Nomination Program brings nearly $375,000 more to the Derby!

The NRHA Board of Directors recently discussed major changes to the 2012 NRHA Derby (June 25-30 in Oklahoma City, Okla.). These changes and enhancements for 2012 include massive increases in added money due to the nomination program, an increase in the number of Level 4 and Level 3 Non Pro finalists and granting five- and six-year-olds the ability to compete for Nomination Program added money (excluding Nominator Incentives). Find more details on these and other items below.

March 1 Entry Deadline Approaching

The entry deadline for the NRHA Derby is March 1. Conditions and entry forms can be found at nrhaderby.com.

Added Money More than Doubles Thanks to Nomination Program

*Note – All added monies (except Prime Time) are estimated and are subject to change due to the Nomination Program. Nomination Program money allocations were predetermined by the program’s conditions.

Open Derby Total – $435,000 Est. Added (Increase of $280,000)

• Level 4 Open – $215,000 (Increase of $135,000)
• Level 3 Open – $135,000 (Increase of $85,000)
• Level 2 Open – $55,000 (Increase of $40,000)
• Level 1 Open – $25,000 (Increase of $20,000)
• Prime Time Open – $5,000 (No change)

Non Pro Derby Total – $180,000 Est. Added (Increase of $92,500)

• Level 4 Non Pro – $75,000 (Increase of $35,000)
• Level 3 Non Pro – $55,000 (Increase of $32,500)
• Level 2 Non Pro – $30,000 (Increase of $17,500)
• Level 1 Non Pro – $15,000 (Increase of $7,500)
• Prime Time Non Pro – $5,000 (No change)
• Youth Non Pro – Jackpot (No change)

Other Changes and Enhancements

• Increase in the number of finalists in the Level 4 and Level 3 Non Pro.
  • Level 4 Non Pro finalists increased from 25 to 30 horses. Level 3 Non Pro finalists increased from 20 to 25 horses.

• Five- and six-year-olds do not need to be nominated to the NRHA Nomination Program – but they will run at all of the added money (excluding Nominator Incentives).
  • Four-year-olds must be nominated to the program to enter.

• 2012 brings the first phase of the NRHA Animal Welfare and Medications rule (see item 20 in the NRHA Derby conditions and page 48 of the NRHA Handbook).
  • The first phase includes an anonymous research project with no penalties imposed.
  • There will be a testing fee of $10 due with the May 1^st payment.
  • All aged event entries (ancillary entries not included) are subject to examination/medications testing for research purposes.

• Increase in Non Pro entry fee from $770 to $900 (this includes all fees except stall fees).
  • This change is due to the increase in added money available in 2012.
  • The 2011 entry fee was only 0.4% of the added money. In 2012, the entry fee is still a small percentage (only 0.5% of the added money).

• Increase in Judges fee by $10 to subsidize the cost of the Show Stewards Program at the event.

• Starting in 2012, NRHA Sire & Dam entries no longer need to enter each division. They can make one payment and are automatically entered into all eligible divisions.

Upcoming NRHA Derby Deadlines

• March 1 - First payment due (Postmarks are accepted)
• May 1 – Second payment due (Postmarks NOT accepted)
• May 1 – NRHA Sire & Dam payment due (Postmarks NOT accepted)
• June 15 – Rider designations due (Postmarks NOT accepted)

More about the NRHA Derby

With $615,000 in estimated added money, the NRHA Derby runs for one week each summer in Oklahoma City and showcases the world’s best four-, five- and six-year-old reining horses. Thousands of spectators, exhibitors and horses attend the event each year. The Derby is one of two major events presented by NRHA each year in Oklahoma City and includes two full slates of ancillary reining classes in addition to the aged-event action. NRHA will host the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Western National Championships for the first time at this year’s NRHA Derby. For more information on the NRHA Derby, visit nrhaderby.com.

Thanks to NRHA Corporate Partners

The NRHA would like to thank the following Corporate Partners for their support of the NRHA Derby: Adequan, Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center, Classic Equine, Darling 888 Ranch, Horse&Rider, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialists, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Purina Mills, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company, Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl, Silver Spurs Equine, SmartPak and Twister Trailer. NRHA also appreciates the contributions of Event Sponsors Scott Cleaners and Shorty’s Caboy Hattery.

For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.

