Category Archives: Shows

The horse show action continued in the Adequan® Arena at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. There were 103 entries in the Novice Horse Non Pro classes, spread across three levels. In the end, Melissa Wigen, Veronica Williams, and Gavin Warren tied for the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 title, with Wigen taking sole possession of the top spot in Levels 2 and 3.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Co-Champion & Level 2 & 3 (1) Champion – Melissa Wigen & Starlight Escalade

Melissa Wigen battled through the hardship of losing her competition horse and finding another one to compete on and rise above at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. On Tuesday, June 21, Wigen won the co-championship of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 (1) and won the championship of Levels 2 and 3.

“It was really tough [when] I lost my last horse. [Starlight Escalade] has been really special to me and we’ve worked very hard. I feel like he’s a blessing to me. Win or lose, he is a gift from God,” Wigen said.

Despite Starlight Escalade’s (Starlights Wrangler x Escalanta Chic) initial fear of the Adequan® Arena, the pair came together to mark a 143.

“He was [initially] really scared of the arena and I flew my husband here to help me get through it. I was able to call on him in his circles, which I hadn’t been able to do this week because he’s been spooky. His stops were O.K. for us, and I’m not going to tell you it’s all horse,” Wigen said with some humor.

On Wigen’s list of people to thank were her husband, Travis Wigen, Yonathan Baruch and the barn community, plus her own family.

“It’s not easy to have kids at teenage age, try to [compete] and do well, and have a job,” Wigen said.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 (1) Co-Champion – Veronica Williams & Shiners Nu Chic

Veronica Williams got some redemption Tuesday, June 21, in the Adequan® Arena. After a disappointing Non Pro Derby run, Williams and Shiners Nu Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Shiners Lil Annie) tied for the win in the first slate of the Novice Horse Level 1.

“I just got her, and this is our first big outing together. I showed her in the Non Pro Derby and we had some bobbles, which was really disappointing. I decided I was going to come back over here and do this, and it worked out,” Williams said. “We’ve been getting to know each other, and getting in sync with each other.”

According to Williams, their 143 together was obtained with some motivated riding.

“I was mad, so I rode a little stronger. She’s a really lazy mare and can use a lot of leg,” Williams said.

She thanked her husband and his barn of clients for their continued support and cheers in the pen.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 (1) Co-Champion – Gavin Warren & Lil Ruf Maggie

Gavin Warren was among the three that tied for the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 (1) Championship, scoring a 143. He did so on Lil Ruf Maggie (Magnum Chic Dream x Lil Ruf Jessie), a mare he is newly acquainted with.

“This is my show with her – I just started with her. I showed her full sister last year so it’s fun to be able to keep riding the same bloodline and see what I can do with them,” Warren said. “Their minds are very, very similar, and they want to perform to the best of their ability and do their job.”

Warren’s Non Pro Derby run didn’t go to plan earlier in the week, so he entered the Novice Horse class to gain more show experience.

“I want to thank my dad and my trainer, Devin Warren, and my mom for taking care of things back home. Everyone in my barn [too], for their kind words and [tips],” Warren said.

Intermediate Open High Point Champion – Patrona Whiz & Arnaud Ferret

Seasoned showman Arnaud Ferret and Patrona Whiz earned the Intermediate Open High Point Championship Monday, June 20, in the Adequan® Arena.

With the two Intermediate Open runs, Patrona Whiz (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Smokin Jeanie Jag) added $1,100 to her lifetime earnings. The five-year-old mare is bred and owned by Diane Beckmann.

“She’s very nice, very talented, [but] she’s a little green in the show pen. We try to put her in there as much as we can and get her some show experience. Make sure she gets show broke,” Ferret said.

According to Ferret, Patrona Whiz’s strengths are her circles and stops.

“[Monday] She ran in pretty good… and then she circled really, really good. She had a bobble on the second lead change, but she was awesome the rest of the way,” Ferret said.

Next up for Patrona Whiz are more trips into the show pen with Ferret at the reins.

“We’re going to keep on going until she gets comfortable going in there. Trying to get her ready for the Derby next year,” Ferret said.

Limited Non Pro High Point – Kaylene Cunningham & KB Bucks N Guns

Kaylene Cunningham came to the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel with a goal – win the Limited Non Pro High Point Montana Silversmiths championship buckle.

She did just that on Monday, June 20, with eight-year-old KB Bucks N Guns (Gunner x Smart Whizzin Jenny), winning $180 across both days and adding to the gelding’s $4,500 in lifetime earnings.

