2017 NRHA Futurity Update- 11/28 & 11/29
2017 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® NAAC Show
NRHA Open Futurity finalists are determined following the Level 4 Open Silver Spurs Equine Semifinal, also sponsored by Not Ruf At All
Deary and Tinker With Dreams lead the Level 4 Open composite score as Fappani and All American Vintage score a 221.5 to top the Semifinal
Oklahoma City, November 29, 2017 – Each year, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show features the world’s most elite competitors in the sport of reining. To highlight this talent, NRHA created a new event, thrilling for both spectators and reiners alike.
The Futurity Level (L)4 Open Silver Spurs Equine Semifinal took place today in the Jim Norick Arena. Also sponsored by Not Ruf At All, the top 75 horses (plus ties) in the Level 4 Open division from the first go-round, with competitors giving it all they had in hopes of making it to the $575,000-added NRHA Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, rode into the Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City today. The horse-and-rider teams with the highest combined score from the first go-round and semifinals will advance to the finals and will compete head-to-head for the winner’s $150,000 guaranteed paycheck on Saturday night.
The exhilarating competition closed with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary, who slid Tinker With Dreams (Tinker With Guns x This Chicsdundreamin) to a 221.5, bringing his composite to a 443. Owned, nominated, and bred by Rhodes River Ranch, the stallion and Deary lead the L4 Open Semifinal. “This is an incredibly athletic horse, and I’ve had a lot of help from his owners since we showed in Las Vegas at the High Roller Reining Classic,” said Deary. “There is nothing physically he can’t do; he’s a fun horse to ride and very intelligent. You have to keep him occupied.”
With a composite score of 442.5, NRHA Professional Franco Bertolani took second place honors in the L4 Open Semifinal riding Masked Gun (Gunner x Dun It For Chex), a stallion owned, bred, and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC.
The top score of the day in the L4 Open Semifinal was NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani on All American Vintage (A Sparkling Vintage x All Ruffed Up), an NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale graduate. The powerful stallion – owned by Cuoghi Reining Horses USA Inc., bred by Petra Zeitler, and nominated by Harper Conner – closed his powerful run with a 222.5, bringing his composite to a 441. “He did pretty good for me today and has been wonderful for me this year,” said Fappani about his 2017 All American Congress NRHA Open Reining Futurity Champion. “In the first go, I tried to stay out of the penalty box, and usually when you show like that you have to make up for it afterward. I changed my mindset, and it worked out!”
The new semifinal format provides more recognition to NRHA owners and riders and showcases the incredibly talented equine athletes in the sport of reining. Additionally, a guaranteed payout was made to each horse that qualified for the semifinals.
For more information on schedules, tickets, hotel accommodations, sponsors and more, visit nrhafuturity.com.
A run off decides Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship
Oklahoma City, November 28, 2017 – An anxious crowd filled the grandstands of the Adequan® Arena on Tuesday night, waiting to see a runoff between three competitors vying for an Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) title.
Shelly Hartmann, Laura Bell Parker, and Sally Berg closed their performances with a 219.5 top score in the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro classes and decided to run off for the title. Once the three horse-rider-combinations went back into the pen, Hartmann and Mistresses Milky Way (Chocolate Chic Olena x Shiners Mistress) posted the highest score – a 219 – to earn the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, $1,000-added NRHA Intermediate Non Pro, and the $2,000-added NRHA Non Pro. The 7-year-old gelding was bred by Green Valley Ranch and is owned by Shelly and Chad Hartmann. “I’ve been blessed with an awesome horse – a once in a lifetime horse by the grace of God,” said Hartmann, representing Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association (RHA). “Timing and everything else worked out today, and I had a good day.”
The two qualified for OKC at the Mountain Affiliate Regional Championship (ARC), after earning fourth place in the Non Pro, and fifth in the Intermediate classes. “He got turned a little better in our first run, but he was with me the entire way in both runs. I couldn’t have asked for more; he tried his guts out for me, and he is a special horse. He is like an overgrown dog. I have owned him for six years, and it was really exciting this year when [NRHA Million Dollar Sire] Chocolate Chic Olena reached his million dollar sire mark. He has the mind and heart of his dad. I could not do this without my husband and his love and support. We had the A team with us today.”
The Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship, after earning a 215.5, was for Laura Bell Parker and Shirley Your A Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex x Pines BH). The 6-year-old mare is owned by her parents, George and Carol Bell, and was bred by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Lance Griffin. “It was a crazy day because I ran over here, then showed in the Non Pro Futurity, and then I heard there was still a tie, and we all wanted to run-off,” said Parker, representing the Oklahoma RHA. “I had to do a super-fast change and get my horse ready to come show here.” The pair qualified at the South Central ARC and had their goal set on the Adequan® NAAC all year. “My horse was amazing; I couldn’t have asked for anything more from her, especially since she showed again on the same day. It was my last show with this mare before she gets bred, so it was like ‘let’s go do it, girl.’ It was an incredible way to end our year together. I don’t think I had time to be nervous; it was such a surreal day, I think I was too determined to feel any of the nerves.”
Taking third place honors in the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro, after earning a 214.5 in the run off, were Berg and Highlanders Scandal (Conquistador Whiz x HR Short Wheel Base). Berg and her 8-year-old mare, owned by Barn 66 LLC, also came to OKC representing the Rocky Mountain RHA and the Mountain ARC. ‘Tot’ was bred by Greg Hill.
John Edd Tucker and Wimpys Lil Hollywood (Wimpys Little Step x Miss Hollywood Whiz) earned the Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Non Pro Championship and $200-added NRHA Prime Time Non Pro. Tucker and his own 9-year-old gelding, bred by 4 R Performance Horses, earned a 216.5. “This was the first time I have shown here,” said Tucker, representing the South Texas RHA. “I have been coming to the NRHA Futurity for around 30-35 years, but always as a spectator. All of my friends told me to qualify at the South Central ARC and come here and compete. I was fortunate enough to qualify, and I have really enjoyed this week; it has been a great experience. I am 72 years old, so I don’t know how much longer I will be able to do this. [NRHA Professional] Nathan Piper says I will just keep going.”
Next year, Tucker will no longer be qualified for the intermediate non pro classes, so he plans to find a horse to enter derbies on.
“Mr. Tucker was my 4-H leader about 20 years ago,” said Piper. “He spent hours with me, teaching me how to pick up and change leads and all of the basics. To be able to coach and help him today is a great blessing.” Tucker has stayed in touch with Piper all of these years, and even though they live over five hours away from each other, Tucker relies on Piper for his advice. “Nathan has always been so supportive and is my go-to guy when I am having any issue training my horse,” said Tucker. “I am just so blessed.”
Greg Gottschalk and Wranglers N Whiskey (Starlights Wrangler x Okie Lil Dokie) earned the Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Non Pro Reserve Championship with a score of 215.5. The 4-year-old stallion is owned by Russet Stables Inc. The pair came to OKC representing the North Central RHA after winning the Prime Time Non Pro championship at the North Central ARC.
The Adequan® NAAC Champions received a Bobs Custom Saddle, a custom Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckle, a Platinum Performance Gift Certificate, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, Bluebonnet Feed product, a $150 SmartPak Gift card, an embroidered halter from Brandt Blankets, and an Avila Pro Shop Blanket.
All Adequan® NAAC Reserve Champions received a custom Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckle, a Classic Equine fleece cinch, Bluebonnet Feed product, an embroidered halter from Brandt Blankets, an Avila Pro Shop Blanket, and a gift from KO Trading. All Adequan® NAAC third place winners received a Classic Equine Legacy System and Bluebonnet Feed product, fourth place winners will receive Classic Equine Dyno No-Turn bell boots and fifth place winners will receive Classic Equine hanging groom bags. All top ten winners received a jacket sponsored by SmartPak equine.
Dianna Wolfson and her own Big Tejano (Big Chex To Cash x La Tiagra Tejana) won the USA Amateur Reining with a 205.
For further information, results, live feed and live score, visit nrhafuturity.com
