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Catch Up with NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Graduate Spooks Gotta Spark

Posted on May 21, 2021 - 6:30 pm by
Spooks Gotta Spark (Photo by Cam Essick)

(Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena)

Sale: 2015 Futurity Prospect

Consigner: Garth W. Brown, Gainesville, Texas

Purchaser: Gus and Gaynia Revenberg, Oldcastle, Ontario

Even the most magical place on earth couldn’t keep Gaynia Revenberg away from the 2015 NRHA Markel Futurity sales—especially with a prospect like Spooks Gotta Spark available. In previous years, Revenberg spent hours scanning the list of consigned horses, watching preview videos, and discussing prospects. But in 2015, all she wanted was to enjoy a vacation at Disney World with her husband, Gus.

“I was sitting on the balcony at Disney when Shawn Flarida called me and said, ‘There’s a horse here you have to buy,’” Revenberg recalled. “My husband said, ‘Book the flight.’ So, we went to the sale, and Shawn was absolutely correct.”

Since then, Spooks Gotta Spark has held a special place in Revenberg’s heart. “I decided to bring him home so I could ride him myself,” she shared. “I really like this horse, so I asked [NRHA Professional Loris Epis] here in Ontario to show him.”

But as the inaugural Run for a Million in Las Vegas approached, Revenberg knew she couldn’t keep her all-star in Canada much longer. Although she received three inquiries about using her horse in the Million Dollar Invitational, Flarida’s lucrative history with the buckskin stallion made the NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider the obvious choice for Revenberg.

“He didn’t have much time to get him ready, but he did an amazing job,” she said of Flarida’s performance in the Million Dollar Invitational. Spooks Gotta Spark marked a 228, which landed Flarida and the stallion a fourth-place finish and a $65,000 payout.

In February 2020, Bill and Patty Fingland of Rogersville, Mo. purchased the flashy buckskin. With them, he placed in the Top 10 at the 2020 NRHA Open Derby presented by Markel and went on to place 13th in the Level 4 NRBC Open Classic.

It was at the NRBC that Spooks Gotta Spark caught the eye of Kevin Truax and the two bonded instantly. Not long after the team returned from the show, Truax was celebrating the purchase of the most talented reining horse he feels that he has ever owned. “We brought him to our barn the week we bought him. Derek, my daughter, Kiersten, and I each got on him for a bit. He was just so incredible to ride.” Truax said.

As Truax rushed to arrange for Spooks Gotta Sparks’s quickly approaching debut in the breeding barn, Heitland rode the stallion to a Level 2 AQHA Senior Reining World Reserve Co-Championship, and at the 2020 Adequan® NAACs, the talented reiner earned Heitland the NAAC Limited Open title.

Lorenzo Lotti at Foals R Us, in Whitesboro, Texas, made quick accommodations for Spooks Gotta Spark to stand there, and Cam Essick took care of advertisements.

With Spooks Gotta Spark’s future as a sire in the works, Flarida opened up another opportunity for the pair to compete for a million dollars. “Once the next Run For A Million was announced, Shawn worked out a training schedule with Lorenzo. We took Spooks Gotta Spark to Ohio in February and bred with him up there while he was getting in shape.” Truax shared. “In Arizona, we felt good about the qualifier until we found out we were draw number one. I knew it would be tough, so figured we would likely be on the bubble and be nervous all day. After Shawn went, we felt great about qualifying, then realized we may actually win it after abo 70 horses went. To get the high score with all that firepower was unbelievable. Being able to stand in the win picture with all the big names around us was a true dream come true.”

Perhaps Truax’s connection to Spooks Gotta Spark runs even deeper. He said, “My father died last June, so I do feel this has been guided in some way by him.  We have been reining for 40 years, but never at this level. We hope to have one more ride in August to really see what he can do. My goal is to have lots of his babies on the ground for others to enjoy.” 

For breeding information about Spooks Gotta Spark, go to foals-r-us.com/spooks-gotta-spark/.

