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Our Condolences – Guy Vernon

Posted on April 21, 2022 - 5:10 pm by

On April 20, the reining world learned that National Reining Horse Association Professional Guy Vernon had passed.

Vernon, of Kiowa, Colo., has served the reining world in a variety of ways. He was a former NRHA Board member who was active on numerous committees, an NRHA Judge, and filled a wide range of roles. In addition to training and showing reining horses, he was known for his dedication to his non pro clients.

“Guy was kind and smart. He didn’t think exactly like everyone else, which was part of his charm. He was a champion for NRHA’s affiliate program and devoted to his wife, Valerie, and daughter, Lacey,” noted NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter. “On behalf of NRHA, I extend our most sincere condolences to Valerie, Lacey, and all of Guy’s friends and family.”

Memorial is set for May 3 with details to follow.

If you live in the Kiowa area and would like to help the family by volunteering for barn chores, please use this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4ea9ac22a3f5c52-guyvernon

We will share more information as it becomes available.

NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest Returns to 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

Posted on April 19, 2022 - 6:49 pm by

Brush Up on those Speaking Skills

At the 2022 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel, reining will not be the only competition occurring at the prestigious event. The CINCH National Reining Horse Youth Association Speaking Contest returns this year, cultivating and encouraging leadership and life skills amongst reining’s talented youth.

In the CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest, participants will be divided into two age groups, 13 & Under and 14-18. Members compete for not only bragging rights, but also impressive $500 scholarships in three different categories: Delivering A: General, Prepared Public Speaking and Community Service Presentation. In the Delivering A: General, contestants recite A: General, which is a guide to judging reining horses and a hallmark of the NRHA Handbook. Prepared Public Speaking involves contestants delivering a five-to-eight-minute speech on either a leadership or equestrian topic. Lastly, the Community Service Presentation allows participants to create an eight-to-10-minute presentation that showcases a community service project they have completed.

The competition will be held on Wednesday, June 22, at 9 a.m. The location for the contest will be announced closer to the event.

“The CINCH NRHyA speaking contest is a wonderful opportunity for our youth kids to pick a topic and speak publicly about it,” said NRHA President Rick Clark. “Many times, it is the first time they have attempted public speaking. This experience educates our youth for the career choices they make in the future!”

2021 NRHyA CINCH Speaking Contest Winners:

Becca Schaffhauser: 13 & Under Delivering A: General

McKylie Ivie: 13 & Under Prepared Public Speaking

Justin Eddy: 14-18 Prepared Public Speaking

Youth members interested in competing in this year’s CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest can find more information, including the entry form at NRHyA.com. The entry deadline is June 1. Please email entries to youth@nrha.com.

NRHyA Members Can Become Working Students Beginning in 2022

Posted on April 7, 2022 - 7:39 pm by

Young riders in the National Reining Horse Youth Association enjoy being part of the reining world. It’s all about competition, camaraderie, and the fun of reining. They develop a love for reining and create friendships and long-lasting ties. Most plan to continue competing as they attend college and embark on their careers. Others dream of reining fulltime as an NRHA professional.

The NRHA Non Pro Committee has worked to provide opportunities for youth riders on a variety of levels. One that began in 2022 was a rule change to allow youth to work for professional reining trainers.

Relaxing the restriction to allow youth riders to work for NRHA Professionals provides multiple benefits. It creates a pathway for young riders who want to hone their horsemanship skills, plus they can offset the financial obstacles of showing or pursuing a career in training while learning more about the industry without sacrificing their Non Pro status. When youths reach the age of 19, they can make the decision to retain their Non Pro status and abide by the Non Pro conditions or become an NRHA Professional.

NRHA Non Pro Committee Chair Ginger Schmersal shared, “Horses and horse shows are expensive, which means that reining might not be an option for some youth. By relaxing these restrictions, we can welcome even more youth into the industry who want to ride or learn to ride without having to worry about losing their Non Pro status.”

The lack of available assistant trainers and barn help is another aspect the Non Pro Committee hopes to address with the change. Many professionals experience difficulty finding training assistants, especially those with show experience. It is hoped that this program will create more riders with the skills necessary to go on to that next level and eventually have careers of their own.

Although this rule is new to the reining industry, it is common practice in other disciplines. For example, in the English industry, many people would not be where they are today if they had not had the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge as working students.