European Restricted Eligibility Update

In 2011, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Affiliate Council recommended eligibility policy changes to the NRHA Board of Directors. The Board approved changes to the policy to go into effect in 2012. This new European Restricted Eligibility pertains to all NRHA-approved European events offering Category 2 and 6 classes.

The policy is available in the Members Only section of nrha.com.

Additionally, the ineligibility lists are posted on the website.

Please note that this is a list of riders who are NOT eligible to compete in the respective classes.

Rider eligibility for the 2012 NRHA European Futurity will be determined using this list.

To NRHA members and reining supporters:

Below you will find a link to download a letter from Beth Himes and Dan Wall concerning the recent NRHA Board of Directors meeting and the action taken there.

Letter to the Membership – 1/23/12

Related communications:

Complaint Update from Board of Directors – 1/21/12

Complaint Update from Board of Directors – 12/29/11

February 1 is the Entry Deadline for All Classes!

From Ramona Billing – The 2012 NRHA European Futurity & NRHA Show is scheduled for March 18-24 at the beautiful facility in Kreuth, Germany. The entry deadline for the European Futurity and ancillary classes is right around the corner on February 1st, 2012. Horses can be entered after February 1st with the applicable late fee. The Futurity is open to four-year-old reining horses and offers four levels both in the Open Futurity and the Roleski Non Pro Futurity. The event will be judged by Alessandro Meconi, Brad Kelsall, Ralf Hesselschwerdt, Mark Turner, Ronnie Wayne and equipment judge Ricky Bordignon.

In addition to the Futurity classes, there once more will be a full slate of NRHA classes offering a variety of opportunities including a EUR 10,000 added NRHA Lawson Trophy Open and a EUR 5,000 added Non Pro class. The ancillary deadline also is February 1st, 2012. The entry form as well as all other details can be found upon the event website -  www.nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com.

The NRHA European Futurity begins on March 18th with the first section of the Open Futurity go-round. The Open go-round, second section and the Non Pro go-round follow on March 19th. The Open and Non Pro Consolation rounds, as well as the NRHA Open class are scheduled for March 21st. The show concludes with two big nights of finals – the Roleski NRHA European Non Pro Futurity finals on Friday, March 23rd and the NRHA European Open Futurity finals on Saturday, March 24th.

Information and Entries:

Cristina Serra,

Phone: +39-0521-819151

Fax: +39- 0521-812423

Email: showoffice@euroreiningleague.com

Address: Via Repubblica 6, Gainago Di Torrile, Parma, 43056 ITA

Vendors and sponsors:

Ute Wilhelm

Phone: +49-176-6320-9678

Email: NrhaEuFuturity@aol.com

The first day of the NRHA Board of Directors January 2012 meeting was held on January 21st in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Board discussed the pending investigation. To see the findings of the investigation, please click on the links below to download the related document.

Allen Mitchels – Amended

Dale Lopp

Dan Wall

Kit Cosper

Rick Ramsey

Click here to read a Letter to the Membership from January 23, 2012.

The NRHA Board of Directors will be holding their first meeting of 2012 in Oklahoma City on January 21^st and 22^nd in Oklahoma City, Okla. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn located on Meridian Avenue. Members are welcome to attend and are encouraged to review the agenda prior to making travel arrangements.

Due to the confidential manner of various agenda items, please note items listed as “Executive Session.” The Board often designates items as “Executive Session” if they contain information that is proprietary, concerns contract negotiations, relates to discipline, etc. Executive Session items are for NRHA Board discussion and comment only. If a member wishes to submit comments to the Board on any Executive Session agenda items, please send them in writing via email, fax or regular mail (to be received no later than January 20th at 5 p.m.).

Send comments by 5 p.m. on January 20th to:

Jessica Johnson

jjohnson@nrha.com

(405) 946-8420

3000 N.W. 10^th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73107

To download a current listing of the NRHA Board of Directors, click here.

The National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) is starting off the new year with a new group of dedicated youth officers.  These five devoted and hard-working young women were elected by their peers to lead NRHyA in 2012. They have high goals and are ready to get started.

OFFICERS ELECTED AT EVENTFUL NRHA FUTURITY
At the 2011 NRHA Futurity & Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championship Show, the NRHyA was busy throughout the show. Members hosted their annual Silent Auction, NRHyA Carnival, a Christmas Angel Tree to benefit the Salvation Army, a trip to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and held their annual Youth Meeting. During the meeting, they said farewell and thank you to the retiring officers and elected their new slate of officers. The candidates worked hard campaigning and sharing their goals for the NRHyA. The goals of the new team are to foster existing youth programs and develop new leadership activities to be implemented in their local affiliates.

