Category Archives: Industry

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) was proud to join Oklahoma City officials on Wednesday, February 22, for a groundbreaking ceremony of the new coliseum at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

The beloved Jim Norick Coliseum, known by some as ‘The Big House,’ was built in 1965 and will be replaced by a new $126 million state-of-the-art coliseum. Set to be completed in 2025, the facility will feature a 216,000-square-foot building with 7,000 seats and a restaurant, lounge, and upscale concession areas. The current Jim Norick Coliseum will be utilized for all events until the new project is completed.

Speakers at the groundbreaking included Ron Norick, past Oklahoma City Mayor and son of the late Jim Norick, Oklahoma City Major David Holt, Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau president Zac Craig and president and CEO of the Oklahoma State Fair Kirk Slaughter.

“The Jim Norick Coliseum hosts two million people and 150 events per year,” said Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau president Zac Craig. “On any given week, you see the best riders in the world in their respective disciplines, and it is an economic engine for our community.”

Craig also highlighted the coliseum generates $350 million in annual economic impact for Oklahoma City and is an investment into tourism along with solidifying Oklahoma City’s reputation as a host for premier equine and livestock events. The project is funded through MAPS4, a debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary penny sales tax, with additional funds coming from city hotel tax revenues.

“This project is about maintaining what this place provides our community, and it is tremendous,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “I have always loved the idea of what this venue means to the entire state, and if you are a young person in Oklahoma and involved in agriculture, or basketball, or other sports, this is your mecca and where you dream of coming.

“I think it is cool that we love the history of this building; Elvis even played here, and it is really cool history. However, I think people will come to love the amenities and attractiveness provided by this future facility. History only takes you so far on a practical side, and what you are going to have with this new iteration is a practical, useful building to continue having economic impact on this community and bring people from around Oklahoma and the country. Congratulations to everyone involved in this!”

Excitement broke among the crowd as shovels broke ground, including an extra shovel turned by Ron Norick to honor his father, Jim Norick.

“I am so proud of my father and what he did, and how proud I am that his name is on this building, and how proud he is going to be when we have the new building,” said Norick. “This building has served our community well. It is a wonderful day!”

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter, who was present at the event along with NRHA staff, echoed the excitement.

“We are so fortunate to have great partnerships throughout Oklahoma City, and this project coming to fruition is just another example of the community coming together,” said Carpenter. “Our relationship with the Oklahoma State Fair is one we have always valued, and we look forward to supporting them through this process. This venue will be a stage worthy of our events, and our competitors will move to a new, elevated level not experienced before.”

For more information, including a concept video of the new facility, visit okcfairgrounds.com/new-coliseum.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Nomination Program summited a peak in January, welcoming the largest foal crops, in both North America and Europe, since the program’s inception. On the heels of this achievement, NRHA announces the official addition of a 4-year-old component to the North American program to begin with 2023 foals. For several years, NRHA has offered a 4-year-old division at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. This change helps to bring this division to a new level by generating a greatly enhanced purse for NRHA Nominated 4-year-olds.

The NRHA is proud to provide new and significant additional investment in the industry by committing $100,000 in added money for the next 3 years to elevate the 4-Year-Old Derby and to grow the entire event and add further value to our horses. When the 2023 foal crop is of Derby age and the nomination program funds the 4-Year-Old Derby, NRHA will continue to invest $50,000 in added money. Approximately $285,000 in total added money based on a 3-year average of nominated weanlings will be provided to the purse once the 2023 foal crop is of derby age. For the next 3 years, total added money will be $160,000.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity for this specific group of horses as they progress in their show career from futurities to derbies. The support of this program will also draw more participation in the NRHA Derby, creating supplementary event success.

“It is incredible to witness an informal conversation between friends become reality,” said NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter. “Our 4-year-olds deserve a chance to show what they can do among their peers without trying to compete against the strength and experience that the older horses have. They have a chance to mature and shine at the same time.”

The existing North American weanling fee will increase $100 to help supplement the 4-year-old purse. Based on an estimated $285,000 in added money, the following is the estimated purse payout for each class of the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel once the 2023 foal crop is of Derby age:

• Level 4 Open = $106,000
• Level 3 Open = $83,000
• Level 2 Open = $47,000
• Level 1 Open = $25,000
• Level 4 Non Pro = $50,000
• Level 3 Non Pro = $36,000
• Level 2 Non Pro = $22,000
• Level 1 Non Pro = $12,000

For more information on the nomination program, visit nrha.com/nomination.

