The second section of the National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro preliminary round wrapped up Tuesday afternoon, and Emma Vanlandingham moved up to the driver’s seat position in the overall standings. Vanlandingham rode Diamond Handz, owned by 2Star Investments and bred by Mark Smith, to the top with a 220.5overall score. Diamond Handz is a 5-year-old gelding whose lifetime earnings are approaching the $31,000 mark.
After Thursday’s concluding section of Non Pro preliminaries, the top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4, 3, 2, and 1 will advance to the clean-slate Finals on Saturday, April 19. Those competitors will be joined by the top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and the top 10 in the new Masters Non Pro.
While the prelims will determine who advances to the finals on Saturday, they also will decide the champions of the Non Pro Novice Horse and the APHA Chrome Cash incentive, which will be awarded after the third section.
Riders advancing to the Finals will learn their draw position during the Markel Insurance Non Pro Draw Party, slated for Thursday at 6 p.m. Prior to the Draw Party, the Level and Division leaders will join Announcer Brian Lookabill for the first press conference of 2025. Everyone is invited to the conference area at 5:30 p.m. to hear from the go-round leaders.
Current leaders through the second section of the Non Pro prelims are:
Owned by Kim & Martin Muehlstaetter | Bred by Texas Horsepower Ranch LLC
Level 4 – Emma Vanlandingham & Diamond Handz (Dun It For Whizkey x Princess N Pearls) – 220.5
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
Masters – Charles Wiederholt & Ima Magnum Survivor (Magnum Chic Dream x Golden Survivor) – 217 (with handicap)
Owned by Charles & Cheryl Wiederholt | Bred by Deana Nell
Non Pro Novice Horse — Robert Peterson & Gold Wrapper (Magnum Chic Dream x Whizful Sailing) — 215
Owned by Goose Creek Ranch | Bred by Laura Schwartz
The Non Pro preliminary competition concludes Thursday with the final section at 9 a.m.
Complete draws, results, news, and more can be found at NRBC.com.