At the most recent NRHA Board of Directors meeting, February 9, in Oklahoma City, Okla., the NRHA Hall of Fame Committee recommended nominees for induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame. The Board approved to honor NRHA past President Rick Weaver and NRHA Senior Director of Publications Carol Trimmer as the Hall of Fame’s newest inductees.

Rick Weaver began earning money in NRHA competition in 1977 in Waverly, W.Va.  Rick’s list of accomplishments include: 1982 Open Futurity Champion on Misty May Morning; 1982 Open Derby Reserve Champion on Sanditch; 1982 Limited Open Top Ten; 1984, 1990 1992, 1993 Novice Horse Open Top Ten; 1989 Open World Champion on Gunners Rambo; 1989 Open Superstakes Reserve Champion on Fairhill Enterprise; 1989, 1990 Open Top Ten; and 1991 Open World Champion riding Electric Coffee; 1991 Novice Horse Open World Champion riding Berrys Lark; 1991 Open Saddle Series winner; and 1992 Open Top Ten. Weaver served on the NRHA Board of Directors for many years as 1st and 2nd vice president, as president elect, as chair of the NRHA Judges Committee, as NRHA President in 2009/2010 and has been instrumental in maintaining the Judges Program and in development of the NRHA Animal Welfare & Medications Policy.  He is an NRHA Judge and life member. Weaver’s NRHA Lifetime Earnings are $471,667.

Carol Trimmer has been a member of the horse industry her whole life.  A native Ohioan, Carol was introduced to the performance horse industry by her husband, Paul, whom she credits with getting her involved in Reining. Beginning her career at NRHA when the office was still located in Ohio, Carol originally worked as a filer, folder, and collator for the office. In 1998, Carol moved with the NRHA to the international headquarters in Oklahoma City, Okla. From there, she has worn just about every hat within the organization from running the NRHA Sire & Dam Program to working in Association Services. Carol found her niche within the organization working as production coordinator for the NRHA Reiner – a role which led to her becoming the Senior Director of Publications. For over 17 years, Carol Trimmer has worked for the NRHA and her dedication to the association embodies a Hall of Fame member.

By Christina Brezack – German seven-time Formula One™ racing World Champion Michael Schumacher will make an appearance in Oklahoma City, Okla. for the Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF)’s 4R Performance Horses Hometown Heroes Slide & Freestyle Reining during the 2012 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show on Friday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.

Hometown heroes from local police and fire stations will embark in quite the experience aboard some of NRHA’s fast-spinning and smooth–sliding reining horses – all to benefit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Spectators will be encouraged to cheer on their favorite team in a friendly “firefighters vs. police officers” competition! Freestyle Reining, a crowd favorite where riders are free to express their “style” by performing their own reining pattern to music while both horse and rider are dressed to play the part, also will be part of the competition. At the end of the event, the team with the most points will win the competition and take home bragging rights.

During this year’s Speed Edition, Michael Schumacher will climb in behind the steering wheel of an agile reining horse to take it for a spin as the Master of Ceremonies welcoming Team Fire and Team Police to the competition arena. Schumacher currently drives for the Mercedes team and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time.  He tops many of Formula One’s driver records: most championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, points scored, most races won in a single season, earliest world champion, podium places and leading laps. According to the official Formula One™ website he is “Statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.” Intuitive ability to adapt instantly to changing conditions and keen perception on the track will help this gifted athlete to master a reining horse in the arena.

Off the track, Schumacher is involved with several charities especially those for underprivileged children. He and his wife along with their two children live in Switzerland.

DETAILS
Mark your calendars for Nov. 30 and make sure to be in your seat by 6 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Fair Park to cheer for your hometown heroes. General admission is $11 and box seats are $21 – all to benefit the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation. Members of the military receive buy one, get one free admission with valid Military ID, and children age 10 and under get in free.

Plan on attending the Chili Cook-Off at 4 p.m. as firemen and police officers battle it out to see who has the most scrumptious dish and you get to be the judge. The winner will be announced during the performance.

REINING HORSE SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Reining Horse Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and enhancing the sport of Reining worldwide. The RHSF accomplishes this through their five core programs: NRHA Hall of Fame, Crisis Fund, Research, Development & Education, Youth Programs and International Development. For further information about the Foundation, contact rhsf@nrha.com or 405-946-7400, ext. 122, or visit the RHSF website at rhsf.com.

OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is a state-of-the-art interactive learning museum that tells the story of those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. By the use of more than a dozen computers and two hours of video, and more than 300 artifacts the Memorial Museum tells the story of one of the largest terrorist attack on American soil. Since opening, the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial has hosted more than 4.4 million visitors and the Memorial Museum has had more than 1.6 million visitors.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum does not receive annual operating funds from the federal, state or local government. Museum admissions, store sales, the OKC Memorial Marathon, earnings from an endowment and private fundraising allow the Memorial and Museum to be self-sustaining.

