Brad and Amanda Kelly with Adh Mor Ranch have long been known for their support of youth activities at NRBC. This year, for the 25^th annual National Reining Breeders Classic, slated for April 17-24 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, they have again committed to support young reiners.

The Kellys own PS Mega Shine Chic, better known as “Crush.” Two years ago, the Kellys first sponsored the entry fees for all youth classes at the NRBC under the stallion’s name.

After the success of the “Crush the Fees” sponsorship, they decided to carry the program over to this year’s show. It’s been an incredibly popular sponsorship and the entry form displays how all the Youth entry fees have been “Crushed,” including the video, drug, and judges’ fees.

PS Mega Shine Chic is a 9-year-old AQHA stallion by Shine Chic Shine out of Megas Sugar Baby. With Dany Tremblay at the reins, he was a 2016 National Reining Horse Association Futurity Level 4 Open Finalist and 2017 NRBC Level 4 Open Reserve Champion, a two-time NRBC Open Level 3 Champion, and in 2019, won the $100,000 Shootout at The Run For A Million.

His first foals hit the show pen last year and have proven successful with offspring such RAISINTHEBAR as who was the NRHA L2 Non Pro Futurity Champion and SWRHA L2 and L3 Non Pro Futurity Champion.

For more information about PS Mega Shine Chic, visit the website at crushpsmegashinechic.com. The Adh Mor Big Luck Ranch in central Alberta is not only home to great reining horses, it is also known for exceptional bucking bull bloodlines.

John and Nancy Tague and their Toyon Ranch have been active supporters of Rookie competitors in National Reining Horse Association competition through their sponsorship of the NRHA Rookie of the Year Program. Now partnering with the National Reining Breeders Classic, that commitment to the Rookie riders continues with the creation of the NRBC Toyon Ranch Free-For-All Rookie classes.

Through this sponsorship, riders in both slates of Rookie classes at the NRBC will have their entry fees and judges’ fees paid!

John Tague said, “Supporting NRHA classes across the board has been a priority for Toyon Ranch. This NRBC sponsorship is a great way to deepen our support for Rookie competitors – extending from the Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year.”

“John and Nancy have consistently supported Rookie riders in reining competition,” said NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody. “This expansion of their support into NRBC will help make showing a little easier and more affordable for Rookies. We are so glad to welcome them on board with this new sponsorship for NRBC.”

Tague continued, “The NRBC Rookie Free-For-All fits well with the significant recent efforts many supporters have made to target industry growth and enhance experience. Together these efforts make a difference. We want to continue to create growth from the entry-level classes to the top level.”  

​In addition to the mare program, Toyon Ranch stands several of the industry’s top stallions: No Smoking Required, Shine Chic Shine, Inferno Sixty Six, Gunner Dun It Again, Shine N Spook, Gunna Stop and Colonels Smart Spook. For information on Toyon Ranch, visit the website at https://www.toyonranchllc.com/.​

The NRBC was born in the fall of 1997, and through the support of the breeders and exhibitors of the reining industry, has grown to become one of the top three reining aged events in the world and the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. Now known as the Million Dollar Show, the NRBC has paid out over $24 Million in the past 24 years. To learn more about the NRBC visit nrbc.com.

Down Right Amazing’s run in the National Reining Breeders Classic Open Prelims was exactly that. Under the expert hands of NRHA $2 Million Rider Casey Deary, the 5-year-old stallion by Gunner and out of Shesouttayourleague marked a 225.5 to top the first section of Open horses in the 25th NRBC at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Down Right Amazing is owned by DAG Ventures LLC.

Sitting second in the Level 4 is Cira Baeck, a Belgium native who travelled to the United States to compete this year. She made her NRBC Open debut a loud one, scoring a 224.5 on Americasnextcovrgirl (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel), the 5-year-old mare she finished reserve on at the 2021 NRHA European Futurity. Americasnextcovrgirl is owned by Maria Cecilia Fiorucci.

A pair of 222s lead the Level 3—Ruben Vandorp and Mr Farenheit (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimpy Little Girl), owned by the partnership of Morin and Vandorp, are tied with Nathan Piper and Patriot (Smart Spook x Dunit A Lil Ruf), owned by Shannon and Hershel Reid.

The Level 2 is also tied, with Billy Williams on Hit The Walla (Walla Walla Whiz x Dun It By Chick), owned by Mark Bradford, and Austin Jewell on Face Chics Love (Pale Face Dunnit x She And Chic Dunit), owned by Ali Dances, both marking a 219.5.

