Exceptional payouts have been a hallmark of the NRBC since its early years. It took just seven years for the event’s total purse to exceed a million dollars, and has never dropped below that benchmark since. In fact, the NRBC set another total payout record in 2024 when it awarded $1,708,043!

That’s not all. The NRBC Board recently announced that, for the second year, the 2025 the Million Dollar Show will officially offer one million dollars in added money for the aged event alone.

NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody explained that the NRBC has always stayed true to its original formula. “It’s simple really. Foal and stallion enrollment money creates the bulk of the purse. 100 percent of the foal money four years previous (and interest) goes into the purse along with 90 percent of the current year stallion enrollment money.”

That’s been the basis of the program and its growth for nearly three decades, although the board has sometimes added additional money to incentivize different divisions.

Based on the number of 2021 foals in the program and the number of stallions consistently enrolled, the show is guaranteeing a minimum of $1 Million in added money for the 2025 aged event. 

NRBC President Tom McCutcheon noted, “For nearly three decades people in the industry have trusted us and have known how much we pay out, and how deep.”

For more information, visit NRBC.com. 

NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody stated, “The Board of the NRBC has long been dedicated to supporting young reiners who are pursuing higher education. This scholarship program is particularly rewarding because it directly benefits the young individuals who are passionate about reining.

“All of the members of the NRBC Board of Directors – Tom McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, Dell Hendricks, and Pete Kyle – feel strongly about easing the burden of educational expenses and encouraging these young men and women to achieve their academic and professional goals. We are incredibly proud of this year’s scholarship recipients and congratulate the winners for 2024.”

The Champions receive $1,000 scholarships, while Reserve Champions earn $500 scholarships. This year, the recipients are:

• 13 & Under Champion: Lilly Walters
  • Co-Reserve Champion: Addisyn Grilli
  • Co-Reserve Champion: Lily Forzani
• 14-18 Champion: Ava Bush
  • Reserve Champion: Bella Beck

Past scholarship recipients include:

• 2007: Emily Winegar, Jordan Donnelly, Bryan Luark, Christy McElreath
• 2008: Jordan Donnelly, Cade McCutcheon, Courtney Kile, Christy McElreath
• 2009: Jose Gonzales, Genevieve Shifrin, Emily Winegar, Devin Spencer
• 2010: Cade McCutcheon (Champion & Reserve), Devin Spencer, Katherine Berg
• 2011: Jayli Garrison, Shelby Reine, Daniele Cohen, Emily Winegar
• 2012: Shelby Reine, Kristi Wiggins, Brooke Kaiser, Jordan Donnelly
• 2013: Taylor Masson, Sidney Perdue, Kaylan Marks, Shelby Reine
• 2014: Stacia Brugger, Amanda Hurt, Skyler Deshotels, Claire Dittrich
• 2015: Analise Granger, Roeanna Thayn, Clair Dittrich, Shelby Reine, Amanda Hurd, Cade McCutcheon
• 2016: Skyler Deshotels, McKinnon Larcombe (won both slates), Bo Van Duys
• 2017: Luca Fappani, Raeanna Thayn, McKinnon Larcombe, Savannah Ostner, Madison Gustin, Emilia Reutimann, Blair Thompson, Quincee Clark (tie)
• 2018: Emma Lane, Emilia Reutimann, Faith Horner, Laina Hanaghan
• 2019: Emma Lane, Lisa Pirtle
• 2020: Carlee McCutcheon, Bo Van Duys, Rita Clausen, Becca Schaffhauser
• 2021: Raeanna Thayn, Lisa Pirtle, Juliana Gonzales, Becca Schaffhauser
• 2022: Bella Beck, Trinity Bell, Faith Horner, Kennedy Buchanan
• 2023: Anna Harris, Mazie Patalski, Allie Jones, Abigail Dooley

For more information on the NRBC, visit www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.

High payouts for the venerable program are actually nothing new.  The NRBC’s reputation for lucrative purses began with a boom at the very first event in 1998, when it awarded just shy of a quarter-million dollars – an incredible total in those days.

The NRBC was created to provide a place to show reining horses past their futurity year for lucrative money in an era when there were very few opportunities for derby-aged reiners. In just seven years,  the payout for the 2005 show surpassed one million dollars – a record for any reining derby. Since then, it has never paid less than $1 Million per show. The NRHA Derby would pass the million dollar milestone eight years later and the value of, and market for post futurity horses continued to strengthen.

NRBC Secretary-Treasurer Cheryl Cody said that the NRBC has always stayed true to its original formula. “It’s simple really. Foal and stallion enrollment money create the bulk of the purse. 100 percent of the foal money four years previous goes into the purse along with 90 percent of the current stallion enrollment money. That’s been the basis of the program and its growth for nearly three decades, although at times the board has added additional money to incentivize different divisions.”