Photo by Bee Silva

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter has announced his plan to retire at the end of 2023, culminating a leadership role held since 2014. Carpenter made the announcement at the National Reining Horse Association Annual General Membership Meeting held on February 7 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside the executive committee, board of directors, and staff, and I appreciate their support during this transition,” said Carpenter.

Carpenter was hired at the end of 2013 after a lengthy search for a new individual to lead the NRHA Office and work alongside the NRHA Executive Committee and Board of Directors to grow the association and expand its events and programs.

“I was a part of the search committee that hired Gary and have worked with him every day since,” said immediate Past President and current Director-at-Large Rick Clark. “Gary has exceeded all of our expectations, and we cannot thank him enough for everything that he has done for NRHA and for reining.

“More importantly, I appreciate his friendship, leadership, and guidance all of these years,” Clark added.

Prior to NRHA, Carpenter had extensive equine industry experience, including leadership positions with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), The Jockey Club, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and Colorado State University (CSU).

His start at NRHA was a breath of fresh air during a somewhat tumultuous time for the Association.

During Carpenter’s tenure at NRHA, the Association has seen explosive growth and widespread improvements, ensuring he will leave NRHA better than he found it.

“What is hardest to leave at NRHA are the relationships I have cultivated over the years with members and with our staff,” said Carpenter. “I am so incredibly proud of the team at NRHA. They are outstanding, passionate, and hard-working. I know I cannot work forever, but it does not make it any easier to leave.”

In an ode to his impeccable leadership and mentorship, the NRHA Office has seen its lowest turnover rates and boasts a well-tenured staff.

Notably, Carpenter was responsible for spearheading the highly successful development and launch of ReinerSuite, oversaw a much-needed relocation of the NRHA Headquarters, and helped make the NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby record-setting events.

Additionally, he was the first to bring the idea of a formal strategic plan to the board of directors, allowing the Association to focus on developing goals, core strategies, and a mission statement to help guide the future of the association and strengthen its governing practices.

Carpenter remained steady during the global pandemic, having to make some hard decisions so NRHA did not succumb to the financial uncertainties many others faced. He was unwavering in his determination to ensure NRHA’s owned-events would continue to be held safely for staff and members.

“NRHA has been lucky to have Gary Carpenter for the past nine years, and we wish Gary nothing but the best in his retirement,” said NRHA President Mark Blake. “His knowledge, experience, and industry connections have proven invaluable.

“We know it will not be easy to replace him, but we are confident we have several qualified candidates for consideration,” Blake added. “NRHA will ensure a smooth transition and looks forward to beginning the process to find a replacement.”

An official search committee has been created to work alongside a professional executive recruiter in the coming months to find Carpenter’s replacement. A formal position description and details on applying are forthcoming.

Everyone loves a win-win, and the NRHA Sire & Dam program is one of the best! The 2023 Sire & Dam online auction features 100+ of the top stallions in the industry and is the only stallion program that grants resulting offspring automatic eligibility, reduced entry fees, and later entry deadlines to the NRHA Futurity and Derby.

Since 1966, the Sire & Dam program has provided significant value to participants while helping to support the NRHA. Featuring benefits for stallion and mare owners alike, it’s the perfect addition to any breeding program. Mare owners can purchase breedings they may not otherwise have access to, often at reduced rates.

Offspring produced from the program have added value before they even hit the ground. Some of those benefits include:

• No nomination to the NRHA Futurity and Derby required; resulting foals are automatically eligible
• Reduced entry fees (up to 50%) to the NRHA Futurity and Derby
• Later entry deadlines for the NRHA Futurity and Derby
• Sire & Dam offspring eligibility remains with the foal even if it is sold

Stallion owners who donate a breeding to the Sire & Dam auction reap the benefit of enhanced promotion through program advertising and a listing in the NRHA stallion directory. They also become eligible for NRHA Futurity and Derby sire incentives, including cash awards.

There’s still time to enroll a stallion in the Sire & Dam program, whether through the auction or as a private sale, and anyone interested in participating can contact NRHA Sire & Dam program director Haley Carmen at hcarmen@nrha.com or visit the Sire & Dam page for more information.

“We are so excited to be able to offer these incentives to those who purchase a breeding through the Sire & Dam program,” Carmen said. “The added value and benefits to the resulting foals are unparalleled in the industry.”

To view and bid on participating stallions, visit the Sire & Dam auction at reiningauction.com.

