Mallorca Western Festival in Spain to Showcase NRHA Reining in September
The National Reining Horse Association is excited to announce a new annual event on NRHA’s calendar. Debuting September 22-24, 2006, the Mallorca Western Festival will showcase Reining at its best to supporters and fans of the sport from all over Europe. A new 125 x 250 arena is under construction where two Open Reining competitions will take place during the peak of tourist season in Mallorca, Spain. (Mallorca’s population swells from 100,000 to more than a million people due to the tourists and vacationers.) In addition to a $150,000 added Open - one go elimination round (Friday) and a finals (Saturday), there will be a $50,000 added Open on Sunday, which will include the Mallorca Reining Trophy, a “North America Against the Rest of the World” Ryder Cup style competition. For more information visit the Press Releases section of our website.

NRHA Derby Deadlines
Attention Derby Exhibitors: Don’t forget to send in your Derby Open or Non Pro Rider Designation Coupon(s). Rider Designation Coupons must be received in the NRHA office on or before May 1, 2006. If they are not received on or before May 1, the rider will be indicated as “Rider Not Designated” for Draw purposes and NRHA will not be responsible for draw positions closer than the conditions specify.

Would you like to be able to watch the Derby action in the main arena from the comfort of your stalls? Then you might be interested in a Live Feed TV Drop. To place an order go to our 06 Derby page. While you’re at it, don’t forget to purchase your Derby Cowboy Cantina tickets. The Cowboy Cantina is the place to go for great lunches, visiting with friends and enjoying an excellent view of the arena action. Visit our 06 Derby page for more information. The deadline for Derby Live Feed and Cantina Ticket orders is April 28, 2006.

Derby Spotlight Sale
The NRHA Sale Committee is once again presenting buyers with an impressive group of horses at the 2006 Derby Spotlight Sale to be held during the NRHA Derby, Oklahoma City State Fair Park, OKC, on May 20. The 60 consignments consist of yearlings, two-year-olds, broodmares, show horses and prospects. Featured are sons and daughters of Boonlight Dancer, Chic Please, Conquistador Whiz, Docs Hickory, Docs Prescription, Gallo Del Cielo, Hickory Chic Olena, Hollywood Dun It, Lil Ruf Peppy, Mr San Peppy, Paid By Chic, Peppy San Badger, RR Star, Sayos Shining Sun, Skeets Peppy, Smart Like Juice, Taris Catalyst, Topsail Whiz, West Coast Whiz, Whizard Jac and Wimpys Little Step. For a complete list of consignments, go to our 06 Derby page.

RHSF Broodmare Donation - Group Effort
Lucinda Davis-Griesey, a former NRHA employee, has graciously donated a reining-bred broodmare to the RHSF with proceeds earmarked for the Youth Program. Primary Pines Dude, a 1997 palomino mare, is by Primary Pine (NRHA A Famous Amos), earner of $38,463 in NRHA competition and sire of earners of over $183,000. She will be bred to Roosters Wrangler, 1999 NRHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion. NRHA Board member Vaughn Zimmerman graciously donated the breeding. And thanks also to Sam Houston, Houston Ranch Embryo Transfer Center, an NRHA Corporate Partner, who has agreed to donate the breeding costs. The chute and collection fees have been generously donated by Carol Rose. Debbie Drinko and John Horn have donated their time to prepare the mare for the Derby Spotlight Sale. The mare will be sold at public auction in the NRHA Derby Spotlight Sale on May 20, 2006.

Can We Borrow Your Horse For an Hour or Two?
The National Reining Horse Association will again host the NRHA Collegiate Reining Championship competition at the 2006 NRHA Derby, and we need your help. To carry out this competition, billed as the “Ultimate Catch Ride,” we need the use of 12-14 reining horses, no stallions please. Each rider has a very short time to warm up on the borrowed horse and then compete with the other qualifiers in the Championship.

If you are interested in helping this great cause or know of someone who is, please contact Debbie Drinko at 405-946-7400, ext 119, or ddrinko@nrha.com. Last year was such a success, please help us make this year even more memorable.

A Taste of Reining
The Reining Horse Sports Foundation invites you to attend the 2nd Annual Taste of Reining that will be held at the NRHA Derby on Friday, May 19th, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. in the Cantina. Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased at the door (all proceeds go to benefit the Reining Horse Sports Foundation). For more information, contact Heather Cline at rhsf@nrha.com.

NRHA 2nd Annual Golf Gala at Derby
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity has made Oklahoma City its home for 21 years. In addition, the NRHA’s International headquarters have been located here in Oklahoma City since 1998. Please join us in celebrating our 21st Anniversary by being a part of the Second Annual Golf Gala on Friday, May 12, 2006, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Coffee Creek Golf Course in Edmond. If you have a horse entered in the Derby and would like to participate in the Golf Gala, you may check in after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11th. It is required that you notify Heather Cline at 405-946-7400 ext. 137 or via email at rhsf@nrha.com by Monday, May 8th if you intend to move in early and participate in the Golf Gala. Priority move-in is for Golf Gala attendees ONLY. General stall move in is Friday, May 12th at 6:00 a.m. For more information on the Golf Gala, visit our 06 Derby page.

