**New Meeting/Seminar Rate for NRHA Convention**
Good news for our NRHA members who want to get involved at the NRHA Convention! The NRHA Executive Board has just approved a special discounted rate for those who only want to attend the meetings, seminars and Thursday evening’s Welcome Reception hosted by Century Investment Group. The meeting/seminar rate is $100, so please take advantage of this new option and register today!
2008 NRHA Convention Schedule Updated
One week and counting til the 2008 NRHA Convention held this year at the international headquarters of the NRHA, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The NRHA Convention begins next Friday! It runs from January 25 – February 2 at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel in Downtown OKC.
We’re getting down to business at this year’s Convention and there are a lot of ways for all NRHA members to get involved. The Convention will be filled with all sorts of meetings and forums including an open forum to address the Futurity and Derby nomination program, a full board meeting with committee meetings and open forums. Other featured events include an NRHA Judges School, Show Management Seminar, an Affiliate Congress and there are a lot more. Be sure to check out the schedule of events so you can plan your Convention experience. We’d love for you to attend the special evening events on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and don’t miss the fabulous shopping spree set up Wednesday evening especially for our Convention attendees. Be sure to click here for a link to the updated Convention schedule.
Board the Bus for Shopping Galore!
Mark your calendar for Wednesday evening for a shopping experience like none other! At 6:30, we’ll all board the NRHA bus at the Renaissance Hotel for a trip to two of the best western stores in OKC. We’re heading to Tener’s Western Outfitters and Cross Bar Gallery to shop til you drop! Both stores are staying open late just for us and will be offering special discounts. If you’d like to check out each store before-hand, click here for the link to Tener’s Western Outfitters and click here for the link to the Cross Bar Gallery.
Kick off the Convention with Comedy
On Thursday evening, join us at the Welcome Reception sponsored by Century Investment Group. We have a great comedian lined up! Marc Ryan has most recently appeared on a TBS Special called “Pit Stop Comedy” and Comedy Central has spotlighted Marc as one of the Best of the Improv on their website. So we’re looking forward to an entertaining evening.
Feelin’ Lucky? – Head to the RHSF Casino Night!
One event that will be lots of fun and raise money for a good cause happens Friday, February 1. It’s Casino Night, “Let It Ride in Monte Carlo”, benefiting the Reining Horse Sports Foundation. You can play Casino Blackjack, Craps, Texas Hold’em and even challenge your best buddy to show off his or her “skills” in the Karaoke Challenge! Tickets to the event cost $75.00. If you’d like to sponsor a gaming table contact Heather Cline at (405) 946-7400 ext. 137 or rhsf@nrha.com. You can also contact RHSF Fundraising Chairman Terry Owens at (713) 907-2488 or terryo@smartestchicolena.com.
World Champions Honored & New Hall of Fame Members Inducted
Saturday evening brings the big event … the Hall of Fame Reception hosted by the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau and the 2007 Awards Banquet and 2008 Hall of Fame inductions. It will be an evening of honor! The NRHA is honoring many for their hard work throughout the past year. Meet the people who have hauled from coast to coast, country to country and continent to continent this year to win a world or reserve world championship title in their division, the top riders, owners, horses, and we’ll recognize the brand new members to be inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame. We’ll also extend a big thank you to our NRHA Corporate Partners who have made a huge contribution to the sport of Reining in 2007.
Reservation and Hotel Information
If you haven’t registered for the Convention, click here. And if you haven’t made your hotel reservations yet, the Renaissance Hotel is sold out! So here are a couple of nearby hotels we recommend you try. The Courtyard Marriott Downtown Oklahoma City at (800) 321-2211 or click here for a link to the hotel website.
Or you might try the Sheraton Oklahoma City Hotel at (800) 325-3535 or click here for a link to the Sheraton’s website.
Directions and Parking Information
We also have directions to the Renaissance Hotel as well as parking information for our members who are driving in for the big event. Click here for driving directions to the hotel and here for directions to the nearest parking garage. There is also a fabulous trolley system that travels through the entire Downtown, Bricktown and even to the I-40 and Meridian corridor. We’ll have maps and information in your convention packet.
Forecast for the NRHA Convention: Tropical breezes with a high of 80 degrees! Okay, maybe not 80 degrees and balmy, but it is January in Oklahoma City, so you might want to pack a jacket. Actually, before you pack your bags, check NRHA.com. You’ll find a link to the Oklahoma City weather forecast right on the front page so you won’t be surprised by a wild ice storm! (Who can forget the ’06 Futurity?)
Impressive Turnout for the NRHA Aged Events Committee Workshop
The NRHA Aged Events Committee held a special workshop this week, January 15, at the NRHA Office in Oklahoma City. The workshop was open to all interested members. It was well attended with close to 45 people all ready to discuss the restructured Futurity & Derby nomination program. Some great ideas were brought up and organizers were very pleased at the work they accomplished.
Steve Simon, author of one of the plans submitted to the committee, said, “I feel that the compromises that were agreed upon by an overwhelming majority of the breeders, members, board members and aged event committee members at the workshop was very appropriate and considering all the needs and desired of all involved and any compromises that were achieved will benefit everybody concerned. We (the group of breeders he represented) support the program that was developed at the meeting 100%.”