Mare owners are encouraged to contact the participating stallion owners and agents to ask about additional fees before purchasing. Winning bidders will be notified by email after the auction closes on January 10.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is eager to share the announcement of the Season 3 premiere of The Last Cowboy from Academy Award® nominee and “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan, returning on Friday, November 18th at 10 p.m. EST on CMT.

The Last Cowboy takes an inside glance into the lives of the NRHA Professional cowboys and cowgirls as they compete in the high-stakes sport of reining and gear up for the incomparable event, “The Run for a Million.”

The Run for a Million, presented by Teton Ridge, is the richest event in the history of reining. Sixteen riders, including some of the most accomplished NRHA Professionals in history, will compete for a purse of $1,000,000, with $500,000 awarded to the champion.

The upcoming season dives deep into the intense preparation and training riders experience as they elevate and preserve cowboy traditions in this challenging athletic event. Sixteen riders will test their mental, physical, and emotional strength.

This year’s NRHA professionals include:

Casey Deary
Andrea Fappani
Shawn Flarida
Arno Honstetter
Francesco Martinotti
Jordan McBurney
Sean McBurny
Cade McCutcheon
Matt Palmer
Nathan Piper
Fernando Salgado
Craig Schmersal
Josh Tishman
Dany Tremblay
Jason Vanlandingham
Billy Williams

The inaugural Run for a Million in 2019 generated excitement that spread beyond the world of reining to all western performance horse disciplines. Learn more about this awe-inspiring event and get to know the NRHA riders better at nrha.com/the-run-for-a-million.

Teton Ridge’s 2023 The American Rodeo Celebrates 10^th Anniversary March 8-11 with marquee events, star-studded music and Western culture celebrations

ARLINGTON, Texas (August 30, 2022) – Today, Teton Ridge, a wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to elevating the iconic American western way of life and western sports, is proud to announce that The American Rodeo will make Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas its new home on March 8-11, 2023.

At Globe Life Field, rodeo fans and athletes will be immersed in arena-wide action and can enjoy a multitude of entertainment offerings. Events will include The American Contender Tournament Finals, Contender Tournament Wild Card, The American Performance Horseman, star-studded music, a western festival experience and more. For competitors, Globe Life Field provides them with an unprecedented platform to showcase 8 rodeo disciplines, including bareback, saddle bronc, barrel racing, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling and bull riding. The American Rodeo will debut a competitive exhibition – The American Performance Horseman – on Friday, March 10, 2023, at Globe Life Field to execute an additional three western equine sport disciplines: reining, cow horse and cutting.

“This move to Globe Life Field is focused on providing fans and athletes a genuinely immersive, never-been-done western sports and culture celebration at one, world-class location,” said Joe Loverro, President of Teton Ridge Sports. “Since acquiring The American Rodeo last year, our ambition at Teton Ridge has been to elevate western sports to a national stage and build out this iconic event to live up to its namesake as The Crown Jewel of Rodeo. We are thrilled to work with our incredible partners at the City of Arlington, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Globe Life Field as we celebrate the event’s 10^th anniversary.”

The American Rodeo is a true open competition format bringing together top professional rodeo champions and every day, hardworking cowboys and cowgirls from across the country. With more opportunities to win money throughout the series, top competitors will make it to three Regional Finals events in February 2023 in Heber, Utah; Tulsa, Okla. and Lexington, KY. The top qualifiers from each region will make it to The American Rodeo, a high-stakes showdown with a $1 million bonus that will crown the finest talent the western sports world has to offer.

Globe Life Field, a world-class multipurpose sports and entertainment venue, was built as a public-private partnership between the City of Arlington and the Texas Rangers, who made the venue their home stadium in 2020. Measuring at 1.8 million square feet with a 5.5-acre retractable roof, Globe Life Field hosts numerous large-scale national and regional sports and entertainment events throughout the year. It has the distinctive capabilities to allow for The Crown Jewel of Rodeo™ to have a single, landmark destination over a days-long celebration of Western sports and culture.

“Globe Life Field was designed to host major groundbreaking events, and The American Rodeo encompasses exactly that. Not only does Teton Ridge produce world-class events showcasing the western lifestyle, they are also dedicated to bringing another level of entertainment to the rodeo,” said Sean Decker, President of REV Entertainment. “Our goal is to fill the calendar with thrilling events that bring new fans to Globe Life Field, and this event will not only bring rodeo enthusiasts to the area but also entertainment seekers as well. I am eager to see this facility transformed into a rodeo arena once again and am honored to host the Teton Ridge team in bringing this event to Globe Life Field in 2023.’

