Travis Chapman Mountain (303) 518-3163 tmmedic@yahoo com
Margaret Fuchs East Central (330) 717-8193 magmfuchs@aol com
Andre De Bellefeuille Canada (514) 578-5757 andre@versapro ca Rick Clark RHF (606) 232-7423 rick.clark@clarkspns.com
Maik Bartmann Europe 49-172-624-801-6 info@vineyardranch com
Rudi Kronsteiner Europe 43-676-745-476-0 info@kronsteiner de João Marcos South America 55-011-468-800-05 joaomarcos@
udapires.com.br Jose Soto Soberanes Mexico 524-423-143-026 jsoto@cnn-law.com.mx Pam Watson Oceania 61-042-422-949-7 pamela watson17@hotmail com
Andrea Stillo South Central (817) 403-1630 andreastillo@hotmail com
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CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: BUR OAK VETERINARY & PODIATRY SERVICES
REINER INSIGHTS: COMPETITIVE CONDITIONING
MILLION DOLLAR MILESTONES
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: UNBEETABLE FEEDS
These horses and riders proved themselves all year and earned world championships for their efforts.
H
H
When
believe in SILVER SPURS EQUINE
All of us at Silver Spurs are so proud of Anna-Maria Zehetbauer from Austria for her amazing performances at this year’s European and NRHA Non-Pro Futurities. It is especially meaningful to us because all of her horses were bred and raised by Silver Spurs and trained by Anna-Maria herself.
What a thrill it has been watching her ride to victory after victory on these fabulous horses in Europe culminating in her traveling to the U.S., and becoming Reserve Co-Champion at the NRHA Non Pro Futurity in OKC riding SS TARZAN.
For a breeder and stallion owner there is no greater reward.
H
H 2025 Italian Derby Non Pro L4 Top 10
H 2025 Breeders Derby Non Pro L4 Reserve Champion
H 2025 Belgium Futurity Non Pro Trophy Champion
H 2025 European Derby Non Pro L4 Champion
Chelsea Schneider
Back in the Saddle
Licensed in ten states, Bur Oak Veterinary & Podiatry Services treats horses around the country—and even travels to top shows to ensure quality care when it’s needed most.
Article and Photos by NRHA Corporate Partner Bur Oak Veterinary & Podiatry Services
Today Dr. Vernon “Vern” Dryden is the face behind Bur Oak Veterinary & Podiatry Services, one of the nation’s top services treating show horses. Like the animals he treats, his story began on a 32,000-acre cattle ranch in southeastern Arizona. In this remote location, he diligently performed daily chores, relocated cattle to new pastures, and provided care for horses and livestock. His unwavering dedication to veterinary medicine led him to enroll in veterinary school. His father gave him the fundamental skills of horse shoeing, but Vern sought to refine this practical expertise.
At the age of 17, he attended Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School, before attending the University of Arizona, where Dr. Dryden operated his own farrier business. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science and Microbiology, complemented by a minor in Chemistry. Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Dryden attended Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine where he also worked as a farrier for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
After his time at Washington State and a successful surgical and podiatry internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, he was hired full-time. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the youngest Partner at Rood & Riddle. During that time, he led their purchase and acquisition of an established equine hospital in Wellington, Florida.
Dr. Dryden, with credentials including Certified Journeyman Farrier and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, was granted the opportunity to travel globally to address specialized podiatry cases and deliver lectures internationally on topics such as angular limb deformities, laminitis, and specialized shoeing for the equine athlete. Dr. Dryden has traveled internationally to treat horses in areas like South Korea, Dubai, Brazil, and across the United States, where he worked on top thoroughbred
sires and broodmares, as well as sport horses of a variety of disciplines.
Cappy Dryden, current Bur Oak CEO, grew up foxhunting in Maryland, and began showing hunters at the age of 12 with her mother. Her skills grew quickly, and she began to travel as far as Arizona and Florida for some of the major hunter and jumper shows. With a successful career in the hunter and equitation ring, she started showing jumpers, finishing off her hunter and jumper career showing in the grand prix and amateur owner jumper ring. At the 2010 WEG, Cappy realized reining was something she wanted to pursue. In December of that year, she purchased her first reiner, West Coast Smarty. That was the perfect horse to start and ensure a passion for reining.
In 2015, Dr. Dryden and Cappy made a strategic decision to prioritize patient care by resigning from Rood & Riddle and establishing Bur Oak Veterinary & Podiatry Services, where they could spend more time with each case. The practice commenced with Cappy handling all office operations, her business degree and experience as veterinary assistant at Maryland Equine Center facilitated this transition.
↑
Cappy taking the reins.
Corporate Partner
While Vern initially was dedicated to just podiatry care, clients began requesting comprehensive equine assessments. His ability to evaluate conformation, assist with foot mechanics and work with farriers made him an ideal fit for many trainers and owners. Initially hired as a podiatrist for a client dissatisfied with an expensive horse purchase, she entrusted Vern with looking at this horse. Eight years later, this client continues to achieve remarkable success with her horses worldwide.
In 2020, Vern’s growing clientele in sports medicine necessitated the decision to concentrate solely on sport horses. In 2019, as the clientele expanded, Nicole Perry joined the practice to oversee office management. Her background and Masters in Marketing have been instrumental in the growth of both their veterinary practice and Wellness Ready.
Known as “snowbirds,” Vern and Cappy have continued to go to Wellington, Florida for the winter for their clients and to enjoy the warm sun with their
reiners on their farm, Bur Oak South. Vern makes bimonthly trips to Scottsdale, Arizona and monthly trips to Dallas, Texas and the Kentucky/Ohio area. Bur Oak keeps four veterinary vehicles throughout the U.S. to facilitate Vern’s trips.
Vern and Cappy also travel to horse shows, working side by side managing cases. They work long hours and, in their own words, “We enjoy every second of our time at the shows.” They do their best to take some time to ride and show their own reiners at the NRHA shows alongside clients, whose success they love to take in while at shows.
In 2011, they acquired a broodmare, SL Lenas Chick, at The Legacy Sale, accompanied by a foal and pregnant with the full sibling. This mare, SL Lenas Chick, became the foundation of their modest yet successful breeding business, which is situated at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses.
Breeding a Futurity Finalist is an aspiration for many, and the Bur Oak LLC-owned SL Lenas Chick has accomplished
this remarkable feat on five occasions. This impressive accomplishment highlights the success of their breeding program. They have several horses in training with Brandon Brant, notably level 4 finalist, Lenas Dunnit Again, who will show in the Open Derbies this year with Brandon.
In 2020, Dr. Dryden and a collaborating partner established Wellness Ready, a diagnostic medical company. Wellness Ready manufactures the world’s only point of care whole blood insulin test. Insulin dysregulation in horses is the leading cause of laminitis, and laminitis is the second leading cause of death in horses. In 2024, Vern assumed sole ownership of the company. Currently, Nicole and Cappy manage the company’s products’ global manufacturing, sales, and operations, while Vern works on a new lateral flow assay test which will complement the insulin test and benefit the equine industry. ■
From left: Dr. Vern Dryden, Cappy Dryden and Nicole Perry. ↓
From the Commissioner
Reining is Resilient
By the mileage on our trucks and the amount of coffee required to keep them moving, the 2025 show season clearly asked a lot—and delivered plenty in return.
From early-season shows to late-night finals, reining in 2025 was full of grit, generosity, and an unmistakable sense that people wanted to be together—horses, trainers, friends, families, and all. Participation stayed strong. Entries and membership grew. Social media fans exploded. Young horses impressed. Professionals reminded us why they’re professionals. And somewhere along the way, most of us learned (again) that no plan survives first contact with a warm-up pen.
Then came the Futurity.
Every year, the NRHA Futurity® feels a little like a family reunion and a championship game rolled into one. It’s loud. It’s emotional. It’s exhausting (in a good way). It’s where dreams are realized, expectations are reset, and more than a few friendships are stresstested.
This year, it also brought real challenges.
The EHV-1 concerns that surfaced prior to the event required fast decisions, clear communication, and, most importantly, a shared commitment to doing the right thing for our horses. That kind of moment strips away the noise and reminds you what actually matters. I was proud—deeply proud—of how our leadership, members, veterinarians, staff, riders, and partners responded. Calm where it mattered. Cooperative where it counted. Focused on horse welfare first, without hesitation.
And through it all, the show went on. Not perfectly. Not effortlessly. But successfully. This season reminded us that reining is not fragile. It’s resilient. It bends, it adjusts, and it moves forward—sometimes a little sore, occasionally sleep-deprived, but always committed. When the dust finally settled, the 2025
NRHA Futurity® closed with a record payout more than $3.95 million was paid out throughout the 2025 NRHA Futurity®, with over $1.1 million across the Non Pro finals and $2.84 million in the Open finals.
However, those record payouts didn’t happen by accident. It happened because owners kept investing, breeders kept believing, competitors kept showing up, and sponsors kept trusting the long game of reining. Records like that aren’t trophies— they’re mile markers. NRHA will continue to innovate through programs such as the Futurity Challenge, pushing forward in pursuit of the next mile marker. To everyone who hauled in, held a horse, volunteered, cheered, worried, competed, or simply stayed when it would have been easier to leave—thank you. You are the reason 2025 mattered.
And yes…we will be just as resilient in 2026.
Billy Smith
NRHA Commissioner
We want to hear from you! Please send your feedback on this issue to reiner@nrha.com.
Reining Horse Foundation
Sustaining What We Love
Reining has always been shaped by leaders—some highly visible, others quietly working behind the scenes. Trainers who guide the next generation. Owners who invest with intention. Volunteers who show up, year after year, because they care deeply about the sport. Leadership in reining is not confined to titles. It is expressed through action, commitment, and a willingness to serve something bigger than oneself.
At the Reining Horse Foundation, we see leadership as stewardship. The decisions we make today directly affect the strength and sustainability of the sport tomorrow. That responsibility is shared. The Foundation exists to serve the reining community, but it can only do so through the leadership of those who choose to engage.
Getting connected is often the first step. Whether that connection comes through an NRHA affiliate, a youth program, a committee, or a single conversation at a horse show, involvement creates perspective. It reminds us that reining is not just about competition results or earnings lists.
It is about people, opportunity, and continuity. When reiners take the time to connect beyond their own programs, they help ensure that the sport remains accessible, welcoming, and strong.
Giving back is where leadership takes root. For some, that may mean mentoring youth leaders, supporting scholarships, contributing to the Crisis Fund, or serving in a governance role. These acts send the message that reining is worth investing in, and that its future matters.
Leadership also involves paying attention to what lies ahead. As the sport continues to grow and change, the ways we support it will evolve as well. That may look like welcoming new ideas, finding thoughtful ways to broaden participation, or honoring tradition while allowing room for progress.
The volunteers serving on the RHF Board of Directors are a great example of these leadership principles in practice. They give of time, talent, and treasure to support the mission of caring for and honoring our reining community. In 2026, the board welcomes four new members: Amy Kirby, Morgan McGuire, Allison Thorson, and Christy Trautman.
Every generation benefits from the leadership of those who came before. What remains constant is the opportunity—year after year— for reiners to contribute in ways that feel meaningful to them and sustaining for the sport.
Leslie Baker, CFRE
RHF Executive Director
To donate, visit reiningfoundation.com or call RHF at (405) 946-7400, ext. 106, rhf@nrha.com.
