the Build Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

NRHA All Time Leading Rider Andrea Fappani and his wife, Tish, offered to sponsor the Legends Shootout under the name of their stallion, Spooks N Jewels.

“After years of the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout, it was an easy decision to create more Shootout opportunities for other classes. We are excited to introduce these at the 2024 NRBC and thank Andrea and Tish Fappani for sponsoring the Legends Shootout,” Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary/Treasurer, said. “Andrea and Tish have never failed to support the NRBC, and the Legends Shootout is another example of their willingness to help the reining industry.”

To advance to the Fappani Performance Horses/Spooks N Jewels Legends Shootout, riders aged 70 and older must compete in both slates of the Legends Non Pro ancillary classes, held April 21 and 22. The entries that finish with one of the top five composite scores will advance and compete as part of the Shootout lineup on Thursday, April 25, which begins at 5 p.m. in the Ford Truck Arena. No additional entry fee is required for riders who advance to the Fappani/Spooks N Jewels Legends Shootout.

“The NRBC has always been a premier event that leads the way in the industry, and takes care of riders at every level,” Andrea said. “It’s exciting to see the growth of the Shootouts and highlighting riders of all ages. Good luck to all the Legends contestants at this year’s NRBC.”

That growth is what prompted the Fappanis to sponsor the Legends Shootout under the banner of Fappani Performance Horses and Spooks N Jewels, their stallion who has strong ties to the NRBC arena. Known as “Journey,” Spooks N Jewels finished high at the NRBC in the Non Pro Classic for Luca and Tish three separate years, and in 2021, pulled double duty in the Open and Non Pro Classic Challenges, finishing Reserve in the Open with Andrea and winning the Non Pro with Tish.

Tish knew Spooks N Jewels, by Smart Spook out of Whiz Jewels, was exceptional from the first time she saw him as a yearling. Andrea had shown Whiz Jewels late in her derby career, so it was a simple decision when her colt was offered for sale. Now, the 11-year-old stallion now boasts lifetime earnings above $200,000.

“He’s been the ultimate show horse. He was an open-caliber horse for Andrea, and then he could return to the non pro for Luca and me. His last run was Jeremy’s one-time debut in the arena, and they won the rookie class,” Tish shared of the stallion, who is now officially retired at Fappani Performance Horses. “His mind always set him apart, and we cannot wait until his first crop goes under saddle in 2025.”

The top five wins for Spooks N Jewels are:

• 2016 All American Quarter Horse Congress Level 4 Open Futurity 4^th (Andrea Fappani) – $13,151
• 2019 NRHA Derby Level 4 Non Pro Reserve Champion (Luca Fappani) – $11,458
• 2018 Reining by the Bay Level 4 Non Pro Derby Champion (Luca Fappani) – $10,846
• 2017 NRBC Level 4 Non Pro Classic 4^th (Tish Fappani) – $10,000
• 2017 NRBC Level 3 Non Pro Classic Champion (Tish Fappani) – $8,400

Entry forms for the Legends classes to qualify for the Fappani Performance Horses/Spooks N Jewels Shootout and other classes can be found at NRBC.com/forms, along with a complete schedule and the latest news.

$20k-Added Inaugural Claiming Reining to be Held at 2024 NRBC

The Prime Time Non Pro division. Horses older than four competing in a Derby. The Short Stirrup class for the youngest riders.

What do they all have in common? They were all first introduced to reining at the National Reining Breeders Classic.

Since 1998, the NRBC Board of Directors and Management Team have worked hard to bring innovative and new ideas to the reining industry, borrowing from the diverse Board’s background in other industries and from listening to peers. Many of those once out-of-the-box models have become mainstays at reinings around the globe.

“We are proud of the many things we have tried at the NRBC, from fun activities to making moves to help strengthen the longevity of the reining horse,” shared NRBC President Tom McCutcheon. “While a few of those concepts didn’t work and were discontinued, a large number have been very successful.”

The latest brainchild of the NRBC is the claiming reining. McCutcheon and fellow board member Pete Kyle brought the idea for the class, borrowed from the racing industry, to the rest of the Board for consideration.