Haley Franc sits atop the Level 1 with a 216.5 on J Jameson (Star Spangled Whiz x Lime A Rita), owned by Arno Honstetter.
The NRBC Development Division Championship is decided during the preliminary round. Trevor Dare holds the No. 1 spot with a 220.5 on Redhot Vintage (Platinum Vintage x Redhot Walla), owned by Sandy Vargo.

Leading the Open Prime Time is Duane Latimer on Roxanne Koepsell’s Hesa Rockin Whiz (Topsail Whiz x A Bueno Poco Dunit) with a score of 222.5 (includes handicap).

The second section of Open Classic prelims begins at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 21, and Finalists will be drawn that evening in the Matt Mills Reining Horses Open Draw Party at 7:30 p.m. in the Sponsor Area.

Follow along with the action at www.NRBC.com

What is almost as daunting as riding into the arena at the National Reining Breeders Classic, competing for a piece of the more than $1 million purse?

Being one of the officials whose job is to score those exhibitors.

That is why the judges for the NRBC are always knowledgeable, well-respected, and highly qualified. Each has several major events under his or her belt, and many are veteran NRBC judges.

The Coliseum judges for the 2021 NRBC in Katy, Texas, will be Robert LaPorta, Van Luse, Shannon Fowler, Reid Fady, Corey Hendrickson, and Nick Baar. They will be assisted by scribes Ron McMillian, Carla McMullen, Schelly Bankston, Nicole Marr, and Selena Bradshaw.

The Coliseum Pre-check judge will be Gary Putman.

Doug Millholland, Ed Cridge, Terry Thompson, and Andi Paul will be scoring the action in the Tellepsen and Wheless Arenas with scribes Lynn Nelson, Monica Westbrook, and Vicki Wright.

The NRBC will be held April 18 – 25 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. A complete schedule, entry forms, news, and more can be found at www.NRBC.com.

National Reining Breeders Classic blue will be making room for a new hue at the 2021 show slated for April 18-25 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. During the show, some of the back numbers will be sporting a red stripe, but why?

“The NRBC Board of Directors decided to do this as a service for our exhibitors to allow them to advertise that the horse they are riding is for sale,” said NRBC President Tom McCutcheon. “The red stripe can be requested at the show office for a $5 donation to Rein In Cancer and can be added to any back number.”

Like so many things, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the buying and selling of horses. Travel has been challenging for many, so this will allow prospective buyers to easily spot horses being offered for sale during the show, even as they are being shown. The red stripe will also be visible to those watching the live feed from home. The horses’ owners’ and riders’ names will be shown on the screen during the run as usual, so making a connection will be simple. If the horse is seen schooling, an interested person can drop by the show office to find out how to contact the owner just by giving the back number.

Rein in Cancer is a 501c3 Non Profit Corporation that, to-date, has raised over a million dollars to support cancer patients. The organization has no employees – only volunteers – and over 98% of donated funds have gone directly to helping cancer patients. To request assistance or for information on how to contribute, how to host a fundraiser at an event, or set up a bequest, visit the Rein In Cancer website at www.reinincancer.com.

For more information about the National Reining Breeders Classic, visit www.nrbc.com.

Since its beginning in 1998, the National Reining Breeders Classic has been known for its huge payout, abundant prizes, and unwavering focus on rewarding reiners. So, when the NRBC Board voted on February 8 to increase the show’s added money by a whopping $50,000, the action should not have come as a surprise.

According to NRBC President Tom McCutcheon, the NRBC Board and staff are excited to make this change. He noted, “We have always been proud for the NRBC to be a leader in the reining industry and to stay ahead of trends. We were committed to increasing the added money for the Non Pro division as we know this is an important and rapidly growing part of the industry we want to continue to support!”

The addition of funds makes the NRBC Non Pro the world’s largest added money Non Pro for Derby age horses. McCutcheon added, “The NRBC L4 Non Pro already has an incredible payout and pays high in the go-round and in the finals. This $50,000 will be added to Levels 3, 2, 1 and the Prime Time Non Pro to encourage participation and reward the exhibitors in those divisions.”  

The addition of $50,000 to the Non Pro added money will take place right away, at the upcoming NRBC, set for April 18-25, 2021 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas

Entry information for the 2021 NRBC can be found at NRBC.com or by calling 580-759-3939 or emailing info@nrbc.com. The first payment for the 2021 NRBC is due on February 15.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, held April 18-25, 2021 in Katy, Texas is known for having something for everyone. The NRBC Developing Horse Division was created to give horses that may have had a limited show career the chance to earn money, and in 2021, the earnings cap has been moved from less than $2K by March 31 of the year it will be shown to less than $5K.