“I’ve had him for almost a year. This is our seventh show and I think we just click,” Cunningham said. “The run was great. We were calm, he felt like he was there with me every step of the way. He didn’t do anything that I didn’t want him to do.”

KB Bucks N Guns may be a performer inside the pen, but he is a diverse eater in the barn. According to Cunningham, his favorite treat is ice cream and strangest nibble has been pizza.

“He likes to eat whenever I’m eating. So, if I’m having something he has to have it too, otherwise he throws a little bit of a temper tantrum,” Cunningham.

Next up for the pair is the American Paint Horse Association World Show.

“I want to thank my mom and my trainer Shane Brown,” Cunningham said.

The second day of the Open preliminaries of the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is in the books. With only one day and 91 runs left to determine the finalists, every competitor entering the arena is looking for a solid run.

All tried and some came close, but no one was able to unseat NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary from the top of the leaderboard with Americasnexttopgun, owned by Puno Performance Horses LLC. Deary and the stallion, by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz out of NRHA Futurity Champion Americasnextgunmodel, put together a 223.5-point run during the first section, and are all but guaranteed a spot in the Finals on Saturday, where the Level 4 Open Champion will win $75,000.

For the second year in a row, the Level 3 Open Champion will take home $35,000, the Level 2, $20,000, and the Level 1, $10,000.

The preliminary rounds are spread across three days and wrap up Wednesday afternoon. The current high scores across the divisions of the Open preliminaries are:

• Level 4 – Casey Deary & Americasnexttopgun (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel) – 223.5
• Level 3 – Fernando Salgado & Pale Dun Star (Pale Face Dunnit x Get Ya Some Stars) – 222.5
• Level 2 – Jared Leclair & Makendiamonds (Whiskey N Diamonds x Makeit In Tinseltown) – 221
• Level 1 – Melanie Patroll & Dirty Diamonds (Whizkey N Diamonds x Wimpys Cat Step) – 218

Running concurrently with the Open preliminaries are the $40,000-added Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes and the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Open Novice Horse Derby. Currently leading the Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes and the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby, which, along with the Prime Time, will be awarded following the third section of the preliminary round on Wednesday, are:

• Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes – Shawn Flarida & Alpha Jac Sparrow (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chexanicki) – 221.5
• Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Open Novice Horse Derby – Brandon Brant & Dainty Little Spook (Smart Spook x Dainty Little Step) – 220.5
• Open Prime Time – Duane Latimer & Hesa Rockin Whiz (Topsail Whiz x A Bueno Poco Dunit) – 222 (includes handicap)

The Open preliminaries run through Wednesday, June 22. The top 30 in the Open Levels 4-1 will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday. The draw for the finals will be decided during the Platinum Performance Open Draw Party on Friday at 10 a.m.

For complete results and other information, visit NRHADerby.com.

Jerseys Baby Driver, the flashy buckskin stallion with the monster stops, brought the roof down on the 2021 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. With his trainer, 2020 NRHA Professional of the Year Trevor Dare, “Hercules” spun, circled, and of course, slid his way to a score of 226.5, winning the Open Level 4 title and check for $75,000.

Since then the stallion, by Yellow Jersey out of Wind Her Up Chic, has added even more to his impressive resume – most recently the Level 4 title at the National Reining Breeders Classic.

While Dare and Hercules aren’t competing in this year’s Derby, the stallion is already on the grounds and will be making an appearance during the Hercules Reception on Thursday, June 23.

The Reception, which will be held in the Super Barn Warmup Arena, is slated to begin at 4 p.m. The stallion will be available to meet fans and even pose for pictures!

“We are excited that owner Janice Laney has chosen to bring her great stallion Hercules to the Derby for this reception. He is known for his great demeanor and love of kids, so this is a great opportunity for kids – both in reining and from the local area – to learn about horses and meet a great one,” noted NRHA Events Manager Cheryl Cody. “While this particular reception is geared towards the younger crowd, there will be plenty for adults to enjoy as well.”

The excitement that begins with the reception continues later in the night. The $20,000-added Invitational Freestyle Reining presented by the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, traditionally held during the NRHA Futurity, will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. The eight contestants have been working on their choreographed routines and will be ready to put on an entertaining show.

Prior to the start of the Freestyle, the Derby Level 4 Non Pro Finalists will be introduced in the Coliseum Arena.

To keep up with the latest news and updates from the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, visit NRHADerby.com, or follow NRHA on Facebook at Facebook.com/nrhareining

Another action-packed day of competition drew to a close at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby, where the Open Preliminaries kicked off and several ancillary champions were crowned in the Adequan® Arena.

