The staff of the National Reining Breeders Classic headquarters has been hard at work and is proud to announce exciting new updates to the NRBC website. As of this week, stallion listings have been enhanced with a photo of the stallions at NRBC.com.
The stallion pictures are also linked to a stallion bio featuring a larger picture and detailed information about each stallion. Plus, stallion owners can send ads or flyers to replace the bio and update pictures to enhance their page as they wish. These changes make the listings more personalized for stallion owners.
NRBC Program Manager Angel Hooker said, “We so appreciate the stallion owners who participate and are a part of NRBC. That is why we wanted to come up with a way to showcase the exceptional quality of these stallions.”
The website layout has also been changed to a format that is more pleasing to the eye. The names are now listed in a grid format rather than a long column to create a better browsing experience for mare owners. To further assist mare owners, NRBC Foal Enrollment forms have been added. They appear when you click on a stallion’s picture and read his bio. The forms can then be printed and mailed or faxed to the NRBC office.
The NRBC is a stallion incentive program. After a stallion becomes part of the program, his foals may be enrolled. Those foals, as 4, 5, and 6-year-olds, can then compete at the prestigious week-long event which has paid out $20 million in its past 20 years. For more information including the event schedule and entry forms, visit www.nrbc.com.
Officiating the action at this year’s National Reining Breeders Classic is an exemplary set of NRHA Judges. NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody announced the selections in mid-February. They are Kelly Sapp, Ed Bricker, Brian Welman, Nick Barr, Ed Cridge, J.D. Roberson, Joe Hayes, Andi Paul, Bob LaPorta, Leo Fourre, and Doug Milholland.
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.
News is huge at National Reining Breeders Classic, with large payouts and classes for everyone! That is why it’s so special that Quarter Horse News keeps coming back to sponsor the Slide Street Journal year after year.
Quarter Horse News has been a longtime supporter of the NRBC and of the reining industry. At the NRBC, Quarter Horse News sponsored the NRBC Victory Party for over a decade then increased its support becoming the sponsor of The Slide Street Journal.
Quarter Horse News Senior Publisher Patty Tiberg is glad to support the event. “We are pleased to have a long-standing relationship with the NRBC as it is one of the most prestigious reining events in the world,” Tiberg said. “Through our sponsorship of the NRBC, Quarter Horse News is better able to serve the reining community by keeping competitors and enthusiasts informed on the sport of reining with an up-close and personal perspective during this premier event.”
Emailed periodically year-round, The Slide Street Journal is the voice of the NRBC, with news of the program and the event. During the show, The Slide Street Journal is printed and hand-delivered to the stall area early each morning along with being emailed around the globe in digital form.
The leading source for news in the western performance world, Quarter Horse News is a staple for any serious reining participant or fan for event coverage, profiles and in-depth reporting on issues that impact the industry. For information on Quarter Horse News, visit the website at www.quarterhorsenews.com For more information about NRBC, visit www.nrbc.com.
The National Reining Breeders Classic features two slates of qualifying classes for the US Equestrian Youth Championships in its lineup. The first will be held on Friday, April 20 in the Wheless Arena at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The second will be held the following day in the Tellepsen Arena.
Spanning from January 1 – August 1, 2018, the US Equestrian Youth Championships Qualification period has begun. Interested youth must earn a score above 0 in a USA/USEF Reining class during this qualification period to be eligible to compete at the 2018 US Equestrian Youth Championships held at the Tulsa Reining Classic on Friday, August 31 at 5:30 p.m. in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The rider, horse, and horse’s owner must have current USEF and USA Reining memberships in order to qualify. The 2018 Qualifying Competitions are as follows:
If the title isn’t enough, the prizes are. All competitors placing 1-10 at the USE Youth Championships will receive a ribbon. The reserve champion in each age group will be given a monogrammed cooler for their horse. The champions will receive a monogrammed cooler and a custom trophy belt buckle. Each class also features added money: the 19-21 class has $7,500 added, ages 14-18 has $5,000 added, and the 13 & Under class features $2,500 added.
For more program information, visit USEF.org/reining or contact Bryn Wells at PBWells@usef.org. For more information about NRBC, including the event schedule and entry forms, visit NRBC.com.
Deary Performance Horses returns to sponsor the 2018 National Reining Breeder’s Classic Open Finals Reception, which is slated for 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 in the Sponsor Pavilion at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. The Open Finals Reception is the premier place for viewing the Open Finals action while enjoying great food and refreshments.