INTRODUCTION TO 2012 OFFICER TEAM
The NRHyA is very excited to present the 2012 NRHyA Officer Team. Leading them is NRHyA President, Blair Willette of Arizona. Emma Holbrook from Oklahoma was appointed to the position of NRHyA Vice-President. Jaclynn Brooks of Utah was elected NRHyA Secretary. Holly Lauth of Minnesota is the new Treasurer for the association. The 2012 NRHyA Historian is Amasa Smith of Virginia.

Blair Willette is 16-years-old and a junior at Tri-City College Prep High School. In 2011, Willette served as NRHyA Treasurer and is using her experience and leadership skills to plan out this year. She has been competing in Reining for five years and won the 2011 NRHA Adequan North American Affiliate Championship youth 14-18, unrestricted youth and NRHA youth 14-18 classes, all while completing her officer duties. Horses have always been important to Willette and have taught her many life lessons.

Emma Holbrook attends Perry High School as a freshman where she is involved with Student Council, Science Club, Business Professionals of America and the Perry Maroons Special Olympics Team. She has been riding and showing reining horses her entire life. Emma and her new horse Hotrod are Reserve Palomino World Champions, and they are also United States Equestrian Federation competitors.

Jaclynn Brooks is a 15-year-old sophomore at Syracuse High School. She has served for the last two years as a Mountain U.S. Region Delegate; she loved working with the Make-A-Wish^© Foundation children and the NRHyA youth managers and leaders. She has been around horses her whole life, but started showing reining horses in the youth 10 & under short stirrup class when she was nine. She also loves to ride Posse and English, being a Rodeo Queen and 4-H.  In her free time, you will find her texting her friends or riding her horses. 

Holly Lauth brings leadership skills, a mature attitude, sense of responsibility and officer experience to the NRHyA from her years in FFA, 4-H and serving as a Class Officer. She is a freshman at Rochester Community and Technical College and will be transferring to a four-year university to finish out her degree in radiology. Lauth has been riding horses her entire life and started showing at the age of four in jumping and Reining. In her spare time, you will find her either reading a good book or working as a bridal consultant at a wedding gown shop in St. Charles, Minn.

Amasa Smith is a junior in high school. While being home-schooled, she also takes classes at a local college. She participates in many extracurricular activities and holds several leadership positions at the Renaissance School of the Arts. She has been a competitive reiner for the past five years and is a talented pianist, dancer and photographer. A natural leader, Smith brings experience, creativity and enthusiasm to the position of Historian.

For more information on the National Reining Horse Youth Association, find NRHyA online at facebook.com/nrhya or nrhya.com.

The National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) offers members an online program that rewards youth for leadership and community service activities outside of the show arena. The Varsity Reining Club (VRC) provides scholarships totaling $5,000, to be awarded to the most active participants in two age groups. In its sixth year, VRC will provide 13 youth scholarship monies, with the top-placing individual in each age group receiving special recognition as “Youths of the Year.”

Youth members are awarded points by doing any combination of projects listed at vrc.nrhya.com. Participants can submit activity reports in four subject areas: philanthropy, creativity, publicity and academics. Members aged 14 years and older are placed in the varsity category and members 13 years and under are classified as junior varsity.

The top eight individuals in the varsity level earned $3,500 in scholarships collectively. The title of Varsity Youth of the Year was earned by Amy Stoney who earned 4,244 points by submitting more than 150 activities mainly in her favored area of photography. Stoney also logged participation in youth meetings, creative artwork and recorded her tales of reining horses in the creative writing category. Stoney, 15, is from McClave, Colo. and was named Junior Varsity Youth of the Year in 2010.

Second place went to Alexis Daggett who submitted more than 100 activities and earned 3,470 points for her work in philanthropy which included helping at horse shows in the North Central region and volunteering for community service with her FFA chapter.

Christi Gordon earned third place by accumulating 3,215 points for hours spent volunteering in her community and with the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Youth Association.

Fourth place went to Morgan Burns who earned 2,341 points by volunteering time at her local library as well as community service activities with the Auburn University Varsity Equestrian Team.