Bob Hamilton submitted another one of the proposals. When asked how he thought the meeting went, Hamilton said, “It went very well and basically it was an outstanding meeting as far as I’m concerned. Everybody was very cooperative and very agreeable.” Hamilton continued, “We came up with a guideline that will be presented during the forum at the Convention. It was an excellent meeting, a good meld of several ideas and everybody got to speak their peace. A lot of people were surprised at how things worked and everybody got along as well as they did.”
The Board of Directors supports a nomination program but wanted to allow members the opportunity to voice their opinions on its implementation. The board requested suggestions and comments to be submitted in writing to the NRHA office by January 7 and now the Aged Events Committee is reviewing all of the submissions. A forum will be held at the NRHA Convention to review the submissions and then at the March Board of Directors meeting, the Aged Events Committee will present their recommended revisions, if any, for approval.
All payments for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Futurity and Derby are being delayed until after the March Board meeting.
Tune in for New Episodes and New Times for “NRHA Inside Reining”
Be sure to tune in to RFD-TV, Monday, January 21st for the latest edition of “Wide World of Horses presents NRHA Inside Reining.” On Monday, Inside Reining will feature American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Champion Mike McEntire and his wife Nathalie at their ranch in beautiful Selma, North Carolina.
Mike takes us to the training pen to demonstrate the basics of guiding and control in the circles. Dr. Joe Carter explains testing and treatment of plantar fasciitis in horses. The American Paint Horse Association, an NRHA alliance partner, sponsors a salute to the NRHA' s newest million dollar sires - Gunner (Colonels Smoking Gun) and Grays Starlight - and announces reining competition dates for the 2008 Paint World Show in Fort Worth immediately following the NRHA Derby this June.
“NRHA Inside Reining” will air at new times and days this year! Each episode can be seen every other week on RFD-TV Mondays at 11:30 am CST, then repeated that same Monday at 9:30 pm CST and then repeated again on the following Sunday at 6:30 am CST.
Mandy McCutcheon Nominated for Cowgirl Hall of Fame
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Mandy McCutcheon can add another accomplishment to her already long list. The first Non Pro and first woman to earn Million Dollar Rider status has been nominated to the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring and documenting the lives of legendary women who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneer spirit of the American West.
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to preserve the history and impact of western women living roughly from the mid-1800s to the present. Today there are 181 women who have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame since 1975.
Congratulations to Mandy and her latest honor!
2008 NRHyA Raffle Horse Chosen
It’s always one of the biggest and most exciting fundraisers for the NRHyA each year…the raffle of a yearling. This year’s raffle horse has been graciously donated by Carol Rose, one of the top Quarter Horse breeders in the world.
The filly’s name is Lena Docs Betty (Shiners Lena Doc x Betty Dun It). She was born February 22, 2007. These pictures were taken last spring when she was just a few months old.
It only takes $10 to win her! Throughout this year, youth members will be selling raffle tickets at reining events across the country. The winning ticket will be drawn Saturday, December 6, during the 2008 NRHA Futurity. Last year’s raffle horse brought in more than $24,500 to the NRHyA.
Dates Set for North American Young Riders Championships & Qualifying Event
Attention all youth members, If you’re between the ages of 16-21 and a current United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) member, you might be interested in the USEF 2008 North American Young Riders Championship (NAYRC) qualifier and Championship competition. Young reiners must qualify to attend the NAYRC by competing in the CRI-Y (Concours Reining Internationale – Young Rider) class offered at the 2008 NRHA Derby, June 23 – June 28 in Oklahoma City. Qualifiers will advance to the Championships held July 30 – August 3 in Parker, Colorado.
Be sure to check out www.nrhya.com for additional information or contact NRHA Supervisor of Youth Programs Mandy Kennedy at 405-946-7400 ext. 130 or mkennedy@nrha.com. You can also contact USEF Director of Reining Courtney Barnett at 859-225-6919 or cbarnett@usef.org.
2008 World Reining Championship Added to USEF Competition Schedule
The New Year brings a brand new milestone for the international Reining community. Beginning this year, the FEI will hold a World Reining Championship in Maneribo, Italy, where teams will compete for World Championship medals September 11-14. In past years, a World Reining Championship has only been offered during the FEI World Equestrian Games held every four years.
The United States team will be selected at the USEF National Reining Championship held during the NRHA Derby, June 23-28 in Oklahoma City. To compete at the USEF National Reining Championship, riders will have to have at least competed at one of the following CRI**:
National Western Stock Show Denver, CO January 13, 2008
Cowboy Capital Classic Stephenville, TX March 8, 2008
National Reining Breeders Classic Katy, TX April 14-20, 2008
The Reining World Championship selection procedures will be published on the NRHA website at nrha.com once the procedures have been finalized.
The NRHA is proud to have Classic Equine as a Corporate Partner. Classic Equine products are fast becoming the standard equipment for top NRHA champions. They have a complete line of products, including protective boots, saddle pads, cinches, blankets, bits and travel gear. The goal of Classic Equine is to offer products with the performance horse’s safety and well-being first and foremost in mind.
For more information, on Classic Equine products, log onto their Web site at www.equibrand.com or call 800-654-7864 for a dealer near you.
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 NRHA.com or call the NRHA office at 405.946.7400.
**New Meeting/Seminar Rate for NRHA Convention**
Feelin’ Lucky? – Head to the RHSF Casino Night!
Tune in for New Episodes and New Times for “NRHA Inside Reining” 
Mandy McCutcheon Nominated for Cowgirl Hall of Fame
Dates Set for North American Young Riders Championships & Qualifying Event
2008 World Reining Championship Added to USEF Competition Schedule
