Category Archives: Members

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to announce the Top 20 Standings list for the 2022 year in each sector—Professionals, Non Pros, and Owners. NRHA’s Top 20 program is designed to feature the talent of the association’s top riders and owners each year. These frontrunners of each section are true representatives for the sport of reining in competition as well as in the industry day to day.

Along with the Top 10 World Standing Finalists, the NRHA Board of Directors will welcome all Top 20 Professionals, Non Pros, and Owners to the coveted awards ceremony to be recognized. This event will be held during the 2023 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, which takes place June 13–25 in Oklahoma City. Members from around the globe will be invited to the event to enjoy an evening of fun, food, and recognition. The exact date of the event will be posted as the show schedule is confirmed.

The NRHA congratulates the following 2022 NRHA Top 20 Professionals, Non Pros, & Owners:

Professionals

1. Shawn Flarida
2. Casey Deary
3. Fernando Salgado
4. Andrea Fappani
5. Matt Mills
6. Jordan Larson
7. Cade McCutcheon
8. Jason Vanlandingham
9. Trevor Dare
10. Craig Schmersal
11. Gabriel Borges
12. Jared Leclair
13. Abby Lengel
14. Grischa Ludwig
15. Duane Latimer
16. Bernard Fonck
17. Ann Fonck
18. Brian Bell
19. Martin Larcombe
20. Manuel Cortesi

*Category 1–10, Open earnings

Non Pros

1. Gina-Maria Schumacher
2. Mandy McCutcheon
3. William Clutter
4. Indy Roper
5. Jack Medows
6. Chandler Winard
7. Tish Fappani
8. Jose Vazquez
9. Mariana Vazquez
10. Charles Wiederholt
11. Emma Vanlandingham
12. Francesca Sternberg
13. Lane Colston
14. Monica Hicks
15. Molly Morgenstern
16. Emily Opell
17. Taylor Zimmerman
18. Samuel Flarida
19. Christine Trautman
20. Ewald Rifeser

*Category 1–10, Non Pro earnings

Owners

1. Arcese Quarter Horses USA
2. XCS Ranch LLC
3. Tim J. Anderson
4. Smart Like Juice Inc.
5. Tom & Mandy McCutcheon
6. Gilberto Leal
7. Tim & MaryBeth Ruckman
8. Devin K. Warren
9. Vaughn C. Zimmerman
10. Robert Santagata
11. Amy E. Medows
12. Clark Reining Horses LLC
13. Puno Performance Horses, LLC & Jody Puno
14. Jay H. Clutter
15. Katarzyna Roleska
16. Abby Lengel
17. George & Carol Bell
18. Casey & Kathy Hinton
19. Andrea & Tish Fappani
20. Neiberger Performance Horses, LLC

*Category 1–10 earnings

Congratulations again to all Top 10 mentioned, who continue to grow the sport of reining and represent the association to the uppermost standard. The official results list can also be seen here.

The National Reining Horse Association is pleased to share that the 2023 executive committee is now fully seated and boasts members with years of experience as well as a first-time member. Led by President Mark Blake and Vice President Mike Hancock, the Director-At-Large positions will be held by Shane Brown, John Tague, Ed ‘Hoot’ Bricker, and past president Rick Clark.

Clark and Bricker were elected by the NRHA Board of Directors for one-year terms, and Tague won by acclamation and was confirmed by the board for a two-year term.

“I am really excited about the group that we have,” said NRHA President Mark Blake. “I think that we are going to meld together quite well, and we have a really diverse skill set among our executive committee members. Pretty much everyone in our industry is represented between owners, professionals, breeders, and non pros. I am excited to get to work and have everyone’s skills used.”

This will be Hancock’s second term as vice president. “I am super excited to be back,” Hancock said. “I have missed all the family and activities associated with being on the Board for the last couple of years. The close of my last term was the COVID year, so I am thrilled to see the movement we have had since then and excited to see the growth I know we can obtain in the future.”

Hancock will serve as NRHA president after completing his two-year term.

“Getting Mike on the executive committee is outstanding,” said Blake. “He comes with a phenomenal background knowing our rules and bylaws, and his past leadership will be very welcomed on the executive committee”

Bricker will serve his first term in this role after serving on the board for the past three years and entering his fourth representing the Northeast region. He has been a staunch supporter of local affiliates and has extensive committee experience, including serving as Chair of the NRHA Stewards Committee. He brings extensive experience as a longtime member, NRHA Judge, and Steward.

“Ed comes from a great background and did a phenomenal job as the chair of the stewards committee,” said Blake. “He poured his soul into that committee, and he will bring that work ethic to the executive committee and will hold everyone accountable. He also brings a different perspective to us and intangibles that we haven’t had in the past.”

Kentucky native Clark will bring continuity and experience, having served two separate terms as NRHA president and over a decade of leadership positions within NRHA. Clark has invested more than 25 years in NRHA as a competitor, owner, and now NRHA Global Partner.

“Some may believe having the past president on the executive committee can be detrimental, but he will bring a lot of support for our mission moving forward along with being a great sounding board,” said Blake. “We are excited and lucky to have him.”