Any rider who is a current youth member of NRHA is eligible to reside with and/or work for any NRHA Professional in good standing. Remuneration can include housing and food. Youth riders are allowed to have their personal horse or horses with the trainer, and details of board and training shall be decided between those parties.

Youth riders are allowed to ride any horses both at home and at horse shows while working for the trainer. Youth riders are allowed to compete in the youth and non pro based on current NRHA ownership rules. In classes that do not have ownership restrictions (Rookie 1 & 2, Green Reiner 1 & 2, Youth Rookie, Unrestricted Youth, and all open classes, except Rookie Professional), youth riders may compete on any horse regardless of ownership.

For more information, please contact the NRHA Member & Show Services Department at (405) 946-7400 or cmorris@nrha.com. Complete rules can be found in the NRHA Handbook under the “Non Pro Membership Conditions” in the Allowances section.

Judges Chosen for 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

Posted on April 6, 2022 - 5:32 pm by

As the temperatures rise and summer approaches, the excitement for the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel begins to build. Preparations have begun on all fronts and NRHA has announced the officials who will evaluate the performances at the show that will pay out more than one million dollars.

Chosen for the Jim Norick Coliseum classes are Chele McGauly, Kim Myers, Ann Anderman, Kelly Sapp and Terry Thompson, with Ed Cridge serving as equipment judge. In the Adequan® Arena, Brenda Brown, John Tuckey and Pete Kyle will officiate. The Judges Monitors will be Nick Baar and Bob Kail.

“I am proud of the roster of outstanding NRHA judges selected for this year’s NRHA Derby. These judges will arrive in Oklahoma City prepared, focused, and will score each run with the utmost professionalism,” Patti Carter, NRHA Sr. Director of Education & Officials, said.

As a former NRHA Derby judge, Carter has first-hand knowledge of how the men and women selected for this year feel. “The NRHA Derby is one of the pinnacle events of the industry. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to officiate the Derby, and a privilege to have the best seat in the house for this great reining,” she said.

The selection process for judges at each major NRHA event begins several months before the first horse ever enters the pen.  Here’s how they are chosen for the NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby:

  • Each eligible judge is contacted for their availability for the event.
  • All available judges are compiled into a list and sent to each member of the Judges Committee.
  • Judges Committee members make selections from the list to fill the allotted slots for the event.
  • These names are compiled into a shortlist and discussed on a conference call with all members of the Judges Committee. Nominations are allowed to be made on this conference call.
  • The committee members, except for the chair, then rank their choices and each ranking equates to a certain number of points. The points are compiled and submitted to the committee chair.
  • The committee chair reviews and makes recommendations based on the outcome of the vote and the needs of NRHA.
  • The ranked list with the Judges Committee Chair recommendations is submitted for final selection.

This process is set in place to ensure that the Derby will be a well-judged competition with the quality and professionalism of the selected judges.

For more information, visit NRHA.com/judges

NRHA Sr. Director of Corporate Relations Search to be Conducted by MJM Global Search

Posted on April 5, 2022 - 8:50 pm by

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Executive Committee has hired Jim Harlan, President and CEO of MJM Global Search, Inc., to support its efforts in filling the full-time position of Sr. Director of Corporate Relations. MJM Global’s search will begin immediately with analysis of the position and identification of candidates. The primary purpose of this hands-on position is to retain current sponsors by supporting their needs while continuously working to enhance the relationship between both parties.

Additionally, they are responsible for cultivating new relationships to grow our family of sponsors to ensure NRHA remains a premier partner in the western performance horse industry.

NRHA, based in Oklahoma City, Okla., is the standard-setting body for the sport of Reining with more than 15,000 members worldwide. “MJM Global Search was extremely successful in placing Patti Carter as our new Sr. Director of Education & Officials and I have full confidence that they will once again find us the perfect candidate for this position,” said Rick Clark, NRHA President.

Harlan, an avid horseman in his own right, is responsible for the strategic leadership necessary to ensure the achievement of MJM Global Search’s performance goals and preservation of the core values established more than 25 years ago.

MJM Global Search, Inc. and its executive search specialists have decades of hands-on experience as senior managers, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small fast-growing start-up companies. The firm has completed placements with more than 12 equine industry associations.

The detailed position description can be viewed here.