The inaugural $40k Claiming Reining will be held Thursday, April 25, following the new Shootout lineup, which includes the Yellowstone Rookie, the Masters, the Legends, and the Green Reiner Shootouts.

The $20,000-added class will be open to all reining horses four years old and older and will give potential buyers the chance to buy a ready-to-show horse.

“It’s interesting to see how this concept will work in reining,” McCutcheon said. “We believe this will be an exciting class.”

The claiming class will feature $20,000 in added money, and entries will be due by noon on Tuesday, April 23.

To enter a horse in the Claiming Reining, the owner must sign an agreement that the horse is available for purchase for $40,000, and submit the registration papers and signed transfer to Show Management at the time of the entry.

Any NRHA member can claim a horse in the Claiming Reining by filling out a claim form and submitting a check for $40,000 to the show office by noon the day of the class. Show Management will hold the claim form and check, and the claims will be kept confidential until the end of the class.

“Once the class is over, owners of the claimed horses will be notified of the sale and given the new owner’s identity. All prizes and money won will go to the horse’s original owner,” McCutcheon explained.

So what happens when two or more people claim the same horse? In that case, the winning claimer will be drawn by show management in the presence of the individuals who made the claims.

The complete Terms and Conditions of the Claiming Reining can be found on NRBC.com.

In 2023, the National Reining Breeders Classic introduced Draw Counters at each end gate. The digital displays allow exhibitors to quickly identify which rider is in the pen, and plan their preparation accordingly. Casey and David Davidson, at the time relatively new to the reining scene, elected to sponsor the innovative Draw Counters, and have committed to do the same in 2024. This year’s NRBC will return to Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla., and be held April 16 – 27.

“The Draw Counters have been a welcome convenience to our exhibitors, and we are thrilled that the Davidsons have decided to return as a valued NRBC Sponsor,” said Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary/Treasurer.

David Davidson, his wife, Casey, and children Deanna and Will, started showing in the Stock Horse of Texas association, competing in all four versatility classes – ranch reining, working cow horse, stock horse pleasure, and ranch trail – but quickly, reining became everyone’s favorite event. The Davidsons now ride with Gabe Hutchins of Tamarack Ranch.

The 2023 NRBC was the second major reining event the family had attended and became a must-attend. “It was a blast last year.  Everyone there was super nice to work with, and we plan to continue to show there for years to come,” David Davidson shared, adding that he, his wife, and both children will all be showing at this year’s event.

“I really like the new schedule this year, especially having the non pro and open separated like it is. I think it will fit into our schedule a little better,” he added.

For more information regarding the 2024 NRBC, visit NRBC.com

Your horse lifts from the final stop. You reach down and pat his shoulder or scratch his neck. He tried so hard for you. At this point, it doesn’t matter what the score was. It was either the best run you’ve ever had on him or a huge improvement, or perhaps the two of you finally nailed that part you’ve been working so hard on. If only you could give him more than a pat.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Shane and Kalicia Walters’ Diamond Dub Quarter Horses, under the banner of their resident stallion Tinker With Dreams, known as “Cilantro,” you will be able to find tasty horse treats just outside of the Ford Truck Arena during the National Reining Breeders Classic. The Cilantro Horse Snack Stop will include carrots, apples, peppermints, and various horse cookies to accommodate every horse’s preference.

Kalicia said, “We are happy to sponsor the Cilantro Snack Shop because we know, as riders and owners, that we all love spoiling our horses as much as the horses enjoy getting the carrot. It’s a win for both the horse and the rider.”

Cilantro is a 2014 AQHA/APHA double-registered chestnut stallion by Tinker With Guns out of Thischicsdundreamin. His lifetime earnings soared to more than $396,000 when he won the reserve championship at the 2023 The Run For A Million. He also topped the 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic, won an American Quarter Horse Association Sr. Reining World Championship in 2020, and was 5^th in the 2017 NRHA Open Level 4 Futurity, among others. His foals are eligible for many incentive programs, including NRHA, NRHA Sire and Dam, NRBC, the Riata Buckle Futurity, the North American Reining Stakes, the Northeast Breeders Trust, and the Rocky Mountain Futurity Stakes. He stands at Oswood Stallion Station in Weatherford, Texas. For more information about him, visit their website at oswoodstallionstation.com/tinker-with-dreams/.