Board of Directors
RICK CLARK, PRESIDENT (606) 232—7423 rick.clark@clarkspns.com
ANDREA STILLO, VICE PRESIDENT (817) 403—1630 andreastillo@hotmail.com
BILLY WILLIAMS (503) 887-7171 billwilliams1330@gmail.com
Champions for Charity
NRHyA’s Buy-A-Pro auction offers professional coaching sessions with youth fundraising.
The NRHyA Buy-A-Pro Auction returns March 16-31, offering a proven way for reiners to sharpen their skills while supporting the future of the sport. For riders already active in reining—or those looking to take the next step— Buy-A-Pro delivers value on every level.
Through the auction, bidders can purchase a two-lesson training package with NRHA Professionals located across the United States. These one-on-one sessions give riders the chance to focus on fundamentals, fine-tune maneuvers, or address specific training goals for themselves and their horses. In some cases, professionals may provide a horse, making the experience even more accessible.
The list of participating professionals reflects the depth and strength of the industry. NRHA Hall of Famers, NRHA Futurity® champions, Million Dollar Riders, world champions, Horsemen and Women of the Year, accomplished non-pro coaches, and other respected professionals all
voluntarily contribute their time and expertise to the program.
For buyers, Buy-A-Pro offers something hard to find elsewhere: personalized instruction with top-tier professionals while knowing their bid is making a meaningful difference. It is an investment in both personal progress and the sport as a whole.
NRHA Professionals benefit as well. Each professional donates two training sessions per package, helping introduce new clients to their programs, build lasting relationships, and strengthen ties within the reining community. Professionals also designate an NRHA Affiliate to receive support through their participation.
Fifteen percent of each winning bid goes directly to the professional’s chosen NRHA Affiliate. Affiliates serve as the backbone of reining at the local level, hosting shows, clinics, and programs that keep the sport active and accessible across the country.
NRHyA
The remaining proceeds support the NRHyA, a program of the Reining Horse Foundation. NRHyA offers scholarships, leadership development, and opportunities that help young reiners grow both in and outside of the arena. The Buy-A-Pro Auction has become a reliable source of funding for these programs, ensuring that today’s youth have the support they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Over the years, Buy-A-Pro has helped riders of all ages build confidence, deepen their commitment to reining, and form connections that last well beyond the auction.
Bidding opens March 16 and closes at noon CST on March 31. To view participating NRHA Professionals and place bids, visit auctions.nrha.com.
How NRHyA Members Can Help Grow Buy-A-Pro
NRHyA members play an important role in the success of the Buy-A-Pro Auction. One of the best ways to help is by encouraging NRHA Professionals to participate. Many professionals say they first learned about Buy-A-Pro through a personal invitation.
Here’s how youth members can help:
Start With a Conversation
If you train with an NRHA Professional, begin by asking if they have heard about the Buy-A-Pro Auction. Share why it matters to you and how it supports NRHyA scholarships and leadership opportunities
Share the Benefits
Let professionals know that Buy-A-Pro is a win for everyone: They connect with new riders and clients Fifteen percent of each winning bid supports an NRHA Affiliate of their choice The remaining proceeds help fund NRHyA programs for youth
Keep It Simple
Professionals donate two training sessions, which are offered as a single package in the auction. NRHyA and NRHA staff handle the auction setup and bidding process.
Offer to Help
Ask if you can help spread the word once they are signed up. Sharing their listing on social media or within your local reining community can make a big difference.
Say Thank You
Whether a professional participates or not, thanking them for their time and support of youth reining helps build strong relationships.
By reaching out, NRHyA members help strengthen the Buy-A-Pro Auction— and help ensure that youth programs continue to grow and thrive. Early commits for 2026 include the names below:
• Casey Deary
• Francesco Martinotti
• Gunny Mathison Josh Tishman
• Jared LeClair
• Trent Harvey
• Michelle Chapman Stefano Calcagnini
• Drake Johnson
• Fred Thomsson
↑ NRHA Professional, Casey Deary.
Two Sires Surpass $5 Million in Lifetime Progeny Earnings
A pair of stallions–Inferno Sixty Six and Colonels Shining Gun–are being recognized for reaching $5 million in progeny earnings.
Inferno Sixty Six, a 2012-born stallion, continues to blaze a trail in the reining world, officially crossing the $5 million milestone and securing his place among the sport’s most impactful sires. Bred by Hilldale Farm and nominated by Domenico Lomuto, he is the result of a legendary pairing between two NRHA Hall of Famers—Gunnatrashya and Snip O Gun. Owned by Slide or Die LLC, Inferno Sixty Six has demonstrated remarkable consistency through more than 378 NRHA money-earning offspring whose success spans all levels of competition.
The $5 Million Mark was officially surpassed at the 2025 NRHA Open Futurity Finals, when TR Git R Done (Inferno Sixty Six x Whizzen For Chex), owned by Triple R Equine LLC and ridden by Gabriel Borges, marked a 226.5 to split second place and earn $130,000. Additional earnings were added by Craig Schmersal and Steamy Dream (Inferno Sixty Six x Thischichasbigdreams), owned by Diamond Creek Ranch, who secured $25,000 in the Finals.
While Inferno Sixty Six exemplifies the rise of modern reining bloodlines, Colonels Shining Gun, known in the barn as Jojo, represents enduring influence through versatility and global success. The 2007-born stallion has now joined the elite ranks of NRHA $5 Million Sires, further cementing his legacy within the industry.
Sired by NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Gunner and out of Shining Little Peach, Colonels Shining Gun was bred by Trend Horses LLC and is owned by Katarzyna Roleska. More than 450 of Colonels Shining Gun’s progeny are NRHA money earners, with additional earnings across ranch, roping, reined cow horse, and cutting. This crossdiscipline success underscores Jojo’s reputation as a sire of versatility and durability.
At the 2025 NRHA Futurity®, Colonels Shining Gun’s offspring once again proved their competitiveness on the sport’s biggest stage. Martin Muehlstaetter rode Chex Shining (Colonels Shining Gun x Snip O Chex) for owner Jamie Walters to earn $25,000 in the Level 4 Open Finals, pushing the stallion over the $5 Million Mark.
↑ Inferno Sixty Six. Photo courtesy of NRHA.
↑ Colonels Shining Gun. Photo courtesy of NRHA.
Reining Horse Foundation Elects New Officers, Board Members
The Reining Horse Foundation (RHF) has elected officers, directors, and volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors.
New officers, who will serve through 2027, include Rick Clark of Kentucky (president), Andrea Stillo of Texas (vice president) and Debbie Conway of Texas (secretary/treasurer). New Board Members include Amy Kirby of Ohio, Morgan McClure of Arizona, Allison Thorson of Texas, and Christy Trautman of Wisconsin. Janice Laney of Oklahoma, Kevin Truax of Iowa, and Brooke Wharton of Texas were re-elected to serve new, three-year terms on the Board.
Rick Clark
RHF President
Andrea Stillo
RHF Vice President
Debbie Conway
RHF Secretary/Treasurer
Amy Kirby
RHF Director
Morgan McClure
RHF Director
Allison Thorson
RHF Director
Christy Trautman
RHF Director
Photo courtesy of Hymer Photography
Photo courtesy of the NRHA
Photo courtesy of the NRHA
Photo courtesy of the NRHA
Photo courtesy of the NRHA
Photo courtesy of the NRHA
Photo courtesy of Shauna Larcombe
$152,000 Category 1 Classes (Running for a World Title starts here) $65,000 Open Derby Classes $47,000 Non Pro Derby Classes
• 8 Year Olds: eligible for Derby Classes
• Derby Classes for Everyone—including special classes: 4 Year Olds Only, Novice Horse Derby (<2500 NRHA LTE), and Red Shirt Futurity
• Horses 7 & UP eligible for Maturity Classes (see limited conditions for 7 & 8 year olds)
• Rookie 2 Shootout—Buckles for Top Ten & Saddle for the Champion
NRHA World Top Ten - Utilizing GWRHA Shows Horse Rider
Owner
4th
3rd
Open World Champion: Ten-Timer
Bernard Fonck celebrates his 10th Open World Champion title thanks to GD Peptos Olena Blue.
By Abigail Boatwright
Bernard Fonck and GD Peptos Olena Blue.
Photo Courtesy Bonaga Communication. ↓
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
Bernard Fonck is no stranger to the race for a World Championship. GD Peptos Olena Blue had a stellar 2025 season with Bernard and Jody Fonck at the reins. In December 2024, the Foncks began working with the 2017 stallion by Spat a Blue and out of Miss Peptos Jacky owned and nominated by breeder Domenico Giannitti of Frassinello Monferrato, Italy.
“The plan was we just wanted to do some Derby and a little bit of Open events because we do the Derby until they’re eight years old,” Bernard Fonck said.
The first few months were challenging, but Fonck, a native of Belgium, took the stallion to the Italian Derby, German Derby, European Derby, and Open competition. Along the way, they amassed $14,972 in earnings to win the Open World Championship title—double the amount the reserve world champion won.
“You need to have seven paychecks,” Fonck said of his strategy. “It’s not about points, it’s about paychecks. I never won much with him, but I was always in the top three, and during the year I was leading the world title with the most shows. I
OPEN WORLD STANDINGS
wasn’t leading in money at that point, but I had six shows so I decided to go for more shows.”
Winning the title at the end of the year was his highlight, and he’s glad to have earned the world champion award for Giannitti.
Fonck appreciates Blue's (the barn name for the Open World Champion stallion) strong personality, just as much as he appreciates his ability.
“I really like him,” Fonck said. “He has big stops, good maneuvers, he has a strong mind.”
Next up, Blue will be aimed at Non Pro classes in Italy, as well as breeding. Fonck is thankful for Giannitti trusting him with this horse.
“I want to say ‘thank you’ to the owner because it’s always nice if they send a horse, but it’s unusual to send a horse so far, from Italy to Belgium,” Fonck said. “I want to say thank you for his trust— he gave me carte blanche to do what I want to do. He was a super owner to work for.”
The Open Reserve World Champion was TR Mr Joe, owned by Shelley Rosenberger of Hayden, Idaho, and ridden by Dan Huss. The 2017 sorrel gelding (Lil Joe Cash x Ms Whiz Dunit) earned $7,939 in the 2025 World Championship race. ■
Intermediate Open: Whatever It Takes
Whateverittake and Enrico Sciulli secure the Intermediate Open World Champion title.
By Abigail Boatwright
Whateverittake and Enrico Sciulli are crowned Intermediate Open World Champions. Photo courtesy of Enrico Sciulli. ↓
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
In 2025, Enrico Sciulli became an open rider, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Before making the leap, the Italian rider (hailing from the Central Italian city of Vastogirardi) cut his teeth on the Non Pro circuit, emerging as the 2017 NRHA Non Pro World Champion.
Currently working for Lara Lorengo’s LL Reining Horses, Sciulli teamed up with the stallion Whateverittake, and the two–quite literally–formed a winning pair. Sciulli, alongside Whateverittake, nicknamed “Davide Lorengo,” took home this year’s Intermediate Open World Champion title and $11,125.
The 2020 stallion (Walla Walla Whiz x Magnum Chic N Chex) is owned by Lara Lorengo, and nominated by
breeder Giuseppe Prevosti. “His strong point is his head,” Sciulli said of Whateverittake. “In the maneuvers, he is complete, and in the circles, you can run as much as you want without the reins, and he’s always there with you.”