NRBC Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Magoteaux Cody noted “We are proud that the Casey and Nicole choose to be a part of the NRBC. They are committed to giving back to the reining industry and their support is so important in making the NRBC special.”
The Dearys were quick to add their praise for the event. Casey said, “The NRBC show in Katy, Texas is outstanding in every way! The show provides excellent prize money payouts at the horse show and numerous parties and activities for exhibitors and owners! We appreciate the organized show management that facilitates the large ancillary classes and Derby.”
Nicole added, “There is something for everyone at the NRBC and it is a privilege to sponsor and give back to an organization that has improved our Reining industry in such a dynamic way.”
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary is a two-time National Reining Horse Association Futurity Champion, with a host of other prestigious wins and finals qualifications to his credit. Deary Performance Horses is located in Weatherford, Texas and its mission is to breed, train, show, and sell quality horses for the reining horse industry.
Casey’s wife, Nicole, serves as ranch manager and the staff currently includes Josh Tishman, Abby Lengel, Kaci O’Roarke, Edward Harrison, Leslie Bingham, Oscar Viveros Vargaz, and Nestor Viveros Vargas. For more information on Deary Performance Horses, visit the website at DearyPerformance.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 NRBC.com or call 580-759-3939.
Matt Mills Reining Horses returns to sponsor the 2018 National Reining Breeder’s Classic Victory Party following the completion of the Open Finals Competition on Saturday, April 21 at the in-gate in the Coliseum at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center.
This highlight event makes for a great way to end an exciting Saturday night with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dancing to the live music of The County Line Band. “We appreciate the support of long-time sponsors like Matt Mills,” said NRBC President Tom McCutcheon. “It’s great to have elite reiners from across the country be a part of this event and this program.”
Matt Mills is glad to be part of the annual show. “We support the NRBC every year because it has it all! Large payouts, exhibitor-friendly schedule, and genuine appreciation from management for our participation!”
Mills likes the idea of highlighting the Classic riders and giving them a special event to celebrate their accomplishments. He added, “We’ve been fortunate enough to win titles here at the NRBC, so sponsoring the Victory Party is an easy decision for us! Born and raised in Southern California, Matt began riding horses at an early age. He enjoyed a successful career as a youth rider, earning multiple championships throughout California in a variety of disciplines including western pleasure, horsemanship and trail.
In 1996 he switched his focus to reining and a few years later established his own training operation in Scottsdale, Arizona. He trains and shows futurity and derby horses and also coaches several successful non-pro and youth riders. One of his most memorable accomplishments was winning the 2006 USEF Open Reining Championship on Easy Otie Whiz in Lexington, Kentucky. With a career-high score of 231.5 that qualified him to be a member of Team USA that proudly brought home the gold medal from the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany.
Matt has NRHA lifetime earnings of more than $500,000. He is regularly a finalist at major NRHA events and has received several titles including NRHA Intermediate Open Futurity Reserve Champion as well as multiple titles at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC). He has also earned several large futurity and derby titles including RMRHA Summer Slide, High Roller Reining Classic, SWRHA Futurity, and NRHA Cowtown Classic.
In addition to his youth, skill and natural riding ability, he is well known for his professionalism, showmanship, and charismatic personality. Consequently, he is in high demand for clinics in the United States, Europe and Mexico. For more information on Matt Mills visit the website at mattmillsreining.com.
The National Reining Breeders Classic will feature an unprecedented three CRI3*’s in 2018! As excitement builds at the approach of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, so does the need for exhibitors hoping to represent their respective countries to attend qualifying events. NRBC offers these CRI3* classes as a courtesy to help athletes from all over the globe meet their eligibility requirements.
In order to qualify to compete at the World Equestrian Games, each athlete must be qualified as an FEI 3* Athlete and achieve a minimum average score of 70 at two out of three different non-championship CRI3*’s. All must be completed with no elimination, disqualification or withdrawal, during the qualification period of January 1, 2017 to August 13, 2018. One of the qualifying results must be achieved no earlier than on January 1st of the year in which the Championships take place (2018) and no later than the end date of the qualification period.
Each slate of CRI classes will include CRI3*, CRI2*, and CRI1*. The CRI3* events are scheduled for the last three consecutive days of NRBC: with the first taking place on Friday, April 20th. The jogs will take place at 7 am on each morning. Plus, a CRIYR3* and a CRIJr* class will also be held on Friday, April 20th in conjunction with the other youth classes scheduled. The NRBC is a stallion incentive program. After a stallion becomes part of the program, his foals may be enrolled. Those foals, as 4, 5, and 6-year-olds, can then compete at the prestigious week-long event which has paid out $20 million in its past 20 years. For more information including the event schedule and entry forms, visit www.nrbc.com.
