It’s Derby Time!
        Be a Part of the Derby Show
        Horses Needed for the NRHA Collegiate Championship
        There’s Still Time to Advertise in the Derby Draw Sheets
        Derby Welcomes FEI and USEF Competitors
Party With a Purpose and Double Your Fun at the NRHA Derby
Capital City Café – The Place to Eat
NRHA Welcomes New Director of Marketing & Communication and Manager of Marketing & Communication
NRHA European Affiliate Championship Nears
APHA Program Benefits Reiners
Ballots & Bylaws & Rule Changes
NRHyA Regional Clinic coming to a city near you
Deadline - Art & Photo Contest
Rookie Day heads to New York
Two Arenas for Ariat® Tulsa Reining Classic
Reserve Your Spot in the NRHA Futurity Program
Welcome Blake Hudson Loveridge
This Week on Inside Reining
Sponsor Spotlight
View Dr. Kim Sloan’s President’s Letter

Be a Part of the Derby Show
There’s still time to showcase your affiliate, ranch or product. Become a class or event sponsor at the 2008 NRHA Derby and receive more benefits than ever before! Each level of sponsorship provides opportunities for you to name the title of specific classes or fun events.  For more information, please contact Lauralee Flamm at 405-946-7400, ext. 125 or lflamm@nrha.com

Can We Borrow Your Reining Horse at the Derby?
We need your help to make the Collegiate Reining Championship a success!  To carry out the competition we need the use of 12-14 reining horses.  Each rider will have a 5-minute-timed warm-up on the borrowed horse under the supervision of the owner/trainer before competing on Saturday, June 28.  If you’re interested please contact Michelle Wrigley at (405) 946-7400 ext. 116 or mwrigley@nrha.com.

Advertise in the Derby Draw Sheets
The NRHA Reiner will once again produce the Derby Open and Non Pro Finals Draw Sheets. It’s a great bargain – one fee covers two publications. If you’d like to advertise in the Derby Draw Sheets or for more information go to the NRHA website www.nrha.com or contact Advertising Manager Sharon Barr - advertising@nrha.com, fax 419-628-3711.

Derby Welcomes FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) and USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) Competitors
NRHA is pleased to host, for the first time, the Adequan® USEF National Reining Championships presented by Equine Motorcoach (FEI CRI 4 Star, FEI CRI 1 Star), USEF National Youth Reining Championships, and the CRI-Y (US NAYRC Selection Trial) to the NRHA Derby and Derby Show.  Be sure and grab a seat for the FEI CRI 4 Star and FEI CRI 1 Star on Friday evening, June 27.  If you’re interest lies in youth competition you won’t want to miss the youth competition that will begin at 8:00 a.m. in Barn 6, with the exception of the Short Stirrup class which also begins at 8:00 a.m. in the coliseum.

Party With a Purpose and Double Your Fun at the NRHA Derby!
Plan to attend the RHSF’s 4th annual “Taste of Reining” and the RHSF Beach Party supporting the Reining Horse Sports Foundation at the NRHA Derby. The “Taste of Reining” event will be held on Friday, June 27th at 5:00 p.m. in the Cantina. It features scrumptious cuisine from a variety of Oklahoma City’s finest restaurants like Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, Cocina De Mino, Panera Bread, Ovations Food Service, Zio’s Italian Kitchen and the Falling Water Grille. The party has just begun!

After the Taste of Reining and at the conclusion of the Adequan® USEF National Reining Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach, grab all of your friends and join us in the cattle port area for food, fun, and live music featuring the very talented Steve Crossley. Tickets for both events, payable at the door, are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 & under.

Capital City Café – a Welcome Addition
The Capital City Café is one of the newest and most anticipated additions to the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.  It is located on the east side of Barn 3, in front of our new Sales Facility.   The Capital City Café offers seating with a panoramic view of State Fair Park including a look down Equine Drive.  The café has a wide variety of menu selections to choose from; including eggs and made to order omelets with breakfast served until 11 a.m. daily.  The café also features fresh salads, angus burgers, New York Strip Steaks, deli style sandwiches, beef burritos, fried chicken, fresh fruit, desserts and an assortment of beverages including milk, juice, coffee, ice tea, and soda.  The café also offers full bar service and live coverage of the Derby on our 47” LCD television screens.   