“Rodeo fans who’ll be visiting Arlington from across the nation to cheer on professional cowboys and cowgirls in this high-stakes showdown are in for a truly fantastic experience at our world-class Globe Life Field. We are delighted that Teton Ridge has chosen to keep The American Rodeo in the city of Arlington, The American Dream City,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.

Ticketing information, headlining musical talent and on-sale will be announced in fall of 2022. For more information on The American Rodeo, visit www.americanrodeo.com.

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The American Rodeo Media Contact:

Mandi McCary / mandi@mmgnv.com  / 702-277-7107

Globe Life Field/REV Entertainment Media Contact:

Madison SanFilippo / msanfilippo@reventertainment.com  / 817-533-1838

About The American Rodeo:
Hailed as The Crown Jewel of Rodeo™, The American Rodeo is an unrivaled celebration of the pioneering spirit of the American West. The national sporting event offers fans a unique choice – to cheer on Western sports’ finest, champion athletes, or root for the underdog “Contenders” chasing a $1 million bonus – through every rodeo, roping and riding effort. For the first time ever, a new competitive exhibition called The American Performance Horseman brings together the Western equine sports disciplines of reining, reined cow and cutting for a $1 million prize. All combined with star-studded music, a Western festival and more. Acquired by Teton Ridge in 2021, The American Rodeo is an annual Western sports and entertainment celebration that matches professional rodeo’s top athletes against the world’s most aspirational cowboys and cowgirls, who have put up their own money to bet on themselves in this high stake’s showdown. For more information on The American Rodeo, please visit americanrodeo.com or @TheAmerican.TR on Instagram @TheAmericanTR on Facebook and Twitter.

About Teton Ridge:
Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to the iconic American Western way of life and Western sports. Teton Ridge’s Sports division was created with the singular focus of elevating classic Western sports and America’s Western culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. In 2021, Teton Ridge acquired The American, the iconic event of the rodeo circuit, to continue to expand the audiences for rodeo sports and make it the world’s premier Western culture event. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit tetonridge.com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook.

The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for the information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests, or questions.

Mark your calendars!  Wednesday, September 21, Cowboy Conversations brings two of the most knowledgeable and colorful cowboys/cattlemen to the stage at Billy Bob’s Texas.  Pete Bonds and Bob Loomis will share stories that will make you smile and maybe even squirm.  Event co-chairs Lori McCarty and Sally Brumbaugh promise a unique entertaining and educational evening that will raise funds for Friends of the Fort Worth Herd.

Pete Bonds, cattle rancher and former Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn president, owns and leases acreage in more than two dozen counties in Texas as well as in seven other states.  Bonds Ranches runs cattle from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  Bonds has received the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman’s Award of Honor  and the W.A. “Bill” King Award for Excellence in Agriculture from the Fort Worth Farm and Ranch Club. He was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2017.

Bob Loomis is an icon in the equine industry, a universally recognized master in the world of precision riding and also a who’s who in the Texas Longhorn Breed.  The former president of the National Reining Horse Association, Bob has won six NRHA Open Futurity championships, more than any other trainer.  He was inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 1992 and the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2012.

Bob lives on his Loomis Ranch at Marietta, Oklahoma, where he raises horses and Texas Longhorn cattle.  His Longhorns have swept Ultimate Awards.  He and his wife breed Texas Longhorns for conformation, horn length, color and disposition.

Emcee Tom Johnson Operates 87 Ranch and Johnson Cattle Marketing and will lead Pete Bonds and Bob Loomis through spirited Cowboy Conversations.

Friends of the Fort Worth Herd provides financial and volunteer support for the Fort Worth Herd Twice Daily Cattle Drive.  The Old West comes alive every day at 11:30 and 4 PM as real Texas drovers (cowhands) drive a herd of Texas Longhorns down East Exchange Avenue in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.  The Fort Worth Herd attracts thousands of visitors each day and is a major driver of tourism in Fort Worth and North Texas.

What:  Cowboy Conversations

When:  Wednesday, September 21 – 6 pm

Where:  Billy Bob’s Texas

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, and to make reservations, visit CowboyConversations.com

The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for the information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests, or questions.

