2007 NRHA Derby Just 14 Days Away!
Get your reiners ready and make plans to head to Oklahoma City for the 2007 NRHA Derby, May 14-19 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. We have lots of fun events planned for the entire family. Read below for important deadlines and activities you should plan to attend.
Important Derby Deadline TOMORROW!
Entry nominations for both the Open Derby and the Non Pro Derby are due in the NRHA Office by TOMORROW, May 1 to be included in the regular draw.
Late entry nominations will not face a late fee, but entry nominations received in the NRHA Office after May 1 will be placed in a group preceding the regular draw in the order they are received. Placement will be made based on the time of entry with the last entry accepted going first in the draw.
You can print a copy of the 2007 NRHA Derby Conditions by clicking on this link. There is a nomination form included in the conditions information.
More $$ Added to the Non Pro Derby
Non Pro competitors at this year’s Derby will be competing for more money than ever before in each division of the Non Pro Derby. The Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro divisions added money doubled increasing to $30,000 added in the Non Pro Derby and $15,000 added in the Intermediate Non Pro division. In addition, the Limited Non Pro division’s added money increased by 50% to $7,500. For more information about the Non Pro changes at the Derby, please contact Tobi Coleman at 405-946-7400 or tcoleman@nrha.com.
FREE Live Streaming Derby Video
You can enjoy all the Derby competition on your computer – for FREE! As soon as the Derby begins, you can go to www.nrha.com to link to the webcast.
Sponsorships for the live streaming video are available. You can call NRHA Director of Marketing and Communications David Patterson at (405) 946-7400 ext. 106.
Derby Town Talk Meeting to Discuss the NRHA’s Five-Year Plan
At the Derby, make plans to attend the first in a series of Town Talk meetings to address questions and concerns about the future and direction of NRHA.
All NRHA members as well as anyone interested in the future of the NRHA are invited to attend. The Town Talk meeting will be held during the Celebration of Champions on Thursday, May 17 at 6:00pm in the Barn 3 Sale Arena. There’ll be a Bar-B-Q dinner provided by NRHA Corporate Partner, the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau and an NRHA Town Talk. We hope to see you there!
NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale Consignment Preview
How’d you like to own a son or daughter of sires like Rooster, Reminic, Like A Diamond, Hollywood Dun It, Shining Spark, Genuine Doc, Topsail Whiz, Skeets Peppy, West Coast Whiz, Dun It With A Twist, Smart Starbuck, Sailing Smart, Tidal Wave Jack, Royal Fletch, Lil Ruf Peppy, or Starlights Wrangler?
Now’s your chance to bid on 60 consignments of yearlings, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, show horses and broodmares at the 2007 NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale during the NRHA Derby.
Join us on Saturday, May 19, at 8:00 am in Barn 6 for a Champagne Brunch as the consignments are presented in the Sale Demonstration. Then don’t miss the NRHA/Markel Insurance Spotlight Sale at 10:00 am in Barn 3.
NRHyA Youth Day & Derby Block Party
Hey kids! Get ready for the NRHyA Youth Day & Derby Block Party on Saturday, May 19. The entire day will be filled with fun for all ages and benefit a worthy cause at the same time. The Youth Day is free, but participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
9:00 am – Youth Judging Clinic
1:00 pm – Youth Block Party
Petting zoo
Moonwalk
Rock Climbing Wall
Dunk Tank
1:00 – 1:15 OKC Mounted Police demonstration
1:30 – 1:45 Agility Dog demonstration
2:00 – 2:20 Reining Demonstration with NRHA Professional John Horn
3:00 Block Party Ends
For more information contact Supervisor of Youth Programs Mandy Kennedy at (405) 946-7400, ext. 130, or mkennedy@nrha.com.
Deadline Extended for NRHyA Art & Photo Contest
Calling creative minds! The NRHyA is having an Art & Photo Contest and the deadline to enter has just been extended to May 14. 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 May 14. Judging will take place during the Derby and winners will be notified during the event. The 1st and 2nd place winners will be awarded great prizes. You can download an entry form and the complete set of rules at www.nrhya.com.
Can We Borrow Your Horse For an Hour or Two?
The NRHA will again host the NRHA Collegiate Reining Championship competition at the 2007 NRHA Derby and we need your help. To carry out this competition, billed as the “Ultimate Catch Ride,” we need the use of 14 reining horses. We’re looking for horses that are 5 years old and up, well seasoned in the show pen, and scores around a 70-72. The competition will take place Saturday morning May 19, at 10:00 am.
If you are interested in helping this great cause or know of someone who is, please contact Mandy Kennedy at (405) 946-7400, ext 130, or mkennedy@nrha.com, or you can sign up in the Show Office at the Derby. If you’d like to become a contestant of the Collegiate Reining Championships you can download an application form at www.nrhya.com.
New Short Stirrups for Small Reiners Comes to the Derby
The new Youth 10 & Under Short Stirrup class is a real crowd pleaser. The class was created to give very young riders a chance to participate in reining. You can see the NRHA Youth 10 & Under Short Stirrup class following the Collegiate Reining Championships on Saturday morning, May 19.