2025 was a gradual process for the Italian champion. After winning three important events with higher added money, Sciulli decided to travel to more shows to secure the top spot. And it was a challenge.
“There were shows where my stable left with my girlfriend [Lara Lorengo] and some horses for a show, and I would join them after finishing another show with other horses,” Sciulli said. “It was hard.”
Their hustle paid off, and Sciulli secured his first Open title.
“It’s a unique emotion,” he said of his feelings about the win. “It’s different from other shows, because it’s a long route that lasts a whole year, and when you manage to hit the goal, it’s very satisfying.”
Sciulli is appreciative of the support that led to this win.
“I want to thank my girlfriend Lara Lorengo, who, together with her family, allowed me to win this title,” Sciulli said. “My family for always being close to support me, my friends, and my sponsors—all of this for me is very important to have.”
Intermediate Open Reserve World Champion was Katies Whizzn Gun, owned, bred and nominated by Valerie Siegel; ridden by Valerie Siegel. The 2017 bay mare (Spooks Gotta Gun x Taris Whiz Keyz) earned $7,880
Limited Open: Blue Eyes, Blue Ribbon
Alpha Blue Eyed Wimp and Christi Baldree win Limited Open World Champion title.
By Abigail Boatwright
Alpha Blue Eyed Wimp and Christi Baldree won the 2025 Limited Open World Champion title. Photo courtesy of Christi Baldree. ↓
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
Alpha Blue Eyed Wimp was originally purchased as a 3 year old to be a step-up horse for one of Christi Baldree’s Youth clients, but the 2011 sorrel gelding was instead aimed for Open competition his 4 year old year. “Frankie” and Baldree of Cowpens, South Carolina, won $3,024 to secure the Limited Open World Champion title.
Frankie (Wimpy Chic x My Chics Got Guns) is owned by Lily Sevensma, nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses, LLC and bred by RR Quarter Horses, LLC.
“He’s a total goofball, he’s got a very outgoing personality,” Baldree said of the gelding. She said Frankie was unfinished, and previously unshown, but was simple to train. His personality endears him to everyone who has met him.
“Everybody likes Frankie. He’s a sweetheart,” Baldree said.
She also learned that he is a “once a day, done” kind of horse and benefitted from less prep over more.
“My strategy was just to capitalize on the things we’re
good at—circles—and then try to constantly be improving on some of the other maneuvers that were good, but needed to be better,” Baldree said. “I just wanted to showcase my horse the best I could, and let the cards fall where they may.”
Baldree didn’t intend to pursue the Limited Open title with Frankie at the start of the year. He’d won a few thousand dollars his 3 year old year, but she was gearing him up for Derby competition while letting it be a growing year.
“It was very open-handed, and as the year went on, he’d been pretty honest in the show pen, I didn’t have a lot of issues, and he was very consistent,” Baldree said.
Halfway through the year, she realized they were in the Top 10 standings for Limited Open and decided to go for a title— her first ever.
“We threw in two or three extra shows toward the end of the year, just to help with that,” Baldree said. “It was actually a really close race
LIMITED OPEN WORLD STANDINGS
there for a while, and it came down to the last show of the year for me to secure it. It was an unintentional thing, but he’s just that consistent and that good of a horse that he made it work.”
Baldree is pleased with Frankie’s performance and thrilled with their win.
“It feels exhilarating,” Baldree said. “I’m extremely thankful. It’s very humbling because I certainly didn’t expect it, and I’ve only been a professional for four years now. It was very humbling to be able to rise to the top on such a great horse. Certainly all the glory to God for that.”
The Limited Open Reserve World Champion was DC The Master Spark, owned by the Master Partnership of Wilton, California, and ridden by Victoria Kershaw. The 2016 buckskin stallion (Steppin On Sparks x Master Enterprise), was bred by Catemu SA and nominated by Bar K2 Ranch, won $2,430. ■
Walla Walla Win Rookie Professional:
Missin Walla Whiz and Charlize Star capture Rookie Professional World Championship.
By Abigail Boatwright
Missin Walla Whiz and Charlize Stair were crowned Rookie Professional World Champions. Photo courtesy of Charlize Stair. ↓
In her second year of riding reining horses, Charlize Stair and Missin Walla Whiz earned $4,201 to win the Rookie Professional World Championship. Stair has been working with the 2013 chestnut gelding (Walla Walla Whiz x Missin My Friend) for two years. "Wall-E" is owned by Donald Burgy, and was nominated by breeder Margaret Sanders.
This division is for Open riders who have earned under $5,000 lifetime earnings. Stair rides for trainer Dutch Chapman. She hadn’t planned to go for this title, but halfway through the year, she realized they were sitting in first place.
“We sort of ran with it,” Stair said. “We aimed to just be as consistent as possible. I knew the people I was competing against probably had stronger horses, but my horse was the most consistent, and I knew if I did my job, he would do his job. So I just had to make sure I did all my maneuvers to the best of my ability.”
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
Wall-E has a funny personality and is quite the character.
“He’s probably a barn favorite,” Stair said.
One highlight for Stair’s year was going to a Keystone Reining Association show and having a clean sweep in both slates of the Open, winning Open, Intermediate Open, Limited Open and Rookie Professional both days.
Reflecting on her win, Stair is still in shock. She’ll be showing Wall-E again this year, and focusing on training futurity horses.
“It’s pretty cool, I am very excited, but I don’t think it’s fully set in quite yet,” Stair said. “I’m grateful for the whole experience. It’s been amazing.”
The Rookie Professional Reserve World Champion was NVR Liljoesmoonlight, a 2017 sorrel mare (Lil Joe Cash x What A Lucky Hit) owned by Rachel Dahle, bred by Gary Vickrey and nominated by Sandy Vickrey. The mare was ridden by Alisa Dahl, and earned $2,293. ■
ROOKIE PROFESSIONAL WORLD STANDINGS
The only FDA-approved PSGAG for the treatment of equine arthritis proven to:1,2
• Reduce inflammation
• Restore synovial joint lubrication
• Repair joint cartilage
• Reverse the disease process1,2
Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is recommended for the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. WARNING: Not for use in humans. CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a of a licensed veterinarian.
BRIEF SUMMARY: Prior to use please consult the product insert, a summary of which follows: CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. INDICATIONS: Adequan® i.m. is recommended for the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/ or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. CONTRAINDICATIONS: There are no known contraindications to the use of intramuscular Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. PRECAUTIONS: The safe use of Adequan® i.m. in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy, or in lactating mares has not been evaluated. For customer care, or to obtain product information, visit www.adequan.com. To report an adverse event please contact American Regent, Inc. at 1-888-354-4857 or email pv@americanregent.com.
1. Kim DY, Taylor HW, Moore RM, Paulsen DB, Cho DY. Articular chondrocyte apoptosis in equine osteoarthritis. The Veterinary Journal 2003; 166: 52-57. 2. Burba DJ, Collier MA, DeBault LE, Hanson-Painton O, Thompson HC, Holder CL: In vivo kinetic study on uptake and distribution of intramuscular tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan in equine body fluid compar tments and articular cartilage in an osteochondral defect model. J Equine Vet Sci 1993; 13: 696-703.
Novice Horse Open Level 1 World Champions Jorge Puente and Whizin Off Platinum.
Article by Blanche Schaefer
Consistency was the name of the game for Novice Horse Open Level 1 World Champions Jorge Puente and Whizin Off Platinum (Platinum Vintage x Whizin Off Spooks. Owned by Paul and Sandra Kaskey, bred and nominated by Buckshot Farms, the 2018 mare and her Sarasota, Florida, trainer racked up $7,413 in world standings earnings to clinch the title. The duo also finished as Reserve Champions in the Novice Horse Open Levels 2 and 3, with $5,361 earned in Level 2 and $4,656 in Level 3.
“A couple of shows before I finished showing her last year, I had shown her in 56 classes, and she had gotten 54 checks. For me, that was really impressive— that was with no schooling. She’ll go to new places and show,” Puente said. “She was really consistent. In July, I showed her five or six shows in a row and went eight times in the pen, and she won every single class every single time.”
← Novice Horse Open Level 1 World Champions Jorge Puente and Whizin Off Platinum. Photo courtesy of Waltenberry.
The Kaskeys initially sent the mare to Puente to sell a couple years ago, but once he started riding her, she quickly earned a place to stay.
“She had been in training on and off, they tried to do some cow horse with her, and she wasn’t really cowy but she was a good horse. I rode her and saw potential in her,” Puente said.
As Puente got to know the mare more, he and the Kaskeys tossed around the idea of hauling for a title.
“We started in March, and I had gone to four shows before we started running for the title. I was at the house and told the owners I thought we could run for a title with this mare, because she’s consistent. She doesn’t get hot or overwhelmed with a new place, which is the kind of horse that’s good for that,” Puente said.
Adding a world championship to Whizin Off Platinum’s stats column was a memorable experience both for Puente and the Kaskeys, and it’s now Sandy’s turn to enjoy her special horse in the show pen.
“It means a lot to me, because they’ve never won anything like that, and they were really excited about it. They didn’t go with me to a lot of shows, but they were always watching every run
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
that we did. They were amazed at how consistent and how well she showed every time,” Puente said. “They were really happy about her going out, because they were originally thinking of trying to sell her, because they weren’t doing anything with her. For her go to ahead and win a World Championship, that was a big jump.”
Puente thanked the Kaskeys and all his clients and owners, horse care professionals and help.
“First I have to thank God, because without Him, nobody can really accomplish anything,” Puente humbly said. “The more I do this, the more I realize how hard it is. Going and showing the horses is a challenge, but having people at home who can get them ready for you, my assistants at the show, my blacksmith, my chiropractor, my vet, my guy who takes care of them at home and makes sure they’re eating good and feeling good, it’s a big group. It’s nice when you have a group of people like that.”
Novice Horse Open Level 1 Reserve World Champion honors went to Nathan Ivie of Springville, Utah, with $4,037 in earnings aboard Christopher Bird’s 2019 mare Va Nilla Icce (SG Frozen Enterprize x Showtimes Packinagun).
Cool as Ice Novice Horse Level 2:
Novice Horse Open Level 2 World Champions Ashley Kelkenberg and Designed By Ice.
Article by Blanche Schaefer
With $6,037 in earnings, Ashley Kelkenberg and Designed By Ice (SG Frozen Enterprize x Designed By Gunner) owned by This Run's For The Girls, LLC and bred by nominator Elizabeth Voorhees (USA and EU) emerged at the end of the year as the Novice Horse Open Level 2 World Champions.
Kelkenberg, whose program
is centered primarily around coaching non pro riders, has enjoyed the opportunity to show the 2019 stallion since her client, Diana Duffy of This Run’s For The Girls LLC, bought him summer of his 3 year old year.
“She wanted me to have something to show in the Open. I really enjoy coaching, but everyone wants to show, too. My non pros have a lot of nice horses
that I’ve gotten to show in the Open, but I haven’t had anything that’s truly been just for me to show and focus on,” the Carefree, Arizona, trainer said.
The stallion is loaded with talent, but he wasn’t easy in the beginning. She sent him to friend and trainer Marco Ricotta during his 4 year old year when Kelkenberg was pregnant with her and husband Jack’s second
Ashley Kelkenberg and Designed By Ice. Photo courtesy of Teana Long. ↓
child. She said it was a major turning point for her with “Otter Pop.”