Held annually during the Open Classic prelims, the $10K added side pot that averages about 35 entries, has no additional entry fee, and pays five places. With modern shows paying out more and more, the NRBC Board of Directors chose to extend eligibility to more horses.

NRBC Board Member Dell Hendricks said, “This modification gives horse owners a place to compete for good money with the horses they chose not to show as three-year-olds or those who might have had an injury, or a showing error. We saw a need for the opportunity for these horses to show against other horses in similar situations.”

In order to enter, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-year-old NRBC enrolled horses must also be entered in the Open Classic. More information about the show and the Development Division entry form can be found at NRBC.com.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, held April 18-25, 2021 in Katy, Texas, will be hosting Non Pro and Rookie Qualifiers for the richest event in history. The Run For A Million, held at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nev., is slated for August 17-21, 2021.

In addition to the million-dollar competition, there is a $100K Open Shoot Out, a $50K Invitational Freestyle, a $50K Non Pro Championship, as well as a Rookie Championship.

Qualifiers are being offered across the United States and Canada and the NRBC is proud to be one of them. “The Run For A Million is not your average horse show,” said NRBC President Tom McCutcheon. “By televising reining through the Last Cowboy, the sport has reached new accolades in and out of the performance world. The NRBC will support that any day.”

The Rookie and Non Pro Qualifiers will run concurrently with the corresponding Ancillary classes. Those wishing to qualify to compete at The Run For A Million must enter the correlative classes, fill out the TRFAM Qualifier form found on the NRBC website, and pay the $200 fee per slate that they wish to enter. The top five placings plus ties in each slate with a paid qualifier fee will be able to compete in Las Vegas at TRFAM. The Qualifier fee was established to ensure those who want to take part in TRFAM Championships have the opportunity without being knocked out of the top five by someone who has no intentions of participating at TRFAM.

For more information about The Run For A Million, go to trfam.com. To learn about the National Reining Breeders Classic and access the TRFAM Qualifier form, visit nrbc.com.

The Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma may be quiet now, but behind the scenes, it is bustling with activity. The National Reining Breeders Classic kicked off last Wednesday as part of an extended schedule that included four futurities to start the event. After four days of competition, Sunday was a day of rest and regrouping, with the main event set to begin in less than 18 hours.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the NRBC to postpone its original show day in April, and eventually move the event to Tulsa. The Global Reining Sports Group, which owns the Tulsa Reining Classic, graciously acquiesced to loan the dates to the NRBC, resulting in one large super NRBC. To give trainers and owners another option to show their 3-year-old futurity horses, the NRBC Board elected to retain the four futurities that are Tulsa Reining Classic regulars.

 More than 360 futurity horses walked through the gate of the Ford Truck Arena during the four days of competition, paying out an incredible $211,190. As everyone moves their focus from the futurity horses to the Classic, Classic Challenge, ancillary, and Affiliate Regional Championships, last-minute preparations are underway.

Although more than 1,500 stalls were reserved for the event, the numerous arenas scattered across the Expo Square ensure that every exhibitor has plenty of room to get ready. While the NRBC might have a different location, look, and feel, there’s no doubt that the caliber of horses competing in the coming week will be off the charts.

There are many ways to keep up with the Million Dollar Show. The live webcast and live scoring, as well as the schedule, results, and draws, can be accessed at www.NRBC.com. Regular updates are also posted on the NRBC’s Facebook page. You can sign up to receive daily newsletters from the event by clicking here.

Judging a major event is a challenge and the NRBC Judges take seriously their job of assessing the action each year. Chosen this year to officiate the NRHA Futurities are Corey Hendrickson, Brian Welman and Gary Putman with Pre-check judge J.D. Roberson. In the Classic, the judging duties go to Terry Thompson, Ed Bricker, Robert LaPorta, Nick Baar and Kelly Sapp. The ARC and NRHA Classes will be officiated by Ed Cridge, Van Luse, and Charlie Smith.

Efficient judging depends on competent scribes and the 2020 NRBC Scribes are as experienced as their judging counterparts. This year, Ron McMillan, Selena Bradshaw, Lynn Nelson, Vicki Wright, Schelly Bankson, Bob Alberding, Bill Wright, Nicole Marr, and Amanda Cormack will be scribing throughout the show.