As the Derby moves into its busiest week, the best is yet to come with Open Derby building momentum and more ancillary classes receiving their winners.

$2,000 Intermediate Open Champion – Heza Voodoo Doll & Richard Pokluda

Heza Voodoo Doll and Richard Pokluda swept the $2,000 Intermediate Open and $500 Limited Open Monday afternoon, June 20, in the Adequan® Arena. With a score of 140, Pokluda earned $1,027.

“My run went well. I just need to free him up running to his stops, but he ran in and stopped good, circled good, spun really well and [overall] it was a nice, solid run. All I could ask for,” Pokluda said.

The team has been together since January of this year and is getting more acquainted with each show.

“It’s my fourth or fifth time showing him,” Pokluda said. “He’s a nice horse, very good-minded, very talented, just young.”

The four-year-old gelding is sired by NRHA Two Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Doll Of The West. Owner Marci Michel bred and raised him.

“He’s very easy, very simple at home. He just hangs out in his stall and loves his turnout. His owner likes to feed him carrots,” Pokluda said. “He’ll start getting carrots from me [now].

$500 Limited Open Champion and High Point Champion – ARC Wimpysgottagun & Johnette Burman

The 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel is ARC Wimpysgottagun and Johnette Burman’s first show together, and the pair are already adding to the nine-year-old stallion’s record. With a score of 142, the pair won the $500 Limited Open Championship and secured the Montana Silversmith’s High Point buckle for the class.

“The first slate, I was a little conservative with him, because his owner was going to show him. [Now] that she was done showing him it was time to step on the gas and give him a little bit more,” Burman said.

ARC Wimpysgottagun (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic) was bred by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Arcese Quarter Horses and is owned by Janice Dickson.

“This is the first horse show I’ve shown him [at], and the second time I’ve shown him,” Burman said. “He was good for me, he’s really a nice horse and he’s lot of success through the years. “He’s a phenomenal stopper and he’s very capable of plussing every maneuver.”

Burman rides for Matt Mills and thanked Mills for helping her improve her showmanship. She also thanked owner Dickson for allowing her to show the horse.

$500 Rookie Professional High Point Champion – CBK A Nu Kinda Spark & Eric Grondin

Eric Grondin and CBK A Nu Kinda Spark (Jacs Electric Spark x HR Wright On Cash) clinched the Rookie Professional High Point Montana Silversmith’s buckle Monday afternoon, June 20, in the Adequan® Arena. The title represents consistency in the Canadian trainer’s showing – a skill he has been working hard to hone.

“I think I’m very lucky to have won the High Point,” Grondin said.

With a championship title in the class on June 18 and a reserve title in the second slate, Grondin earned a total of $449 for CBK A Nu Kinda Spark’s owner Patricia Ann Jackson.

“I think [his strengths] today were the lead change and his stops. He always stops,” Grondin said. “He’s not really complicated to warm him up before a class. I think I need to do the same thing every time I show him.”

$500 Rookie Professional Champion – Code Dun Snuck Out & Bobby Haneline

The Rookie Professional (2) championship went to Code Dun Snuck Out (Electric Code x Dun Sneaking Out) and Bobby Haneline, who earned $252 for the win.

“He’s one that I just started riding a month ago or so. He’s been in training with Jared Leclair, and I work for Jared. The owner was nice enough to let me start riding him,” Haneline said.

The four-year-old stallion was bred by Robbin Thayn and is owned by Nicole Callaway.

“The run was good – he wanted to be good for me. I could have run him a little harder but the owner is going to show him at the end of the week [in ancillary classes] so I figured we’d go a little softer and make sure he’s ready for her,” Haneline said.

According to Haneline, Code Dun Snuck Out is on the smaller side but doesn’t lack the strength it takes to make it through a reining pattern.

“I thank Jared Leclair,” Haneline said. “Jared and Karla have been really good to me.”

Limited Non Pro (1) Champion ­– Kylie Baker & Made For Tinseltown

Kylie Baker and Made For Tinseltown claimed the win of the Limited Non Pro (2) Monday evening, June 20, in the Adequan® Arena. Scoring a 143, Baker earned $345 for the win.

“This was the first time I showed him [at the Derby] so I just wanted a clean, easy run. He did really great, I was able to push him more than I thought I would be able to,” Baker said.