“Otter Pop was so tough mentally for me. He is so talented and so smart, and I’d gotten really far with him, but there were still some things that were really bugging me. I just needed another perspective and some help,” Kelkenberg said. “It was really good for me to see somebody else show him, because that horse is so feely and talented that I think I was over-feeling things. He’s been so good since and on the brink of winning something big.”
One of their best shows of the year came at the Great Western Reining Horse Association TKO World Premier Reining over the summer, where they won the Novice Horse Open Level 2 and 3.
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
“We were really good this year, like at the TKO I took him in the novice horse, which is what started our novice horse [run for the world title]. Between the Open and that class, we won like $15,000,” Kelkenberg said. “As tricky as he was in the beginning, he’s gotten to be a complete machine. It’s really cool to see how he’s evolved maturity-wise and the kind of horse he is now. I know exactly what I have every time in the pen, and he’s been so much fun to show.”
Winning a world title is just icing on the cake for Kelkenberg with a horse that challenged her to grow as a horsewoman. She’s also thankful for the shows that provide opportunities to haul for a title and added special thanks to her biggest supporters—her husband Jack and their children
Laramie and Sawyer, and Otter Pop’s owner Diana Duffy.
“The novice horse thing was a bonus to showing him in the derbies. It helped a lot to keep me sharp for the derbies. I put pressure on myself in a different way and had fun with it,” Kelkenberg said. “Even my non pros, it’s made everybody really excited to go for something besides showing in the derbies. It’s made a place for some of those older horses and the ancillary classes.”
Jorge Puente and Whizin Off Platinum finished as Reserve World Champions in the Novice Horse Open Level 2. The 2018 mare (Platnium Vintage x Whizin Off Spooks) is owned by Paul and Sandra Kaskey and bred by Buckshot Farms, earned $5,361 in world
■
NOVICE HORSE OPEN LEVEL 2 WORLD STANDINGS
Novice Horse Level 3: 2025 NRHA Open World Champions
One in a Millionaire
Novice Horse Open Level 3 World Champions Eric Laporte and Millionaire.
Article by Blanche Schaefer
Eric Laporte and Millionaire clinched the Novice Horse Open Level 3 World Championship for owner Catherine Olson with $6,016 in earnings.
The 2019 stallion (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Mifs Doll) was bred by Michell Anne Kimball and came into Laporte’s program the summer of his 4 year old year. Laporte took his time getting to know the talented, expressive stallion and has now ridden Millionaire to the majority of the horse’s nearly $70,000 in lifetime earnings.
“We didn’t show him as a 4 year old; we just rode him. We showed him at 5 and had some success, and then this past year was a great year showing at some of the derbies and in the novice horse,” Laporte said.
One highlight of the 2025 world championship show season for the California horse trainer was the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity & Show in Ardmore, Oklahoma, in October, which
secured the pair’s world championship.
“We’re on the West Coast, so we gambled to travel all the way to Ardmore, because they had one big Novice Horse [class] at the Southwest. At that point, we were second in the standings, and we needed one big show to [win the world title],” Laporte said. “He was very good, and I was second in the Novice Horse Open Level 3 in Ardmore, which put us in the lead for good.”
Earning the World Championship is meaningful to Laporte as a career accomplishment, but to him it’s more about Millionaire getting the recognition he deserves.
“I always wanted to run for a title; it was a bucket-list kind of thing. He was so good all year long, and I felt like I let him down a couple times. He deserves to be there, to be recognized as a great horse,” Laporte said. “His breeding and his capacity of doing run after run, being strong and able to perform at that level every time, shows a lot.
Eric Laporte and Millionaire. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Knight Photography. ↓
He never cheated. He was always consistent with everything."
Laporte said it’s a privilege to ride and show a horse of the caliber of Millionaire, and he’s learned a lot as a horseman from the stallion.
“This past year, we could have had more success, because every time something happened, it was because of me, never because of him,” Laporte humbly said. “It’s hard sometimes with a very good horse to let him express himself and not get in his way. A few times this year, I got in his way because I was trying to be too perfect. He’s been a good teacher to me, too, to let him do his job and not try to overdo it.”
He thanked Millionaire’s owner Cate Olson, breeder Michell Anne Kimball, his farrier Michael Jennings, DVM, JC Deux and everyone who has helped play a part in his success, especially his friends and fellow trainers Mike McEntire and Jared LeClair and Kelly Sapp who brought encouragement and feedback on how to show Millionaire more efficiently.
“Cate is in love with that horse and very supportive. Michell Anne Kimball, having her as a
2025 NRHA Open World Champions
support and fan of the horse, it’s pretty awesome to have people like this,” Laporte said. “It takes a village between the vet, horseshoer, friends to go ride with, and everybody else during the year who helps me. Reining is a great community. The collaboration I have with the owners and everybody who helped on that horse is a blessing to have.”
Millionaire and his connections now look forward to the next phase of the stallion’s career as he stands at stud in 2026.
“He is bred so well; we’re talking about $20 million on his pedigree, by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of the mother of Gunners Special Nite. These are big-time, strong genetics. He can add a lot of things to a lot of breeding programs, so we’ll breed a few mares and a few of our own and see what he can produce,” Laporte said.
Reserve World Champions in the Novice Horse Open Level 3 went to Jorge Puente and Whizin Off Platinum, a 2018 mare (Platnium Vintage x Whizin Off Spooks) owned by by Paul and Sandra Kaskey and bred by Buckshot Farms. She earned $4,656 in world standings earnings. ■
NOVICE HORSE OPEN LEVEL 3 WORLD STANDINGS
OWNER
ANDREA FAPPANI
ANDREA FAPPANI
ANDREA FAPPANI
SHAWN FLARIDA
SEAN MCBURNEY
THANK
Peak Performance
NRHA Professionals share their philosophies around training for peak performance.
Story by Abigail Boatwright
Bringing a horse into general condition is fairly straightforward, but preparing one to reach peak performance for major competitions is a much greater challenge. No horse can stay at the top of his game year-round, and periods of downtime are essential for both physical health and mental wellbeing. So how do you time your program to ensure your horse is at his very best when it matters most? NRHA Professionals Gabriel Borges, a Million Dollar Rider, and Mirko Midili, a longtime and highly respected trainer, share their approaches to conditioning horses for peak performance in the show pen.
Building Confidence: Midili
Mirko Midili’s training program aims to prepare a horse to be at their best when they’re showing, which ultimately means everything boils down to timing.
“For me, the goal is to arrive at the horse show with a horse that is fresh, responsive, confident.”
Midili works from the 2 year old year through age 4 training to get the horse mentally solid, and then focuses on confidence, all while striving to make sure the horse remains fresh mentally and physically.
Respected Italian trainer Mirko Midili. Photo Courtesy of Abigail Boatwright. ↓
Reiner Insights
Building Confidence: Borges
This process must be individualized to your horse, rather than a template, Gabriel Borges said.
“I like to map out my horse—I want to know how his personality is, and how he likes to be on his best days,” Borges said.
During a horse’s 2 year old year, Borges channels the horse’s preferences and personality into a training program for the horse. The 3 year old year is geared toward the NRHA Futurity® in Borges’ barn, and that includes multiple rounds.
“It can be really challenging, it’s one of the hardest shows with two go-rounds per round in the semifinals,” Borges said. “So you’re really doing three hard shows. They need to be consistent with a very good run every time you show, and they’re shown three times in one week.”
To prepare for this challenge, Borges focuses on building the horse’s confidence while under pressure. He’ll gauge the horse’s mind as he’s riding and meet him where he is.
“Let’s say that day, my horse’s mind is not good, not focused in the outdoor arena, I will go in the indoor arena, and I’ll pick just one maneuver to work on,” Borges said. “I will make him comfortable and finish in that place. Let’s say he doesn’t want to circle very well, he’s spooky or distracted. If I feel that outside, I go inside and work on the circle like it was a show situation, and I quit there. The horse learns that after a better performance he will go back to the stalls, and he learns how to relax through pressure because that will give him a benefit. For Borges, starting with a young horse gearing toward futurity competition, the process to check all of the boxes takes a year and a half to two years.
Conditioning: Midili
For Mirko, preparing a horse for competition includes teaching and perfecting maneuvers, and to a larger degree, preparing them physically, which takes much longer.
Midili feels a broke horse needs at least four to six months of riding 30 minutes a day, six days a week, to be adequately conditioned for peak show performance.
“I like to long trot for a long time, especially when they are older,” Midili said. “20 or 30 minutes a day in the morning, and then ride them in the afternoon with some maneuvers for 15 to 20 minutes.”
How a horse gains sufficient strength and endurance varies from one to another. They may
quickly become strong enough, but take longer to learn the maneuvers. Or they may learn maneuvers rapidly but need more conditioning.
Conditioning: Borges
Borges is systematic in his approach to training conditioning.
“First are the maneuvers, then the physicality, and then mentality, to build a horse that is confident, with his own opinion to express in the run,” Borges said. “I think horses that win, that’s what they do—they express confidence and their own opinion in the run.”
If a horse needs to gain more muscle and weight, Borges will ride in shorter, sometimes more intense sessions. If a horse needs to be leaner and lose some weight as well as put on muscle, he’ll schedule longer rides three days a week— where the horse’s confidence is being built— balanced with appropriate diet.
Show Strategy: Midili
Midili focuses on ramping up the correctness and precision of maneuvers for at least two months leading up to a show, but for the week prior to competition, he eases up a bit to focus on confidence.
“We all know that horses are different, so some horses need to work more than others, and remember, we’re talking about mental, not just physical,” he said. “For me, it’s very important to back off a bit and play some easy games for them the week before a show.”
Every horse is different, but Midili has found some of his horses benefit from being pushed three or four days before the show rather than easing up. Others are the opposite. Experience with your horse will help you learn what works best for them.
Show Strategy: Borges
Leading up to a show with a horse that knows his job, Borges works on weak spots. If he’s heading to a 10-day show, he’ll create a peak for the horse before he leaves, making sure the horse is completely ready to show, and then he’ll ease off at the show. He will then build to another peak for each go-round and show.
He avoids wearing the horse out, but makes sure all the pieces are there for competition. After showing, he’ll give the horse the day off if possible, hand-walking and lunging, before ramping back up.
“FOR ME, THE GOAL IS TO ARRIVE AT THE HORSE SHOW WITH A HORSE THAT IS FRESH, RESPONSIVE AND CONFIDENT."
Gabriel Borges. Photo Courtesy of Carolyn Simancik. ↓
Reaching Your Peak: Tips and Tricks to Try With Your Horse
Exercise: Backing Drill
For a horse that needs to improve his stop, Borges focuses on strengthening his stifles and the muscles in his back. He’ll stop the horse every other week, but implement backing three times a week.
“I will set a timer, pick a spot, and back up the horse for two minutes—not straight—I’ll back up for some strides and let him rest for a few seconds, and then do it again,” Borges said. “It’s like the gym—I’m working on muscles used by the stop, but without wearing the horse out stopping.”
Exercise: Show-prep games
The week before a show, Midili will not push for a plus-one turn, he will work on say, the approach of a turn to make sure it is clean, smooth, and the horse is confident in his steps.
“I don’t want him to go very fast, but I want him
to have a good rhythm in the turn, very clean, and locked in,” Midili said.
For circles, he’ll check that the horse is locked in, without leaning in or out.
