Calla Thomas rode Great Pepto Pine (Great King Jack x Hickorys Misty Pep), bred by James Dale, to an impressive score of 221 to win both the NAAC and NRHA Youth 14-18 classes.
“She was amazing,” Thomas said about her mare. “We had a great run today. She just locked in and stopped huge every time.
“We have been hauling around the country all year competing for the [NRHA] World title, which we are currently leading, and this was definitely our best show, so I am super excited,” Thomas added.
“I have had the mare since she was a yearling, and I have done all the training myself,” the talented young rider continued. “She is perfect at home. She is so low maintenance; she loves to eat and loves treats, that’s her favorite thing. We love having her around the barn.”
Thomas’ plans for next year are clear.
“My mare is 6 years old and next year will be her last derby year, so we will for sure enter some derbies, and then we’re going to breed her,” Thomas said. “I also got a 3-year-old this year, and we had a few bobbles during the NRHA Futurity, but I am excited for our future.”
Next year will also bring a new chapter in Thomas’ life, as she has committed to Texas Christian University’s National Collegiate Equestrian Association team.
“I want to thank my parents and Deena Dunkle, my stepmom, who has hauled me all over the country this year,” the champion concluded.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 11

Youth Riders Take the Reins in the Adequan® Arena

NAAC Youth 13 & Under & NRHA Youth 13 & Under
Sydney Muehlstaetter and Xtra Voodoo Step had a strong run in the Adequan® Arena, walking out with a 217, which held through 41 draws to earn the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) Youth 13 & Under and NRHA Youth 13 & Under titles.

The 12-year-old mare by NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpys Little Step and out of Voodoo Chic was bred by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch.
“Her barn name is ‘Lola’, and I have been riding her for almost three years,” said the youth rider about her mount. “I like how consistent she is. She is the same in and out of the pen and never does anything bad.”
Muehlstaetter, who has leased the mare from owner Frederick Christen since 2022, was excited about her run. “This was the first time in the pen that we turned a corner, and she didn’t run off, so she was really good. I love her circles, she can circle really pretty.”
This was the last show for this duo together, so it will be a run to remember.
“Next year, I will have a 5-year-old, my mom’s [NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Owner Kim Muehlstaetter] old horse, so I will show him in the derbies.”
Muehlstaetter thanked her parents, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Martin Muehlstaetter and his wife Kim, as well as NRHA Professional Patrick Flaherty and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Arno Honstetter, who helped her get prepared.

NRHA Short Stirrup
Leah Grove rode Bulletproof Shiner (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Smart N Bulletproof) owned by NRHyA member Heidi Flint and bred by Jason Goldberg.

Grove and the 9-year-old gelding went at the end of the class and had a 218 to beat. After performing a clean pattern, the judges awarded the duo with a winning score of 220.
“I feel like he did really good in the stops and rollbacks,” said the rider, who had to borrow a horse for this show as she was unable to show her own and only got to ride this horse a handful of times.
“I borrowed him from Heidi Flint and I got on him for the first time about a week ago here and then yesterday and today. He is a really nice mover and a good stopper,” said Grove and thanked the horse owner for allowing her to show the horse in the class.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 10

Novice Horse Non Pro Competition Heats Up

The Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) continued to see tough competition which concluded in a run off to decide the champions of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) classes.

Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 & Level 2 Co-Champions
NRHA non pros Jenna Meimerstorf and Spence Bell decided to co-champion the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 and 2 after earning a 219.5.

Jenna Meimerstorf rode the Amy Medows-bred Long Live Diamonds (Walla Walla Whiz x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) to the titles.
“He was super honest all the way through the pen,” she said of the 4-year-old stallion owned by Todd and Julie Meimerstorf. “My biggest thing this week was showing like I have been practicing and letting him do his job. He did outstanding. He is really fun to circle and puts his head low and is pretty automatic and fancy.”
The pair made the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Non Pro Levels 3-1 Finals earlier this year.
“I want to thank my parents as well as [NRHA Professional] Yonathan Baruch and all of the team that has supported me this week—they have been awesome!”
Spence Bell rode Blaze Of Glori (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Myo Starlight), a horse that is incredibly special to him.

“She is the result of half of my life breeding horses,” he said. “I owned her mother and her grandmother so it is very special to us.”
The mare will still be derby-aged next year so the duo has plans to continue showing in those events.
“I want to thank [NRHA Professional] Trent Harvey, Dallas [Cunningham], and my family—it is just a big team,” he said.
Bell mentioned the title means even more to share it with Meimerstorf, especially since both riders’ horses were trained by NRHA Professional Dallas Cunningham. Bell’s 5-year-old mare, Meimerstorf’s stallion, and Krista Marshall’s gelding were all part of his program, according to Bell.
“Three out of the four horses in the co-championship [run off] were trained by Dallas Cunningham. Three horses from the same barn as babies and ended up as show horses later—that’s really cool.”
NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1
Sakari Wilkinson rode her own LV Borgata (HF Mobster x Smart Kachina Olena), bred by NRHA Corporate Partner lxtul Quarter Horses, to a score of 221 to win the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1.

“I have only had her for about a year and this was our best run together so far, so it was a really good end of the season,” said Wilkinson. “We showed in the rookie classes here and finished 5th out of the 100 entries. We have had a really good season together this year.”
Wilkinson, who committed to the Southern Methodist University National Collegiate Equestrian Association team for next year, is hoping the mare can go with her to college. “I plan to do some derbies with her next year, and then when I go to school, I may continue showing her, but we will see how it goes. I really like her personality. She is very mellow and easy-minded. It makes it easy to ride her,” she added.
“My parents have always supported me with horses. Since I was 8 years old, so I really want to thank them for that,” said Wilkinson and also thanked all her trainers, who have helped her over the years. “I ride with [NRHA Professional] Jeronimo Leal Lobo, who trains my reiners and Kyle Noyce, who I ride cowhorse with. I would not be where I am today without them,” said Wilkinson.

NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2
It took a run off to break the four-way tie in the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 class to determine the champions. Krista Marshall and Flinn And Tonic (In Like Flinn x Lil Trashya Shiney), bred by Carluccio Orsi, walked out with the title after scoring a 223 in the run off.
“I’m not sure that everyone appreciated the run off, but I knew we had more in us, so I wanted to go back in. We ended up getting a 223 and that was the highest score of all the 98 entries in the two days,” said the champion fresh off her win.
Marshall has had the horse since he was a yearling and the duo has won close to $37,000 together coming into this year’s NRHA Futurity. “He is 4 years old this year, and we had a great season together. A couple of weeks ago, he was a reserve champion at the [American Quarter Horse Association] AQHA World Show. Last year, we showed at the NRHA Futurity, and this year has been just amazing for us,” she said.
“He is an amazing horse,” said Marshall about her mount. “I can just put my hand down, put my legs into him, and ask for all the gears. He will drop his head down and just roll. He makes it so much fun, and it was a great way to finish the season on such a high note,” she continued. “He will definitely get a much-deserved break. I could not appreciate him more. Next year, I will do some derbies on him. It will be a ‘go, fight, win’ for us.”
Marshall thanked her family for all their support. “My son had heart surgery today, so it has been a hard day, but my husband keeps it all together. It is tough to be a mom and compete on the highest level, so I am very thankful to [my family]. [NRHA Professional] Dan Huss and his wife, Wendy, have been amazing to me,” she added. “I couldn’t have a better trainer, better program, better horses. I am a really grateful girl.”
Marshall is not done at the NRHA Futurity as she and her gelding Gunnabea Chic Magnet (ARC Gunnabeabigstar x Ms Chic Poco Pine), bred and nominated by Wolf Hills Farm LLC, will show in the Non Pro Futurity Finals on Friday.

NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3
Gavin Warren rode his father, Devin’s, 8-year-old gelding Doctor Dreamer (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunners Dazey), to win the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 Championship. The gelding, bred by KC Arrow Partners, has been in the Warren’s barn for a while, but this is the first season for the duo to enter the showpen together.

“I like his brain. He is always reliable. If I have two horses to warm up, I can rely on him to do his job even without an extensive warmup,” he said about his horse.
“Our run today was good and very smooth. We ran in and stopped, and after the spins, I just got to put my hand down, circled, and tried to mark big. Next year, I would like to repeat the success we had this year and do even better,” Gavin added.
Gavin thanked his parents for all their help getting him and his horses ready. “My mom makes sure that we are entered in everything and on schedule, and my dad helps me train my horses. My girlfriend and our whole team are also very supportive.”
Showdown Rounds Take Center Stage

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity kicked off the day with the showdown rounds courtesy of NRHA Corporate Partners Bob’s Custom Saddles and Toyon Ranch. The top Rookie Level 1, Rookie Level 2, Intermediate Non Pro and Intermediate Open riders who placed in the top 10 of their Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) class rode into the Jim Norick Coliseum in hopes of taking home a championship in the Bob’s Custom Saddles and/or Toyon Ranch Showdowns.
Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Non Pro Showdown
Wyatt Deary and Chicsdundreamin (Magnum Chic Dream x Goody Goody Dun Drop), owned by Nancy Stillwell and bred by Lisa Maberry, repeated their success from earlier in the week when they won the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Non Pro. This time, the duo scored a 217 in the Coliseum to win the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Non Pro Showdown and add $5,000 to his NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE).
“He was great for me today,” he said. “Last night, we practiced running in the pen, and he did well today. [NRHA] Pattern #7 is tough for him because he gets all fired up in the first three maneuvers, but he was so good for me. I couldn’t ask him for much more.”
The young rider admitted that his horse stopped better in the Coliseum than in the Adequan® Arena in their previous run. “We had some pretty rough stops in the last run, and I actually lost my stirrup, so today was really smooth, and I enjoyed it.”
Deary mentioned the gelding can be a little tough to prepare. “You want to get him in the right state of mind but don’t want him to be out of energy. As long as you get him in the right place, he will give you 100% every time," he said.
The 17-year-old gelding has had a successful career with the Dearys, making him a special member of the reining dynasty and Deary is determined to continue the success next year.
“My sister [Joy] showed him last year at The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Rookie Challenge, and then we retired him. I pulled him out of the pasture in January and started showing him this year. I am hoping to qualify for the TRFAM Non Pro Challenge with him next year if I don’t find anything better, but that is hard when you have a horse who can score 223 and similar every time he enters the pen,” smiled Deary, who is looking forward to the next season with the gelding between the reins.
Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown
NRHA Professional Eric Laporte and Catherine Olson’s 5-year-old stallion Millionaire scored 218 to top the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown, earning $5,000 for their win. The stallion, bred by Michell Anne Kimball, is by her stallion NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Mifs Doll.

“He has been good for me all week here,” said Laporte. “We have been getting some penalties in the previous runs, but it was all because of me. Today, I decided just to let him do his job and not be in his way. I didn’t try to be perfect but just to let him do his job and he expressed himself pretty well.”
Laporte got the stallion in the summer of 2023 and decided to school him for the rest of the season and prepare him for the next. “I started showing him this year and tried to figure out how he feels.”
As the stallion is only 5 years old, Laporte plans to enter derbies on him next year. “We are going to show in some derbies, and because of his bloodline, we are also going to breed a few mares to him to see how his offspring turn out,” he said.

Toyon Ranch Rookie Level 1 Showdown
Kristen Syburg, who won the Adequan® Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year Championship earlier this week, took home the Toyon Ranch Rookie Level 1 Showdown Championship to add another $5,000 to her list of accolades at her first NRHA Futurity.

“I was nervous, and I was probably a little reserved, but he showed well for me,” she said. “I just started reining on him at the beginning of the year and started to get a little better and we kind of just decided right before the Best of the West [Southwest Affiliate Regional Championship] that we wanted to qualify to come here. He is pretty honest. I always know when we go in there that he is going to do what I tell him to.”
She showed her own Magnums Peppy (Magnum Chic Dream x Mattie Pep) to both titles. Before coming to Oklahoma City, the 9-year-old gelding, bred by Jeanne Jackson, only had $4,800 LTE.
“Next year I am probably going to start in the non pro,” she said. “I didn’t plan on not being a rookie next season, but yay! My other horse is still derby-aged so hopefully, I will hit some derbies on him.”
The Rookie of the Year thanked her husband, Charlie, NRHA Professional Linde von Koeding, and all of NRHA’s Corporate Partners who helped support the event.

Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie 2 Showdown
Trinity Bell and Lena Who Whizit added $5,000 to their NRHA LTE after scoring a 216 and winning the Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie 2 Showdown in their final show together.
The 12-year-old gelding (Lena Spark x Wa Hoo Whizit), owned by Bell’s mother, Joetta, was bred by Robbie Schroeder and performed well for his final time in the show pen.
“[Our run] was good. We didn’t have everything together, but it’s ‘Queso’s’ last show,” remarked Trinity. “We’ve had him for three years now. He was originally my sister’s horse, but he got passed on to me.”
Trinity was thankful to her sister Jayden for the opportunity to show Queso through the end of his career. “He went to Vegas [The Run For A Million Bloomer Trailers Rookie Championship] with me last year, and we finished in the top ten. And at Waco [the 2023 100X Brazos Slide], we won $15,000,” Trinity recalled.
“Next year, my plan is to try and find another horse. I would like to thank my sister for letting me have this horse and [NRHA Million Dollar Rider] Kole Price and his team and the support he gave me.”
Inaugural Military and NRHA Futurity Slide

The Jim Norick Coliseum was filled with cheering and standing ovations for the inaugural National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Military and Futurity Slides.
For the Military Slide, NRHA partnered with the Two Ravens Foundation to invite veterans to participate in the exhibition. NRHA Professionals, led by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Nathan Piper and his team, worked with the veterans throughout the season to help them get to know their equine partners before the afternoon slide exhibition.
“Having the opportunity that NRHA gave us at this show is just incredible,” said Reed Knutson, founder of the Two Ravens Foundation. “We were able to show what our veterans can really do and show what we are built to do and display our skills, other than just what people think may be training for a war. We are very good at being able to adapt; we are very resilient, and we are leaders. That’s what a horse needs—a good and true leader to be able to run down and do something great. We are able to calm ourselves enough not to spook the horse and speak their language.”
Each veteran received a standing ovation from the crowd, a belt buckle, and gifts from NRHA Corporate Partners, including CINCH, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, and Anderson Bean Boots. Additional sponsors who helped make the event possible are 2L Equine Solutions and Cross C Realty LLC.
“I had a blast in the pen. It was so much fun running in,” Knutson continued. “I think the best part, though, was watching all my teammates go in there… To watch their smiles was the best. Also to be able to see all the fans afterwards was great. When you are running down, you don’t see anything but that sign on the opposite side of the arena. It’s after you stop you see all the people in the arena. The crowd here was amazing. All the claps and screams and people shouting my name; it was incredible.”
In total, six veterans ran through the Jim Norick Coliseum.
“We will definitely do this again,” he added. “It is not the last time. We want to build this event to be bigger and better the next time we come through.”
The Two Ravens Foundation’s mission is to provide our nation's heroes with a transformative experience that fosters personal growth, enables reflection, and empowers our combat veterans and first responders by using coaching, horsemanship, and community support while leveraging the power of horses and the western way of life. Learn more about the foundation at tworavensfoundation.org.

NRHA Futurity Slide
NRHA $3 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham rode his own SHR Hollywood Kid to the inaugural NRHA Futurity Slide Championship. His daughter, Emma, won the 2023 6666 NRHA Non Pro Derby presented by Markel on the mare who had $106,079 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings before entering the arena.
“She has done all of the work,” Jason said of Emma. “I get on this horse and run and stop before these sliding competitions, I don't even stop the horse before she shows it. I have not been on her since the last sliding competition, and I stepped on her tonight and ran and stopped, and she had her ready.”
The 5-year-old mare (The Kids Gotta Gun x Shinin In Hollywood) was bred and nominated by NRHA $3 Million Owner Robert Santagata of NRHA Corporate Partner Santa Hill Ranch.
“This is a family horse, and I have wanted to sell her because we have had a lot of big offers, and mama [Adrienne, Jason’s wife] says no,” he said with a laugh. “I think that if she is making good babies, she is more valuable to us at the house anyhow. We have a yearling out of her, two weanlings, and another one coming next year, all by Vintage Smoke.”
Jason and Santagata have had great success with their partnerships including the Million Dollar Championship at the 2023 The Run For A Million with Best Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Best Stop), owned by Santagata.
“Next year, we will breed her to Best Shine,” he continued. “We actually got this mare from Bob and Arlene [Santagata], who own Best Shine. It has been great for their horse and really great for us, and hopefully, she will make good babies with their new stud.”

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 8

Floridians Fly to the Top in Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Classes

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) continued today with Novice Horse Open competition.
In the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 1, NRHA Professional Jorge Puente rode the Sergio Elia-bred Comehellorhiwater (Inferno Sixty Six x Berry Dun It Best) to a 220 to take the championship.
Puente and the 6-year-old gelding have been a team since August and have won nearly $5,000 in the show pen together.

“I found this horse for my client about five months ago. We went to a few schooling shows at the beginning to get a feel of him,” he said. “Since I started showing him, he has been really consistent. We have been getting 72-73.5 scores all the time. We showed at the Southeast ARC [Affiliate Regional Championship], and that is where we qualified [for the NAAC].”
Puente was excited about his run. “He was awesome today. I showed him in the [NRHA] Open a few days ago just to school him and see how he felt, and he was great. He is such a fun horse to show; a big stopper! You can send him down the pen and he is loose in the front end and just looks pretty. I really like him.”
The NRHA Professional from Florida had his last run of the season in the Adequan® arena, but he is looking forward to being back in the gelding's saddle.
“We leave tomorrow, but I hope next year I get to show him more again,” he said. “The plan is to let the owner show him in some Green [Reiner] classes, but I am really hoping I can steal him some more next season.”
Puente thanked his clients for their support, especially the gelding’s owner Kevin Faulkner for his trust with his mount. “I also want to thank my team—everyone who helps me at home and here at the show. Showing the horse is the easy part for me. It is the getting ready part that takes a team of people. All the paperwork, getting the horses ready, braiding [their hair], preparing before the show and actually driving to the show…that’s the hardest part, and I really appreciate all their help,” closed the champion.
Puente, who had $315,727 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) before arriving in Oklahoma City, also took home the NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 1 division.
NRHA Professional Shannon Rafacz of Citra, Florida, rode Zapp to a 221 to capture the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 2 Championship and the NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 2 and 3. Rafacz was thrilled when the 7-year-old gray stallion joined their training program six months ago.
“I’ve had a crush on him since he was 3-years-old,” she said. “A good friend of mine, Robert Peterson, owned him at that time and I told him if he ever wanted to sell him to let me know.”
At the National Reining Breeders Classic, Rafacz finally had the opportunity when she found out the stallion was for sale.
“I called the Freilichs who own him now and asked them if there was any chance we could make this happen and they were so nice and bought this horse sight unseen,” she said. “They didn’t try him, they just said, ‘We believe you.’”
The stallion, who receives endless praise about his disposition by Rafacz, is by NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Clearin The Smoke. Zapp was bred by Diane Beckmann.
“He is truly a unicorn—as cool as he is to look at, he is that cool to be around,” she said. “He is a very kind individual. You wouldn’t even know he’s a stallion. He loves to just be around people, and we are privileged to have him.”
Rafacz was pleased with their run and looks forward to continuing to show him next year, along with Zapp’s owner, Tammy Freilich, who will show him in entry-level classes.
“When he’s on, [reining’s] a very simplistic thing for him to do,” she said. “Today was one of those runs where you didn’t have to overthink anything—just ride. He deserved this win. It was the last Novice Horse Level 2 class for him. I wish I had him sooner in his life, but what he’s done for us in the last six months has been incredible– it was a redemption run for us,” finished Rafacz.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 7

