Press Releases

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2006
National Reining Horse Association

The Best of the West From Around the World Coming to OKC for 2006 NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show

Oklahoma City, OK – November 20, 2006 – Sliding stops that end in a cloud of dust and lightning fast spins that can make even the spectators dizzy. They’re the hallmark maneuvers of the sport of Reining. Now the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) presents The Best of the West From Around the World at the 2006 NRHA Futurity & AdequanÒ North American Affiliate Championship Show. Close to two thousand reiners from all around the world are coming to Oklahoma City, the heart of America’s horse show industry. The major event will be held at the Oklahoma State Fair Park November 23 – December 2. The ten-day Reining festival is a world-class production featuring the most elite reiners competing for more than $1.5 million in cash and prizes. The Futurity is a spectacular event drawing over 50,000 spectators to its exciting showcase of the industry’s best reining horses.

While the riders compete for their share of the prize money, there’s something for everyone at the event. You’ll find holiday shopping with a western flair at the annual trade show, fabulous family entertainment during two nights of Freestyle competition and you can learn how to train your reining horse from world-renowned Australian clinician Clinton Anderson and the NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Rider, Andrea Fappani.

On Thursday, November 30, spectators will be entertained during the North American Freestyle Non Pro Championship presented by Century Investment Group. In Freestyle competition both horse and rider dress up in costume and perform their own choreographed Reining pattern to music. The North American Freestyle Non Pro Championship begins at 8:00 p.m.

The North American Freestyle Open Championship presented by Century Investment Group will remain on Friday, December 1 at 7:00 pm. Get your tickets early because both nights of the North American Freestyle Championship competition will sell out fast!

Then, Saturday evening, December 2, the premiere event many reiners train for and look forward to all year long…. the 2006 NRHA Open Futurity Finals. The Futurity features the top three year old horses in the world. One rider will walk away with a check for $125,000. In addition, the NRHA Open Futurity winner will also take home a trailer from Elite Trailer Co., a handmade Advantage saddle from Pard’s Western Shop, the coveted Lawson bronze and Doug Israelsen’s bronze, The Score … as well as a host of other prizes

Horse lovers will also find three Futurity sales featuring yearlings, broodmares, show horses and top two-year-old futurity prospects, which you may see in next year’s competition. The sales will be held Thursday, November 30 – Saturday, December 2.

Also on Saturday, December 2, an event that always draws a crowd. The Clinton Anderson “Downunder Horsemanship” Clinic presented by Horse & Rider magazine, NRHA’s Educational Partner. Clinton Anderson is a world-renowned clinician from Australia who has his own unique style of training horses. During his three-hour clinic, Anderson demonstrates his techniques by taking a horse with little to no training and riding that same horse at the Clinic’s conclusion. It’s always amazing to watch. Anderson will be joined by NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Rider, Andrea Fappani who will demonstrate the fundamentals of training and showing a reining horse.

The 2006 NRHA Futurity & AdequanÒ North American Affiliate Championship Show is a safe, fun family event filled with exciting Reining action from the best of the west from around the world.

Tickets are available through the Oklahoma State Fair Box Office by calling (405) 948-6827.

Media Alert: There are all sorts of very visual and unusual stories involving the Reining Futurity, horses involved and the competitors. Interviews are available. For more information about the 2006 NRHA Futurity & AdequanÒ North American Affiliate Championship Show, contact Kathy Damrill at kdamrill@nrha.com or (405) 946-7400 ext. 129.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. The NRHA continues to educate its members and the public about Reining.