The American Performance Horseman, a first of its kind competition, to be held in Arlington, Tex. on March 10, 2023

Arlington, Tex. (August 22, 2022) – Expanding upon its commitment to elevate and positively impact the western industry, Teton Ridge unveiled an unprecedented new event – The American Performance Horseman that will make its debut on Friday, March 10, 2023 in Arlington, Tex. during The American Rodeo.

For the first time ever, the top five year-end money earning professionals in cutting, reined cow horse and reining will come together to compete for $1,000,000 in prize money in a competitive exhibition format. The American Rodeo will provide a global stage for the athletes of each western equine sports discipline to compete not only for individual prize payouts, but also a first of its kind team format as well. The American Performance Horseman is a prestigious competitive exhibition that is supported by AQHA, APHA, NRHA, NCHA and NRCHA, with all associations excited for their respective communities to be celebrated and showcased to the world in this unparalleled and innovative format.

The American Performance Horseman will consist of the top five riders from each discipline, with the highest show earnings from the 2022 show season as tracked by each association. Standings will be finalized and announced following each discipline’s 2022 Futurity event.

Fusing the elements of history and competition, “The American Performance Horseman” is an ode to the past, present and future of the western performance horse sports. Riders will compete for team and individual prize money but most importantly the prestigious title of champion as part of the American Rodeo weekend festivities in Arlington, Texas.

“The American Rodeo is an unrivaled celebration of the American West and represents the richest weekend in all of western sports,” said Joe Loverro, President of Teton Ridge Sports. “As Teton Ridge continues to make great strides to bring the iconic events in the western industry to a broader audience on an elevated platform, it was only natural to create an event to pay homage to the most prestigious competitors in western performance sports and their incredible equine athletes.

The American Performance Horseman is the creation and vision of Teton Ridge. It exists to elevate western equine sports through multiple platforms, with innovative and interactive technology. “The American Performance Horseman isn’t another horse show, it’s a celebration of western horse sport and our athletes at the highest level,” stated Anna Morrison, NRCHA Executive Director. “With a shortened format showcasing the top five riders of the year in each discipline, it will pack the excitement of our industry’s top talent in an hour-long production that will bring the sports we love to an entirely new audience.”

The American Performance Horseman will offer fans a groundbreaking new way to embrace and support the legacy of the American West on the eve of The American Rodeo as a celebration the 10^th anniversary of the world’s richest rodeo.

For more information on The American Performance Horseman and to sign up for the 2023 ticket wait list, please visit americanrodeo.com.

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The American Rodeo Media Contact:

Mandi McCary / mandi@mmgnv.com

About The American Rodeo:

Hailed as The Crown Jewel of Rodeo™, The American Rodeo is an unrivaled celebration of the pioneering spirit of the American West. The national sporting event offers fans a unique choice – to cheer on western sports’ finest, champion athletes, or root for the underdog “Contenders” chasing a $1 million bonus – through every rodeo, roping and riding effort. For the first time ever, a new competitive exhibition called The American Performance Horseman brings together the western equine sports disciplines of reining, reined cow and cutting for a $1 million prize. All combined with star-studded music, a western festival and more. Acquired by Teton Ridge in 2021, The American Rodeo is an annual western sports and entertainment celebration that matches professional rodeo’s top athletes against the world’s most aspirational cowboys and cowgirls, who have put up their own money to bet on themselves in this high stake’s showdown. For more information on The American Rodeo, please visit americanrodeo.com or @TheAmerican.TR on Instagram @TheAmericanTR on Facebook and Twitter.

About Teton Ridge:

Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to the iconic American western way of life and western sports. Teton Ridge’s Sports division was created with the singular focus of elevating classic Western sports and America’s western culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. In 2021, Teton Ridge acquired The American, the iconic event of the rodeo circuit, to continue to expand the audiences for rodeo sports and make it the world’s premier Western culture event. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit tetonridge.com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook.

The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for the information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests, or questions.

The Run For A Million (TRFAM) may be reining’s richest event, but after the success of last year’s $150,000 Cow Horse Challenge, held during TRFAM, it’s clear fans want to see even more of the Western way of life. This year, TRFAM will host the $25,000 Cowboy Invitational, allowing cowboys from some of the country’s most historic ranches to show off their horsemanship skills.

Eleven ranches have been invited to each send a cowboy to compete in the Cowboy Invitational. Some of the ranches chosen are American Quarter Horse Association Best Remuda Award winners, meaning they not only have significant livestock operations, but also prominent horse breeding programs. Many of the ranches are also involved in National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) competition.

