The 2010 Wimpys Little Step Derby, Cromed Out Mercedes Maturity and Gordyville Breeder’s Cup were held March 11-14^th at the Crossroads Arena in Cloverdale, Indiana. NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida and up-and-coming trainer Brandon Brant won big in the open divisions while NRHyA member Emily Winegar dominated the non pro divisions.

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Dale Wilkinson, whose name is synonymous with the sport of Reining and known to many as the “Father of Modern Day Reining,� passed away March 12th in Georgia. He passed while recovering from recent hip surgery in Augusta. He had been battling declining health the last few years. He was 84.

Wilkinson was honored in 1986 as the first inductee to the NRHA Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments such as the winner of the first NRHA Futurity in 1966 aboard Pocorochie Bo. He was also an AQHA and NCHA Hall of Fame inductee and the only rider to win both the NRHA Futurity and NCHA Futurity. With all his accomplishments, he is probably best known as a mentor to many of today’s top trainers. He took the education of horsemen and women to a new level when he became the founder and developer of the University of Findlay’s horse program. In 2005, the University recognized Wilkinson by naming an indoor arena in his honor. The arena was one of the original buildings Dale built when he started working with the University in 1976.

“It is truly a sad day for the horse industry and the entire NRHA family. Dale was a true horseman and star in his own time, both in and out of the show arena. He was a real visionary for the future of Reining, and I know he was proud of how far the sport had come in his lifetime. His influence is demonstrated today through those horsemen and horsewomen he touched in his career. While we are truly saddened and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, we know that Dale’s memory will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all reiners�  said Dan Wall, NRHA Executive Director.

Wilkinson leaves behind his wife Lucy, daughters April (Rick) Weaver and Mavis (Nick) Garber, son Garry (Mary) Wilkinson and grandchildren Meaghan, Nathan, Sara, and Dakota.

Visitation is scheduled for March 16th from 5-7pm  with the main service starting at 7pm with Joiner, Anderson Saxon Funeral Home in Waynesboro, Georgia. A memorial will also be held Saturday, April 17th at the Dale E Wilkinson Arena in Findlay, Ohio.

Waynesboro Georgia Service
March 16, 5-7pm.
Main service 7:00pm
Joiner, Anderson, Saxon Funeral Home.
220 E 6th St
Waynesboro, Ga 30830

Findlay, Ohio Service
Dale E Wilkinson Arena
Saturday April 17
Time to be determined

Cards can be sent to:
Lucy Wilkinson
1072 Porter Carswell Rd
Waynesboro, GA 30830

With a love story five years in the making, Ben Baldus of Electra, Texas and Cameron Gniffke of Weatherford, Texas happily announce their engagement. Ben is an assistant trainer at Waggoner Ranch where he works for NRHA Hall of Famer Doug Milholland training futurity and derby horses, as well as ranch/versatility horses. Cameron is employed by Deary Performance Horses and is studying equine production and management at Weatherford College.

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The Cowboy Capital Reining CRI1* and 2* held March 3-7 in Stephenville, Texas  played host to two qualifying competitions for this July’s USEF Selection Trial for the Adequan® US Reining Team which will compete at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Brian Bell and Ruffle Me Up (owned by Greg Hill) took top honors in the CRI2*. Tom McCutcheon aboard Chexy Dun It (owned by Turnabout Farm) was a close second.

In the CRI1* competition, international riders Marco Ricotta of Italy and I Spin For Chics (owned by McQuay Stables) and Brad Giesbrecht of Canada riding Pop Top Whiz (owned by Rosanne Sternberg) bested the competition with a tie score of 220. 

For more information visit http://www.lonestararena.com/storm.cfm?funnelaction=1184.

Johannes Orgeldinger of Grosswallstadt, Germany, was elected president of the American Quarter Horse Association on March 8, 2010.  Orgeldinger is a long-time member of the NRHA, as well. Orgeldinger, a 25-year breeder of American Quarter Horses, is the first person from outside the United States to serve as AQHA’s president.  Orgeldinger and his wife, Astrid, own and operate a gravel and stone company and JOMM Ranches in Grosswallstadt as well as Main River Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas.

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As I go through checking horse’s breeding, earnings, previous owners and all sorts of other randomness to write news releases, I find little, well (pause), random tid bits of info. They may not be big enough for me to write an entire news release about, but they are still interesting…..Maybe something below will make you go, “Hmmmmm.”

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By Alden Corrigan for RBB, Inc.

Mike Berg and Outta Dough (Gallo Del Cielo x Dough Olena), owned by Dorothy Queen of Whitesboro, Texas, slid into first place to win the 2010 Cactus Reining Classic $30,000-added open derby, held March 3-7, at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona. The run also earned the duo the $10,000-added level 3 intermediate open derby title as well, resulting in $15,669 in combined prize money for their picture-perfect performance.

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Howdy folks! It’s Spin here… Lucky for me my brother Slider was busy at home making his TV debut on NRHA’s Inside Reining show in Florida so I got to hitch a ride over the ocean with three of my favorite NRHA buddies, Melanie, Jessica and Christa. And boy oh boy, was that plane ride a long one. It’s my first time out of the states so I was a little scared, but no worries any more. The familiar smell of horses and some familiar faces from the Reining family makes me feel like I’m right at home.

Our day started before the crack of dawn this morning (at 6am here) so that we could make sure to arrive at the show on time. Christa has been busy writing press releases and keeping up with the scores. Jessica has been swamped with onsite member services and Melanie has been answering questions in the show office. Thank goodness I’m just here for fun. He he!  However, I’m glad Melanie got a little bit of a break and took me out and about.  We started by watching some fun Non Pro runs and then we hit the streets. I made sure that Melanie kept a little picture diary of my day so far so that I could share… hope you enjoy!

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It’s almost 11:30 on Montag (Monday) in Kreuth. The weather is warming up to a balmy -9 C. Yes. That IS COLD, but it is warm enough for one of the passenger doors on our rental car to free up.. and to keep us from looking like a clown car with everyone crawling in and out of the front seat   So, following that random note… here’s some random notes looking back on AND looking forward to the competition in Kreuth:

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The first leg of the NRHA Amazing/Really Awesome Race is underway! The team of Melanie Rinehart (NRHA Manager of Events) and Christa Morris (NRHA Manager of Marketing & Communications) started in Oklahoma City with the goal of reaching the NRHA European Futurity and NRHA Show. Their ‘race’ will end when they arrive in Kreuth, Germany at Ostbayernhalle. (Be sure to stay posted after the race for updates throughout the show from Christa.)

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