Behind the Slide – Brandon Brant
December 2024
Rising From the Ashes One day short of six months ago, National Reining Horse
Rising From the Ashes One day short of six months ago, National Reining Horse
Retired Special Forces Weapon Sergeant Ryan Cowley became involved with horses about four years
Austrian native Dr. Daniela Ratschew came to the 2024 NRHA Futurity to compete for
Dana Clark brought a very special entry for her first-ever NRHA Futurity. Riding her
Kevin Ball recently relocated to Colorado to work at Chevron Corporation. Being involved with
Last July 16-year-old Zuri Bennett experienced a setback that would keep many out of
The rodeo world has long been home to daring athletes who thrive on adrenaline,
Israeli rider Yali Avraham rode her mare Infernos Mistress (Inferno Sixty Six x A
While a successful competitor in the Appaloosa world and a reining fan for a
Lena Mass moved to the U.S. just one year ago, and this year, she
Alberto Alegría of the Dominican Republic first came to the U.S. 10 years ago
NRHA Media: How was your journey to this year’s NRHA Futurity? Anne Grether: It
Guillermo Armendariz and his son, Guillermo Armendariz Jr., of Chihuahua, Mexico, can be easily
Bailey Fleming’s competitive journey with horses began in pleasure classes, but that did not
Lila McAuslan is as new to reining as her horse, Sixth Cents, known as
The duo of Rob Pearce and RCY Kingsilver Enoch have been in the making
What a Ride!Written by Steve Tyner I’ve always been thankful that as a beginner
Many of the names known in the sport of reining have made their home
We’re not just raising winners, we’re naming winners. When running at any major National
A fracture of the cervical vertebrae– a diagnosis people became familiar with through Friday
A Reining Fan Follows the Action to the Biggest Shows Julianne W. Lowry loves
When compared to the 20-seconds of mad cheering that occurs in a run through
Oded Fein is a dreamer. He dreams of living jewels and cut gemstones, sometimes
As reining grows in popularity around the world, more and more visitors arrive from
As reining payouts increase and the quality of horses improves, the judges must scrutinize
Flat Hat Rags, a vendor at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan®
Experienced Horsemen to Comment on NRHA MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals Two
First-Timer Sarah Kelsey Finds Kindness at the NRHA Futurity Lifelong rider Sarah Kelsey had
Pivoting has been the name of the game throughout Amy Roy’s life. Curveballs ranging
Grey’s Anatomy. House. E.R. Scrubs. The Good Doctor. Many people love to watch the
The NRHA Markel Futurity Sales, held annually at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan NAAC,
Allison Thorson is passionate about every aspect of her life: her horses, her dogs,
Andrea Dorning didn’t hesitate. When her newborn daughter needed a kidney, she said yes.
Horses with quality and longevity were the ones Tim Anderson set out to breed.
The stipulations to become a card-holding professional in any Western sports association are rigorous.
Elizabeth Hartin’s career as a horse trainer already has a wide scope of success
Tiecheng Chen has two purposes at the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Futurity and
Gunnamakacomeback Comes Back From Sepsis to Compete When Gunnamakacomeback was foaled in 2020, he
Just call her Kimberly MacGyver. Kimberly Lansidel can look at any piece of metal,
National Reining Horse Association Professional Malin Billberg traveled a long way from home to
National Reining Horse Association Professional Franky Vazquez’s road to success begins with customer service,
Thanksgiving comes with some uneasy memories for non-pro rider Kelly Stich, but she’s celebrating
In March 2023, Andrew Bailey showed a reiner for the first time. In November
The more things change, the more they stay the same. For the National Reining
When life presents you with challenges, you have two options. The first is to
The reining industry was shaken when longtime competitor and breeder, Steve Mitchell, was killed
Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the
If you ask any professional in the industry what it takes to be successful,
Situated in the south central region of Europe, bordering Italy, Hungary, and Austria, is
Scribing at a show as prestigious as the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel
Showing a homebred horse anywhere is exciting, but showing a homebred horse at an
A jack-of-all-trades usually refers to someone who can fix, build, or make just about
As both a firefighter and a horse trainer, Beeler’s journey to being the 2022
While her involvement in 4-H, marching band, The National Honor Society, and the Spanish
Pizza, pasta, a leaning tower, and reining horses- for 6666 NRHA Derby presented by
While the average 10-year-old is playing outside in the dirt, Emanuel Gebert is sliding
No rider will soon forget the feeling of hearing their name as they ride
Members of the Western industry are likely to feel that the equine industry is
The National Reining Horse Association family expands far across the globe. An example of
Julia Ruud may have decades of horse experience, but her first trip to the
As the dust settles on the first go round of the National Reining Horse
Mark & Lisa Doering Classic Canyon Ranch is quickly becoming a familiar name in
Reiners saw a new face and megawatt smile stepping out of the Coliseum Monday,
The work it takes to care for and ride a barn of reining horses
The country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, South Africa, is known
Horsing Around with Alexis Mann A small town in the lower peninsula of Michigan,