“I’ll play, if they go out of the circle, I’ll steer them, and make them relaxed,” Midili said. “I want them to be very relaxed, so maybe I’ll shake my legs while I’m loping to see if they relax or get spooked.”
In the rundown, instead of asking for a fast rundown and plus-one stop, he’ll work on them staying confident, not leaning left or right, and getting to the fence quietly.
“I may give them a rest at the fence, and help them want to get there for a reward,” Midili said. “It’s easy not because it’s actually easy stuff, but because it’s not too much pressure for them. Nothing that makes them tired physically or mentally.” ■
Gabriel Borges. Photo courtesy of Gabriel Borges. ↓
Million Dollar Milestones
Big Money Maggie
Known internationally for producing some of the biggest showstoppers in the industry today, Stop Little Sister is truly one mare in a million.
Story by Lindsay Humphrey
She’s the first one to the fence when she spots a crowd; not to show off but to get whatever attention she can. Stop Little Sister is the type of horse who loves people and every single one of her babies is better for it.
The 2011 mare isn’t a big-money winner in her own right, but she’s produced 20 horses who have earned over $1 million collectively. This makes her one of the newest NRHA Million Dollar Dams for owner JBJ Ranch, NRHA Partner since 2025.
They purchased “Maggie” from industry giant Toyon Ranch to add to a growing broodmare band at JBJ’s Pilot Point, Texas, location.
“It was a hard decision for us to sell her, because we had gotten emotionally attached to her in the ten plus years we owned her,” said John Tague who owns Toyon Ranch with his wife, Nancy. “It was
tough, but it made sense for our program and now she lives just a half mile down the road from us.”
Sister, Sister
What wasn’t tough, back in 2014, was the decision to buy Maggie from her breeder, Wagman Ranch. In fact, it was her full sister, Stop Like a Dream, who sealed the deal for Toyon Ranch.
Out of NRHA Million Dollar Dam Best Stop, Maggie’s sister, Stop Like a Dream, began her show career in Mexico before coming under the reins of NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson. She was shown only seven times in the U.S. in a span of nine months but still racked up just over $100,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings.
That was in 2010, the year before Maggie was born. Like her sister, Maggie would also the
Stop Little Sister. Photo Courtesy of JBJ Ranch. ↓
Million Dollar Milestones
“EVERYBODY JUST LOVES MAGGIE, FOR MORE THAN WHAT SHE DOES AS A PRODUCER, SHE’S THE FIRST ONE OUT OF THE HERD TO COME TO THE FENCE TO SEE PEOPLE. SHE’S DEFINITELY THE FRIENDLIEST MARE I HAVE IN THE BARN.”
industry by storm, although she took a different path to fame, as she never ended up being shown.
“Maggie went to a couple of different trainers in her three year old year, but she was never shown and that didn’t bother us one bit,” Tague said. “We already had good luck breeding mares who had some tough luck in training that made good babies.”
To date, all 20 of Maggie’s babies were bred by Toyon Ranch. Of course, that all changes in 2026 as JBJ Ranch gets their first foal crop on the ground.
“The recip mare foaled in late January and she gave us a colt by Americasnexttopgun, one of our own studs,” said Felipe Lamana who is the general manager for JBJ Ranch USA. “There are a lot of other studs that we want to cross with her. We want to flood the industry with her babies and make a lot of people happy with the horses they get from her.”
Originally from Brazil, Lamana is a licensed equine veterinarian back home. Even though he can’t practice as such in America, his training comes in handy as he manages the growing herd of elite mare power that JBJ is putting together.
“JBJ has a good genetic base in both the mares and studs which sets us up to be a big-time breeder in the U.S.,” Lamana said. “We want to make the best babies in the reining industry, and I know Maggie is going to help us do that.”
Quiet but Mighty
Of the 20 horses out of Maggie so far, half of them are old enough to show and eight are NRHA money earners, including:
• Gunna Stop (by Gunnatrashya)
This sorrel accounts for more than half of the $1 million her progeny has earned, with $672,762
in NRHA lifetime earnings to his name. The 2017 stallion marked a 228.5 with NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Kole Price to win The Run For a Million in 2021 for owner, Amber Gokey.
• Stopping in Jersey (by Yellow Jersey)
This 2017 stallion, owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC, has been a consistent contender since he first entered the show pen in 2020. He’s racked up over $149,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings, with multiple million dollar riders in the saddle.
• Get Groovy (by Spooks Gotta Whiz) Get Groovy, owned by Toyon Ranch LLC, made a big splash for his dam when he finished as co-reserve champion at The Challenge with million dollar rider Luca Fappani. Another one of Toyon Ranch’s token colts, this 2022 model helped his mother cross the million dollar threshold, following that performance by finishing fourth in the NRHA Futurity® Level 4 Open Finals to add another $100,000 to both of their resumes.
Maggie left a big hole at Toyon Ranch, but one that Tague is filling with some of her fillies. She should have babies out of her under the Toyon Ranch name for several more years. “I think she’s going to be, and already is really, one of the true great mares in this industry,” Tague said. “She has a high degree of certainty, even higher than her sister, in the caliber of foals that she can produce. That’s unique about her and she can do it with all different studs. I’m excited to watch what she can accomplish for JBJ Ranch in the future.” ■
FOR YOUR TOTAL OF $1 MILLION IN CASH AND AWARDS!
CHAMPIONS WIN $5,000! RESERVE WORLD CHAMPIONS WIN $2,500 THIRD PLACES WIN $1,500 (Level 3 classes, judging & speech contests) Presented by the Kimes Ranch Competition Award Fund
BY APRIL 30 JULY 29 - AUGUST 9, 2026 OKLAHOMA CITY
Million Dollar Milestones
The Fairy Tale
It was a year for the record books that culminated in a million dollar achievement for Arnaud Girinon who was the 2025 Run For a Million Champion which added more than $500,000 to his NRHA Lifetime Earnings in one fell swoop.
Story by Lindsay Humphrey
It wasn’t that Arnaud Girinon came to Las Vegas for the 2025 Run For a Million as an underdog, because he was proving to be a powerhouse in Europe. It was simply the fact that he was going up against the very best competitors the reining industry had to offer.
He was showing in the same arena as his heroes. Where some might be intimidated by that fact alone, Girinon didn’t let it shake his confidence. He knew the horse under him had the power and the will to get the job done.
“When Andrea [Fappani] scored a 230 right before our turn, I looked at my wife, Kim, and said,
‘We can take him,’” Girinon said about the industry’s leading showman aboard Magnums Custom Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunna Be Custom) owned by Casey and Kathy Hinton, bred by nominator Garth Hystad.
Girnon’s score, a 232, wasn’t even in yet, but somehow Girinon and the crowd knew he had topped the field with Flexing Guns N Town (Hollywoodstinseltown x Shesa Fashion Gun) owned by Anna Maria Scheiflinger, bred by Peter Morgan and nominated by Margarito Ramirez (USA) and Anna Maria Scheiflinger (EU).
Arnaud Girinon. Photo Courtesy of Waltenberry Photography. ↓
Million Dollar Milestones
Pony Club
Girinon began his riding career in the stands, watching his sister, Armelle, every Wednesday afternoon at the Pony Club just down the street from their home.
“I got bored watching my sister ride, so I figured if she could do it so could I,” Girinon said. “We moved on from that and started trail riding which eventually led us to take reining lessons.”
Although it was a three-hour round trip drive from his home outside of Lyon, France, Grinon and his sister ending up training with NRHA Professional Nicola Brunelli (who was working for Claudio Risso at the time) in the early 2000s.
Girinon and his sister spent summers and holidays at Risso’s place working in exchange for lessons on a reiner they shared—Rs Mcjac Smoker (Mcjac Flash x Smokin Lil Layla). An 18 year old Arnaud eventually even found himself on the French reining team in the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
As he puts it, there weren’t a lot of reiners in France so he simply “met the requirements to make the team.” Even if that is true, he certainly earned his place on the team and put his best foot forward while competing in Kentucky.
“It was my first time showing in the U.S. and I was truly just a kid at the time, but it was a dream come true,” Girinon said. “I didn’t have the knowledge or skill level that the reiners from other countries did, but I was just happy to be there competing in the same arena as my idols.”
Million Dollar Influences
There were many breeders, owners and riders before him that paved the way for Girinon and made it clear that good people and good horses come from Europe. One of those way makers was and is Bernard Fonck who is tantalizingly close to becoming an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider.
“I watched Rudi Kronsteiner become the very first European million dollar rider and then I was working for Bernard when he became a million dollar rider,” Girinon said. “Both of those accomplishments had a profound impact on me and showed me what can be accomplished even in Europe where the purses are smaller than in the U.S.”
Regardless of continent, reaching a million is a feat to be celebrated. Very few horsemen or women climb that ladder swiftly.
“It felt like the first $100,000 [in NRHA Lifetime Earnings] took forever, I think for me it was almost ten years,” Girinon said. “But after that it seemed to go faster and faster.”
After earning almost $160,000 in 2024, Girinon was making plans to replicate that success in 2025.
“I knew I had well over $400,000 to go for the million and we were laughing about how I needed to win Vegas to make that happen,” Girinon said. “I also had plans to do well at the European Futurity, but it turned out to be one of my worst shows on record.”
Thankfully, a bad show doesn’t negate a good career. Girinon leaned into that fact as he packed for Vegas less than a month later. At the 2024 qualifier in Lyon, there was only one spot for Vegas and Girinon clinched it with a 230.
That was the third time “Flexy” scored a 230 and it certainly wouldn’t be his last.
Girinon never dreamed he’d come within spitting distance of the million in 2025. So, when he was looking at his NRHA Futurity® prospects for the fall, he was a little more critical.
“Rudi called me in September and asked me to try his futurity horse because they weren’t a good match,” Girinon said about Con Calma who is by AB Peppy Diamond and out of Whiz Me A Diamond owned, bred and nominated by Jennifer Kronsteiner-Nixdorf.
“Going to Italy for the IRHA Three Year Old Futurity, I was a bit insecure. I knew I needed to win $10,000 to reach the million, but I had ridden this horse for maybe a month, and I’d never shown him before,” Girinon said.
Scoring a 217 in the first round, Girinon followed that up with a 219 in the second round to make the Level 4 Open Finals.
“We took the lead with a 224 in the finals and by that point there weren’t even ten riders left and I knew I was golden,” Girinon said about the run that earned the pair the reserve champion title.
Fonck took the lead and the title with a 226.5 on DG Andy Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x Gunners Specialolena) owned, bred and nominated by Diego Dalla Gassa. It was a special way for Girinon to become the newest NRHA Million Dollar Rider: with a horse trained by the million dollar man who inspired him to shoot for the moon, showing against the two million dollar man who got him started in the industry. It all came full circle in a way nobody could’ve orchestrated even if they tried. ■
Million Dollar Milestones
Making Millions
Kathy Gordon of Gordon Quarter Horses secures her place among the industry’s best.
Story by Blanche Schaefer
Years of hard work and dedication to breeding, raising and selecting some of the best bloodlines in reining to create and campaign champion horses stand behind the program of Gordon Quarter Horses. Kathy Gordon recently earned elite recognition among the NRHA as one of its newest Million Dollar Owners, officially making the Gordons a $1 million duo after husband Marc Gordon became a Million Dollar Owner in 2025.
Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, Gordon Quarter Horses charted their first NRHA earnings in 2001. Now in 2025, their program is led by trainer Gennaro Lendi, an NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Italian native with a long resume of wins both in
the USA and internationally.
Lendi’s work in the show pen helped Kathy cross the $1 million mark in fall of 2025. The accomplishment loomed on the horizon at the High Roller Reining Classic in September in Las Vegas. Under Lendi’s hand, Jacs Lucky Star (Jacs Electric Spark x Whizs Lucky Star) finished as Levels 3 and 4 Derby Reserve Champion, worth a total $7,065, and Stoppin Spook (Late Night Stopper x Please Dont Spook) won Levels 3 and 4 in the NRHA Futurity® for a total of $13,086. Both horses are homebred products of the Gordons’ program and put the Million Dollar Owner milestone close within Kathy’s grasp.
Gordon Quarter Horse Electric Gunn. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Schneider Media, Inc. ↓
Kathy officially sealed the deal as an NRHA Million Dollar Owner on their home turf at the Arizona Reining Horse Association Best of the West in Scottsdale at the end of September. Jacs Lucky Star once again came in clutch under Lendi, earning $5,630 between placing third in the Level 4 Open Derby and winning the Level 3 Open. Whizs Stoppin Star (Late Night Stopper x Whizs Lucky Star) earned a total $763 in the Open to officially crown Kathy as an NRHA Million Dollar Owner. Mare power is the foundation of the Gordons’ program. Several highly proven-producing and performing mares lead the broodmare band, such as cornerstone producer Custom Barbie with progeny earnings of more than $165,475 and her daughter Electric Barbie with NRHA lifetime earnings of $67,000 and progeny earnings over $187,914, to name only a few of the Gordons’ several standout mares. Two full siblings out of Electric Barbie and by Gunnatrashya have contributed significantly to the Gordons’ earnings status—2020 stallion Electric Gunn has won more than $80,000 in his lifetime, while 2020 mare Smoken Barbie boasts close to $30,000 in lifetime earnings.
Other notable-producing mares in the Gordons’ lineup include Walla Walla Doll (progeny earnings $137,854+, lifetime earnings $31,507), Silvernbluestarbuck (PE $135,912+), Peptos Lil
Melody (PE $90,704+), Sheza Electric Star (PE $54,984+), Dolls Dun It Again (PE $34,739+, LTE $20,343+), Barbies Stepin Out (PE $24,308+) and Voodoo Barbie (PE $7,991).
The Gordons’ long line of successes in the reining horse industry began thanks to a simple trail ride on vacation, which inspired the couple’s first horse purchase. While living in Illinois at the time, Marc began riding and taking reining lessons. Watching the reining Futurity at the 2000 All American Quarter Horse Congress was a life-changing moment for Marc. He jumped right in and bought some prospects for the NRHA Futurity®, and the rest was history for the Gordons.
Trainers such as Todd Bergen, Doug Milholland, Dan Huss and Martin Muehlstaetter rode for and helped the Gordons achieve top-level finishes in the show pen. Lendi came on board in 2023, which was a banner year for Gordon Quarter Horses with $140,532 in earnings for their horses thanks in large part to Electric Gunn and Smoken Barbie.
The future for Gordon Quarter Horses has never looked brighter as both Marc and Kathy now claim individual recognition as NRHA Million Dollar Owners with a program led by $1.4 million rider Lendi aboard some of the best genetics in reining that the Gordons have worked hard to breed, raise and bring to the show pen. ■
Forage Focused Feeding
How innovative grain-free formulas fuel performance.
Article and photos by NRHA Corporate Partner Unbeetable Feeds
In the high-stakes world of reining, performance is built on precision, consistency, and trust— trust in training, trust in horsemanship, and trust in the fuel that powers elite equine athletes. Unbeetable Feeds is proud to serve as the Official Feed of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), supporting a discipline where soundness, longevity, and peak performance matter every day. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation, wellbeing, and results in the arena. Unbeetable Feeds was founded with a bold but science-backed belief: performance horses don’t require grains to perform at the highest level. At a time when many feeding programs rely on increasingly complex grain-based formulas, Unbeetable has taken a different path—one rooted in forage, digestive physiology, and real-world performance outcomes.
Fueling Elite Athletes—Forage Focused Feeding
Horses are hindgut fermenters by design, built to extract energy from fiber rather than starch.
Unbeetable Feeds embraces that biology by formulating diets around highly digestible forage ingredients, with beet pulp as the primary energy source. This approach delivers cool, sustained calories comparable to grain-based feeds, without the sharp blood sugar fluctuations that can contribute to excitability, digestive upset, or metabolic stress.
For reining horses whose jobs demand strength, responsiveness, and mental focus, this steady energy matters. Trainers feeding Unbeetable frequently report horses that stay more consistent through long show weeks, recover faster between runs, and maintain body condition without excessive feed volumes.
By eliminating grain, Unbeetable helps reduce common challenges associated with high-starch diets while still meeting the caloric and nutrient demands of elite performance. The result is a feeding program that supports both longevity and peak performance—a combination everyone strives for.
↑ Unbeetable Feeds’ Complete, Original and Balance formulas.
Corporate Partner Spotlight
Proven Where It Counts
Unbeetable’s grain-free approach isn’t theoretical—it’s proven in competition. In 2025 alone, Unbeetable Feeds fueled nine Wrangler National Finals Rodeo athletes, along with horses earning nearly $10 million across all western sports. From the pressure of the NFR to the precision of elite reining competition, Unbeetablefed horses are performing at the highest levels while maintaining consistency, body condition, and durability throughout long seasons.
These results reinforce what many trainers have discovered firsthand: when nutrition supports the horse’s digestive system instead of working against it, performance follows.
Designed for the Demands of Reining
NRHA competition places unique stress on horses. Long hauls, frequent intense workouts, multiple go-rounds, and varying climates all challenge digestion, hydration, and muscle function. Unbeetable Feeds addresses those stressors through a forage-focused foundation paired with targeted nutrition—amino acids to support muscle development, healthy fats for additional caloric density, and carefully selected micronutrients from Kentucky Equine Research to support overall health.
Equally important, Unbeetable products are designed with practical feeding in mind. Low feeding rates, highly palatable formulas, and simple ingredients make it easier for trainers to keep horses eating consistently at home and on the road. For operations managing multiple horses, that simplicity can make a meaningful difference.
Recognized by Horsemen, Backed by Results
In 2025, Unbeetable Feeds was honored as the Best of Western Horseman® Feed Winner, a distinction voted on by horse owners who demand real-world results from the products they use. That recognition from Western Horseman underscores what many trainers already know: Unbeetable isn’t just different—it works.
As Official Feed of NRHA, Unbeetable Feeds is proud to support reining professionals, non pros, and youth competitors alike with nutrition that aligns with how horses are meant to be fed. This partnership reflects a shared vision for the future of the sport—one that prioritizes horse health, transparency, and progressive thinking without sacrificing performance. ■
To learn about Unbeetable Feeds and browse all of their quality feed products, visit unbeetablefeeds.com.
Unbeetable Feeds products eliminate grains to optimize the diets of high-performance animals. ↓
NRHA
Consistent Progress
NRHA looks back on a year of steady increases in shows and events.
NRHA MEMBERSHIP TYPES
GREEN REINER LEVEL 2 BUCKLE RECIPIENTS
NRHA JUDGES PROGRAM
NRHA MEDICATIONS PROGRAM
NRHA MARKEL FUTURITY SALES
2025 NRHA TOP BREEDERS
2025 Year End Review
2025 NRHA TOP HORSES: CATEGORIES 1—12
2025 NRHA TOP HORSES: CATEGORY 1
2025 Year End Review
2025 LEADING DAMS: CATEGORIES 1—12
2025 LEADING SIRES: CATEGORIES 1—12
2025 Year End Review
2025 NRHA TOP EVENTS: AGED EVENTS
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The First to Eight Figures
Andrea Fappani, an NRHA Hall of Fame inductee, becomes the first-ever rider to reach $10 million in NRHA lifetime earnings.
Story by Melinda Green
Andrea Fappani is no stranger to winning. He’s the NRHA’s all-time leading rider, an NRHA Hall of Fame inductee, and a frequent flyer in the winners circle at NRHA events. He’s placed as Champion or Reserve at every premier NRHA event. NRHA has described his career as “sustained, generational dominance.”
Then, last December, he hit his largest milestone yet at the 2025 NRHA Futurity® in Oklahoma City, becoming the first NRHA rider to earn $10 million in career winnings.
It makes sense that he hit such high marks in Oklahoma City. “I’ve won the most money in my career at that horse show,” Fappani said. “My $9 million, I hit it there. There’s a few other milestones that I hit at that show. It’s the last show of the season for us, and the one that pays the most money, and really the one that I’ve been the most
successful in.”
“As much as you try to concentrate on just your horse show and doing the best job you can, obviously it was always in the back of my head that if I did well there, I could reach that 10 million dollar mark. The goal was to be one of the first ones, if not the first one, to win a million dollars in one year and to reach that 10 million dollar mark at the end of the year. We accomplished both. So it was a special moment.”
His dedication to training the 2 and 3 year olds is the backbone of his success, and those youngsters truly are his passion. “Throughout my whole career, I was able to accomplish things on young horses that maybe weren’t as talented as some of their competitors, but they were a lot more confident,” he explained. “By the time I go show my 3 year olds, I feel that they have a little bit
Andrea Fappani and Gunners Smokin Chex (Gunner x Chexanicki) for owners Tim Anderson and Clark Reining Horses LLC. Photos courtesy of Carolyn Simancik. ↓
of an advantage over some horses that maybe have more talent, but they don’t have as much time on the saddle. There’s no misunderstandings between the rider and the horse.”
Motivated by his father’s work ethic when he was a boy in Italy, Fappini is no stranger to setting big goals and achieving them. When he came to the United States, he pursued work with the best people in the industry. “My main goal at the beginning was to see if I could win the reining futurity. That was my lifetime goal, because at the time I was like, ‘Man, if I can be one of the elite riders that win the reining futurity at least once in my life, it would be amazing,’” he recalled.
He achieved that goal within a few years. “There was a moment where I had to look at myself and said, ‘Okay, what do I do next?’ Because, you know, I don’t think that getting to the top is easy, but it’s definitely easier than staying there. I had to learn pretty quickly to concentrate and just better myself as a horseman each time I trained a horse. And that’s what I’ve done for the last 25 years. I’ve always challenged myself to train a horse in a better way.”
At the end of every year, he studies the past twelve months of his videos and scorecards and finds the “weak link” in his own performance. That becomes his technical goal for the coming year.
But his focus truly is on each horse, no matter what it brings to the table.
“I think one of my biggest strengths is that I really adapt my program to the horse. Even if there’s horses that do things differently than what I would maybe love for them to do, I try to adapt my maneuvers or my philosophy to that horse and try to get the most out of it.”
Fappani is also quick to say that he doesn’t achieve these successes alone. “People say it all the time, but it is really a team effort. People see me in the show pen and they think, ‘Andrea does a great job.’ But I only can do that because of the people
that I have around me.”
Breaking the Barrier
From his veterinarian to his farriers to his wife Tish (who is also a million dollar rider), his team has longevity that spans decades. “They put me in a position to be successful. I know that they do the job the way it needs to be done, and I don’t have to check on it all the time. Surrounding yourself with people that are better than you in those aspects, it’s the secret of being successful. I don’t have to worry about trying to figure it out myself. All I have to worry about is training the horse.”