Reilly Quist earned fifth place and 1,670 points by tutoring local students at school and creating enhanced photos in the creative artwork category.

Sixth place was Mary Nuernberger with 1,110 points in submissions including good grades, community service, photography, fundraising and creative artwork.

Blair Willette earned seventh place with 1,075 points for her submissions in community service, photography, fundraising, pitching in, spreading the word and photography.

Rounding out the varsity scholarship earners was Tara Power in eighth place with 1,015 points for her more than 10 community service submissions which included volunteering with the children’s ministry at her church.

In the junior varsity level the top five individuals earned a total of $1,500 in scholarships. Jordan Scott earned the title ofJunior Varsity Youth of the Year, earning 1,000 points. She logged hundreds of hours of community service with various organizations, including a specialty drill team that presents the United States flag at functions in her area, as well as submissions in three of the four activity areas. Scott, 13, achieved her goal of earning a stall at the 2011 NRHA Futurity and Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championships through the VRC prize program and earned Youth of the Year in her first year of participation in the VRC program.

Rylee Justus earned second place with 775 points for her photography and involvement in her affiliate as an officer at meetings and helping out at horse shows.

Kaitlyn Boykinplaced third with 545 points for her submissions that included tutoring peers at school.

Fourth place was Samantha Fritz with 490 points for philanthropy submissions and good grades.

The fifth-place scholarship earner for the Junior Varsity level was Katie Firmin with 305 points for her work in her community, good grades, and photography submissions such as her award-winning submission of her horse Copper.

For more information on the National Reining Horse Youth Association’s Varsity Reining Club, please visit vrc.nrhya.com, find NRHyA at facebook.com/nrhya or contact 405-946-7400 and youth@nrha.com.

High Class Sport and a European Shopping Showcase

From Ramona Billing – Germany’s beautiful Kreuth horse show facility will once again be home to the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity Show starting March 18th and ending March 24th. The show is the largest NRHA-approved show in history, in terms of entries, to be held outside of the U.S. It offers more than 200,000 EUR in added money attracting more than 300 horses and 200 riders each year. The world’s best reiners are making plans to attend with the Futurity entry deadline coming up in just a few weeks. In addition, vendors from all over European are packing up their goods to display and sell in the show’s western gift market.

FUTURITY ENTRIES DUE FEBRUARY 1ST
The NRHA European Futurity begins on March 18th with the first section of the Open Futurity go-round. The second open section and the Non Pro go-round will follow on March 19th. The Open and Non Pro Consolation rounds, as well as the NRHA Open class are scheduled for March 21st. The show concludes with two big nights of finals – the Roleski NRHA European Non Pro Futurity finals on Friday, March 23rd and the NRHA European Open Futurity finals on Saturday, March 24th.

The deadline for entries in the Futurity is February 1st, 2012.

EUROPEAN SHOPPING SHOWCASE
The event also will showcase renowned western gift market for vendors from all over Europe. Those interested in booth space are encouraged to contact Ute Wilhelm of La Mesa Ranch as soon as possible as premier exhibition spaces are limited. Please send any requests to NrhaEuFuturity@aol.com.

Western Gift Market Vendors include (as of Jan. 4, 2012):

• CALIFORNIA RANCH(AUT) – Saddles and Tack
• CAPRICE (GER) – Show Chaps
• GOMEIER’S WORLD OF SADDLES (GER) – Saddles and Tack
• HACKL SHOW TACK (GER) – Show Tack and Boots
• KEBO (NED) – Show Tack
• LOPE IN (GER) – Boots and Clothes
• NICE HORSE TEC (GER) - Apparel for Western Riding and Leisure
• OSWA (GER) – Apparel for Western Riding and Leisure
• PAVO (NED) – High Quality Horse Feed
• PLUSONE SHOW APPAREL (ITA) – Show Apparel and Jewelry
• STEGMANN SADDLERY (GER)- Saddles and Tack
• TOM WINTER SADDLERY (GER) – Saddles and Tack
• WESTERNWELT.COM (GER) – Boots

For additional information or to enter, contact:

Cristina Serra

Phone: +39-0521-819151

Fax : +39- 0521-812423

Email: showoffice@euroreiningleague.com

Address: Via Repubblica 6, Gainago Di Torrile, Parma, 43056 ITA