Persons interested in the position may contact:
Jim Harlan
MJM Global Search, Inc.
P.O. Box 883
Franktown, CO 80116
(303) 660-0766
jim@mjmglobalsearch.com

NRHA Apprentice Program Lets Potential Trainers Test the Professional Waters

Posted on April 4, 2022 - 8:34 pm by

It’s long been a tough decision for any Non Pro rider who contemplates a career as a horse trainer. In the past, if they tested the waters, so to speak, they would be ineligible to go back to being a Non Pro for three years. The National Reining Horse Association’s Apprentice program was put in place years ago to give reiners the opportunity to be more confident about their choices for the future.

The program allows current NRHA Non Pros who are at least 18 years of age to learn, train, and show under an NRHA Professional as an Open rider. This gives Non Pros the opportunity to decide if becoming an NRHA Professional is a fit. If it turns out to not be the right career path, the Non Pro can return to Non Pro status without facing the three to five-year wait.

An apprentice can do so under one or more members of the NRHA Professionals concurrently or consecutively during a 12-month period. All earnings that an individual has on record will be used to determine his or her eligibility while participating in the Apprentice Program. At any time during the 12 months should an individual decide not to continue with his or her apprenticeship, he or she must continue to sit out of Non Pro competition until the end of the 12 months. At the end of the year of apprenticeship, individuals can do one of two things:

  • Choose to remain an Open rider and completely relinquish Non Pro status. If this is the case, all previous Non Pro earnings will be backed out and any Open earnings accumulated during the apprenticeship will be used to determine eligibility.
  • Re-apply for Non Pro status. In this instance, all earnings accumulated during the apprenticeship will be used to determine eligibility.

During the apprenticeship, individuals may not show in Non Pro classes. For more details about the Apprentice Program, please contact the NRHA Member & Show Services Department at (405)946-7400 or memberships@nrha.com. Complete rules can be found in the NRHA Handbook under the “NRHA Apprentice Program” section.

2021 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel is named AQHA Top 10 Show

Posted on April 1, 2022 - 9:41 pm by

The 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel was recently honored by being named a Top 10 event for 2021 by the American Quarter Horse Association. The Derby ranked first amongst AQHA Alliance shows.

NRHA Events Manager Cheryl Cody said, “We are always proud to partner with the AQHA in presenting AQHA classes to NRHA members who attend the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. We feel that this opportunity to earn points at this event, and hopefully qualify for the AQHA World Championship Shows, is an important benefit for NRHA reiners. We plan to feature AQHA classes again at the 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.”

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter added his appreciation of the Alliance Partnership between the AQHA and NRHA. He noted, “AQHA has been a great partner to NRHA, and that relationship goes all the way back to the 1960s. We are glad to continue this Alliance Partnership. It is gratifying to see the entire industry enjoy such tremendous growth.”

AQHA competitions showcase the talent and versatility of the American Quarter Horse. In 2021, AQHA members turned out in multitudes to support shows, circuits and special events across the globe, totaling more than 840,000 entries. Overall entries increased by 43 percent between 2020 and 2021 as the industry continued to recover from the effects of the pandemic. For information, visit aqha.com.

Nathan Piper Surpasses $1 Million in NRHA Earnings

Posted on April 1, 2022 - 2:12 pm by

It was nearly three decades ago that Nathan Piper showed for the first time in a National Reining Horse Association-sanctioned event. He and Faith Dry Doc topped the Youth 14–18 class at a Texas Reining Horse Association show, and the scene was set for a career that would take him to the highest levels of reining competition.

In mid-March 2022, Piper surpassed a career milestone, becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider after a great week at the Cactus Reining Classic. On hand for the important moment? Several members of his family.

“I knew I was getting close at the end of last year, and that it would just depend on how shows went. My mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and their two kids wanted to be there. They came to the NRHA Futurity in case it happened there, and then went again to the Winter Slide in Ardmore,” Piper explained. “I won about $1,400 there, and we were counting it down.”

Piper didn’t expect his family to show up for the Cactus Reining Classic, but they traveled West for the event. “They drove all the way out to Arizona for it, so it was pretty special,” he shared.