North American US Affiliate Regions Increase to Seven in 2007
Effective in 2007, the four North American US Affiliate Regions have been expanded to seven regions. This decision by the NRHA Board of Directors was in response to the concerns of the US Affiliates in regard to travel time and distance to regional affiliate finals. The Affiliate Committee will be identifying hosts for all regions for 2007 & 2008. To see a map of the new regions, go to the Affiliates page of our website.

NRHA Affiliate Program News
At recent NRHA Board meetings, NRHA Affiliate status was awarded to the Reining Horse Association of Oregon, Portland, OR; Asociacion Noreste de Caballo de Reining, Monterrey NL Mexico; and NRHA Czech, Czech Republic. Several Affiliates were granted National Association Affiliate status: Austrian Reining Horse Association, NRHA Israel, Swedish Reining Horse Association and NRHA Switzerland.

Also approved were five Affiliates requesting participation in the NRHA International Affiliate Program: Austrian Reining Horse Association, Dutch Reining Horse Association, NRHA Belgium, NRHA Israel, and NRHA Switzerland.

Go to our website for the complete list of NRHA Affiliates.

Rookie Professional Class – A Chance to Become a World Champion
In 2005, the NRHA Board of Directors approved the Rookie Professional class. As with anything new, there is confusion over the conditions, but they are very simple – and it provides a great opportunity to run for an NRHA World championship title. According to the NRHA Handbook: Open to any rider, except those holding an NRHA Non Pro card, who has earned less than $5,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings, all categories, at the start of the NRHA year. Show managers need to know that the Rookie Professional class, per the Handbook: Can run concurrent with any Category 1 Open, Intermediate Open, or Limited Open class. We hope eligible competitors, owners and show management will help support this new class.

Western International – October 17-22 in Denver, Colorado
The Western International is an exciting new equestrian event that features some of the most prestigious Reining competition in the world. In one extraordinary 6-day event in the USA, reiners from around the globe will convene in Denver, Colorado, to participate in and experience world-class equestrian events including the Mountain US Regional Affiliate Finals, the 2006 FEI World Reining Masters Finals and the Challenger’s Cup Freestyle. To keep up to date on all of the spectacular Reining events and competitions slated for the Western International, be sure and visit their website www.westerninternational.us. Tickets will be available starting in July.

Getting Down to Business
For many NRHA members, completing a financial transaction with the NRHA office is often best achieved by a wire transfer of funds from their bank to the NRHA office. If you need to complete a financial transaction with the NRHA office via a wire transfer, below are the steps to make sure it goes as planned:

Procedures for Bank Wire Transfer:
1. Wire correct amount from your bank to NRHA.
2. Have your bank fax a confirmation, including confirmation number, stating that the money has been transferred by the applicable deadline. NRHA Fax 405-946-8425.
3. Please call NRHA to confirm that the confirmation has been received by the appropriate deadline. NRHA 405-946-7400
4. On the memo line of the bank wire information PLEASE list one or more of the following to ensure that the wire is matched with the appropriate paper work in the NRHA office:
    a. Your name
    b. Horse’s name
    c. What the wire is for
    d. Other information that may apply

If you have questions about sending a wire transfer, please contact the NRHA office at 405-946-7400.

More Rookie Days Scheduled
Rookie Days are scheduled for June 13th in Woodside, California, July 15th in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and August (date still to be determined) New York. According to Tracy Lynch, RHSF Board of Directors member and Rookie Day Coordinator, even more Rookie Days are being scheduled. If you would like information on attending or producing a Rookie Day, contact Tracy at 580-276-1400 or the RHSF at 405-946-7400, extension 137.

President’s Letter
To see what NRHA President Dell Hendricks had to say in his April President’s Letter click here.

REINER DEADLINE
Don’t forget that the NRHA Reiner changed advertising deadlines – ad space reservations are now due on the 20th and ad materials are due the 25th of the month two months preceding issue the ad will appear in. (For example: Ad reservations and materials turned in during March will be for the May Reiner.) Submissions for On the Rail and Show Pen are due on the 20th as well. For information about advertising in the NRHA Reiner, contact Advertising Manager Sharon Barr to reserve your advertising space. Sharon can be reached by phone at 419-628-3711, faxed at 419-628-2518, or email her at advertising@nrha.com. To schedule a classified ad in the Reiner, contact classifieds@nrha.com or extension 100 at the NRHA office.

This newsletter is provided by the National Reining Horse Association as a service to its members and anyone interested in the sport of Reining. NRHA does not assume any liability for errors and/or omissions. To learn more about NRHA and Reining go to www.nrha.com or call the NRHA office at 405.946.7400.

To update or change your email address, comment on content, and provide constructive criticism, send an email to newsletter@nrha.com. If you do not wish to receive newsletter email from the National Reining Horse Association please reply to this email with "Remove" in the subject line.

NRHA • 3000 NW 10th St • Oklahoma City, OK 73107-5302 • 405.946.7400