The National Reining Breeders Classic Incentive Program experienced a substantial increase in foal enrollments in 2018. According to the NRBC headquarters office in Byars, OK, the numbers confirmed a 3% increase in foal enrollments from last year.
In 2016, 2,235 foals were enrolled in the program; this year, that number increased by 80 enrollments bringing the tally up to 2,315 enrollments. “In a breeding industry that has continually had its ups and downs in recent years, this is a very positive sign,” said Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary-Treasurer.
With the deadline for stallion re-enrollments tomorrow, the numbers are looking good there too. Stallions that are already enrolled in the program must be renewed by tomorrow, but new stallions can enroll for the first time at any time of the year. Many will come in after their foals are on the ground.
The NRBC is a stallion incentive program. After a stallion becomes part of the program, his foals may be enrolled. Those foals, as 4, 5, and 6-year-olds, can then compete at the prestigious week-long event which has paid out $20 million in its past 20 years. For more information including the event schedule and entry forms, visit www.nrbc.com.
Throughout the week the National Reining Breeders Classic has featured some of the toughest competitors and horses alike in both open classes as well as youth and ancillary. Saturday’s champions were crowned in youth, Non Pro, USA Reining, Green Reiner and Novice Horse Open classes.
Madison Rafacz and Owen Deary took top honors in the 10 & Under Short Stirrup, with scores of 71 and 70.5, respectively. Rafacz rode Iboom (Boom Shernic x Bonitas Latin Chic) to the win in Saturday’s class. She received a National Reining Horse Association plaque and other prizes from Nutrena Feeds.
Rafacz has a special bond with the 6-year-old stallion and even though he has his own special quirks, she says he did his best in the show pen. “He’s a little goofy sometimes, but he was really good today,” she said. “Today was the first time I’ve shown him and I marked a 71. My favorite thing about him is that he can turn really big and he can stop really good if you ask him the right way.”
Owen Deary
Deary rode Reeboks Rerun (Reeboks Kid x Worksman Fisty) and with his combined scores from yesterday’s short stirrup class, his combined points earned him the overall 10 & Under Short Stirrup championship. He placed second in today’s class and received a prize bucket from Nutrena Feeds and a Gist Silversmiths championship buckle from the overall win.
Deary says he can count on his equine partner to always do his best. “He’s a really good horse and I really like him,” Deary said of his mount. “On this run, I liked the stops the most, and on my last one I liked my spins.” Ribbons were also awarded to first through sixth place and each entry received Cosequin buckets.
Shauna Larcombe
In the ancillary action, Shauna Larcombe rode Setting Off Smart to a score of 73.5 to win the Novice Horse Open Levels 1 and 2. Setting Off Smart is a 6-year-old mare by Smart Spook and out of Setting Off Sparks and NRBC only served as the mare’s second competition show.
“She hasn’t had a lot of showing yet, so I’m just trying her out and see how it’s going,” Larcombe said. “I was pretty happy [about her run], like I said I haven’t done a whole lot of riding on her lately. So she’s only been ridden the last couple of weeks properly, and then we came down here and each day she’s gotten a little bit better. Today I thought I would see what she could do and she was really good for me.”
Jared Leclair
Jared Leclair rode The Dun Gun, who’s by Gunner and out of Fabulous Footwork, to the high point win in the Novice Horse Open Level 1. He also picked up second place in Level 1 and split-second in Level 2 with a score of 73.
“She’s a really nice mare and shows really well. She’s a big stopper and a big turner,” Leclair said. “It’s exciting [to win the high point], it’s really cool and it’s a great horse show and they give away great awards and I was happy to be a part of it.”
Dany Tremblay
Dany Tremblay rode Misters Temptress (Mister Dual Pep x Colonel Pepinic) to the high point Novice Horse Open Level 2, for owners Brad and Amanda Kelly of Adh Mor Big Luck Ranch. In Saturday’s action, Tremblay rode the 5-year-old mare to a score of 73 to tie for second with Leclair in Level 2. Tremblay and Misters Temptress have had a big week in Katy, Texas, and the mare has continued to show up and prove her worth for both her rider and owners.
