| 1966 | Formation of the National Reining Horse Association |
| 1966 | National Reining Horse Association incorporated November 30 |
| 1966 | First NRHA Futurity held in Columbus, Ohio |
| 1972 | NRHA Futurity held in Sedalia, Missouri |
| 1966 | NRHA initiated the Sire & Dam Program |
| 1980 | First REINER magazine published |
| 1980 | First NRHA Maturity (Derby) held in Raleigh, NC |
| 1983 | First NRHA Superstakes in Northbrook, IL |
| 1983 | First $100,000 NRHA Futurity winner – Craig Johnson on Lucky Bay Glo |
| 1985 | NRHA Derby moved to St. Paul, MN |
| 1985 | Initiated the new Judging System, which began the scoring of maneuvers rather than the assessment of the overall run |
| 1986 | Futurity moved from Columbus, OH to Oklahoma City, OK |
| 1986 | Arbuckle Trophy first awarded |
| 1986 | NRHA establishes Hall of Fame |
| 1986 | Added Youth classes to NRHA competition |
| 1986 | First Freestyle Reining held at NRHA Derby in St. Paul, MN |
| 1987 | The International German Championship was the first Event in Europe to be NRHA Approved. |
| 1988 | The first Americana Event was NRHA Approved. |
| 1989 | NRHA holds the first Intercollegiate Judging Contest |
| 1989 | First Competition License Issued |
| 1991 | Instituted Affiliate Championship competition |
| 1993 | NRHA initiates Rookie of the Year Award to honor Rookie Reining competitors |
| 1994 | Hollywood Jac 86 named as NRHA’s first Million Dollar Sire |
| 1994 | Derby moved to Oklahoma City, OK |
| 1994 | Initiated the first Youth Team Tournament at the Derby in Oklahoma City |
| 1995 | Bill Horn was named as the first Million Dollar Rider at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK |
| 1998 | Reining accepted as first western discipline of the United States Equestrian Team |
| 1998 | NRHA Office relocates to Oklahoma City |
| 2000 | Reining accepted by Federation Equestre International (FEI) for International Competition |
| 2000 | First NRHA Futurity $150,000 winner – Todd Sommers on Von Reminic |
| 2000 | First Derby Spotlight Sale |
| 2000 | Membership topped 10,000 |
| 2000 | First Pfizer/NRHA Gelding Incentive (Open and Non Pro) |
| 2000 | First NRHA approved Prime Time classes at Futurity |
| 2001 | National Reining Horse Youth Association formed |
| 2001 | Reining Horse Sports Foundation was approved as a charitable organization |
| 2001 | First runoff in NRHA Open Futurity Finals; RR Star became the first APHA horse to win the NRHA Open Futurity; Andrea
Fappani became first International rider to win the NRHA Open Futurity |
| 2002 | Reining approved for the World Equestrian Games, Jerez, Spain |
| 2002 | NRHA Intercollegiate Reining Championship debuted at NRHA Derby |
| 2002 | First Rookie Day to benefit the RHSF Crisis Fund – Ardmore, OK |
| 2002 | First European Affiliate Championship held in Balzano, Italy, Team winner-Italy |
| 2002 | Hollywood Dun It becomes first Three Million Dollar Sire |
| 2002 | First-ever Reining Team medalists at World Equestrian Games – US – Gold, Canada – Silver, Italy – Bronze |
| 2002 | First-ever Reining Individual medalists at WEG – Shawn Flarida US – Gold, Tom McCutcheon US – Silver, Shawna Sapergia
Canada – Bronze |
| 2003 | RR Star becomes first horse to win the NRHA Futurity and the NRHA Derby |
| 2003 | RR Star and Custom Pistol become the first horses to earn over $200,000 |
| 2003 | Topsail Whiz becomes Two Million Dollar Sire |
| 2003 | NRHA Futurity Open Champion guaranteed $175,000 |
| 2003 | Duane Latimer rides The Great Whiz to first-ever $175,000 Open Futurity pay check |
| 2004 | Prime Time Rookie debuts |
| 2004 | Prime Time Open Division debuts |
| 2004 | Rookie Youth class debuts |
| 2004 | Gelding Incentive classes debut |
| 2004 | Cowboy Central Saddle Series debuts |
| 2004 | North American Affiliate Championships debut |
| 2004 | North American Freestyle Championships debut |
| 2004 | Eleuterio Arcese becomes first European member inducted into Hall of Fame |
| 2005 | Electronic Reiner debuts to members and non members |
| 2005 | NRHA Futurity marks 40th Anniversary |