Made For Tinseltown, known as “Moose,” is sired by Gunners Tinseltown and out of Custom Made Dunit. The seven-year-old gelding was bred by McQuay Stables and is owned by Tara Davis.

“I’ve been riding him for a few months now. I started leasing him [recently],” Baker said. “He’s super pure in the show pen. He’s kind of older but hasn’t been shown too much so he’s just a blast to show. I love everything about him.”

According to Baker, Moose didn’t get off her leg like she wanted in the turnarounds but performed the rest of the pattern perfectly.

“I loped him off and he was great. He’s super square underneath me and around the ends, he’s super honest. You turn around the corner and he’s like, ‘I don’t really want to run, but O.K.’ He stopped great, better than he has in a while,” Barker said.

The team is showing later in the week in the ancillary Novice Horse Non Pro and Youth competitions.

“I thank my parents and Moose’s owner, Tara Davis. She’s the best for letting me show him. I also thank my trainer, Shane Kelley, and my whole barn family. There are too many to thank,” Baker said.

Jackpot Rookie Prime Time Champion– Amanda Johnson & Arise The Phoenix

Amanda Johnson and Arise The Phoenix may not have been together long, but are quickly figuring each other out. On Sunday, June 19, Johnson and the five-year-old mare marked a 141 in the Adequan® Arena for victory in the first slate of the Rookie Prime Time and also top The Run For A Million Rookie Qualifier.

“She’s really sweet and she’s a businesswoman. She wants to do her job and then be finished. The more yåçou let her do [the pattern] on her own the better she is,” Johnson said.

“Ari” is a flashy double-registered Pale Face Dunnit (an NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire) out of Talk About Janie. She was bred by Rachelle Valentine and is owned by Johnson.

Sunday was Johnson’s fourth ride on the mare, and she focused on navigating Ari through the pattern as smoothly as possible.

“Yesterday we didn’t know what we were going to have because we haven’t [practiced] with her enough,” Johnson said.

Coming from a diverse horse background including jumpers, cow horses and breed show horses, Johnson said she’s been riding reiners for about a year.

“I like the cow stuff but with a daughter in college it’s hard to keep everybody schooled up [on cows],” Johnson said. “So, we chose something that’s a little easier for us to do all the time.”

Johnson thanked the team at Billy Williams Performance Horses and Ruben Vandorp for connecting her with Ari.

For the first time at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, Rookie competitors’ entry and judges’ fees were generously covered by NRHA Global Event Sponsor Toyon Ranch.

“Thank you so much to Toyon Ranch, it’s a blessing to get a little bit of relief because we work so hard to be here. Thank you so much,” Johnson said.

During the first section of the Open preliminary round of the 2022 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel, 108 of the 290 total entries stopped, slid and circled for a chance to advance to the finals. The clean-slate Finals will be held Saturday, June 25, in the Jim Norick Arena of the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, and the Level 4 Open Champion will be presented a guaranteed first-place check of $75,000.

For the second year in a row, the Level 3 Open Champion will take home $35,000, the Level 2, $20,000, and the Level 1, $10,000.

The preliminary rounds are spread across three days and wrap up Wednesday afternoon. The current high scores across the divisions of the Open preliminaries are:

Level 4 – Casey Deary & Americasnexttopgun (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel) – 223.5

Level 3 & 2 – Jared Leclair & Makendiamonds (Whizken N Diamonds x Makeit In Tinseltown) – 221

Level 1 – Haley Franc & J Jameson (Star Spangled Whiz x Lime A Rita) – 217

Level 1 – Dalton Vicar & Alpha Black (Wimpy Chic x Chexanicki) – 217

Running concurrently with the Open preliminaries are the $40,000-added Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes and the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Open Novice Horse Derby. Currently leading the Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes and the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby, which, along with the Prime Time, will be awarded following the third section of the preliminary round on Wednesday, are:

Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes – Jason Vanlandingham & Excessive Rufness (Not Ruf At All x Smokin Lady Gunner)

Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Open Novice Horse Derby – Brandon Brant & Dainty Little Spook (Smart Spook x Dainty Little Step)

Open Prime Time – Duane Latimer & Hesa Rockin Whiz (Topsail Whiz x A Bueno Poco Dunit) – 222 (includes handicap) 

The Open preliminaries run through Wednesday, June 22. The top 30 in the Open Levels 4-1 will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday. The draw for the finals will be decided during the Platinum Performance Open Draw Party on Friday at 10 a.m.

For complete results and other information, visit NRHADerby.com.