Piper, of Whitesboro, Texas, secured the necessary earnings aboard Patriot (Smart Spook x Dunit A Lil Ruf), owned by Shannon and Hershel Reid. The pair finished third in the Run For A Million qualifier, took third in the Level 4 Open Derby, and won the Level 3 Open Derby Championship. “To finish the first million with a run like that on Patriot was just icing on the cake. He’s one of a kind,” Piper said. “Becoming a Million Dollar Rider is definitely one of the major goals I’ve had. I remember when Bill Horn first won a million, and how much I looked up to him for that.”

It was because of Piper’s sister, Lauren, that he first began riding horses. “My sister wanted a pony when I was a kid, so we got into 4-H and begin showing horses. We saw reining, and I got a ‘kind of’ reining horse, and have been hooked ever since,” Piper recalled.

As a teenager, Piper would go spend time in Marietta, Oklahoma with James Davidson and legendary horseman and NRHA Hall of Famer Dick Pieper to hone his skills. He then went to college at Texas A & M University to pursue a degree in Animal Science and continued to train horses on the side. It was at A & M that he met his future wife, Jean.

“She’s the love of my life and the one who convinced me I could do this for a living. Other people had insisted I needed to pursue a ‘real job,’ but she encouraged me to just do it,” he said. “There have been a lot of ups and downs, and it’s a hard business to break into, but the good Lord kept picking us up, and setting us on the right path. Jean never gave up on me or this dream through it all.”

Piper isn’t one to rest on his laurels, and he’s already looking forward to earning the next million. He’d also like to help a special horse become even more successful. “My next big goal is to get Patriot over $500,000 in earnings,” he said of the stallion.

When asked about the people who have helped him get to this point, Piper said, “There is not enough space to list all the people who deserve thanks. From 4-H leaders in the beginning to all the customers, there have been so many. I also have to thank the other horse trainers. I love this industry because we all help each other. There is probably not a single guy out there who hasn’t helped me become a better reiner.”

So what advice would he give to someone looking toward a career as a trainer? It’s something that has gotten him in trouble with parents. “Just quit school and go for it,” he shared with a laugh.

Piper’s Top Five Wins:

  • 2012 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 4th Place – In Like Flinn – $65,750
  • 2019 NRBC Level 4 Open Co-Championship – Patriot – $63,000
  • 2020 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Championship – Patriot – $45,193
  • 2021 The Run For A Million 7th – Patriot – $40,0000
  • 2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open 8th – Independencedayspook – $30,504

Follow Nathan Piper Reining Horses on Facebook here or visit his website at NathanPiper.com.

NRHyA Art & Photo Contest Returns in 2022

Posted on April 1, 2022 - 7:54 am by

National Reining Horse Youth Association members most often show their skills horseback, but many have other special talents. A showcase for some of those is the annual NRHyA Art & Photo contest.

The contest will be sponsored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for the third year in a row. This partnership allows the first-place piece in each category to be displayed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum during the 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel Insurance.

“This contest has grown so much in the last three years due to this incredible partnership,” said Sara Honegger, NRHA Director of Marketing who oversees the Youth and Affiliate programs. “It is so fun for the artists to get to take their families to see their work on a museum wall next to some of the most renowned Western artists.”

Last year there were nearly 50 entries in the contest and organizers expect more growth in 2022.

Already on board as judges for this year’s contest are NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter, Michael R. Grauer, McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture/Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Other judges will be announced.

“I encourage all youth members, especially those who submit pieces for Varsity Reining Club, to participate,” said Honegger. “We encourage our youth to ask their friends to participate with them and give it a go!”

The categories for the competition will be Photography and Mixed Media. Due to low numbers of entries, the Graphic Design category was removed, but a new age division, 10 & Under, has been added due to rising interest.

2021 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest Winners:

Photography 14-18 – Faith Horner
Photography 13 & Under – Kynlee Cohlmia
Mixed Medium 14-18 – Alexandra Nicole Mueller
Mixed Medium 13 & Under – Cassandra Hacking
Graphic Design 14-18 – Raeanna Thayn
Graphic Design 13 & Under – Cassandra Hacking

  • Faith Horner
  • Cassandra Hacking
  • Alexandra Nicole Mueller
  • Kynlee Cohlmia
  • Raeanna Thayn
  • Victoria McClure

The entry forms for the 2022 NRHyA Art & Photo Contest can be found here. Entries will be accepted until May 1.

For information on the NRHyA, visit the website at NRHyA.com or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/nrhya or Instagram @NRHyA

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