With the conclusion of the 2024 event, the total payout for the past 27 years now exceeds $29.5 million! NRBC Vice President Colleen McQuay noted, “What we created back in 1997 with the NRBC is still so relevant today. The NRBC has had an incredible impact on our industry, and each year it continues to affect so many.”

Besides the remarkable payout, the 2024 show featured multiple changes and additions. An extended schedule that saw the show grow from 8 days to 12 days was the most obvious modification. The relaxed schedule and addition of the Central Park Hall Arena guaranteed that there was plenty of time for riders to school their horses and still have time for dinner with friends followed by a good night’s sleep.

The schedule gave plenty of time to enjoy innovative new classes – like the $20,000 added Claiming Class. The new  Rios Family of Brands Green Reiner Shootout, the Blo Gun/Spooks Grand Slam Masters Shootout and the Fappani Performance Horses/Spooks N Jewels Legends  Shootout classes joined the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout. There were fun additional activities like the Nutrena Cornhole Tournament and the kid’s bouncing pony race and lead-line. The church service held on the first Sunday featured Jason Vanlandingham and had nearly 80 attendees.

 According to the NRBC Board and Management, the 2024 schedule will be tweaked going forward. Cody added, “We’ve taken notes of all comments and suggestions and the Board will carefully choose what to modify for 2025.”

Gunna Be First, a 2018 stallion, lived up to his name, when he claimed the championship of the $25K Open while piloted by Andrea Fappani at the NRBC. 

In the Non Pro Classic, Gunna Be First and Jesse Boyd, the stallion’s owner, claimed the championship in the Level 2. 

This kind of set-up is unusual for Fappani, who usually insists on being the only one riding the horses that he shows. 

“He’s not one of my typical ones. I usually don’t share my horses, I am a little bit particular about that,” explained Fappani. “Jesse, the owner, has been doing a lot of the work himself, and I just jumped in at times and helped and rode him, and we pretty soon figured out that he was a little more than just a non pro horse.” 

The stallion, bred by William Newman Jr, is by ARC Gunnabeabigstar and out of ARC Wallas First. 

“We had a really great run tonight,” said Fappani. “He’s a horse that’s got a lot of eye appeal. I really thought that this run would fit him because in a big arena, he has got a lot of presence.” 

Fappani thanked the owners for letting him show the horse, and his team for supporting him as they reach the close of ‘two good, and long, weeks.’ 

Trevor Dare came to the NRBC meaning business– repeatedly laying down high scores in the pen and setting the standard on the leaderboard. 

With a score of 223.5, Dare and Spat Toy Boy Gun claimed the championship of the Level 4 Open Classic Challenge. 

“He has got so much style,” said Dare. “It’s really natural for him. Whether he is being good or bad, if you’re standing at the back gate watching him, he always looks awesome.”

Spat Toy Boy Gun, affectionately called ‘Gino,’ is owned by Dana Wetherell. 

Of the stallion, she said, “He’s a once in a lifetime horse, and I don’t know what I did to deserve him.”

Gino, by Spat Split And White out of Snowy River Gunner, was bred by Chiara Pelosi. 

“I got in his way everywhere I could yesterday and got a 204,” said Wetherell. “For me to have shown him like that and him to turn around and do this, it’s a testament to his mind. He wasn’t what I was looking for, but God knew what I needed more than I did.” 

Dare thanked Dana and Wes Wetherell for letting him ride the stallion, his team for keeping things running smoothly, and his wife, Laura, for supporting and managing his business. 

A new scoring format, where the riders total score isn’t announced and the rider must wait to find out until they exit the pen and see a monitor, kept Schumacher on her toes.

“I was just walking out and thinking ‘I hope that’s enough,” said Schumacher. “I knew he felt great so I thought he should have gotten a good score, but I wanted to know for sure.”

Having piloted CS Nifty Sailor, a horse she’s previously had great success with, earlier in the night to a score that hadn’t secured her the championship, Schumachers’ confidence was lower than normal as she took Gunin Addy Tude into the pen.

“To not do anything wrong on my side is what drives me to do it good,” explained Schumacher. “I just hadn’t clicked with this horse and I hadn’t done as good before so I was just less confident and wanted to go in and do good.”

Gunin Addy Tude, a 2018 stallion by NRHA Eleven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Miss Lil Addy Tude, is what Schumacher described as a ‘kid in school that’s kind of a nerd’ due his quick-to-please, and easily worried personality.

The stallion was bred by Toyon Ranch and is currently owned by XCS Ranch.