The hours of operation for the Capital City Café will be 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily during the entire run of the NRHA Derby.

The café also features a full service catering kitchen with a culinary staff that can create a countless variety of dishes that can be delivered throughout the grounds. The Ovations catering staff will be seen delivering meals for a variety of NRHA events as well as many private events during the show. If you are interested in arranging for a special catered meal, contact the Ovations Catering Director, Rhonda Moore at (405) 948-4101.  

Barden Hired as Director of Marketing & Communications
Todd Barden, who has 25 years of sales and marketing experience in the western horse industry, has been hired as the NRHA’s director of marketing and communications. He was on the Western & English Sales Association board of directors for six years, promoting the industry from within. He has been director of sales and marketing for various companies including Cowboy Décor, Clearview Publishing (Chuck DeHaan), and Triple Creek Products, and was involved with sales and/or advertising with the Quarter Horse News, Panhandle Slim, M&F Western Products, and Montana Silversmiths. Barden is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, with a degree in animal science from Texas A & M University, and he’s been married to his wife Jill for the last 14 years.

Morris Joins Staff as Manager of Marketing & Communications
Christa Morris, who has worked within equine association management for the past nine years, has started working for NRHA as the Manager of Marketing & Communications. She was a director for the American Youth Horse Council for three years encouraging youth involvement with all breeds of horses, as well as serving as the Senior Manager of Youth Activities/AQHYA for the American Quarter Horse Association. In addition, she worked as the Director of Racing Programs for AQHA helping to promote racing industry ownership and opportunities. Most recently, she was the Director of Communications for the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association. Morris is an Oklahoma native with a degree in animal science - business and agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University.

The Scandinavian Reining Horse Association Hosts NRHA European Championship
The NRHA European Affiliate Championship & Summer Slide will be held July 11–13 in Bökeberg, Svedala, Sweden. The event will take place at a brand new facility welcoming qualified riders from 14 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. 

The Summer Slide portion of the show will include more added money than ever, with $15,000 in the open and $7,500 in the non pro. Plus champions will receive outstanding awards from the following NRHA Corporate Partners: nine Pard’s trophy saddles, 13 pairs of handmade Anderson Bean boots, and $2,000 in Classic Equine products. Additionally, there will be four Lawson bronzes, four Morrison bronzes, seven pewter trophies, four plaques, and trophy buckles.

According to NRHA Executive Director Dan Wall, “There’s a lot of excitement surrounding this show. The Swedes are well-known for their hospitality, so we expect serious competition with the fun, cordial family atmosphere that NRHA competition is best known for.”

Show manager and NRHA board of director member Monica Widh says, “We’re very excited we were chosen to host the NRHA European Affiliate Championship.”

Check out the show at www.srha.nu and www.luckyrider.se/site/page.asp for a look at the new arena.

Are You Riding a Registered Paint Horse?
If you are showing a registered American Paint Horse in the Open division of the NRHA Futurity you could be eligible for additional prize money! The American Paint Horse Association’s Paint Preferred program will pay out a potential $40,000 to the owners* of registered Paint Horses who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in the finals of the Open Futurity Division. To be sure you qualify for the Paint Preferred incentive stop by the APHA booth during the NRHA Derby. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!
Estimated APHA Payout
1st Place:             $25,000
2nd Place:            $9,466
3rd Place:             $3,499

*Owner must be a current member of NRHA and APHA in good standing
** Actual payout determined on 2008 NRHA purse, estimated payout determined on 2007 purse

For more information visit www.apha.com/paintpreferred or call (817) 834-2742, ext. 331.

Ballots & Bylaws & Rule Changes
The Official Ballot for the NRHA By-Law changes and board of directors’ election is now on the “Members Only” section of the NRHA website.  You’ll also find the new 2009 rule changes. A link to the electronic (a.k.a. “E-Ballot”) will be posted by July 1.

NRHyA Regional Clinic coming to a city near you
The NRHyA 2008 Regional Clinic Series is well underway and has been to New York, Texas, Wisconsin, Oregon, and will make a stop in North Carolina in July. The clinic series features some of the top NRHA Professionals. The clinics are open to all riders including adults and youth. The clinics will provide reining enthusiasts an opportunity to learn from the best trainers in the reining industry. The Southeast Regional Clinic is scheduled for July 9 in Williamston, NC, and features Bryant Pace, Francois Gauthier, Mark Arballo and Mike McEntire. The cost for the clinic is $250 for adults, $150 for youth and $25 for auditors. For a complete list of 2008 Regional Clinic dates and locations, click here insert link. Proceeds benefit the NRHyA Program. Space is limited, so please contact the Youth Department at (405) 946-7400 or youth@nrha.com.

