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.”

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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!

Read the rest of this entry »

NRHA asks that you continue to keep Dale Wilkinson in your thoughts and prayers.  He is recovering from recent hip surgery and is on dialysis. The 84-year-old from Waynesboro, Georgia is known by many as the “Father of Modern-Day Reining.�  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 is 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.

Words of encouragement and concern can be sent to Dale at 1072 Porter Carswell Rd, Waynesboro, GA 30830.

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:

Read the rest of this entry »

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.)

Read the rest of this entry »

By Alden Corrigan for RBB, Inc

Three of the NRHA’s Million Dollar Riders competed in Saturday’s open Derby, which was broadcast live online by http://equestrianlife.com. Two of those riders, Andrea Fappani and Randy Paul, will also go on to compete for the highly-contested slots on Team USA’s Reining Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in order to compete in Kentucky in September.  The odds-makers feel that the American reiners have a real shot at WEG Gold, and the ticket sales for the Reining events are next to impossible to get.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Alden Corrigan for RBB, Inc

Frederick Christen of Whitehouse, Ohio, rode Skeets Little Annie to victory in the non pro levels 4, 3, and the Prime Time non pro divisions at the Cactus Reining Classic March 3-7, at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona.  This horse and rider combination who accomplished the same feat at the 2009 NRHA Derby, bested a field of 40 competitors posting a score of 221.5 to garner the win on Friday, March 5. 

Read the rest of this entry »

He did it again: Three-time NRHA Open World Champion and three-time FEI World Reining Masters Champion Rudi Kronsteiner (Austria) won the Mohr Life Resort Bronze Trophy Open again – this time with two horses each scoring a 148.5: Chic N Roost (owned by Priscilla Jacquard, France) and MRH Chisum (owned by Andrea Castrucci, Italy). NRHA Professional Kronsteiner won the Lawson Bronze trophy last year with Chic N Roost (NRHA World Champion Open 2007 and Reserve Open World Champion 2009). Torsten Gärtner astride OT Taris Dun It placed third with a 145.

The Zugspitz Arena NRHA Lawson Bronze Trophy Non Pro award went to 2009 Non Pro World Champion Andrea Castrucci from Italy and MRH Chisum scoring a 145. Cira Baeck (Belgium) and her Gumpy Grumpy BB placed second scoring a 143, and Tammy Greaves from Great Britain and The Magic of Whiz earned third place (141.5).

Read the rest of this entry »

The 23^rd Euroclassics Pferdesport Festival 2010 (International Western Horse Show) in Bremen, Germany, included the first CRI** in Germany this year – the first important step towards the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. The winner was Sylvia Rzepka (Germany) who showed Doctor Zip Nic scoring a 147.5. It was the first international start of this stallion for Germany since the 2008 FEI World Reining Masters. That year, Sylvia Rzepka and the bay stallion owned by Zip Nic Partners, Austria, started a great show season winning the CRI in Bremen as well. “I’m so proud of him,� Sylvia says.  “He is there when I really need him.�

Read the rest of this entry »