Another action-packed day of competition drew to a close at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. Not only were the Finalists for the Non Pro Derby determined, the champions of the Story Books Stables Amateur, Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes, and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Non Pro Derby were crowned.

$20,000 Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes Champion & $10,000 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Derby Champion – Jack Medows with Tribbiani & Jewells

Jack Medows is on a roll at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. The Missouri resident earned two titles on two homebred horses – the $20,000 Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes Championship on Tribbiani and the 10,000 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Derby Championship on Jewells.

“They both showed great for me, I was really happy. They’ve both been really fun and easy to show,” Medows said.

Tribbiani (Gunnatrashys x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) scored a 220.5 in the Derby Non Pro Preliminaries, winning the Stakes and $7,037.

According to Medows, “Joey” has worked well all week at the Derby.

Jewells, a five-year-old mare by NRHA 13 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Surprizentheprincess earned $4,764 for the Novice Horse win with a score of 216.

“Jewells has really progressed. She’s a little [newer] to the show pen and Casey Deary is showing her in the Open [Derby] this week so he thought it would be a good idea to get another run under her belt before he showed her,” Medows said. “I really want to thank the sponsors for [making opportunities] for these young horses that are a little greener.”

Both Tribbiani and Jewells advanced to the clean-slate Finals on Friday.

Medows thanked his family, Casey Deary, and his girlfriend, Olivia, for their help and support throughout the week.

The Reserve Champion in the $20,000 Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro 4-Year-Old Stakes was Steven Borgia and HA Blondes Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Smart Blonde Chic), marking a 217.5 and earning $4,283.

There was a tie for the Reserve Championship in the $10,000 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Derby between Lane Colston and Mary Riley Cachat, who each marked a 215 to win $2,537.

Colston rode My Favorite Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Darlins Not Painted), while Cachat piloted Spooks Show Biz (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena).

$25,000 Story Book Stables Amateur Division Champion – Christine Trautman & Smart Whizard Spook

Sunday afternoon, June 19, was one of Christine Trautman’s dreams as she and gelding Smart Whizard Spook clinched the Story Book Stables Amateur Division Championship with a score of 217.5.

“It was the best run I’ve ever had – it’s the highest I’ve ever marked. He was fantastic, he was really locked in,” Trautman said.

The team earned $7,348 for the victory, bringing Smart Whizard Spook’s (Smart Spook x Miss Poco Whizard) lifetime earnings to $75,905.

“I come from Wisconsin. I don’t come from a horse background and have had to really work hard and grind at it year after year to get to this place. It’s a really big deal,” Trautman said. “I thank Dany, Fred and the Tremblay team. They’re exceptional and have made dreams come true that I never even imagined.”

Earlier this year, Trautman and 7-year-old Smart Whizard Spook earned Reserve Championships in the National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro Derby Level 1 & 2, as well.

“I can’t find the words to explain how special it is. This horse and this team have changed my life in a really big way,” Trautman said.

In its second year, the Story Book Stables Amateur features an incredible $25,000 in added money for amateur riders. According to Story Book Stable owner Fredrick Christen, the division is a way to contribute to the grassroots reining crowd.

“It’s our way of giving back to the industry that we get so much enjoyment out of,” Christen said.

Tying for the Reserve Championship in the $25,000 Story Book Stables Amateur was Maria Daniele-Krueger and Chandler Winard. Danieli-Krueger rode Fridee Spook (Smart Spook x Dun It Fri Dee Nite), while Winard was on Whoz Joe Daddy (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Sunshine Annie).

Find complete results at NRHADerby.com.

Although the weekend is drawing to a close, the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is just heating up. While the Non Pro preliminaries were being held in the Norick Coliseum, the Adequan® Arena played host to the Green and Rookie Reiners.

Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 2 Champion & Highpoint – Teresa Roller & Surprized

Teresa Roller managed to pull off both the Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 2 (2) Championship and Level 2 High Point Sunday, June 19, in the Adequan® Arena.

The Corinth, Texas resident has been riding reining horses for five years and gradually increasing her skills.

“I enjoy the process to get there. It isn’t just the win. It’s taken me a little while to get here and I’ve learned so much,” Roller said.

She’s been learning with 8-year-old gelding Surprized (Hang Ten Surprize x Snow White Dun It), known as “Cheeseburger.”

“He’s super cute, he’s a gentleman. He is the best little horse and I couldn’t be happier with him. He tries for me and I think you can ask for more from a horse,” Roller said. “He likes to eat a lot, he can’t miss dinner-bucket time.”

Roller trains with Luke Gagnon and credited Gagnon with her success.

Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 1 Champion – Morgan Hobson & Trendsettter

From the last draw, Morgan Hobson and Trendsettter (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Timed To Shine) grabbed the Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 1 (2) Championship with a score of 140.5.

“It felt pretty good. This is my second time ever showing him so I’m really proud of him. He was a good boy,” Hobson said.

The 2017 gelding is slated to show in the Open Derby with Josh Tishman later in the week.

“I wanted to have a clean run. I wasn’t even going in to win, I just wanted to have a clean run because he is showing in the Level 4 Open. I was going to go in and school him, and have a run. I was very happy with the circles, and he gets a little tense in the rundowns, but he waited on me today,” Hobson said.

Trendsettter has lifetime earnings of more than $70,000, including the 2021 Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes Championship with Kole Price.

“He’s kind of weird. He loves attention and he’s always fun to ride. He’s a pleasure to have,” Hobson said. “When he stands in the cross ties, he will lick you and bite the crossties until he gets your attention.”

Next year, Hobson hopes to compete in the Non Pro with Trendsettter and qualify for The Run For A Million.

“I want to thank Josh Tishman, Casey and Nicole Deary, and especially my mom and dad,” Hobson said.

Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 1 Highpoint – Sidney Karr & Gunmetal Whiz Girl

Sidney Karr and Gunmetal Whiz Girl earned the Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 1 High Point Montana Silversmith’s buckle Sunday, June 19, in the Adequan® Arena.

“We’ve only been together for just shy of two months. I picked her up right before the NRBC. This is our third show together and she’s just a unicorn, she takes really good care of me,” Karr said.

The high point award was a bit of redemption for Karr, since she and Gunmetal Whiz Girl’s (Spooks Gotta Gun x Koolwhix N Wranglers) run in the Non Pro Derby preliminaries didn’t go to plan.

“I think it was my jitters. Hopefully next year we can be pretty competitive in the level 1 [derbies],” Karr said.

Coming from an all-around show background, Karr said she loves the reining for the environment, people and challenge. She trains with Jonathan Gauthier and thanked the entire Gauthier team for their help.

“They’re amazing, the entire crew. Johnathan, Janina, I couldn’t ask for a better crew. My mom, my dad, just everyone that gets me here and gets me into the show pen,” Karr said.

Jackpot Rookie Level 1 & $200 Rookie Level 2 Champion – Raegan Shepherd & Shining Spook Dancer

NRHyA member Raegan Shepherd and Shining Spook Dancer swept the Rookie Level 1 and Rookie Level 2 Sunday afternoon, June 19, in the Adequan® Arena. Thanks to NRHA Global Event Sponsor Toyon Ranch, all Rookie entry and judges fees for both slates of classes are paid at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

The resident of North Carolina marked a 141.5 to secure the title on the nine-year-old gelding called “Sunny.”

“I was really happy with my run. The plan was to just go out there and show my strengths and get through the parts where I didn’t have him as prepared as I wanted to,” Shepherd said. “He was there with me every part of the way.”

According to Shepherd, Sunny (Smart Spook x Shining Dancer) keeps people guessing at home with his mischievous behavior.

“He’s kind of a goofball and we never know how he’s going to be. Some days he’s great and some days he’s wild. He keeps us guessing, which is good,” she said.

With the $272 payday, Sunny’s lifetime earnings pushed to more than $15,000.

“I want to thank my friends and family, my trainer and everyone who got me to this point today,” Shepherd said.

TRFAM Rookie Qualifiers

Five riders advanced from the first slate of Rookie The Run For A Million Qualifier Sunday afternoon in the Adequan Arena at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Long rosettes in hand, the riders joined the ranks of rookies vying for the TRFAM Rookie Championship, which will be held in August at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Amanda Johnson

Whitesboro, Texas – Arise The Pheonix (Pale Face Dunnit x Talk About Janie)

Pip Brown

Anna, Texas – Roosters Myra (SR Roosters Kid x Miss Magnum Chic)

Harper Lawson

Lincoln, Nebraska – Spooksgottachicolena (Spooks Gotta Gun x Braz Us)

Staci Ann Lawson

Lincoln, Nebraska – Stary Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Dunna Quintana)

Charlotte Trojanovich

Calahan, Colorado – Custom Cocktail (Wimpyneedsacocktail x Custom Topgun)

Qualification for TRFAM is based on rider, not horse. Riders do not have to compete on the horse they qualified on but are required to lease or own their TRFAM the horse based on NRHA rules.