Diamond Dub Quarter Horses, located near Marietta, Okla., is 470 acres of rolling grassland dotted with hundreds of mature pecan and oak trees. It features a new, covered 300’ x 150’ arena, round pens, walkers, stallion turnouts, offices, a guest house, and a lounge. Shane and Kalicia look forward to taking potential customers out on their ATVs to browse the weanlings and yearlings while taking in the full experience of the ranch. For more information, go to https://www.diamonddubqh.com/.

A baker’s dozen.

That’s not a statement about pastries, but the number of years that Markel has sponsored the Non Pro Finals Draw Party at the National Reining Breeders Classic. The revered insurance company returns as sponsor of the 2024 Non Pro Finals Draw Party, which will be held April 19th, the evening before the Non Pro Finals.

“Markel has been a major sponsor for many years, and in 2012, Frank Costantini made a decision to focus their support on the non pro riders of the NRBC,” Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary/Treasurer, shared. “The Markel Non Pro Finals Draw Party is a time to celebrate our non pros and their achievements, and there is no better partner for that endeavor than Markel.”

Costantini, Markel’s Sr. Director of Western Disciplines and member of the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame, is a staunch supporter of the reining industry, and the non pro sector is a special part of that.

For the ninth year in a row, Markel will also present the NRBC Markel Commitment Award. When the award was first presented in 2016, it was designated to the non pro. It then changed to include other worthy recipients.

“A panel who decides the honoree looks for someone who is always ready to help out, give a pat on the back, or a word of encouragement. It’s this person who makes the NRBC and the reining world a better place because they are part of it,” Cody shared. “We have so many great people in our industry that deserve to be recognized, and we look forward to revealing this year’s winner during the Markel Non Pro Finals Draw Party.”

Markel will have a booth set up at the NRBC with on-site licensed insurance agents to take care of all your horse mortality, equine liability and farm and ranch insurance needs. For more information about Markel’s insurance products, please visit markelhorseandfarm.com.

About Markel
Markel is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The company’s principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. In each of the company’s businesses, it seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. The financial goals of the company are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. Coverage is provided by one or more of the insurance companies within Markel,  Markel® is a registered trademark of the Markel Corporation. Visit Markel on the web at markel.com.

In 2023, the National Reining Breeders Classic introduced the Top 10 Leading Sire Awards. The foal earnings from the Classic were tracked for each sire, with daily results published online and in the Slide Street Journal, and announced each day in all three competition arenas. At the conclusion of the Classic Open Finals on Saturday night, the Top 10 Sires were recognized.

Topping the list was Gunnatrashya ($327,708), followed by Spooks Gotta Whiz ($205,811), and Gunner ($141,14). Magnum Chic Dream ($97,852) and SG Frozen Enterprize ($71,609) rounded out the Top 5, while Wimpys Little Step, Whizkey N Diamonds, Shiners Voodoo Dr, Platinum Vintage, and Not Ruf At All also made the Top 10 list.

“We have a lot of great stallions and owners in the NRBC, and we were looking for a unique way to recognize them,” shared Tom McCutcheon, President of the NRBC. “Rick Clark, who is a big supporter of reining, heard about the awards and stepped up as the sponsor of them under the name of his company, Clark’s Pump-N-Shop. We thank Rick and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop for making these awards even more special.”

Clark is well-known to those in the reining horse industry. He is a former 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, and 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 supported individual events across the country, so sponsoring the NRBC Top 10 Sire Awards was a natural fit for his patronage.

“I’m a huge fan of this show. I love the NRBC, and what it has done for the reining industry,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of the NRBC sponsor family.”

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.

Toyon Ranch Returns as Sponsor of Rookie Free-For-All

Thanks to Toyon Ranch owners John and Nancy Tague, Rookie riders at the NRBC can, once again, compete at this year’s National Reining Breeders Classic without having to pay entry or judges fees!