This win in the Level 4 Non Pro Classic at the NRBC earned the pair an impressive $50,000 to add to Schumachers’ lifetime earnings of over a million dollars.

Schumacher elected to just thank everyone, stating there are just too many people who made the win possible to risk forgetting anyone.

𝐍𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟑 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 & 𝐓𝐀 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐭

In an impressive show of skill, 18-year-old Addisyn Schmersal claimed the title of the Level 3 Non Pro Classic champion at the NRBC with a score of 222.

Schmersal rode TA Dunit Redhot, a 2018 stallion, by Pale Face Dunnit out of Red Hot Walla. The stallion, who she describes as, “a stud who doesn’t act like it,” has been piloted by Schmersal since his three-year-old year.

“Every time I show, he gives it his all,” said Schmersal. “He is just a really special horse.”

Schmersal and TA Dunit Redhot are an impressive pair. Despite their young ages, Schmersal already has a lifetime earnings of over $230,000, and the stallion has more than $87,000. An additional $38,000 will be added to those numbers from winnings in the Non Pro Classic at the NRBC.

The stallion was bred by Tamarack Ranch and is owned by Hickory Creek Ranch.

𝐍𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟐 𝐂𝐨-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 & 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐱𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜

Lauren Love and Chexi Chic tied for the Non Pro Level 2 title at the NRBC.

Love and Chexi Chic, a 2018 mare bred by Alpha Quarter Horses, by Wimpy Chic out of Chexanicki, aka ‘Nicki,’ scored a 218.5 for a $15,750 payout across all levels. Love said this win is even sweeter because she bought the mare as a yearling, sight unseen, in an online sale, just based on her pedigree. She selected Nicki because of her dam, Chexanicki, who foaled the first reiner Love ever owned–and because she was a bay.

“I love bay horses,” Love said. “And I just got super lucky. I started her myself. My fiancé, Arnaud Ferret, helped me with her and helped get her ready to show. She’s kind of like the family horse now. This is very special because I love this horse so much and I’m glad she gets the recognition of winning something big like this.”

Her long history with Nicki means that Love knows the mare pretty well, which is a benefit to them both in the show pen.

“She’s kind of like my baby,” Love gushed. “It’s actually kind of surreal that I bought a horse that I’d never seen as a yearling. And then she’s become such a great show horse for me and such a great partner. She’s the reason I want to go to the barn every morning.”

Love’s upcoming plans for the mare include her being shown again in the Open Classic in the second week of the NRBC, with Ferret at the reins. To Ferret, she has just one piece of advice: “Just don’t screw it up.”

𝐍𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟐 𝐂𝐨-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐝 & 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐁𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭

Jesse Boyd, riding Gunna Be First by ARC Gunnabeabigstar out of ARC Wallas First, tied for the Non Pro Level 2 Championship with a score of 218.5.

Gunna Be First, a 2018 stallion bred by William Newman, is nicknamed ‘Justin’ at the barn, after the singer Justin Bieber–although the horse may not have a pop singer personality.

“He’s so easy,” Boyd remarked. “Just laid back. He doesn’t care about much and he’s super easy to be around.”

Boyd owns Elite Equine with his wife, Sierra Litrell. He’s been working at the Elite Equine spa trailer at the NRBC when he isn’t riding horses–and it’s a good thing, because Boyd isn’t the type of person that likes to sit around.

“I’ve been working a little bit in the mornings to help fill in and been getting up early and riding, then riding in the evenings and trying to get some sleep,” he said.

He and Justin earned more than $21,000 across all the levels for their run–not bad for Boyd’s first-ever Level 4 finals.

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟏 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢 & 𝐂𝐂 𝐆𝐮𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Cardi slid into the Non Pro L1 Championship at the NRBC on CC Gun Show, a five-year-old gelding by Colonels Shining Gun out of Wimpys Eye Candy. Cardi calls this horse ‘Toffee.’

“He’s the sweetest in the barn,” she said. “He’s like a little puppy dog. We bought him at the Futurity from Cade [McCutcheon], so we’ve just spent time getting him together, and we had a bobble earlier this week, so it’s taken us a little bit of relearning our maneuvers. But it all came together in the end.”

She and Toffee put together a run worthy of a 217 score and a check for $5,000. For the 2019 gelding, bred by Sally Tipton, this win will push him over the $30,000 mark in lifetime earnings.

Cardi said the huge Ford Arena allowed her to properly show off her horse, noting “Having a big strided horse is great, so we could actually show off our circles and run them. It was so fun running down the pen and just letting him go.”

She thanked her family, as well as her trainer, Ben Beckett.

