An intense week of competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, culminated Saturday, April 25. That’s when the top horses and riders from across the country competed in the Open Finals of the 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic, which kicked off April 18.

Dany Tremblay and Jason Vanlandingham both piloted their horses to scores of 228.5, tying for the win of the Open Level 4. With several more major events on the books for 2021, the two professionals elected to stay as Co-Champions.

When the curtain closed on the Level 4 Non Pro Classic Finals, it was NRHA $2 Million Rider Mandy McCutcheon and JLosa scoring a 224.5 to cinch the championship and $30,000. JLosa, by Arlosa Whiz and out Spook N Jessie, is owned by Mandy and her husband Tom McCutcheon. Unofficially, McCutcheon is nearing NRBC earnings of $700,000. This year marks her eighth NRBC Non Pro Classic championship, but Mandy said it’s especially meaningful considering her daughter Carlee’s success in the Finals. “That part was amazing. That put it right over the top for me,” she said of Carlee earning dual Non Pro championships.

The field is set for the 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic Open Finals, which will be held Saturday, April 24 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.It was two intense days of competition, and in the end, it was four-time NRBC Open Champion and NRHA $6 Million Rider Andrea Fappani who topped the round. Fappani piloted Gun Dun It, owned by Tim Anderson, for a score of 226 to win $14,011. Gun Dun It, bred by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Dave Silva, is by NRHA $12 Million Sire Gunner and out of Dun It In Tinseltown.

After monitoring the recent situation and with the intention of better safeguarding the health and safety of our horses by allowing members to be able to conclude a vaccination cycle and/or organize a test for themselves and/or their horses, the 2020 NRHA European Futurity dates will begin on May 15th and will go through May 22nd. Horses will be allowed to move in starting May 12th but the arena will be available only from May 13th onward. In no way will the show be further postponed.

Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, 20 March—When the second section of the Non Pro Classic preliminary round wrapped up Tuesday evening from the elegant Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, a competitive field of entries was whittled down to the top-scoring finals qualifiers. Levels 4, 3, 2, 1 and Prime Time Non Pro finalists will return to vie for championships on Friday, April 23 in the Coliseum Arena.

The Sale at Rancho Rio:

Smartys Dunny, consigned by Trevor Brazile, sells for $250,000

Since its inception, The Horse Sale at Rancho Rio has become the leading rope horse sale in the country and the premier horse sale of the Team Roping Capital of the World. Held each year in Wickenburg, Arizona, in conjunction with the National Team Roping Finals, The Horse Sale at Rancho Rio is limited to 65 top rope horses and draws consignors and buyers from all over the U.S. and Canada.

Over the past couple years, the sport of reining has reached new audiences through television broadcasts, and that trend continues Saturday, January 30, at 7 p.m., CST. That’s because the iconic western-lifestyle Cowboy Channel will be airing an hour-long segment dedicated to the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity.

Ten days of intense, world-class competition culminated Saturday, December 6, with the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Open Finals. The NRHA Futurity, held at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, featured top horses and riders from across the globe.
Thanks to the Futurity Challenge donors, for the first time in NRHA history the 2020 Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Champion earned $250,000.
Prior to the start of the MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Finals, NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr, NRHA Million Dollar Dam Princess In Diamonds, NRHA Million Dollar Dam Snip O Gun and NRHA Million Dollar Owner Hilldale Farm were all honored.

Great horses and riders were shining under the Friday-night lights of the Jim Norick Coliseum at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) CINCH Non Pro Futurity featured the top horses and riders from the preliminary round, and the Level (L)1 champion was decided in an exciting runoff.

To add to the CINCH Non Pro Finals pageantry, NRHA Million Dollar milestones were recognized by an in-arena ceremony prior to the start of the CINCH Non Pro Finals. NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Riders Cade McCutcheon, Matt Mills, Martin Muehlstaetter were presented with a special lapel pin courtesy of NRHA Corporate Partner MS Diamonds TX.

Like many things in 2020, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Markel Futurity Sales looked a little different this year. In the past, the sales have been held in the sale pavilion in Barn 3 and spread out over several days. This year, four sales were held back-to-back on Dec. 3 in the Barn 6 arena.
“I personally liked having it all the same day,” said Cooper Smith, who purchased a top seller and consigned two top sellers. “I think they had it set up good. They didn’t really have a lot showing today, and I think the guys had a fair opportunity to be able to look at the horses. Yeah, it’s a long day, but you kind of got it one and done and out of the way. It was good for everybody.”