| 2005 | Tim McQuay becomes the first Two Million Dollar Rider at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK |
| 2005 | Rookie Professional class debuts |
| 2005 | Apprentice Program initiated |
| 2006 | Kelly Zweifel, Italy, riding Master Snapper owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi, Italy, becomes the first woman to win
one of NRHA’s major events – the NRHA Derby |
| 2006 | Kelly Zweifel, riding Master Snapper owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi, becomes the first entry to win the NRHA Derby
Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions at one Derby |
| 2006 | Impresa Agricola Cuoghi’s Master Snapper, ridden by Kelly Zweifel, becomes the first European (Italy) bred, born, raised
and trained horse to win the NRHA Derby |
| 2006 | Italian Reining Horse Association Derby NRHA approved for the first time |
| 2006 | ANCR Brazil holds first NRHA-approved show in Brazil |
| 2006 | South African Reining Horse Association holds first NRHA approved show |
| 2006 | Team Medalists at 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen, Germany – Gold – US, Silver – Canada, Bronze – Italy |
| 2006 | Individual Medalists at 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen, Germany, (following a runoff for the Gold) – Gold
– Duane Latimer (Canada), Silver – Tim McQuay (USA), Bronze – Aaron Ralston (USA) |
| 2006 | First National Associate Affiliates are Reining Canada, Austrian RHA, Dutch RHA, NRHA Belgium, Italian RHA, NRHA of
Israel, NRHA of Switzerland, Swedish RHA, UK Reining, ANCR Brazil, NRHA of Australia |
| 2006 | First Affiliates to Join the International Affiliate Program are ANCR Brazil, Austrian Reining Horse Association, Dutch
Reining Horse Association, Italian Reining Horse Association, NRHA Belgium, NRHA of Israel, NRHA of Switzerland and
Reining Canada |
| 2006 | Non Pro Futurity First Time Trainer Award Instituted |
| 2006 | NRHA Futurity Youth Division Debuts |
| 2007 | Prime Time Non Pro Division Becomes Eligible for NRHA Top Ten/World Championships |
| 2007 | Youth (10 & Under Short Stirrup) class debuts |
| 2007 | Unrestricted Youth class debuts |
| 2007 | First NRHA-approved event in South Dakota. (Hosted by the Cowboy States Reining Horse Association) |
| 2007 | Hollywood Dun It becomes first NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire |
| 2007 | First NRHA approved show in Poland |
| 2007 | Mandy McCutcheon becomes first non pro and first woman to achieve Million Dollar Rider status, becoming NRHA’s tenth
Million Dollar Rider. |
| 2007 | First Australian Affiliate Championship held in Gatton, Queensland, Australia |
| 2007 | Online Show Approvals posted on website |
| 2007 | First NRHA Australian Affiliate Championship held in Gatton, Queensland, Australia |
| 2007 | First Board of Directors meeting webcast |
| 2007 | Inaugural NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Sally Brown |
| 2007 | First Mexico Affiliate Championship held in Monterrey, Mexico |
| 2007 | Lance Griffin becomes first Million Dollar Owner |
| 2008 | Wimpys Little Chic & Shawn Flarida become the 1st horse/rider combination to win the NRHA Open Futurity, NRBC Open,
and NRHA Open Derby consecutively. |
| 2008 | North American Junior Young Rider Championship includes Reining for the first time. |
| 2008 | Inaugural FEI Reining World Championship held in Manerbio, Italy |
| 2008 | Youth Non Pro Division added to the NRHA Derby |
| 2008 | NRHA Futurity entries reached an all-time high with 945 |
| 2008 | NRHA Derby hosts the first USEF National Youth Reining Championship and U.S. NAYRC Selection Trial |
| 2008 | The NRHA Reiner wins awards in five categories at the American Horse Publications Awards Banquet |
| 2008 | 50,000 NRHA Competition license issued |
| 2008 | NRHA Derby breaks the $600,000 purse mark |
| 2008 | Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s #1 Leading Sire |
| 2008 | Shawn Flarida is the first Three Million Dollar Rider |
| 2008 | Peppys Superboom purchased for $240,000 to be the highest selling horse in NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale history |