𝐍𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬-𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 & 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐳 𝐎𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞

Monica Hicks Mathison claimed the Non Pro Prime Time Championship and took reserve in the Non Pro L3 at the NRBC with a 219 for a $13,000 payday.

Of the PrimeTime division, Mathison said, “It’s great to have another division for us to be able to be champions in and to have something else to win.”

She called her mare, six-year-old Girlz On Fire by Inferno Sixty Six out of Gotta Git Ya Dun, a ‘unicorn’—a title the mare is all too aware of. The mare is homegrown, making it even more special.

“She’s the queen,” Mathison joked. “She is always happy, always very pleasant, very fun to be around. If somebody wants to come to the barn to ride, we put them on her. She’s so laid back, so easy.”

Reflecting the home-raised mare’s queen status, she’s called ‘Tyra’ at home.

“She’s very pretty, very model-esque,” Mathison explained. “She was named after Tyra Banks.”

Mathison thanked her husband, NRHA Professional Gunny Mathison, for his patient support all week, as well as her staff at Just Stitch It, who kept the booth running so she could show.

“I thank them very much,” she said. “All the crew at the barn, I mean, they’re great, they’re helpful. They keep everything going. So, all my friends, all the encouragement. I mean, this is fun to do. We’re like one big family, so it’s great.”

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 & 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬

Aboard his homegrown gelding, Andre De Bellefeuille secured the Masters Non Pro Classic championship at the NRBC with a score of 219.

Snow Kiss, a 2018 gelding by Topsail Whiz out of Snow Gun, already had over $18,000 in lifetime earnings, but more importantly than the money to De Bellefeuille, was the gelding’s breeding.

Just days before leaving for the NRBC, De Bellefeuille lost Snow Gun, a horse he’d described as his pride, a gem, and a dream come true. For him, riding her offspring in the Non Pro Classic, just meant a lot to him.

“That mare really means something for me,” said De Bellefeuille, full of emotion. “She gave a lot of heart to all the horses she gave us, so riding these horses today from her meant a lot.”

This win in the Masters Non Pro Classic, along with their other top 7 placings, earned the pair just shy of $3,000 to add to their respective lifetime earnings. De Bellefeuille thanked his trainer, Mathieu Buton for helping him prepare for his runs and for keeping him positive, despite their teasing about differences in their French versus French Canadian cultures.

The videos are produced and emailed out by official show videographer Equine Promotion, and each competitor will get their individual runs delivered directly to their inboxes thanks to the generous support of Ranch Fuel.

“Everyone loves to watch and share videos of their runs, and we feel that ensuring they have free access to their competition videos is a great way to support all reiners,” shared Carter Smith, president and co-founder of Ranch Fuel.

Smith is a longtime supporter – and competitor – of the reining industry. She’s a former National Reining Horse Association Non Pro Derby Champion, having won the title on her standout stallion, the late NRHA Million Dollar Sire Chocolate Chic Olena. In 2023, her company, 100X Equine, sponsored the videos, and she elected to continue to support the show this year with her newest venture, Ranch Fuel.

“We are glad to welcome Carter Smith and Ranch Fuel back to the NRBC,” noted Cheryl Cody, NRBC Secretary/Treasurer. “We appreciate the support of this event, and know that our exhibitors value this partnership, too.”

Ranch Fuel Energy Drink will officially launch at the American Western Weekend March 8 – 9 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. While the drinks are already available to purchase on the website, they will be rolled out in stores in Texas and then across the country soon.

“We will have a booth in Arlington with samples to try, as well as opportunities to take pictures with and get autographs from our Ranch Fuel Team,” Smith said, noting that endorsees include NRHA All-Time Leading Rider Andrea Fappani, as well as Corey Cushing, Justin Wright, Clayton Edsall, Stetson Wright, Zeke Thurston, Ky Hamilton, Fallon Taylor, and Dale Brisby. “We will also host a tailgate party at Texas Live before the event on Saturday, which will be really fun.”

So what makes Ranch Fuel a perfect fit for reiners? “Ranch Fuel has 150-200mg of clean caffeine, depending on the can size. It is crisp and refreshing with light carbonation, which is perfect for horsemen and women who need a little pick-me-up! Unlike some other energy drink companies, Ranch Fuel was created by people in the equine industry,” Smith said.

About Ranch Fuel

Ranch Fuel Energy Drink is inspired by the spirit of the cowboy! It is more than an energy drink; Ranch Fuel is a tribute to the cowboy way of life. Crafted with precision, Ranch Fuel is designed to provide clean energy, mental focus, and enhanced endurance. We’re not just a brand; we’re advocates of the Western lifestyle. Experience pure cowboy energy with Ranch Fuel – America’s Energy Drink!

Fuel. Your. Energy