A record-breaking 305 entries competed in this year’s Non Pro preliminary round at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, which began Friday, June 17, at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

As the weekend waned, the competitors were whittled down to the top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4-1; top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and Youth Non Pro; and top 15 in the Masters Non Pro. Those riders will advance into the clean-slate finals, to be held Friday. For the second year in a row, the Champion of the Non Pro Level 4 will win $30,000, while Level 3 wins $20,000, Level 2 earns $15,000, and Level 1 will pocket $5,000.

It doesn’t end there! The Non Pro Prime Time Champion is guaranteed $5,000, while both the Masters and Youth winners will take home $2,000 each.

Unofficially the bubble for advancing to the finals are:

Level 4 – 215
Level 3 – 214
Level 2 – 213
Level 1 – 211
Prime Time – 213.5*
Masters – 211*
Youth – 210.5

*Includes handicap.

Winning each division of the Non Pro preliminaries were:

Level 4 – Jack Medows & Tribbiani (Gunnatrashya x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) – 220.5

Level 4 – Gina-Maria Schumacher & Gunnastepya (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step) – 220.5

Level 3, Level 2, and Prime Time – Rodion Cantacuzene, Jr. & Pale Dun Star (Pale Face Dunnit x Get Ya Some Stars) – 218.5

Level 1 – Christine Trautman & Smart Whizard Spook (Smart Spook x Miss Poco Whizard) – 217.5

Masters – David J Silva, Sr. & Good Time To Trashya (Gunnatrashya x Good Time Gota Shine) – 217

Masters – Lance Griffin & Spooks Gotta Tinsel (Spooks Gotta Gun x Tinsel Tiara) – 217

The draw for the Non Pro finals will be held during the Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw and Welcome Party Wednesday evening, June 22, which will also feature Reiners Rope, a fundraiser to benefit the Reining Horse Foundation Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund.

Three championships were decided during the Non Pro preliminaries and awarded immediately after. Christine Trautman and Smart Whizard Spook (Smart Spook x Miss Poco Whizard) won the Story Book Stables Amateur division, while Jack Medows double-dipped, winning the Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes on Tribbiani (Gunnatrashya x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) and the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Non Pro Novice Horse Derby on Jewells (Gunner x Surprizentheprincess).

The preliminary round of the Open Derby kicks off on Monday, June 20. This round, which continues through Wednesday, will determine the winners of the $15,000-Added Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby and the $40,000-added Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes, along with the finalists of the Open Derby. The Finals, slated for Saturday, June 25, also feature guaranteed payouts to each Open Level winner, including $75,000 to the Level 4 Champion.

Complete results, draws, news, and more can be found at NRHADerby.com.

The second day of the preliminaries of the Non Pro at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is in the books. The round began with a record-breaking 305 entries, and the field is being whittled down to the crème de la crème that will compete Friday in the clean-slate Finals.

The championships of the Story Book Stables Amateur, the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Derby, and the Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes will also be awarded following the last section of the Non Pro preliminaries.

The current high scores across the many divisions of the Non Pro preliminaries are:

• Level 4 – Jack Medows & Tribbiani (Gunnatrashya x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) – 220.5
• L3, L2, & PT – Rodion Cantacuzene & Pale Dun Star (Pale Face Dunnit x Get Ya Some Stars) – 218.5
• L1 – Kelsey Flessner & Chics Guna Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Gun Whiz It) – 215.5
• Masters – David Silva & Good Time To Trashya (Gunnatrashya x Good Time To Shine) – 217
• Youth – Samuel Flarida & Hollywooddirtysecret (Hollywoodstinseltown x Maximum RPM) – 220

Currently leading the Story Book Stables Amateur, the Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes, and the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Non Pro Derby are:

• Story Book Stables Amateur – Maria Danieli-Krueger & Fridee Spook (Smart Spook x Dun It Fri Dee Nite) – 217
• Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes – Jack Medows & Tribbiani (Gunnatrashya x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) – 220.5
• Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Derby – Mandy McCutcheon & Johnny Loves June (Gunnatrashya x Good Time Gota Shine)

The Non Pro preliminaries wrap up Sunday night. The top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4-1, the top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and Youth Non Pro, as well as the top 15 in the Masters Non Pro, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Friday, June 24. The draw for the finals will be decided during the Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw and Welcome Party on Wednesday evening, June 22. This welcome party also features Reiners Rope, a fundraiser that benefits the Reining Horse Foundation Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund.

For complete results and other information, visit NRHADerby.com.