| 2008 | Father/Daughter Tim McQuay and Mandy McCutcheon won the Open and Non Pro Divisions of the NRHA Futurity |
| 2008 | Nearly 3,000 foals are nominated to the inaugural year of the NRHA Futurity / Derby Nomination Program |
| 2009 | NRHA holds the first NRHA European Futurity & Show in Kreuth, Germany |
| 2009 | Topsail Whiz’s accomplishment as the first horse to achieve 6 Million Dollar Sire |
| 2009 | Wimpys Little Chic becomes first horse to break the $400,000 mark in NRHA Lifetime Earnings. |
| 2009 | First NRHA Derby Youth Non Pro division initiated |
| 2009 | Colleena Chic Olena is noted as NRHA’s Leading Dam with $546,185 in offspring earnings |
| 2009 | NRHA welcomes its 60,000th member |
| 2009 | NRHA begins using a numbered level system for non pro and open divisions at Category 2 and 6 events (i.e. level 1,
level 2, level 3 and level 4). |
| 2009 | Show Stewards Program approved (August) |
| 2010 | First European Programs Advisor position instituted |
| 2010 | Wimpys Little Chic becomes the first horse to exceed $500,000 in NRHA earnings ridden by Shawn Flarida and owned by
Arcese Quarter Horses USA. |
| 2010 | Entry Level Programs (Category 10) made its debut. |
| 2010 | First-ever Green Reiner 1 Buckle winner announced – Steve Tyner |
| 2010 | Wimpys Little Step becomes youngest Two Million Dollar Sire to date |
| 2010 | Shawn Flarida becomes first NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider |
| 2010 | Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s first Seven Million Dollar Sire |
| 2010 | Team Medalists at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky: Gold – USA, Silver – Belgium, Bronze – Italy |
| 2010 | Individual Medalists at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky: Gold – Tom McCucheon & Gunners Special
Nite (USA), Silver – Craig Schmersal & Mister Montana Nic (USA), Bronze – Duane Latimer & Dun Playin Tag (Canada) |
| 2010 | NRHA hosts first “Ride a Reiner” at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky |
| 2010 | First NRHA $100,000-added World Championship Open Shootout held at NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate
Championship Show |
| 2011 | Conquistador Whiz becomes NRHA’s 20th Million Dollar Sire and the first third generation Million Dollar Sire (both
his sire Topsail Whiz and grandsire Topsail Cody also earned Million Dollar status) |
| 2011 | First NRHA Cowtown Classic, including NRHA’s first Novice Horse Derby, Pre Futurity, and Non Pro Shootout held in Fort
Worth, Texas. |
| 2011 | NRHA holds the first NRHA European Derby & Pre Futurity in Manerbio, Italy |
| 2011 | NRHA completes the Association’s 70,000th membership. |
| 2011 | Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s first Eight Million Dollar Sire |
| 2011 | Rudi Kronsteiner becomes the first European-based NRHA Million Dollar Rider |
| 2011 | Animal Welfare & Medications Policy approved (July) |
| 2012 | Beth Himes serves as NRHA’s first woman President |
| 2012 | NRHA is the first association to win the American Horse Publications Equine-Related Website category |
| 2012 | The NRHA Derby surpasses all previous marks and has the largest purse in its history ($889,000 for the Derby and $994,000
for the entire show) |
| 2012 | Spooks Gotta Whiz wins the Level 4 Open division at the National Reining Breeders Classic and NRHA Derby consecutively
with Shawn Flarida. In 2010, he won the NRHA Futurity Open Championship with Jordan Larson. Spooks Gotta Whiz is
the first stallion to win all three of NRHA’s major North American events.
|
| 2012 |
Andrea Fappani becomes NRHA’s second Three Million Dollar Rider at the NRHA Derby
|
| 2012 |
Wimpys Little Step – Youngest Four Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2012 |
Topsail Whiz becomes first Nine Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2012 |
Ann Fonck, a Belgian rider based in Italy, riding Spook A Little owned by Rosanne Sternberg, becomes the first woman
to win the NRHA European Derby Open.