From Crippling Fear to Rookie of the Year Karla Ruiz is a reiner who
Tasmanian NRHA members attend the Oceania Regional Championships Tell me about the journey to
If every successful event has a strong leader, the Oceania Championships in Weribee, Australia,
If you ask someone what makes a person an expert, you may receive different
Anna Woolsey, an NRHA Non Pro from Skiatook, Oklahoma, can’t recall a life without
When Casey Deary and Ten Thirty topped the first round of the 2021 National
Speak the name Kiser around a reining pen, and the first thing that comes
It has been an eventful year for Kary Key and Cant Spook Me (Spooks
Shawn Reynolds of Bordentown, New Jersey, has qualified for the National Reining Horse Association’s
There is no better time to try something new than now. Having already shown
Roping and reining recently collided in a big way, when Trevor Brazile, known in
Hit Television Series The Last Cowboy Attracts New Reining Fans The Last Cowboy series
Emily Winegar-Mabey and her family traveled to Las Vegas in 2019 for the inaugural
What does it feel like to have a horse you raised win the Non
It began with a joke among family. Although his wife had ridden dressage, 2021
During the European Affiliate Championships, you can feel the buzz of excitement as they
A handful of years ago Steve Ross was asked to call the action during
It’s a long drive to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds from Lincoln, Nebraska, but it’s
You might have heard a new voice inside the Jim Norick Arena at the
If you see a bubbly young lady carrying mountains of boxes or cruising around
It was a lucky day for Tracey Heeter Allen when a pony got stuck
You might not recognize his face, but you certainly know his voice. Brian Lookabill
In her first NRHA Futurity, Lauren King is the definition of an underdog. She
Just over a month ago, Glen Reed made a snap decision to enter the
Long Beach, California, transplants, Denise Anne Severson-Hobbs and her husband headed east in pursuit
As a longtime NRHA Futurity attendee and exhibitor, Trent started coming to State Fair
The Futurity is always a family affair for Carol Bell and her family. Hailing
Gabrielle “Gabby” Solum’s entry in the 2020 NRHA Futurity is A Cool Back Story,
As most horse trainers can attest, their profession can be a physically demanding one.
“This year’s futurity is going to be a lot about our community coming together
Perhaps one of the most important people at Oklahoma State Fair Park, Michael is
The city limits of Alexis, Illinois, served as the backdrop for Rachel Olson as
High school sweethearts John and Linda Tucker are living out the cinematic dreams of
If you’re walking around a horse show and see Tami Wilson with what appears
If a global pandemic didn’t stop Oded Fein from making an appearance at the
If you walk into the Super Barn, you might be greeted by firecracker Joy
The last time Laura Norman was in the Jim Norick Arena she was sailing
Part 2 Holding an insurance license became a big asset for Frank Costantini when
Part 1 Not only does Frank Costantini carry the flag for NRHA Corporate Partner
As the 9-year-old son of NRHA Professional’s Committee Chair Patrick Flaherty, Logan Flaherty has
Placing well at the 2020 NRHA Derby presented by Markel is on the agenda
At just 3 years old, Ari Mischo spent a month in the hospital after
He’s the man who keeps the show running smooth, and most exhibitors never know
Handed a microphone and an amp at just 19 years old, Chelsea Dygert Sutton
A well-shaped hat is a staple element at the 2020 NRHA Derby presented by
It’s taken less than two months to convince all-around competitor Samantha that she might
He’s the friendly face ushering you into the arena, but he’s also handing out
Mike Seay, Texas Some might know Mike from his days in the show pen,
A fiery passion for reining horses found Robert Lawson on its own, but this
“It’s a miracle that I’m even alive, much less riding a reining horse,” Julie
Kelly’s riding career is about as colorful as the patriotic tattoo decorating her right
“I was an interior decorator when the oil boom hit. I had to find
According to Bob’s Custom Saddles Vice President Chris Weaver, the business’ saddles have been
A white Christmas. That’s all the Callinan family was searching for when they booked
What goes around, comes around. For Lon and Sharon Kraft, that came in the
They’re the dynamic duo you don’t actually see, but you love their work. Dan
Hailing from a country in southeast Asia, Myanmar, Fred Win is the definition of
Forty years. Forty horses. Forty finals. Dr. Jim Morgan reached a milestone in his
When the lights went out on Tuesday evening at State Fair Park during the
“I did a lot of things in the Army; you name it, I probably
n the NRHA Futurity ended in 2018, all Dieter Buerger was thinking about was
After receiving her first horse at 12 years old, Susan Meyer hung up her
She’s not your typical California girl, regardless of taking her first breath of life
The NRHA Futurity opened up with a big win by Mirjam Stillo on Steppin
“Reining here is tiny in comparison to the US and Europe. Our biggest hurdle
A piece of horsehair attached to a medallion sits behind the seat of a
At the 2018 NRHA Futurity, Melissa Mower was simply focused on helping the event
“I spend 90 percent of my time out in the barn. They have to
“When you’re havin’ fun it’s not really work. I’ve been doin’ this for 31
Originally from Ohio, Phillip has made his home in Lexington, Oklahoma, after finding his
The daughters of NRHA Professionals Sebastian + Melanie Petroll, Lanie, and Ellie both attended