Another exciting day of competition drew to a close in the Adequan® Arena Saturday evening, June 18, with three open champions crowned.

The taste of Open reining competition was an exciting reminder of what’s to come as the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel inches closer to the Open Derby preliminaries next week.

$6,000 Open & $1,000 Intermediate Open Champion – Lil Dreamin Magnum & Jeremy Gates

With a score of 148, Lil Dreamin Magnum and Jeremy Gates brought home the win of the first slate of the ancillary $6,000 Open and $1,000 Intermediate Open for owner Kathy Biesecker, pocketing $2,795.

“He’s 11 and overcame a lot of things to be here today,” Gates said. “He’s had two colic surgeries, the first one was exploratory and the second one was a bypass.”

Lil Dreamin Magnum (Magnum Chic Dream x Myo Starlight) was bred by Spence Bell of Maysville, Oklahoma, and was purchased out of the NRHA Markel Futurity Marketplace Sale as a yearling by current owner Biesecker.

“He’s a huge turner and a big stopper,” Gates said. “I’d like to take him to Vegas and qualify for The Run For A Million.”

Gates works for Tom McCutcheon in Aubrey, Texas, and said his list of people to thank is long.

“We could be here for a while,” Gates said good-humoredly.

$500 Limited Open Champion – Light Me Up Joe & Nick Valentine

For Nick Valentine, the Ancillary $500 Limited Open class Saturday, June 18, in the Adequan® Arena was an opportunity to prepare Light Me Up Joe for the Open Derby Preliminaries taking place next week.

“I go on the last day [of the prelims] so I just wanted to make sure he connected all the dots and relaxed in there,” Valentine said.

The trip got a little sweeter with a score of 142.5, a championship title, and a payday of $286.

“He’s really good-minded—he’s physically talented, too, but he’s good-minded. He’s a little green and he’s getting show broke now,” Valentine said.

Light Me Up Joe (Lil Joe Cash x Light Attack) was bred by Devin Warren and is owned by Valentine. The team has been working together since late last year and is set to show in section three of the Open Derby on Wednesday, June 22.

“He’s a big stopper, pretty mover,” Valentine said of the gelding. “He minds the heat a little bit so I just try to work him early and put him by the portacool.”

$500 Rookie Professional Champion – CBK A Nu Kinda Spark & Eric Grondin

Canadian Eric Grondin is getting a feel for the show pen aboard CBK A Nu Kinda Spark (Jacs Electric Spark x HR Wright On Cash). On Saturday, June 18, the pair nabbed the win of the ancillary $500 Rookie Professional with a score of 141, winning $275.

“I’ve showed him four times. He’s a good horse—he’s not very complicated. I think he has lots of experience, lots more than me,” Grondin said.

With more than 10 years of riding reining horses, Grondin is no stranger to the industry but has mostly worked behind the scenes.

“I need practice in the show pen. I’ve trained horses for many years but have not had lots of opportunities to go show. My friend Luke Gagnon, I work [for] him, and he’s shown me lots of things,” Grondin said.

Luckily CBK A Nu Kinda Spark is willing to show Grondin the ropes. The 11-year-old gelding was bred by William & Corliss Kellogg and is owned by Patricia Ann Jackson.

“I think his best maneuver is the stop. In the run down he waits [the whole time] and focuses on you. When you say whoa, he stops,” Grondin said.

Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 1 Champion – Joetta Bell & Silver Gunn

Joetta Bell and Silver Gunn navigated their way to a score of 141 in the Adequan® Arena Friday, June 17, in the Classic Equine Green Reiner Level 1, earning the championship by half a point.

The Millsap, Texas, resident got into reining this year and competes with daughter Trinity under the guidance of Casey Deary and Josh Tishman.

“It’s my first Derby to show,” Bell said. “My biggest goal is to just stay on pattern, be clean and be safe. [Friday] was really just practice for me for the Derby.”

Bell and the 2017 gelding are slated to compete in Section three of the Non Pro at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel on Sunday, June 19.

“I didn’t run him as hard as I will in the Derby for the circles,” Bell said. “I wanted him to be confident and work on where I needed to be in the arena, which is always something Casey and Josh teach. I want to get past those markers.”

According to Bell, Silver Gunn (Gunnatrashya x Silvernbluestarbuck) got plenty of rest in preparation for the show.

“He’s not one that requires a lot of training. He’s really my kid’s horse, and I just wanted him to rest his legs and body before all of this heat and concrete,” Bell said.

Find the latest news, draws, results, and more at NRHADerby.com.