“Last year was a great test to see how the cow horse would complement The Run For A Million event, and I think it proved to be a real fan favorite,” said Anna Morrison, Executive Director of the NRCHA. “To add on the Cowboy Invitational, which highlights how connected cow horse is to training traditions that are so important for ranch work and ranch life, is incredibly meaningful.”

The Cowboy Invitational will follow the NRCHA’s cowboy class format, designed for working ranch cowboys that are wanting to venture into the competitive arena. Competitors will complete a reining and cow work run, then return to the arena for a modified steer stopping run.

Thanks to inaugural sponsor XIT Ranch, these competitors will have a chance at $25,000 in prize money. With its long history rooted in ranching and the Western lifestyle, XIT Ranch’s owner Drew Knowles stepped up to sponsor what he thought was a good fit for their operation.

“When I was looking at [the cowboy invitational] this year, I noticed there wasn’t any money allocated for the cowboys, so I called up Taylor [Sheridan, producer] and said, ‘We’d love to give the cowboys something to compete for,’” Knowles said. “For us, with the preservation of the American cowboy and the traditions and horsemanship, it’s really a natural extension of what we believe in and what we’re all about.”

Founded in 1885 in the Texas Panhandle, the XIT Ranch at its peak spanned over three million acres and was once considered the largest cattle ranch in the world. Knowles, who is the third-great-grandson of one of its original owners, operates the current XIT Ranch out of La Veta, Colorado. The ranch is involved in the NRCHA as owners, breeders and sponsors.

“For The Run For A Million to have reining and cow horse, and now the Cowboy Invitational, it just speaks volumes to the resurgence in the Western way of life and the global interest of Western sports,” Knowles added. “I think that in this day and age, there’s a rekindling of the romantic idea of the Western way of life. To add in the heritage ranches, which are the epitome of the Western way of life, is just the perfect way for The Run For A Million to further develop as an event.”

The 11 invited ranches are:

6666 Ranch (Guthrie, TX)

Bogle Ltd. (Dexter, NM)

King Ranch (Kingsville, TX)

Pitchfork Land & Cattle Company (Guthrie, TX)

R.A. Brown Ranch (Throckmorton, TX)

San Lucas Ranch (Santa Ynez, CA)

Singleton Ranches (Lamy, NM)

Stuart Ranch (Caddo, OK)

Tongue River Ranch (Dumont, TX)

Waggoner Ranch (Vernon, TX)

Wagonhound Land & Livestock (Douglas, WY)

The 2022 TRFAM will be held Aug. 17-20 at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas. Prior to the competition, the Cowboy Invitational ranches will be invited to participate in a cowboy clinic at the 6666 Ranch in June to help their cowboys get ready for the big stage in Las Vegas.

To find TRFAM’s schedule or purchase tickets, go to www.trfam.com. To learn more about the reined cow horse sport, visit the NRCHA’s website. For more information about XIT Ranch, visit their website.

The National Reining Horse Association is not responsible for the information contained in this press release. Please contact the author or submitting organization for further information, requests, or questions.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Executive Committee has hired Jim Harlan, President and CEO of MJM Global Search, Inc., to support its efforts in filling the full-time position of Sr. Director of Corporate Relations. MJM Global’s search will begin immediately with analysis of the position and identification of candidates. The primary purpose of this hands-on position is to retain current sponsors by supporting their needs while continuously working to enhance the relationship between both parties.

Additionally, they are responsible for cultivating new relationships to grow our family of sponsors to ensure NRHA remains a premier partner in the western performance horse industry.

NRHA, based in Oklahoma City, Okla., is the standard-setting body for the sport of Reining with more than 15,000 members worldwide. “MJM Global Search was extremely successful in placing Patti Carter as our new Sr. Director of Education & Officials and I have full confidence that they will once again find us the perfect candidate for this position,” said Rick Clark, NRHA President.

Harlan, an avid horseman in his own right, is responsible for the strategic leadership necessary to ensure the achievement of MJM Global Search’s performance goals and preservation of the core values established more than 25 years ago.

MJM Global Search, Inc. and its executive search specialists have decades of hands-on experience as senior managers, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small fast-growing start-up companies. The firm has completed placements with more than 12 equine industry associations.

The detailed position description can be viewed here.

Persons interested in the position may contact:
Jim Harlan
MJM Global Search, Inc.
P.O. Box 883
Franktown, CO 80116
(303) 660-0766
jim@mjmglobalsearch.com