What is best for NRHA is where I want this executive committee to go,” said Blake. “If it is best for the majority, that’s where we want to be. We have people with great listening skills, it is a diverse group, and we are picking up Hoot, who is from a different part of the country, which is great for us as well.”

In addition to the NRHA Executive Committee, the NRHA Board of Directors is now fully seated, and the full list can be viewed here.

For more information concerning how representatives are elected, refer to the NRHA Bylaws and the NRHA Elections page.

All members have the opportunity to nominate weanling foals into the NRHA Nomination program at the lowest rate till January 10. Be sure to send in all of your nominations to the office by Monday, January 10. The option to complete the process online through ReinerSuite is also available for ease and quick submission time!

NRHA Member and Show Services/Nomination Representative Emily Rush said, “We are so fortunate to have ReinerSuite available to us now because it really is the fastest and most economical way to nominate a horse. The $10 handling fee is waived when you do it online, and you receive an instant digital confirmation.”

The program was created to grow its North American and European Futurities and Derbies to new heights through enhanced payouts. The NRHA is proud to share that this program has allocated 60 percent of all the fees to the Futurities and 40 percent to the Derbies after a 10 percent administration fee! The enrollment of foals creates additional added money for the purses at the Futurities and Derbies, which saw a 42% increase in the North American Open Futurity in the very first year.

Members have the option to nominate to one or both the European and North American programs, with the option to add both at a later date if desired.

When a horse competes and wins money at one of the Futurities or Derbies, the nominator receives 5% of the earnings! It does not matter if the nominator still owns the horse or not. Any horse can be nominated, and the original nominator can never be changed.

Be sure to take part in this fruitful program and send in your nominations no later than January 10. The fee doubles after that day until January 31. The foal is considered a yearling after January 31, and the fees adjust accordingly. Horses foaled in the Southern Hemisphere from July 1 through December 31 will still be considered weanlings during the next calendar year.

Guidance on how to complete nominations can be found in the Resources Library, as well as a trouble-shooting page that can be found here.

More information, including nomination forms, can be found at nrha.com/nomination.

The 2022 show season has come to a close, and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce the finalized Top 10 Standings for the 2022 year in each division — Open, Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Rookie Professional, Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, Limited Non Pro, Prime Time Non Pro, Novice Horse Open Level 1–3, Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1–3, Youth 13 & Under, and Youth 14–18.

The NRHA Board of Directors plans to host a ceremony to honor NRHA Top Ten Achievers. This event will also acknowledge the Top 20 Professionals, Top 20 Non Pros, and Top 20 Owners during the 2023 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel held June 13-25 in Oklahoma City. Members from around the globe will be invited to the event to enjoy an evening of fun, food, and recognition. The exact date of the event will be posted as the show schedule is finalized.

Congratulations to the following 2022 NRHA World Champions:

Open
Horse: ND Pop Gun Trash
Rider: Bernard Fonck
Owner: Nathalie Derua
Location: Lierneux, Belgium

Intermediate Open & Limited Open
Horse: Sparkys Shining Doll
Rider: Tyrel Pole
Owner: Rhea Pole
Location: Gainesville, TX

Rookie Professional
Horse: Serenades Dream
Rider: Lane Beeler
Owner: Steve Gooden
Location: Westpoint, IN

Non Pro
Rider: Stephanie Blessing
Horse: Dance Gotta Gun
Location: Niederwil SG, Switzerland

Intermediate Non Pro & Limited Non Pro
Rider: Wayne Mizelle
Horse: Whizkey At Dawn
Location: Windsor, NC

Prime Time Non Pro
Rider: Lucinda Human
Horse: Made By Magnum
Location: Advance, NC

Novice Horse Open Level 1 & 2
Horse: Sergeant Fridee
Rider: Barry T. Haynes
Owner: Diane Staton
Location: Harned, KY

Novice Horse Open Level 3
Horse: Hes Throwing Smoke
Rider: Andrew G. Fox
Owner: Heather Marks
Location: Lipan, TX

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1, 2, & 3
Rider: Melissa Wigen
Horse: Starlight Escalade
Location: Joseph, Oregon

Youth 13 & Under
Rider: Olivia C. Thompson
Horse: Skeets Forty Five
Location: Delafield, WI

Youth 14-18
Rider: Jenna Ratke
Horse: Rio One Step Closer
Location: Maidsville, West Virginia

The full list of the NRHA Top 10 Standings for 2022 can be seen here.

Congratulations to all competitors on a great year of showing; we cannot wait to celebrate with you in June at the ceremony for the buckle presentation!

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is excited to announce the invitation to members interested in becoming NRHA judges to join the Judges Applicant Seminar. This unique, once-a-year opportunity will take place March 15–16, 2023, at the NRHA office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

NRHA Judges serve an essential role in the reining industry by providing their time and expertise when judging NRHA events, which drives the future of how reining horses are trained and presented.

“Consistent and fair judging promotes a healthy association, and it’s exciting to have new talent coming into the reining industry,” noted Patti Carter, NRHA’s Sr. Director of Education and Officials.