McCutcheon Leads the Way to the CINCH Non Pro Finals

At the end of two days of Non Pro preliminary competition at the 2024 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, it is NRHA Hall of Famer Mandy McCutcheon and Spookin At Nite who lead the way to the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals, which will take place at the Jim Norick Coliseum on Friday, December 6.

Spookin At Nite, a gelding by NRHA $7 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Spooks Lil Princess, bred by Helga Smith Quarter Horses and nominated by NRHA Million $2 Owner Tom McCutcheon, carried his rider to the top of the leaderboard with a 221.5.
Mandy has known the horse his whole life. “He was born at our place to our clients who own his dam and keep her at our ranch,” she said. “We bought him right away as a baby, so we’ve owned him the whole time.

“It’s exciting but also nerve-racking going into the go round knowing you have a really nice horse. I just wanted to get him shown clean and smart,” said the NRHA $3 Million Rider. “According to Cade [Mandy’s son and NRHA $2 Million Rider], I could have been a little smoother, but I think I was a little bit nervous. The horse helped me out in a couple of places. That’s what is important— having horses that try to help you out in the pen.”
Mandy and Spookin At Nite also won the American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash Incentive, which is determined by the preliminary round of competition, taking home an additional $2,744.
Level (L) 3 Leaders:
Taylor Zimmerman and Take What You Want (Inferno Sixty Six x All About Business) held their lead in the L3 from the previous day with a score of 218.5. The gelding, bred and nominated by Neiberger Performance Horses LLC, is now owned by Zimmerman’s grandfather, NRHA Hall of Famer Vaughn Zimmerman.

L2 Co-Leaders/L1 Leaders:
Audrey Martinotti and Helll Hath No Fury (Inferno Sixty Six x MMB Spook Gotta Girl), bred by Giovanni Cioli and owned and nominated by Martinotti Equine Services LLC, also kept their lead in the L2 and 1 with a score of 217.5. Martinotti shared the top spot of the L2 with Kevin Ball and David McGee.
L2 Co-Leaders:
Ball rode his stallion U Can Doo It (Shiners Voodoo Dr x This Chic Guns It), bred by Judy Box and nominated by Ball, to a tie for the lead in the L2. At the 2017 NRHA Futurity, Ball and the stallion’s dam rode to the L3-1 Non Pro Championships.
L2 Co-Leaders/Prime Time Leaders:
McGee rode MCG Just Dig (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Miss Whizarima), bred, owned, and nominated by McGee Farms LLC, to the top of the L2. The pair also leads the Prime Time Non Pro division heading into the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals.
Youth Leaders:
Michelle Fumagalli rode Peptos Big Stop (Late Night Stopper x Peptos Lil Melody) to the top of the Youth Non Pro after scoring a 217. The gelding was bred and nominated by Marc Gordon and is now owned by Fumagalli’s family business, Smoking Roosters PH LLC.

CINCH Non Pro Finals bubbles are:
Level 4: 215
Level 3: 213
Level 2: 211
Level 1: 209
Prime Time (with handicap): 208
Youth: 193.5
Those unable to qualify for the finals get another chance through the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation on Tuesday, December 3. Below are the bubbles for the consolation round, and the full 2024 Futurity Terms and Conditions can be found here.
Consolation Round Bubbles:
Level 4: 211.5
Level 3: 211
Level 2: 209.5
Level 1: 206.5

If you are not planning on competing in the consolation round, please let the show office know by 12 p.m., Monday, December 2.
Join us for the Platinum Performance Draw Party on Thursday, December 5, at 8 a.m. in the Sale Arena to set the stage for the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals, which will be held on Friday, December 6. L3-1, Prime Time and Youth will begin at 9 a.m., and Section 2 follows at 4 p.m. with the L4.

NRHA Professionals Take Home Adequan® NAAC Titles

The 20th anniversary of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) continues as National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Professionals entered the pen to compete for Limited Open and Rookie Professional titles.
In the Adequan® NAAC Rookie Professional class, Casey Watson and Triqued Out (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Ruf O Holic) scored 216 to win the class. The Carlo Orsi bred gelding had $17,918 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (NRHA LTE) coming into the show.

The NRHA Professional from Greenwich, Connecticut, and the 7-year-old gelding teamed up two years ago, and Watson was pleased with their winning run. “We had a good run today. We were finally able to put it all together, so I am really happy with him. He is so easy and fun to be around. He is also very talented, so I am very grateful to be able to ride him and hope to show him again next year,” she said.
“I would like to thank the owner of the horse, Diamond 4D [Jill Dyal], and everyone at [NRHA Corporate Partner] Santa Hill Ranch for helping me prepare him and get me show pen ready,” said the champion after her win.
NRHA Professional Naike Bell rode Boujee to a score of 218.5 to top the Adequan® NAAC Limited Open and also earned the NRHA Limited Open Co-Championship. The mare by NRHA Hall of Famer Magnum Chic Dream and out of NRHA Million Dollar Dam Chexanicki, bred by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, came to Oklahoma City with $27,955 in NRHA LTE.

Owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Thorsport Inc., the mare came to Bell’s barn at the beginning of the year, but this was the first time the duo stepped in the show pen together.
“This show I am actually catch riding her,” said Bell. “I showed her in the Limited Open earlier. That was our first run together, so I got to know her then, and today, I was ready to push her a little more. We had a great run. I love her stops; she always stops well. We are also entered in the [NRHA Corporate Partner Bob’s Custom Saddles] Limited Open Showdown.”
NRHA Professional Damian Martin LLebeili was the co-champion of the NRHA Limited Open on Wimpy Leo Gun MVL (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Stop Like A Wimpy). The 4-year-old gelding bred by Ronnie Alves had $14,844 in NRHA LTE prior to entering the show pen today.