|
| 2013 | NRHA begins offering Masters Non Pro for riders 60 or older (Category 5) |
| 2013 |
Wimpys Little Step Becomes NRHA’s Newest Five Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2013 |
Taris Little Vintage is NRHA’s All-Time Leading Dam
|
| 2013 |
Shawn Flarida becomes NRHA’s first Five Million Dollar Rider
|
| 2013 |
Arcese Quarter Horses USA becomes the first Two Million Dollar Owner
|
| 2013 |
Mr Magnum Dun It purchased for $300,000 to be the highest selling horse in NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale history
|
| 2013 |
NRHA Reiner magazine wins American Horse Publications General Excellence Association Publication award.
|
| 2014 |
Adaptive Reining class debuts (Now called Para-Reining)
|
| 2014 |
Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s first Ten Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2014 |
Miss Tinseltown is NRHA’s All-Time Leading Dam
|
| 2015 | NRHA, RHF, and the NRHA Hall of Fame move into new Oklahoma City headquarters at 3021 West Reno |
| 2015 | NRHA received the Hometown Heroes Award from the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| 2015 | Cade McCutcheon (15) is the youngest NRHA Derby Level 4 Non Pro Champion on Champion on Custom Made Gun owned by McQuay Stables Inc.
|
| 2016 | NRHA celebrates 50th anniversary |
| 2016 | NRHA’s charitable arm, the Reining Horse Sports Foundation, celebrates 15 years and becomes the Reining Horse Foundation |
| 2016 |
Topsail Whiz Becomes NRHA’s First 11 Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2016 |
Not Ruf At All and Jason Vanlandingham win the NRBC Level 4 Open Championship with a score of 231–one of the highest scores in NRBC history. This win completed a trifecta of major event L4 Open wins for Not Ruf At All (the 2013 NRHA Futurity, 2014 NRHA Derby and the NRBC).
|
| 2017 |
Shawn Flarida Becomes NRHA’s First Six Million Dollar Rider
|
| 2018 |
Ebony Shines named as NRHA’s first Million Dollar Dam
|
| 2018 | Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s first 12 Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2019 | Spat Olena Is First European NRHA Million Dollar Sire
|
| 2020 | The NRHA Derby presented by Markel hits record numbers for entries, stall reservations, and purse pay out in event history. Three NRHA Million Dollar milestones were crossed during this event.
|
| 2020 | 2020 At the NRHA Derby, Jason Vanlandingham crosses the NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider milestone while riding A Vintage Smoke which helped push A Sparkling Vintage, the sire of A Vintage Smoke, over the NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire mark. With this win, A Vintage Smoke and Vanlandingham were crowned the champion of all three major NRHA events in North America: NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and the NRBC. Also at this event, Rancho Oso Rio, LLC became an NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner.
|
| 2020 | Thanks to Futurity Challenge Donors, the NRHA Futurity MS Diamonds Open Level 4 Champion wins $250,000, and the CINCH Non Pro Level 4 Champion wins $60,000. The open champion is All Bettss Are Off ridden by Andrea Fappani and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The Non Pro champion is Mandy McCutcheon riding Shining at Nite.
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| 2021 | Emanuel Gebert (8) is the youngest NRHA European Derby finalist qualifying in the the Level 1 and 2 Non Pro on Gunnalittlestep.
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| 2021 | Andrea Fappani is first NRHA member to surpass $7 million in lifetime earnings, and becomes NRHA’s newest All Time Leading Rider.
|
| 2021 | 2021 First time the NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open championship to pay $350,000: Won by Ten Thirty and Casey L. Deary for Rancho El Fortin
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| 2023 | NRHA introduces new Lawson trophy created by artist Mehl Lawson
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| 2023 | Andrea Fappani becomes the first NRHA $8 Million Rider
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| 2023 | Wimpys Little Chic becomes the first NRHA $2 Million Dam
|
| 2024 | Arcese Quarter Horses USA becomes the first NRHA $3 Million Owner
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| 2024 | 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel breaks payout record with $1.6 million
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| 2024 | Down Right Amazing becomes the highest-earning horse in NRHA history
|