Andrea is committed to helping Luca Fappani (already a million dollar rider) continue his career in the reining industry and carry forward the family’s horsemanship legacy in the show pen, as well as his son Jeremy Fappani, who has distinguished himself in a different arena as a top-level motocross racer, competing at a high level in one of the most demanding and physically intense sports in the world. Both Luca and Jeremy's success reflects the same competitive mindset, work ethic, and commitment to excellence that define the Fappani family across disciplines.
“I think that most people that have been really successful at anything they do, it’s about the time that they put in,” Fappani said. “They had the right teachers, they followed the right exercises, and they put in the extra time. And I think that once you put in the extra time, it also gives you that confidence that when you go show you’ve done everything possible or more to be competitive.
“At the end of the day, I always keep in mind what needs to be done, which is be successful in the show pen, and everything else will come," said Fappani. "The money will come, the success will come, the horses will come.” ■.
A look back at the lineages of champions producing champions.
Story by Megan Arszman, with Brooke Wharton
In the reining world, greatness is never guaranteed—it comes from the dedication of breeders, investment from owners and the skills of the trainers. To see a product of your breeding earn the bronze is worthy of the record books every year. To repeat this is something special.
A select group of NRHA Futurity® champions have done more than etch their names into reining history; they’ve gone on to produce offspring capable of rising to that very same pinnacle. These rare horses prove that championship talent isn’t just trained—it’s inherited.
In the first installment of Bloodlines, we’ll be focusing on Level 4 Open and Non Pro NRHA Futurity® winners between 1966-2025, and the winning lineages that have defined this era.
Hollywood Jac 86
In 1988, Hollywood Jac 86 (Easter King x Miss Hollywood) became the first horse to sire the Open and Non Pro Futurity Champions in the same year. Charles Weiderholt piloted Miss Jessie Jac (Hollywood Jac 86 x Juniper Jessie) to the Non Pro Championship while Tim McQuay rode Mr Melody Jac (Hollywood Jac 86 x Dudes Bueno Gal) to the Open Championship.
Small Little Lena
Smart Little Lena (Doc O Lena x Smart Peppy) became the first horse to sire the Open Champion and Reserve Champion in 1994. Lenas Wright On (Smart Little Lena x Slide Me Again) and Bob Avila took the win just over Mifillena (Smart Little Lena x Miss Freckles Last) and Bill Horn.
↑ Gunner makes an entrance. Photo courtesy of NRHA.
Bloodlines
Heza Banjo
In the 1980s and 1990s, one stallion dominated the Non Pro Futurity, thanks to his owner and breeder. NRHA Hall of Fame member Dr. Jim Morgan, DVM, was at the reins of some of the top Non Pro horses in that time. Between 1985 and 1992, Heza Banjoe (Joe Cody x Vandy’s Kingette) sired seven Non Pro Futurity Champions and Reserve Champions.
Of those seven, six were repeated breedings: Solanos Sunshine - dam of Banjoes Beauty (Non Pro Champion 1986) and Sheza Beauty Too (Reserve Non Pro Champion 1990) Scarlet Brio - dam of Travelin Banjo (Reserve Non Pro Champion 1987) and Banjoes Pistol (Reserve Non Pro Champion 1988) Fox Anne - dam of Banjoes Playgirl (Reserve Non Pro Champion 1991) and Banjoes Fox (Reserve Non Pro Champion 1992)
“His mother, Vandy’s Kingette, was probably the greatest horse I ever owned,” said Dr. Morgan. “I made some poor breeding decisions with her at first because I was just a kid, but finally I figured out that I needed to breed her to Joe Cody. She then produced Heza Banjo.”
“Not only did he produce in the reining pen, but Heza Banjo produced world champions in hunt seat and western riding, not to mention youth champions and incredible western pleasure champion horses,” said Dr. Morgan. “It’s incredible what he produced and what his progeny produced. We were just trying to get mares that were good enough to breed to him. He produced some nice geldings, but the best thing he produced were the fillies.”
Gunner
It wasn't until 2012 when Gunner (Colonelfourfreckle x Katie Gun) sired not only the second pair of Open and Non Pro Champions, but also became the second horse to sire the Open Champion and Reserve Champion in the same year. In 2012, Americasnextgunmodel (Gunner x Cee Dun It Do It) claimed the Open Championship with Casey Deary on board, and Gunners Tinseltown (Gunner x Miss Tinseltown) was Reserve Open Champion for Tim McQuay. The previous
night, Customized Gunner (Gunner x Custom Made Dunit) and Mandy McCutcheon claimed a share of the Non Pro Championship.
“You can see Gunner’s influence as both a sire and a grandsire still going strong,” said Brooke Wharton, breeder of 2021 NRHA Futurity® Champion Ten Thirty. “He was an immediate hit in the show pen and breeding barn, evidenced by how successful the offspring from his first few crops are as show horses and producers. Snow Gun (Gunner x Natrasha)—third in the Open Futurity and dam of earners of more than $600,000 and Gunners Special Nite (Gunner x Mifs Doll)—Reserve Open Futurity Champion and Eight Million Dollar Sire came from those earliest foal crops.”
Gunnatrashya
While Gunnatrashya is still making waves as a prolific producer, it's becoming clear that the ability will continue for generations as his progeny are proving to be producers in their own rights. Reserve NRHA Futurity® Champion Inferno Sixty Six (Gunnatrashya x Snip O Gun) sired his first Open Futurity Champion in 2024, The Firemen (Inferno Sixty Six x RedHot Walla).
“If you look at his Futurity numbers, Gunnatrashya consistently produces a high number of Level 4 Open Finalists,” said Wharton. “In 2021, he had nine in the Level 4 Open Finals. That’s a third of the finalists!”
Most notably, his pairing with the all-time leading Futurity dam, Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena), has produced two Open NRHA Futurity® Champions: ARC Gunnabeabigstar and Andiamoe.
Wimpys Little Chic
The first Open Futurity Champion to be the dam of a Futurity Champion, Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena), has been rewriting the recordbooks. The palomino mare has produced as many NRHA Futurity® champions as the sire who has produced the most Futurity champions (Gunnatrashya)—something that can be difficult to find given the mass difference between a stallion’s annual foal crop and a mare’s annual foal production.
“To me, she is the most influential reining horse
producer, just because she not only nicks well with just one stud—she produced four Futurity champions by three different sires,” said Wharton. “I don’t think that’s been done in any other discipline in the Western performance industry. There’s just something in her genetics.”
It’s pure girl power when it comes to Wimpy Little Chic’s influence on the industry. Wharton points out the following daughters who are making an impact in the winner’s circle:
“It’s interesting to me that it doesn’t seem like Wimpy’s Little Chic is passing on just one trait that is making her foals dominate,” said Wharton. “You see huge turns from ARC Gunnabeabigstar, powerful stops from Lonely At The Top and a monstrous heart in Shesouttayourleague. They just seem to show up—there’s something intangible about why they keep winning, but they just do. She’s the whole package, the broodmare you want in your bloodlines, even as a granddam or great-granddam. Look at what her daughters are producing: Lonely At The Top’s first foal to show, Crystalized Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Lonely At The Top) is a L4 Open NRHA Futurity®
Bloodlines
Champion and NRHA's highest money earning mare, and Shesouttayourleague's first foal Down Right Amazing (Gunner x Shesouttayourleague) is NRHA's first and only million dollar earner.”
Just Getting Started
When you look through the list of sires in the pages of the champions, it inspires wonder of what could be, if breeding technologies and talent availability were as prevalent 50-60 years ago as they are today. Could Continental King have more champions than Hollywood Dun It? (Hollywood Jac 86 x Blossom Berry). What about Joe Cody, the sire of 1980 Futurity Champion Topsail Cody, grandsire of Topsail Whiz and great-grandsire of 1996 Futurity Champion Whizard Jac?
Today, technology allows breeders to do fare more than they previously could. In the early years of reining, the class was still fairly new. It was an event that was exhibited in addition to other classes at a show. Today, reining boasts event specializing, and breeders have advanced reproductive technology and an increased availability of better mares at their disposal. And it’s only trending upward, with more winners—and more winning bloodlines—on the horizon. ■
↑ Richie Greenberg riding Hollywood Jac 86. Photo courtesy of McQuay Stables.
↑ Gunner, sire to numerous NRHA money earning horses and a top earner himself. Photo courtesy of McQuay Stables.
Bloodlines
Gunning for Greatness
The legacy of Gunner: mapping the bloodline behind reining’s next generation of champions.
Americasnextgunmodel (Cee Dun It Do It)
2012 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Gunners Tinseltown (Miss Tinseltown)
2012 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion
All Bettss Are Off ( Wimpys Little Chic)
2020 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Gunners Special Nite
(Gunner x Mifs Doll)
2007 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion
Customized Gunner (Custom Made Dunit)
2012 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Co-Champion
Dunit The Gunner Way (Dun It The Hard Way)
2013 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Reserve Champion
Customized My Gun (Custom Made Dunit)
2016 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Reserve Champion
Best Nite Ever (Best By Benz)
2017 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion
Into The Nite (Chexy Dun It)
2018 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Co-Reserve Champion
Guns And Dynamite (Chic Olena Starbuck)
2019 NRHA Open Futurity Co-Reserve Champion
Shining At Nite (A Shining Sidekick)
2020 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion
Gunna Be Painted (Darlins Not Painted)
2023 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion
Gunnatrashya
(Gunner x Natrasha)
2009 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
ARC Gunnabeabigstar ( Wimpys Little Chic)
2014 NRHA Open Futurity Co-Champion
Super Marioo (HA Chic A Tune)
2019 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Gunnabebigtime (Big Time Jazzy)
2020 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion
Ten Thirty (Dainty Little Step)
2021 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Andiamoe ( Wimpys Little Chic)
2022 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Gunin Addy Tude (Miss Lil Addy Tude)
2021 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Reserve Champion
Gunnin For The Nite (Dun It Fri Dee Nite)
2022 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Co-Champion
(Gunnatrashya x Snip O Gun)
2015 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion
Winding Inferno ( Windher Up Chic)
2021 NRHA Open Futurity Co-Reserve Champion
The Firemen (Redhot Walla)
2021 NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champion
Inferno Thirty Five (Made Pure Spangled)
2023 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion
Surprizing Sixty Six (Dun With Surprizes)
2024 NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Gunner
(Colonelfourfreckle x Katie Gun)
Inferno Sixty Six
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Dialed In
In performance sports like reining, mental wellness is just as important as physical wellness.
Story by
Megan
Arszman, with Stephanie Fernandez, PhD
In the past, we’ve shared exercises that riders can do to have a stronger core, quieter legs, an upright upper body and a more comfortable seat. We’ve shared nutrition tips to feed health from the inside out. All of these are geared toward helping a rider or horse maintain peak physical condition.
But what about the mental aspect of reining? Reining, or actually any equestrian discipline, requires just as much mental fortitude as physical prowess. Not only must you memorize your patterns and remember where to place each maneuver and how to ride that maneuver, you
need to have the focus to keep your horse between your legs and remember that he is your dancing partner—and you have to lead. If your mind starts to wonder, so will your horse.