The Argentinian native started riding the gelding only a few weeks ago and has already captured a win. “My horse was great for me,” he said. “He felt really easy in the pen and was listening to me. I love his stops, but he is such a great horse. He is good at all the maneuvers.”
LLebeili thanked NRHA Hall of Famer Jose Vazquez with Smart Like Juice Inc., who owns the gelding, and his daughter Mariana for the opportunity to show the horse, and the whole team for their support.
Kaitlyn Baker gave up her non pro card to become an NRHA Professional at the beginning of the year and finished the season strong with an NRHA Limited Open Co-Championship. Riding Stuart and Kayla Dill’s Penny Whize (Shine On Line x Easy Whiz My Money), bred by Kathy Hinton, the duo has only been riding for a few weeks together, and this was their second show.

“This was our one-and-done here. We don’t have any other classes to enter. I just wanted to take her in the pen again, and it worked out,” she said. “Our run was incredible. I am so happy with her and I feel blessed to be able to show a horse that has that capability and is so honest in the show pen. Her stops feel amazing. She makes such a nice move into the ground and is so honest every time you say ‘whoa,’ so it is really fun to stop her.”
The 10-year-old mare has earned her retirement, according to Baker. “I would like to thank the owner, Kayla Dill, for letting me show her. Kayla has been incredible to me, and it was a blessing that she let me show her mare. I am also thankful to [NRHA Professional] Josh Murphy for the opportunity and all his help. And, of course, my family. They have been behind me the entire way…I have gotten to work with so many amazing people who have taught me so much and I got the opportunity to show such amazing horses when I am so new to it, it is such a blessing.”

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 6

The NRHA Non Pro Futurity Kicks-Off

The World’s Richest Reining switched gears today as non pro competitors entered the historic Jim Norick Coliseum for the first day of preliminary competition. Vying for their share of more than $3 million up for grabs, the horse and rider pairs showed up ready to win at the 2024 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity.

When the dust settled on a day of competition featuring the first half horse and rider pairs entered in the Non Pro Futurity, NRHA Hall of Famer Mandy McCutcheon and Spookin At Nite took the top spot with a 221.5. The duo also led the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Division. The gelding (Gunners Special Nite x Spooks Lil Princess) was bred, owned, and nominated by McCutcheon and her husband, NRHA $2 Million Owner Tom McCutcheon.

Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 1, are:
Level 4: Mandy McCutcheon and Spookin At Nite
Level 3: Taylor Zimmerman and Take What You Want
Level 2 & 1: Audrey Martinotti and Helll Hath No Fury
Prime Time: Kim Lansidel and Smart Like Trash
Youth Co-Leaders: Ignacio Maximo Diano and Alpha Smart N Sassy
Youth Co-Leaders: Emma Vanlandingham and Gunnasparkyou

Tomorrow will complete the preliminary non pro competition. The following will make it back to each level, advancing to their respective finals on Friday, December 6:
    •    L4-1 - Top 25, plus ties
    •    Prime Time - Top 20, plus ties
    •    Youth - Top 15, plus ties

Those unable to qualify for the finals get another chance through the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation on Tuesday, December 3. Below is a breakdown of each consultation round, and the full 2024 Futurity Terms and Conditions can be found here.

The CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals begins at 9 a.m. and features the L3-1 and Section 2 follows at 4 p.m. with the L4.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 5

Mirko Midili and Mark My Word Lead the Way to the Semi-Finals

November 29 - NRHA Corporate Partner 7 Lakes’ resident trainer Mirko Midili rode Janice Laney’s stallion Mark My Word to the highest score of the 2024 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity Go Round. Riding in the third section held in the Jim Norick Coliseum on Thanksgiving Day, the duo marked an impressive 226 to top the class of 422 entries. The flashy palomino stallion comes from reining royalty, being the offspring of two NRHA Hall of Famers, Gunnatrahya and Wimpys Little Chic. Bred and nominated by NRHA $3 Million Owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA, the stallion proved his pedigree with a strong run in the first go of the Futurity.

“‘Mo’ is a very special horse. He is a Gunnatrashya out of Wimpys Little Chic, so everyone knows him,” said Midili about his mount. “He had a big run in Tulsa [at the 100X Reining Classic] this summer and marked a 227, so everyone started talking about him since that show. He is the kind of horse that every trainer wishes to have every year at the [NRHA] Futurity. In the first go, he was very honest, as he always is, and I hope to be lucky enough in the second go to make the finals.
“I am very happy for the owner [Laney] because she deserves this, and also for myself because, during this year, I didn’t succeed as much as I wanted, besides Tulsa, so this run was good for my confidence. I am happy.”
Midili was thankful to his whole team for their support. “I want to thank Janice Laney and Thiago Boechat for all the trust and that they keep believing in me every time. I am very thankful for this. It was very, very nice to see people cry with me for what we did. It was a very special moment after our run.”

“We are a very big team at 7 Lakes,” he continued, “It is not only me; it is also Leo Kellerman. There are a lot of people on the team and all together. We are friends. We are family, and it is great because we are always happy for each other when we succeed. We help each other, and I learned a lot from Leo this year. He is great; he is a great trainer, and I admire him a lot. He is a very consistent trainer, and his future is bright.”

Midili and Mark My Word also claimed the American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash, determined by the preliminary round of competition, taking home $3,507.

Level (L) 3 Leaders
Kaci O’Rourke and The Firemen (Inferno Sixty Six x Redhot Walla), owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan, did not hold back when performing a solid pattern in the arena, walking out with a 224 to lead the L3. The stallion, bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Tamarack Ranch LLC, came to the NRHA Futurity with $3,828 in NRHA LTE under his belt.

L2 Leaders
Brazilian NRHA Professional Joao Felipe Lacerda and Be The One Again (Gunner Dun It Again x Walla Whizn Katie), bred, nominated, and owned by Andre Tripoloni, performed to a 221 to lead the L2. The mare had no shows on her record before entering the Jim Norick Coliseum.

L1 Leaders
NRHA Professional Leonardo Kellermann rode his own gelding, The Whizperer (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shiners Yellow Dress), to the top of the L1 Open on the first day of preliminary competition and held his spot throughout the remaining days. Bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC, the duo had $10,206 in NRHA LTE before coming to Oklahoma City.