“When you want a taste of competition that is measured as much in personal accomplishment as in scores, the rookie classes are the ones to watch. Sharing the excitement and enthusiasm of these riders is fun for everyone,” said Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary/Treasurer. “Our Rookie classes have grown significantly over the past several years, and John and Nancy’s sponsorship undoubtedly plays a big role in their popularity.”

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. 

Toyon Ranch is well-known in reining circles, and not just amongst the sport’s elite. In addition to serving on various board and committees, the Tagues have strongly backed the grassroots members of the National Reining Horse Association, best known through the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year North American Affiliate Championship held during the NRHA Futurity. After sponsoring the Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All at the 2022 NRBC, the response was so great that the couple elected to continue it at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

“It has been very rewarding to make it easier for competitors to give reining a try,” John Tague said. “As reiners we know if you give our sport a look, it is very hard to let it go.”

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 that are crossed on the industry’s top stallions to create one of the highest quality and most diverse groups of reining prospects every year.

In addition to the mare program, Toyon Ranch now manages and stands an array of top-level stallions. For more information about Toyon Ranch, visit the website at toyonranchllc.com.

When the National Reining Breeders Classic debuted the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout in 2018, the feedback was all positive. The Shootout provided Rookie competitors from the ancillary classes the chance to compete in a clean-slate contest in the main arena of the NRBC. The Yellowstone Rookie Shootout has historically been held on a prime evening, typically before the high-added-money NRHA Open and Open Classic Challenge. It has also helped grow entries in the Rookie classes.

For 2024, the NRBC Board of Directors expanded the dates of the show and, in doing so, elected to inflate the Shootout opportunities to include Shootouts for three more divisions – the Masters Non Pro, Legends Non Pro, and Green Reiner.

“We are excited to feature these important exhibitors in a new venue. The Masters (riders 60 and over) and Legends (riders 70 and over) are the heart of our industry. Their enthusiasm and camaraderie will make these new Shootouts fun, as will that of the Green Reiners. I encourage everyone to come support them in the Shootout the final Thursday night of the NRBC,” noted NRBC President Tom McCutcheon.

As with the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout, the entries with the top five composite scores from both slates of classes will earn a spot in that division’s shootout. Only entries who enter both slates are eligible to advance, but there is no additional entry fee to compete in the Shootout rounds.

The Rookie classes will be held Sunday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 23, while the Green Reiners will compete on Saturday, April 20, and Monday, April 22. The Masters and Legends competitors will show on Sunday, April 21, and Monday, April 22.

The qualifiers will show again in the Ford Truck Arena on Thursday, April 25, prior to the inaugural $20,000-added $40K Claiming Class.

“Thursday will be a fun evening,” Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary/Treasurer, said. “We kick off the night with the Leadline class, then move into the Shootout lineup. We will wrap up the night with the innovative new Claiming Class.”

The Champion of each Shootout will win a special and unique prize, and the top 5 Shootout contestants in each division will also receive commemorative awards.

The consolation round for the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout will be held on Friday, April 26.

The reining industry’s oldest and most successful stallion incentive program, the National Reining Breeders Classic, has been led since the beginning by the same core group of directors and officers. Over the past 27 years, these far-seeing individuals have brought new and innovative ideas to the reining world – concepts that have gone on to become part of the reining culture, like the Prime Time division and the Short Stirrup class.

Founding Board Members Tom McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, Pete Kyle, and Dell Hendricks, along with the NRBC Officers, have remained focused on creating and growing an event that would pay substantial money to Derby-aged horses – an innovative idea in 1998.

The NRBC led the industry in expanding the age for horses competing in derbies to ultimately include 4,5,6, and 7-year-olds, and was the first aged event to advance and award 30 places per division. The overall direction has been sound, and the NRBC has paid out nearly $28 million in 26 years.

In 2023, when the NRBC moved to the Built Ford Touch Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the show saw drastic growth, breaking entry records and setting an all time high for the number of stalls at 1,645, a 33% increase over the previous year.

NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody noted, “It was wonderful growth for the show, but some of our days were really long. Our challenge was how to stay ahead of those numbers.”

Long, exhausting days were not true to the long-held NRBC tenant of having a show that gave exhibitors time to prepare and compete on their horses without working round the clock. The landmark 2023 show bore little resemblance to the original event that lasted four days in one arena and offered every entertaining option from a Mariachi band to special receptions, reiners roping, golf, and a slew of fun activities.

Since last summer, the NRBC group has worked to find a solution to usher in a new era in NRBC history. It begins with extended days. The NRBC will take place April 16-27 in 2024 – four days longer than last year’s event. The first week of the show will feature the Non Pro preliminaries and will culminate in the Non Pro Finals on Saturday, April 20.

There is news for the Non Pro Classic for 2024 as there will be a Masters Non Pro division from which the top 10 will advance to the Finals.

After the conclusion of the Non Pro Finals, the stage will be set for the Open prelims and the Open Finals will be held on Saturday, April 27.

One older staple of the show returns in 2024 – the NRBC Town Talk – set for the afternoon of Thursday, April 15. This venue was created years ago to provide owners and exhibitors with the opportunity to give their opinions about the show, any changes, and upcoming new directions.

NRBC President Tom McCutcheon said, “We want to hear that feedback as we go forward. One thing that riders have asked me over the years is for more time between the Open goes and the Finals. We are glad to give them two days for that in this new schedule and I’m excited to hear everyone’s feedback.”

There is more news. The Yellowstone Rookie Shootout returns to the show for the seventh year, Thursday, April 25. Joining the Shootout lineup will be a new Masters Shootout, a Platinum Shootout, and a Green Reiner Shootout. Riders qualify for all the shootouts in ancillary competitions earlier in the week.

Keeping a reining event relevant in today’s ever-changing competition landscape remains job one. NRBC Vice President Colleen McQuay noted, “The reining world has a new reality and managing the numbers is a challenge. For us, it’s about going back to the mindset of when we were pioneers and doing what is best for the horses and the industry. We never know if a new formula will work but we can’t be afraid to try new things.”

For information on the NRBC program and show, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.

With 2023 waning, the number of last-minute foal enrollments received by the National Reining Breeders Classic ramped up. According to NRBC Foal Enrollment Coordinator Meredith Harrison, the number of 2023 enrollments received by Friday,  December 29, exceeded 3,000, a new record.

“A year earlier, the program set a record number for the number of foal enrollments, with 2,914. We are already past that benchmark, and since foal enrolments just need to be postmarked by December 31, we won’t likely know the actual 2023 total until a week or so into 2024,” Harrison explained.

It’s a 300 percent increase from when the first NRBC foals were enrolled back in 1997. In the beginning, NRBC founders had voiced their belief the program would be successful if more than 500 foals were signed up. When the final tally was done, there were over double that amount, with 1,004 foals coming into the program.

In the ensuing years, foal enrollment numbers increased steadily, with only two years showing a drop in enrollments before rebounding. 

NRBC Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Cody said, “Enrolled foals have increased market value because the NRBC enrollment gives them eligibility to compete in the Classic for 4 years – as 4, 5, 6, or 7-year-olds. The L4 Open Champion earns $100,000, and the Non Pro Champion receives $50,000. In 26 years, the NRBC has paid nearly $28 million into the industry.

“The growth is a testament to the consistency and steadiness of the NRBC over the past 26 years. The NRBC Board and Officers are people who make their living in the reining industry and their forward-thinking vision has secured its place as the most successful reining stallion program of all time.”

That NRBC team has always provided transparency – with a distribution formula that’s easy to understand. One hundred percent of foal money is put into the purse (in the year that foal crop is four years old), and 90 percent of the stallion enrollment fees go into the purse (in the year it is collected).

Foals that missed the December 31 deadline can still be enrolled at increased prices, and the NRBC has payment plans that are available for owners wishing to enroll older foals.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, will return to Tulsa’s Expo Square in 2024, and is slated for April 16-27.

For more information on the NRBC or on foal enrollment, visit NRBC.com.