The Memorial staff is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., housed in offices in the Memorial Museum Building, a restored historic building on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, which is adjacent to the Alfred P. Murrah site, also received severe bomb damage on April 19, 1995. Visit the museum online at oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

4R PERFORMANCE HORSES
The RHSF is grateful to event sponsor 4R Performance Horses and the many volunteers who’ve given their time and resources so generously to make this fund-raiser come true. 4R Performance Horses is owned and operated by Dwaine and Judith Rivers, together with their two daughters. They are located just minutes north of San Antonio in Boerne, Texas and specialize in raising, showing and selling reining horses. They have paid special attention to selecting top-quality broodmares with NRHA show records and earnings and stallions that are proven performers with some of the best bloodlines the industry has to offer. 4R Performance Horses can be found on the web at 4rperformancehorses.com.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard-setting body for the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs and family of corporate partners, visit nrha.com.
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Photo from http://www.michael-schumacher.de

Oklahoma City, Okla.  – July 13, 2012 – Members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) are the future of the reining industry, and the Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) is committed to providing leadership and scholarship opportunities to youth members. The RHSF is proud to announce the recipients of more than $10,000 in academic and need-based scholarships for seven youth members: Christine Gordon, Helen Lauth, Justine Peters, Holy Lauth, Samantha Belcher, Alexis Daggit and Haiden De Jane. The scholarships these youth members received are a very important sector of the more than $40,000 that RHSF awards annually.

Twenty youth members from the United States and Canada submitted applications for the RHSF Scholarships. Recipients, chosen by a committee, were based on academic achievement, involvement in NRHyA and NRHA, future goals and financial need.

“The increase in scholarship applicants over last year is encouraging because it shows our members are becoming more involved in NRHA and in their community,” said Manager of the RHSF and NRHA Youth Programs Shianne Megel. “It’s an honor to recognize the hard work of these outstanding members.”

Christine Gordon from Colorado, Helen Lauth from Minnesota, and Justine Peters from Nebraska were each awarded $2,000 in RHSF scholarship monies. Gordon currently attends Colorado Christian University majoring in Business Administration. Lauth is a student at South Dakota State University where she majors in Park & Recreation Management and competes on the equestrian team. Peters is planning to attend the Oklahoma State University where she will be a member of the equestrian team and study Health Sciences.

Christine Gordon                    Helen Lauth                  Justine Peters

Holly Lauth and Samantha Belcher will each receive $1,500 in scholarship awards from the RHSF. Lauth is currently attending Rochester Community and Technical College majoring in Radiology. Belcher is a Pre-Veterinary student at the University of Georgia and a member of the Lady Bulldog Equestrian Team.

Holly Lauth                     Samantha Belcher

Alexis Daggett and Haiden De Jane will be awarded $750 in scholarships from the RHSF. Daggett will be majoring in Biology or Chemistry at Trinity University. De Jane plans to attend Front Range Community College and Colorado University, Denver majoring in International Business.

Alexis Daggett                Haiden De Jane

“The NRHyA is a great organization because of the outstanding individuals involved. The youth program plays a huge part in our sport. I hope the scholarship program will continue to help recognize our youth members for all of their hard work and dedication,” said Mike Hancock, President of the Reining Horse Sports Foundation.

For more information about the RHSF Scholarship program, go to rhsf.com or nrhya.com.  You may also contact the RHSF & NRHA Youth Programs at (405) 946-7400.

Members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) are valued assets to the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and to the future of the horse industry. The Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) is committed to providing leadership and scholarship opportunities for these valued youth members. Each year, the RHSF awards more than $44,000 in scholarships to NRHyA members.  At this time, the RHSF is excited to offer $10,500 in academic and need-based scholarships for seven youth members.

“The RHSF is proud to award these scholarships to such outstanding individuals. NRHA’s youth program has made a huge leap forward to promote the sport to young competitors throughout the world. We hope the scholarship program will help recognize our youth members and increase awareness all the youth programs NRHA as to offer,” said Mike Hancock, President of the RHSF.

Scholarship recipients will be determined based on academic achievement, future goals, involvement in the NRHyA and NRHA, as well as financial need.  Applicants must be a senior in high school planning to pursue an undergraduate degree from a two or four year institution or a trade and technical school and current NRHA member for at least two years.

Applications are now being accepted for the RHSF scholarships. All applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2012. Previous recipients of the RHSF scholarships are eligible to reapply for scholarships until they are 25 years old. The scholarship application may be downloaded at nrhya.com.

For more information about RHSF scholarships, go to rhsf.com or nrhya.com. You may also contact the Manager of RHSF & Youth Programs, Shianne Megel at smegel@nrha.com or at (405) 946-7400, ext. 122.