Lucio Casalecchi and Queen Mary Jane (A Sparkling Vintage x Dun It For Chex) also scored a 220.5 to share the top spot in the L1. This win will be the first recorded LTE for the mare bred by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC, nominated by Kristen Cantacuzene, and owned by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Fernando Salgado.

Prime Time Leaders
Two NRHA Professionals earned a 224 to share the top spot of the Prime Time Open class: NRHA $2 Million Rider Duane Latimer riding the Roxanne Koepsell-bred, -owned and -nominated mare Babys Gotta Rock (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shes Got Good Guns); and Franco Bertolani aboard Vulcano (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dun It In Silver), a stallion owned by Vulcano LLC, bred by Diane Sibley and nominated by James Turpen.
Semi-Finals bubbles:
Level 4: 218
Level 3: 216
Level 2: 213
Level 1: 209.5
The Open Semi-Finals will consist of two sections. The first section will include Levels 3, 2, and 1, while the second section will feature the Level 4. The competitions will take place on December 2 and 3, respectively.
The Open Semi-Finals qualifiers will be horse and rider pairs in the top 30 percent of the first-go scores in Levels 4-1. However, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the Semi-Finals.
The clean-slate Open Finals will begin on December 7 at 9 a.m., with the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals beginning at 6 p.m.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 4
Midili Marks Major

November 28 - On the third day of preliminary competition at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, a new leader soared to the top of the Level 4 Open and the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Division after scoring a 226. NRHA Professional Mirko Midili rode Mark My Word, owned by Janice Laney of NRHA Corporate Partner 7 Lakes, to the lead.

The stallion is the royally bred offspring of two NRHA Hall of Famers – Gunnatrahya and Wimpys Little Chic. Earlier this year, the pair won the L4 Open Futurity at the 100X Reining Classic and the North American Reining Stakes with a 227. Coming into the NRHA Futurity, the stallion’s NRHA Lifetime Earnings were $25,800, with Midili at the reins for every check.

Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 3, are:
Level 4 and APHA Chrome Cash Leaders: Mirko Midili and Mark My Word
Level 3 Leaders: Kaci O’Rourke and The Firemen
Level 2 Leaders: Joao Felipe Lacerda and Be The One Again
Level 1 Leaders: Leonardo Kellermann and The Whizperer
Prime Time Leaders: Duane Latimer and Babys Gotta Rock

Tomorrow, the final set of NRHA Professionals will enter the Jim Norick Coliseum to complete the open preliminary competition.
The Open Semi-Finals will consist of two sections. The first section will include Levels 3, 2, and 1, while the second section will feature the Level 4. The competitions will take place on December 2 and 3, respectively.
The Open Semi-Finals qualifiers will be horse and rider pairs in the top 30 percent of the first-go scores in Levels 4-1. However, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the Semi-Finals.
The clean-slate Open Finals will begin on December 7 at 9 a.m. with the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals beginning at 6 p.m.

Champions Times Three in the Adequan® NAAC

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) Non Pro competition saw a three-way tie for first place. Wyatt Deary, Madison Rafacz, and Joetta Bell shared the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro Championship after scoring a 223.
Wyatt Deary and Chicsdundreamin (Magnum Chic Dream x Goody Goody Dun Drop), owned by Nancy Stillwell, tied for the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and NRHA Non Pro and won the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Non Pro and NRHA Intermediate Non Pro with an impressive score of 223. “My horse was really good for me and the only thing I had to focus on was to send him down in the stops, which are also my favorite maneuvers on him because it is so easy for him. He just thunderbolted down the arena,” said Deary after his run.
“He is 17 years old and can still show on the highest level and compete with the young bucks,” he continued. “This gelding is very special to our family. He came to us when his previous owner, Betty Schroeder, bought him at 7 years old after he was done showing in aged events and she would ride with us and show him. When she passed, my grandmother bought him, and he has been in our family ever since. I have been competing on him only this season, but my sister [Joy] showed him last year at The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Rookie Challenge, and I am hoping to qualify for the TRFAM Non Pro Challenge with him next year.”

The flashy palomino gelding, bred by Lisa Maberry, has had a pretty extensive show record before coming to the Deary family, including winning the 2010 NRHA Futurity Level (L) 3 Open Championship with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Arno Honstetter in the saddle. The gelding’s NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) were $158,447 before coming to this year’s NRHA Futurity, and after adding another $7,707 today with Deary at the reins, the gelding is not ready to retire just yet.
“He will get some time off for the rest of this week with a lot of spa time, and then next week we will be back for the [Bob’s Custom Saddles] Intermediate Non Pro Showdown in the [Jim Norick] Coliseum,” closed the young rider.
Madison Rafacz rode Stop Like Voodoo (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Got My Own Dream), a 5-year-old gelding owned by her mother, Shannon, and bred by Redhead Reining LLC, to top the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and NRHA Non Pro with a score of 223. The chestnut gelding has been with the Rafacz family for two years and has won over $53,382 in NRHA LTE in his short career, mostly with Madison in the saddle.

“He has been great for me this whole year, so I am happy to finish the season this strong,” said Madison, who teamed up with the gelding two years ago at the NRHA Futurity. Before coming to Oklahoma City this year, the duo captured the 2024 American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship and the 2023 TRFAM Youth Reining Challenge.
“I love his personality,” she said. “He can be a little bit wild sometimes, but he is a great show horse. I love showing him. We have made the finals at both [6666] NRHA Derby [presented by Markel] and the NRBC [National Reining Breeders Classic], so he has been very consistent for me.”
Next year, Rafacz will attend Southern Methodist University and compete on their National Collegiate Equestrian Association team but plans to start the 2025 season by entering several derbies before leaving for college. “I can’t thank my parents enough for all their support,” she said. “My dad prepares my horses, and my mom always gets me ready, so I couldn’t do it without them.”
Joetta Bell joined the winning step of the podium with her gelding Dream On Whiz (Magnum Chic Dream x Ms Sassy Whiz). Posting another 223 in the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and NRHA Non Pro class, the duo couldn’t be happier with their run.
“He was so good for me,” she said. “We really liked the ground here, so I warmed him up and let him feel it, and we ended up having a really great run. I especially loved our run in.”
Bell’s 7-year-old gelding, with an impressive NRHA LTE over $217,608, was bred by Hill Country Reiners LLC and is a very easy keeper, according to his owner.
“I bought him in 2022, and I mostly just keep him at my house,” she said. “He lives outside and loves to play and just be a horse. He can be a little quirky; he doesn’t like tractors and loud noises, so I have to babysit him everywhere we go. But he loves to show! He loves being by himself in the showpen and doing his thing. So it is cool to have a horse that loves showing that much. Before shows, I take him to [NRHA Million Dollar Rider] Kole Price and his wife, Kelsey, and they help me get ready. I also like to send Kole videos of us riding and get his help that way, so I couldn’t do it without their teamwork, and I am very thankful for all their help.”
Bell also thanked her family, her daughters, and her husband for their support.
Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Non Pro
Kathleen Armenta rode Off N Running (Walla Walla Whiz x Spook Off Sparks) to win the Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Non Pro and the NRHA Prime Time Non Pro after scoring a 221. The 9-year-old gelding, owned by Armenta Quarter Horses and bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Arcese Quarter Horses, came into the event with $97,719 in NRHA LTE. The majority of “Wally’s” earnings were won with Armenta or her daughter, Sarah, at the reins, and the win today pushes his earnings over $100,000.