Deadline - Art & Photo Contest
Calling all artists and photographers! The NRHyA is having an Art & Photo Contest. The contest is open to all NRHyA members. All artwork and photographs must be the entrant’s own work and must be completed by the NRHyA member. The deadline is approaching fast! Send us your entries by June 23. Judging will take place during the Derby and winners will be notified during the event. The winners will be awarded savings bonds. You can download an entry form and the complete set of rules at www.nrhya.com.

Rookie Day heads to New York
Rookie Day presented by Classic Equine heads to Gowanda, NY on June 21. Rookie Day is a one-day event that gives beginning reiners a chance to learn from many NRHA Professionals and other trainers in the morning. In the afternoon, the rookies are given the chance to compete against the other rookies with awards provided by Classic Equine and Performance Horse magazine. At Rookie Day, beginning reiners learn the ins and outs of reining in a comfortable, relaxed setting that focuses on having fun.

Each Rookie Day costs $175. All proceeds benefit the RHSF Crisis Fund.  The Crisis Fund helps reiners who have suffered a tragedy get back on their feet.

Contact Frank Schlossin at 716-864-7412 to reserve your spot. Click here for a complete 2008 Rookie Day schedule.

Two Arenas for Ariat® Tulsa Reining Classic
Ariat® Tulsa Reining Classic Chairperson Tami Wagman announced that the Ariat® Tulsa Reining Classic will move to a two-show arena format.  “Our huge growth demanded that we run a second arena to accommodate our large number of entries,” says Wagman.

The second show pen will be located on the east end of the fairgrounds in the 125- by 225-foot climate-controlled Super Duty arena, which will include an adjacent 100- by 200-foot covered warm-up arena.  Some of the stalling will be moved to the Super Duty barn.

The other show arena will remain the to be the 150- by 300-foot climate-controlled Ford Truck Arena. Mid America Equine will continue to hold their sale in the Explorer barn between the two show arenas.

With the two arenas the OKRHA will add a few classes. Wagman notes, “Many exhibitors, especially our non pro competitors, wanted to be able to show more than once in their respective divisions. The second show pen allows us to have a second slate of non pro classes, as well as run second rookie professional, limited open, and intermediate open classes.”

For more information about the Ariat® Tulsa Reining Classic go to www.okrha.com or call Tami Wagman at 918-857-2725.

Reserve Your Spot in the NRHA Futurity Program
It’s time to think about advertising in the Official NRHA Futurity Program. Rates and relative information can be found at www.nrha.com or contact Sharon Barr - advertising@nrha.com, 419-628-3711.

Welcome Blake Hudson Loveridge
Heather Loveridge, one of the NRHA Reiner’s writers and regular columnist for “Top 20 Professionals” and “Top 20 Owners”, gave birth to Blake Hudson Loveridge on Sunday, May 25. Weighing in seven pounds, 15 ounces, Blake joins his brother Carson as the newest member of the Loveridge household.

This Week on Inside Reining
Guest host Steve Ross introduces us to Todd and Taumi Martin of Beorne, TX. Todd had a big year in 2007 and ended up in the NRHA top 50. In the Inside Hand training segment, Todd will walk us through one of the more complex maneuvers in reining - the 360 spin or turnaround. In Your Horse - Inside & Out, Dr. Joe Carter talks about the causes and diagnosis of stifle bone cysts in horses. And in the Inside Scoop - we look ahead to this year's Reining Horse Sports Foundation Rookie Days. Visit InsideReining.com for more!

Mark your Calendar
June 23 — Inside Reining
RFD-TV
NRHA Markel Insurance Derby Spotlight Sale, Barn #3
USEF Youth Reining Championship CR-Y
JULY
Affiliate designations due
July 7 — NRHA Inside Reining
RFD-TV
July 21 — NRHA Inside Reining
RFD-TV

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View Dr. Kim Sloan’s President’s Letter here.


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.