Mmmm! “Taste of Reining”
While you’re at the NRHA Derby, please plan to attend the 3rd annual “Taste of Reining” supporting the Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF). The “Taste of Reining” features the scrumptious cuisine from a variety of Oklahoma City’s finest restaurants like Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, Cocina De Mino, Ingrid’s Kitchen, Ovations Food Service and Zio’s Italian Kitchen and Hooters. For just $10 – payable at the door – you can eat like a king and help the RHSF at the same time. Also at the “Taste of Reining” you can purchase your very own copy of the Taste of Reining Cookbook for a special Derby price of $5! The “Taste of Reining” will be held Friday, May 18 at 5:00 pm in the Cantina.
Check the NRHA Derby page at www.nrha.com for further updates!
“NRHA Inside Reining” Program Alert
Green Valley Ranch and Professional Trainer Brent Loseke featured on
“Wide World of Horses presents NRHA Inside Reining” April 30
Be sure to tune in to the “Wide World of Horses presents NRHA Inside Reining” Monday, April 30 and again Tuesday, May 1. “NRHA Inside Reining” host Sam Houston takes viewers on a tour of the fabulous Green Valley Ranch in Aubrey, TX. Wallace Winegar will give us a behind the scenes look at this beautiful facility and an up close and personal look at stallions Wimpys Little Step, Master Snapper, Lil Ruf Peppy and Chocolate Chic Olena.
Professional Trainer Brent Loseke gives us his “Inside Hand Training Tip” by demonstrating a basic reining maneuver any rider can use to improve his or her horsemanship.
Trainer Terry Erickson and 12-year-old Emily Winegar talk about Youth and Non-Pro competition for all levels of riders.
Be sure to tune in for “NRHA Inside Reining” sponsored by Adequan this Monday, April 30 at 4:30 pm ET and 10:30 pm ET. Then again on Tuesday, May 1 at 8:30 am ET on DirecTV Channel 379 and dish Network Channel 9409.
Million Dollar Mandy McCutcheon
Congratulations to Non Pro reiner Mandy McCutcheon! She’s now earned a distinction no other Non Pro rider in NRHA history has accomplished. McCutcheon, of Aubrey, TX, now joins the elite group of reiners who have earned one million dollars in lifetime earnings. As well as being the very FIRST NON PRO to achieve that mark, McCutcheon is also the FIRST WOMAN to reach the One Million Dollar Rider status! Mandy joins her husband, Tom McCutcheon, who also just became a one million dollar rider in November and her father, the NRHA’s first two million dollar rider, Tim McQuay.
Photo courtesy of Quarter Horse News.
Rookies Receive Training from Top Reiners
Rookie Day presented by Classic Equine is coming to New York, Colorado, and California during May and June. Rookie Day is a one or two day event that gives beginning reiners a chance to learn from many NRHA Professionals and other trainers. The rookies are then 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 and all proceeds from Rookie Day benefit the RHSF Crisis Fund. The Crisis Fund helps reiners who have suffered a tragedy get back on their feet.
On May 6, Rookie Day comes to Morrisville, NY. Trainers include Jeremy Gates, Francis Mercier and Tom Hoyt. For more information contact Jennifer Hoyt at 315-682-0592.
June 2 brings Rookie Day to Pueblo, CO, with trainers like Steve Schwartzenberger, Shane Kelley, Shane Brown, Darren Miller, Mark Guynn, Doug Hewlett, Danie Hewlett, Connie Stoney, Dwayn Hoelscher, Chuck Nesmith, Guy Vernon and Devin Warren. Contact Wendy Lind at 970-471-2789 for more information. There is a special class for youth reiners at this Pueblo event.
Woodside, CA, will host a Rookie Day on June 10 with trainers Tracy Brumley, Tracer Gilson and Troy Heikes. If you’d like to reserve a spot contact, Wendy Campbell at 760-933-2206.
Final Qualifiers for North American Young Riders’ Championships Nearing
The final two qualifying events for the USEF 2007 North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC) are just around the corner!
This is the first time Reining has been invited to the premiere equestrian competition for young riders in North America. Riders between the ages of 16-21 must compete in a series of qualifying competitions. The Mountain and Central region qualifiers have already been held. Next up will be the Western qualifier May 11-13 during the Ben Balow Mother’s Day Slide in Scottsdale, AZ. Then, the Eastern region qualifier will be held on May 27 at the Central Ohio Reining Horse Association Show in Sunbury, OH.
From those qualifiers, teams of four riders will be selected in each region by the USEF. Those four teams will then compete at the NAYRC July 31 – August 5, 2007, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.
More information about the selection procedures for the NAYRC Regional competitions and current standings can be found by clicking here.
If you have any questions, you’re encouraged to contact Courtney Barnett, USEF Director of Reining Programs at (859) 225-6919 or cbarnett@usef.org.
The NRHA is proud to have Pard’s Western Store as one of its Corporate Partners. As the “Official Saddle of the NRHA”, Pard’s Western Shop offers much more for reiners including a full line of tack and clothing. Family owned and operated, Pard’s caters to their customers’ needs and will work to make sure each and every one is satisfied.
Pard’s is also proud to announce the Official Shawn Flarida Bit Collection! It’s a series of bits developed by Shawn Flarida and Pard’s owner Mark Butzow. They’ve created several bits that are a combination of old ideas and lots of new ideas to help enhance any training program. You can check out the affordable new Shawn Flarida Bit Collection at the Pard’s trailer at the Derby.
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.