Adequan® NAAC Masters Non Pro
Karen Shedlauskas rode her own 5-year-old gelding, Best Jac (Jacs Electric Spark x Snip O Chex), to a score of 218 to top the Adequan® NAAC Masters Non Pro Championship as well as the NRHA Masters Non Pro Championship. Shedlauskas purchased the gelding, bred by Judy Box, from NRHA $2 Million Owners Tom and Mandy McCutcheon a year ago—just before the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel—and has been riding him under the guidance of NRHA Professional Mark Rafacz since then.
“We have had some really good runs this season but always ended up with penalties, so I am very glad that today we had a clean run. It was our redemption for the whole show season,” said Shedlauskas after winning her class. “We qualified at the South Eastern ARC [Affiliate Regional Championship], and it was a last-minute decision. I hadn’t planned to do it, but now I am really glad I did! He was better than I was today, so thank God he carried me around. I wouldn’t get this far without the support of the Rafaczs, so I am very thankful to them for all their help and for getting my horse ready for me.”
The gelding with $50,086 in NRHA LTE also goes by his registered name, Best Jac, outside of the show pen, Shedlauskas shared. “When I was picking him up from the McCutcheons, I asked about his barn name, and Tom looked at me like, ‘What else could it be?! It’s Best Jac!’ We just kept it and call him Jac or Best Jac around the barn,” laughed Shedlauskas.
The Adequan® NAAC continues tomorrow with the first section of the coveted Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year, Rookie Level 2, and Prime Time Rookie. Visit nrhafuturity.com to view the free NRHA ThorSport LiveStream, download a schedule, and more.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 3
2024 NRHA Futurity Continues Toward Finals

November 27 - The historic Jim Norick Coliseum saw more action today, where additional open riders rose to the top of multiple levels.
NRHA $4 Million Rider Casey Deary rode King Arthur II to a 224.5 to tie for the lead of the Open Level 4 and American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash preliminary round with NRHA $4 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingam.

The Curtis Performance Horses LLC-bred and nominated stallion is owned by the Malson/Arcese/Mclain partnership. The stallion is by NRHA Hall of Famer Gunnatrashya and out of the Shesouttayourleague, the youngest mare to reach NRHA Million Dollar Dam status, and the 2015 NRHA Level (L) 4 Open Futurity Champion and 2017 NRHA L4 Open Derby Champion, both with Deary at the reins.
Vanlandingam rode I Got Ur Back in the first section to a 224.5. The 3-year-old stallion was bred and nominated by Green Valley Ranch and is owned by Mark Johnson.
Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 2, are:
Level 4 and APHA Chrome Cash Co-Leaders: Casey Deary and King Arthur II
Level 4 and APHA Chrome Cash Co-Leaders: Jason Vanlandingham and I Got Ur Back
Level 3 Leader: Kaci O’Rourke and The Firemen
Level 2 Co-Leader and Level 1 Leader: Leonardo Kellermann and The Whizperer
Level 2 Co-Leader: Yonathan Baruch and Dream Stopping
Prime Time Leader: Duane Latimer and Babys Gotta Rock
In the Adequan®  Arena, section one of the North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) Non Pro, NAAC Limited Non Pro, NAAC Prime Time Non Pro and NAAC Masters Non Pro began. The day concluded with three riders atop the leaderboard with a score of 223: Madison Rafacz, Wyatt Deary and Joetta Bell. The Adequan®  NAAC titles for the aforementioned classes will be awarded tomorrow, November 28, after section two concludes.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 2

2024 NRHA Open Futurity Begins in the Jim Norick Coliseum

November 26 - With $350,000 on the line for the 2024 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Level 4 Open Futurity Champion, the stakes are higher than ever as NRHA Professionals entered the Jim Norick Arena for the first section of open prelims. This will be the 39th NRHA Futurity in the historic Jim Norick Coliseum and the final edition before moving to the new OG&E Coliseum in 2025.

After the first section, NRHA $4 Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingam is leading both the Level 4 Open and the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Division on I Got Ur Back. The 3-year-old stallion was bred and nominated by Green Valley Ranch and owned by Mark Johnson. Before the NRHA Futurity, the stallion by newly minted NRHA $3 Million Sire Colonels Shining Gun and out of A Shining Sidekick only had $854 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings.

Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 1, are:
Level 4 and APHA Chrome Cash Division: Jason Vanlandingham and I Got Ur Back
Level 3 and Prime Time: Duane Latimer and Babys Gotta Rock
Levels 2 and 1: Leonardo Kellermann and The Whizperer
The Open Semi-Finals qualifiers will be horse and rider pairs in the top 30 percent of the first-go scores in Levels 4-1. However, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the Semi-Finals.
The Open Semi-Finals will consist of two sections. On December 2, the first section will include Levels 3, 2, and 1, and the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals will be on December 3.
The clean-slate Open Finals will begin on December 7 at 9 a.m. with the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals beginning at 6 p.m..

The 20th Anniversary of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships Continues

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) continued November 26, crowning the Limited Non Pro Champions.
Luke Bingham rode his parents’ [Saddle Horn Farms LLC] 4-year-old Diggininthemoonlight (Pale Face Dunnit x Whizen Starlight) to a score of 221 to claim the NAAC Limited Non Pro Championship as well as the NRHA Limited Non Pro. “My horse was really good today. He was with me the whole run, turned great, and stopped big, so we had a nice run,” said Bingham. “We bought him last year at the Futurity, and I have been riding him since.”