There are some professionals that make it look like there’s nothing that can take away their focus on each ride. To be able to handle the immense pressure of competing on the industry’s biggest stages year after year and not seem to make a (visible) mistake can be mind-boggling to many of us. So how do you get in that kind of superior mental shape?
Fit Reiner
Fit Reiner
Sports Psychology
Sports psychology is how athletes are able to address what they need to obtain optimal performance. Working alongside sports psychologists who can provide the psychological knowledge and skills for that athlete to be successful. Athletes of all ages and skill levels, no matter the sport (baseball, golf, roping, reining, etc.) can benefit from utilizing some of these skills to help them overcome mental blocks, fear, anxiety and more.
“Any rider at any level of ability can benefit from using a sports psychologist,” said Stephanie Fernandez, PhD. “There’s a universality to it— anyone that is getting on a horse at any time will have a struggle, to some degree, with the same thing.”
Dr. Fernandez grew up around horses, competing on the hunter/jumper circuit and
as a polo player for years. She has a diverse background in neuroscience and psychology, with a specialization in equestrian sports psychology, which accompanies many years of clinical experience treating anxiety and stressor/ trauma-related symptoms in high-performance populations including active duty military/ veterans, police officers, firefighters and other first responders.
“We know that whenever we have a distressing emotion, such as worry about a performance, anxiety of expectations or a fear of your physical well-being, that part of the brain that does the most critical thinking for us is not as active as we would like it to be,” said Dr. Fernandez. “So, a rider could step into the ring and get anxious, thus forgetting their pattern or what to do to get the horse to do the
pattern. The rider knows what to do, intellectually, but they have a hard time accessing the information when strong emotion comes into play.”
A sports psychologist can work with a rider to learn how they can lower their baseline of anxiety or stress, and then teach the rider how to relate to that emotion when it appears, because that emotion can show up at times, said Dr. Fernandez. “We teach you how to perform, even when that anxiety or stress is there,” she explained. “What I say to riders is that the antidote to stress or anxiety is not a blank brain, it’s knowing what to focus on instead.”
Much like utilizing an NRHA Professional to tune up your Non Pro horse, a sports psychologist is there to give you the tools to be successful in not only the show pen, but the practice pen and outside of the arena.
“COMPETITION IS NOT ABOUT PERFECTIONISM. COMPETITION IS ABOUT MAKING FEWER MISTAKES THAN YOUR COMPETITORS.”
Increased Confidence
As a rider, you have certain expectations each time you swing into the saddle. Maybe you expect your horse to plod along and wait for each cue, or you expect that you’re going to struggle to focus on one center point when counting your spins. If you have a negative mental expectation—whether you fear you’ll mess up the pattern, or you fear that your still-green 3 year old might spook in the corner—you may start each ride riding defensively.
“Remember, we are wrapped around a flight animal,” said Dr. Fernandez. “Remember how we communicate with horses: changes in our aids, such as muscle tension, where we apply more or less muscle tension in a pattern they understand. So, if that changes and when our anxious or negative thoughts make us tense and affect our heart rate, the horse immediately senses that and responds. So, an anxious rider, regardless of what that stress is stemming from, is going to instantly transmit that to their horse. And, if you think about it, the more tuned up the horse is, the more in-tune they are. So, these high performance
horses that are flight animals notice even a subtle change in the rider, these horses are going into a high-tension competition arena with even more tension.”
How to combat that? A sports psychologist can work with the rider to learn how to recognize what they’re feeling and then learn how to respond to that emotion differently and how not to transmit those feelings to the horse. This can be done through different riding techniques, such as altering our breathing, cues to help us ride more effectively, visualizing, etc.
“I tell my riders all the time: If you’re not competent, trained and prepared to do what you need to do, then don’t do it. That tells you you’re at risk,” said Dr. Fernandez. “If you are competing at an appropriate level, those three things are true. So, just doing that simple mindset shift by reminding yourself that those things are true can immediately remove some of the defensiveness of one’s own body and yield a more relaxed horse. That’s a rider with some grit, that’s a rider that if they encounter a setback during competition are more likely to move past it and not see it as confirmation that
‘this is terrible.’"
“Competition is not about perfectionism,” she points out. “Competition is about making fewer mistakes than your competitors.”
In the coming issues, we’ll address handling fear—not just a fear of injury, but a fear of failure–and more ways riders of all levels and ages can become mentally strong.
About the Expert
Stephanie Fernandez has a PhD from Yale University in psychology and has a foundation in neuroscience. She grew up competing on the A-Circuit for hunter/jumpers and in polo. She currently works with riders of all ages and disciplines across the country. ■
Fit Reiner
Dr. Stephanie Fernandez. ↑
Honoring Legacies
The Freestyle Reining at the National Western Stock Show fails to disappoint crowds year after year.
Story by Megan Arszman, Photos courtesy of Performance Horse Photography
When a performance is more than a checkwinning routine, it just hits differently. When Sharee Schwartzenberger exited the arena after her performance in the $30,000 Invitational Freestyle Reining during the National Western Stock Show (NWSS), there weren’t very many dry eyes in the vicinity.
“I wanted to do this right, and I didn’t want it to be cheesy or offend anyone,” said Schwartzenberger.
From choosing the horse (she rode the 2020 gelding Live Love Laugh (Hollywoodtinseltown x Bubblegun)) and the song to setting the theme and choreographing the routine, Schwartzenberger dedicated her ride to not only those who have served, and are currently serving, the country in the Armed Forces, but also to the legacy her father and family have with the National Western Stock Show and the freestyle reining event. And it wasn’t cheesy in the slightest. In fact,
it ended up being her third win in the event, and the first freestyle reining win for Live Love Laugh. “I was ecstatic [about the win] because he’s never done a freestyle before,” said Patrice Lee, owner of Live Love Laugh. “He just turned six, so he’s not quite as seasoned as the other horses to the noise, lights and all the people.”
Schwartzenberger grew up competing in the freestyle reining, following the footsteps of her father, NRHA Professional Steve Schwartzenberger. Steve and Marv Whitt worked together to bring freestyle reining to the NWSS in 1996 as a way to introduce the sport of reining to the area.
“My dad rode in the first National Western Stock Show Freestyle Reining, and I grew up attending it and dreaming of competing in it,” said Schwartzenberger. “I got my first opportunity to compete when I was 10 or 11—'competing' is a loose term at that age—but I was very lucky that I got that opportunity.”
↑ Shane Brown rides Whowhizbrandon.
NWSS Invitational Freestyle Reining
Any time the NWSS needed a reining representative for separate events, such as a chamber of commerce meeting, etc., the board would call the Schwartzenberger family. “Dad taught us how to do freestyle reining and how to put a routine together,” she said. “To me, the Freestyle was even bigger than the (NRHA) Futurity® and Derby. It’s kind of a legacy.”
The planning of the routine was a family affair. Mom, Dori, and sister, Shevin Haverty, suggested the song, “Travelin’ Soldier,” sung by Cody Johnson. “I have to give credit where it’s due to my mom and my sister,” said Schwartzenberger. “They suggested Cody Johnson’s version of the song and worked with me to come up with costume ideas and put everything together.”
She continued, “I wanted to address not only the families who have loved ones overseas, but also the ones who have loved ones who don’t come home and the ones that don’t get highlighted as often. I wanted to pay tribute to those families. So, I got the idea of having our family friend, retired Sergeant Phillip Boyes, present the flag.”
Lee’s first reaction to Schwartzenberger asking
to use her derby horse was one of caution. “At first, I asked if the music was going to be slow enough, and then my next thought was that I hoped they didn’t turn the lights down on ‘Bam,” she said.
But the resilience of her horse showed throughout the pattern. “I was flabbergasted because I was sure everything would bother him, but he was a champ,” said Lee. “He’s just a phenomenal horse, and Sharee did a good job of highlighting his strengths.”
“With a lot of my other horses, I could do lights, a fog machine, etc., but with Bam, being that this was his first routine, I knew that I couldn’t do the usual things,” said Schwartzenberger. “So, I wanted to put together a nice routine to focus heavily on his maneuvers. He’s a huge stopper; he does everything really well. If he could stop like he can and do his maneuvers like he does, and not spook, I figured we could be up there. I didn’t necessarily know I would win it, but at least be in the top five. All of the routines were really good, and there were some really good ideas, and ours was a little simpler in execution, but I knew if he could do his maneuvers, we’d be in it.”
↑ Randall Dooley on Magnificent.
The focus on maneuvers first was a lesson her father reminded her with every routine. “When my sister and I were growing up, we were excited about the costumes and the music, but my dad would say, ‘Remember, it’s a reining-first focus on your maneuvers.’ I still always tell myself that,” she recalled.
Throughout the routine, which featured four heart-pounding stops and well-timed circles, a spotlight shone on an empty dinner table set to the side of the entry gate. Sgt. Boyles came up with the idea of setting a Fallen Comrade Table to replicate the diner where the characters in the song met, while drawing a parallel to what some restaurants will do to honor the missing, fallen and prisoners of war. At the end of the pattern, the horse and rider slid to a stop in front of Sgt. Boyles, and a presentation of the American flag was performed. “I think it really elevated it because it added realistic elements to it and things that mattered,” says Schwartzenberger.
After the performance ended, several audience members approached Schwartzenberger and shared their stories of loved ones who served or are still serving in the military. “It caught me off guard,” said Schwartzenberger. “[Sgt. Boyles] told me that [the flag presentation] has to be done the right way because there are veterans in the stands and if something’s not right, they’ll know. So, that’s
why we tried to make it all as realistic as possible. It was pretty cool to see how seriously he took it. The little things he added really made it hit home and impacted so many people.”
“We’re there to entertain, but to put something out there that impacts people is a little different,” she continued.
The other emotional part of the night came from the elder Schwartzenberger. Aboard Sharee’s veteran gelding, Game Day Surprise (Hang Ten Surprize x Dunit N Continental) owned by Sharee Schwartzenberger, bred and nominated by John Deer, Steve performed to “The Cowboy Rides Away” as his last dance. After 31 years of competing, the venerable Schwartzenberger retired from the show arena, placing fifth in the final standings and taking home the People’s Choice Award. It was also Eli’s final freestyle—an end to an era for the Schwartzenberger Equine family.
“It was definitely a tear-jerker for me to watch my dad’s performance,” said Schwartzenberger. “Both my dad and Eli have shaped my life so much and provided me with opportunities I could only have imagined. When I asked dad to do the last ride on Eli, I wanted to give them both the acknowledgment they both deserved. For them to win the People’s Choice was just the icing on the cake.” ■
↑ Sharee Schwartzenberger on gelding Live Love Laugh.
Dates to Remember
March 16—31
NRHyA Buy—A—Pro Auction
For more information, contact youth@nrha.com
April 1
Second NRHA Futurity® Payment Due
May 15
Deadline for new NRHA Partners and Sponsors to receive amenities at the 6666 NRHA Derby® Presented by Markel
For more information, clandwehr@nrha.com
May 20—24
NRHA European Futurity
Cremona, Italy
For more information, visit nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com.
June 1
6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel entries due
To be included in the regular draw, late entries must arrive in office by this date. Visit nrhaderby.com or send an email to events@nrha.com for more information.
Please visit nrha.com and ReinerSuite for the most updated information.
Mother’s Day Slide
May 11-17, 2026
4yo Stakes & Novice Horse Derby
Inside Slide
July 20-26, 2026 featuring the All Bettss Are Off Futurity