“All of this is all about a team effort and I think we have such a good team going and that’s why our week has been so successful,” Brad Kelly said. “So, kudos to everyone involved with our team, back home in Canada and here as well.”
Jeff Sizelove
The Green Reiner Levels 1 and 2 Champion was Jeff Sizelove with a score of 71 riding Bit Of Magnum. Sizelove and “Chico” have only been partners for eight months, however, he says the well-rounded equine athlete knows his job in the show pen.
“We call him ‘The Professor,’ because he knows what to do,” Sizelove said with a laugh. “It’s been a good journey here, an early journey, but it’s been great.” Bit Of Magnum is a 2003 gelding by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Bitsy Bye Remedy and led Sizelove to a score of 71 in Saturday’s class. Sizelove thanked Cedar Ridge Ranch and Casey Hinton for all of the support.
Sandra Martin
To win the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro ancillary classes, Sandra Martin rode Diamond Dappled, who’s by Shining Spark and out of Sun Dappled, to a score of 146.
Martin and her mount have been long-time partners and the win at the NRBC was extra special for the champ. “I still can’t believe it,” Martin said of her win through tearful eyes. “To come here and win the class, I was hoping just to place well not even win with some of the people who were in the class.”
In the youth classes, two tough riders dominated the competition. Madison Gustin took home multiple championships in the NRHA Youth 13 & Under, the NRBC Youth 13 & Under Classic Challenge, Unrestricted Youth, the American Quarter Horse Association Youth 18 & Under Reining and the USA Reining Youth 13 & Under. Emilia Reutimann was the other multi-time champion of the youth classes taking home the championships in the NRHA Youth 14-18, the NRBC Youth 14-18 Classic Challenge and the USA Reining 14-18.
Madison Gustin
Gustin rode Guns R Spooky, who’s by Smart Spook and out of Berry Yer Guns to mark a 145.5 for the win. She received an NRHA Trophy, Nutrena Feed gift certificate, Cosequin bucket and NRBC commemorative prizes for each championship. Gustin also took home the youth 13 & Under high point championship, for which she received a Gist Silversmith trophy buckle. The 7-year-old gelding has been in Gustin’s hands for two years and the pair has won several championships together.
Emilia Reutimann
Gustin says she will always remember the NRBC, because of the huge personal redemption. “It’s been so much, after coming back from falling off in our run yesterday it was a lot of fun and we did so well,” Gustin said. “This was our highest score ever and I am so proud of him.”
Reutimann rode Black Hails Gold, who’s by Shine Like Hail and out of Dun Its Black Gold, to the score of 145 for the wins. She received an NRHA Trophy, Nutrena Feed gift certificate, Cosequin bucket and NRBC commemorative prizes for each championship. Reutimann also took home the youth 14-18 high point championship, for which she received a Gist Silversmith trophy buckle.
Reutimann said although she and Black Hails Gold have only been partners for a short while they continue to improve in the show pen. She was proud of her mount for leading her to multiple wins, especially the high point award.
“I’ve only had him since October, so this is only my second show with him, so I was really happy with him. He was really honest with me and he was really good,” Reutimann said. “He walked in and he was a little bit looky, which I was nervous about, but we got to the middle and he turned and circled really good. His first stop wasn’t as good as I would have liked it to have been, but he stopped huge on the other two, so I was really happy.”
Luca Fappani
Each year at the NRBC the highest-scoring competitor in the youth competition is awarded the Curtis Burlin Perpetual Youth Award. This year, Luca Fappani took home the honor. Fappani rode the standout gelding, Custom Spook, who’s by Smart Spook and out of Custom Spinderella to a score of 144.5 in today’s Youth 13 & Under classes, combined with yesterday’s winning score of 72 to win the honor.
Custom Spook is owned by Rancho Oso Rio and was under the direction of his father, Andrea Fappani in his earlier career. Fappani was lucky enough to be given the honor of exercising the gelding on his off days and as such has formed a special connection with the gelding, which made his transition to full-time rider easy.
“I just started showing him this year… his owner, Pat Warren, rode him and showed him after my dad rode him in his derby years, and then she didn’t want to show him anymore, but she didn’t want to sell him, so she let us lease him and I’m really thankful for that,” Fappani said. “When Pat told me I could go show him, I was really excited. He’s really nice to ride. He’s so quiet and just lopes around and he stops huge. “I’ve never shown here, and it feels good to win the first time I’ve been here,” he continued.
For information and complete results from the National Reining Breeders Classic, follow updates from NRBC on Facebook, Twitter and www.nrbc.com