The 17-year-old National Reining Horse Youth Association member from Idaho has had a successful season, earning over $29,000 before coming to the last show of the year. The duo qualified at the Northwest Affiliate Regional Championships (ARC), a show run by George King, who is also the breeder of Bingham’s stallion. “I am currently leading the World standings in the Limited Non Pro and am second in the Intermediate Non Pro, so it has been a really great season for me, and what a great way to finish it,” said the young rider, who is scheduled to leave for a church mission next year and will step back from the show pen for some time. “I am thankful to my family for all their support here and for the opportunity to ride such an amazing horse. They push me to be a better person in and out of the showpen. I also want to thank my trainer [NRHA Professional] Jackson Porath; he is a great example to me.”

Bingham also mentioned his sister, McKenna, who showed in the same class. “I am very proud of her and how she showed her horse today; they did amazing. It has been a good show for us so far. I show again tomorrow in the Intermediate Non Pro, so we will see how it goes there.”
The Adequan® Arena action continues tomorrow with the NAAC Non Pro, NAAC Limited Non Pro, NAAC Prime Time Non Pro, and NAAC Masters Non Pro. Follow along on our free NRHA ThorSport LiveStream at nrhafuturity.com/livestream.

November 25- NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC: Day 1

The Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships Kick Off at the 2024 NRHA Futurity

The spotlight shone brightly as the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) competitors entered the arena. This premier event brings together elite riders, talented horses, and dedicated affiliates from across North America, showcasing the best in reining. Today, the NAAC Open and NAAC Intermediate Champions were crowned.
Sean McBurney piloted Americasnextdiamond (Whizkey N Diamonds x Americasnextgunmodel), a 9-year-old mare bred and owned by Rhodes River Ranch, to a score of 225.5, claiming the win in the NAAC Open as well as the NRHA Open. The duo has had a highly successful season this year, winning the High Point Novice Horse Open Levels 3 and 2 during the 2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. With today’s win, the mare’s NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) are over $23,000.

“For whatever reason, she loves this arena,” said McBurney. “She is getting better and better to show the older she gets. We raised her and sold her and then got her back when she was 4 years old, and I made the Level 4 finals at the [6666] NRHA Derby [presented by Markel] on her, so I guess she likes Oklahoma City,” said the NRHA Professional. “She can really turn fast, but sometimes she gets a little distracted,” he said. “Today she was really good! Our plan here was to get her LTE over $20,000, so we accomplished that, and we will show again in the Novice Horse on Monday, so we may add even more to that.”
McBurney plans to continue breeding the mare when they return from Oklahoma City. “She has a really nice yearling filly by Patriot, so we plan to get some more foals out of her.” McBurney and his wife, NRHA Professional Jordan McBurney, will also show in the open futurity this week. “I want to thank my wife as always; It is really fun doing this together,” closed McBurney.
Torri Sims rode Wimpy Sparkles (Wimpys Little Step x Spark My Fancy) to the top of the NAAC Intermediate Open class, scoring 222 for the win. Sims and the 14-year-old stallion, bred by John Carricaburu and owned by Janyce Hoyt, teamed up in the last year to qualify for the NAAC at the Northwest Affiliate Regional Championship.

“It is surreal,” said Sims after her run on Wimpy Sparkles and her other mount, Mizzen Whiz Ya. “We decided about a week before the qualifier that we are going to try to qualify for the [Adequan® North American] Affiliate Championship with both horses and they were great there. We came here hoping to make the [Bob’s Custom Saddles] Showdown, and it is really the icing on the cake that we ended first and second in the class. I am super grateful to the owners for the chance to show these horses and also to [NRHA Professional] Mike Boyle for all his help and mentorship that he has given me over the last year.”
Next year, Torri plans to pass the stallion’s reins back to his owner and let her show in the rookie and masters classes and hopefully qualify back to Oklahoma City for the Adequan® NAAC. “He is a very special horse. He can run in the open class and then go back and carry his non pro around and give her confidence in the showpen. We all love him, and he is definitely not going anywhere,” smiled Sims.
Sims also claimed the reserve honors in the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open, scoring 220 aboard her second mount Mizzen Whiz Ya (Gunnatrashya x Mizzen Whizzen), bred by Marilyn Copland and owned by DR Quarter Horses. ”I had an injury last year, and I just started riding with Mike this year, so I got both horses in training at the beginning of the year, and they both have been great for me.” Next for Sims this week is to walk through the Gateway of Champions in the Jim Norick Coliseum aboard the Boyles’ owned open futurity entry Guns For Girls (Colonels Shining Gun x Easy Lil Lady).
Winning the NRHA Intermediate Open was NRHA Professional Dan Yarbrough riding Quincy Clagg’s Gunna Score (Gunnatrashya x Stop Little Sister), a 4-year-old gelding bred by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC. The duo performed a strong run, scoring a 220.5 to top their class.

“My horse was so good today,” said Yarbrough. “He is a fine horse to show and this was only our second time in the show pen together. My customers, who are good friends of mine, bought him about six weeks ago, and I showed him once before coming here, and he was good, so we thought we would give it a try and bring him to Oklahoma City. This is the first class I have ever won here, so it is a pretty special win. We entered more classes, so we will see how the week goes, but it is for sure a good start for us.” Yarbrough has a busy week at the show as he is also showing a futurity horse.
“My mom and I own a futurity horse, Heza Dirtslinger (Gunnatrashya x Covergirl Chic), that I will be showing in the open futurity, so I am very excited about that. It is a family affair for us, and I am very thankful for all the support I get from my wife and my family. Even though my parents aren’t coming this time, they are very supportive of me and my business, and I am very grateful for that.” Yarbrough also thanked the Clagg family for letting him show their gelding in the Open classes.
On December 4, Rookie Levels 1 and 2, Intermediate Non Pro, and Intermediate Open riders who placed in the top 10 of their Adequan® NAAC classes will ride into the Jim Norick Coliseum in hopes of taking home a championship in the Bob’s Custom Saddles and/or Toyon Ranch Showdowns. The winners of each category will receive $5,000.
For more information about the World’s Richest Reining, including tickets, schedule, and more, visit nrhafuturity.com.
nrhafuturity.com