Those seeking to be an NRHA judge will have the opportunity to receive proper guidance in this exclusive applicant seminar as the first step in becoming an NRHA Judge. Seminar attendees must pass testing requirements, and once accomplished, they will be eligible to attend an NRHA Judging School. At this event, they will complete testing and be able to apply for their official card.

Requirements include being at least 25 years of age and must have been an NRHA member in good standing for 24 months prior to the date of application.

Aspiring attendees must submit the mentioned application by December 31, 2022.

To check to see if you meet the applicant criteria and to apply, visit nrha.com/judges.

In early fall, the Stewards Committee of the National Reining Horse Association hosted the first two Online Steward Recertification programs. This change has meant that NRHA Stewards, who previously had to travel for recertification, can now conveniently do so online.

The idea to change the recertification process was initiated by the Stewards Committee Chair Ed “Hoot” Bricker.

“One of our main goals was to move some of our programs to an online format,” noted Patti Carter, NRHA Director of Education and Officials. “We are very proud of the online recertification program that was launched. As a team, we have effectively saved everyone time, money, and perhaps most importantly, everyone worldwide is receiving the same, updated information to service the NRHA membership and the entire reining industry.”

Carter gave special accolades to the three individuals who led the recertification course. “Ed (Hoot) Bricker, Van Luse, and Ann Salmon-Anderman did an outstanding job teaching the content while engaging the online participants,” she said. “Well done!”

NRHA Show Steward Walt Larson, who went through the program, agreed. “I thought it was excellent. It was a three-hour meeting, and the instructors really went through and highlighted things in the [rule] book that they’re looking for. I thought the time we spent in the meeting was very valuable. We were able to bounce ideas off each other and learn from everyone’s experiences,” he said.

Stewards who participated in the online recertification process were Ed Cridge, Alberto Ferara, Margaret Fuchs, Walter Larson, Marilyn Randall, Maura Moraglione, Mauro Fungo, Enrico Giaretta, Mark Guynn, Marlin Holroyd, Lyle Jackson, Careena Laney, Manuela Maiocchi, Shawn McClurg, Susan Moore, Christian Rammerstorfer, Christina Serra, Andrea Stillo, Alberto Villani, Larry Gleeson, Travis Chapman, Alessandro Fossa, Jamie Solberg, Eleonora Malerba, Giovanni Fano Pagani, Mauro Vittorelli, Sandy Jirkovsky, and Drake Johnson.

“I enjoyed the seminar and now have the tools to better perform in the field. The seminar was a truckload of information, guidance, and tools. I feel all of you have elevated the Stewards program to the next level of excellence,” noted NRHA Show Steward Larry Gleeson. “It certainly is my goal to meet these expectations as a representative of the Stewards program.”

Although recertification can be done online, anyone who is interested in becoming an NRHA Steward is still required to attend an in-person Steward Applicant school.

More information about the Stewards program can be found at NRHA.com/stewards or by contacting Carter at pcarter@nrha.com

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Board of Directors recently approved a 5-year plan with gradual service fee increases every other year as proposed by the Finance Committee. The first increase will begin in 2023, with the next changes coming in 2025 and 2027. This change presents an opportunity to save on memberships and services through December 31.

The updated fees policy can be found on the Fees & Services page at nrha.com. Many of the changes will be in the $5-$10 range. For example:

General / Non Pro 1-Yr. Membership $125 (from $115)

Professionals 1-Year Upgrade $55 (from $50)

Non Pro Declaration $45 (from $40)

Competition License (New or Transfer) $65 (from $60)

“Our industry is thriving, and we have a lot of momentum right now,” said NRHA President Rick Clark. “These increases that the finance committee recommended are necessary to help keep that momentum going, especially with all the exciting additions that we have coming next year. This plan is part of our five-year budget and is a solution so that our membership can have a gradual increase instead of a large increase at once, which we have seen in the past.”

NRHA is a multi-facet organization providing layers of services for members like the Green Reiner buckle awards program, Top Ten Year-End Awards, technology enhancements to better serve members, the North American and European Affiliate Championship programs, judges training and credentialing, etc. The demand for these programs continues even as talks of unfriendly market forces and the cost of doing business increase. NRHA leadership is committed to taking steps to ensure these operations are funded and mitigate inflation and recession.

“We are on target to keep our association financially responsible even with inflation and increased purses, and I commend the finance committee on creating a solution that is forward-thinking and provides security for NRHA.”

For NRHA, it has been several years since membership and licensing fees have increased, and in the past, fee increases have not kept pace with the cost of providing programs and services. The continued absence of fee increases will create a deficit in programs that could result in limiting or sun setting those programs. The leadership made many hard decisions to manage the Association’s finances throughout COVID and continues to look forward with financial guardianship of NRHA and its continued legacy. The planned every-other-year increases will be paired with targeted market investments, continued efforts to reduce expenses and drive efficiencies, as well as revenue enhancements to achieve NRHA’s goals and priorities. For an update on new, upcoming additions for 2023, such as increased 4-year-old stakes, an Affiliate Regional Championship Masters class, and a 2022 Buckle Ceremony, visit news.nrha.com.