Platinum Performance® to Sponsor Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw at NRHA Derby Presented by Markel

Posted on May 21, 2021 - 3:11 pm by
The Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party returns to the NRHA Derby presented by Markel on Wednesday, June 23. (NRHA Staff photo)

National Reining Horse Association Corporate Partner Platinum Performance® has supported the reining industry over 20 years. That support continues in 2021, with a much-anticipated, in-person Welcome Party and Non Pro Draw Party to be held during the NRHA Derby Presented by Markel.

The slow return to normalcy has everyone abuzz with excitement and this event is another step in the right direction. Attendees will enjoy a delicious catered meal, drinks, and all of the nail-biting enthusiasm of the Non Pro Finals Draw and after missing a year due to Covid, the popular Reiners Rope dummy roping will be also held. The Party will be held at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, June 23.

“As long-time partners of NRHA, we are excited to sponsor the Platinum Performance® Welcome Party featuring the Non Pro Finals Draw as well as the Platinum Performance® Virtual Open Draw Party at the 2021 NRHA Derby,” said Lauren Thompson, Equine Marketing Manager. “We look forward to maintaining our commitment to provide superior nutrition and unmatched personal service to the valued NRHA membership.”

The support of Platinum Performance® extends well beyond the Party. The company will also provide the exhibitor bags given to every NRHA Derby competitor. In addition, Platinum Performance® will sponsor a Virtual Open Draw Party Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. The decision was made to keep the Platinum Performance® Open Draw Party virtual so that trainers could be available to their non pro finalists.

The 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel takes place at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City June 19-27. For more information about this premier event, visit NRHADerby.com

Platinum Performance® believes in the power of nutrition and supplementation and remains committed to providing formulas that produce superior results in the horse. For 25 years, Platinum has continued to research the role of nutrition with regards to wellness and performance and is committed to providing equine veterinarians, horse owners and trainers the nutritional tools they need to benefit from cutting edge equine nutrition. Horse health is the Platinum Performance® mission, and we look forward to helping you find your Platinum. Learn more at PlatinumPerformance.com.

NRHA Futurity Rider Designation Deadline Changed to October 1

Posted on May 21, 2021 - 2:04 pm by

2021 NRHA Futurity Rider Designations will be due October 1, the same day as the last payment. This was a change made by the NRHA Board of Directors in an effort to streamline the entering process. In the past, the Rider Designation’s due date of November 1 and subsequent policy that undesignated horses were put at the front of the draw at that time often caused a hardship for an owner and rider who might have simply miscommunicated on who was sending in the designation form.

For most people showing in the Non Pro and Open Futurities, there is no question as to who will show a horse so it’s one less deadline to keep up with. And NRHA Professionals needing extra time to decide whether they or an assistant trainer will show a particular horse, can simply designate a rider by October 1 and then change as necessary with no penalties up to noon two days prior to the first go.  

NRHA Show Secretary Kathy Gould explained, “At the NRHA Events Office we always try to catch what might be an entry oversight when we see an undesignated horse, but it has often been impossible to make contact with the owner of every undesignated entry in the short window as the draw deadline approaches. We want to make sure everyone gets the benefit of being included in the futurity draw if that is their intention!”

She continued, “Having the Rider Designations come to us by October 1 will give us time to verify that undesignated horses are not actually intended to go forward and to find any that were undesignated due to some error. The key is to get the designations in by October 1, then there is no charge for any rider changes that are completed before November 1. However, there is a $50 late fee that will apply if a designation is not received by the October 1 deadline.”

More information and Rider Designation forms as well as Rider Change forms can be found at NRHAFuturity.com/forms.

Inaugural NRHA Oceania Regional Championships Set for June 2021

Posted on May 17, 2021 - 3:22 pm by

It’s an exciting time for reining down under. That’s because the National Reining Horse Association affiliate organizations that make up the Oceania Region Council have come together to create the inaugural Oceania Regional Championships. The 2021 Championships, slated for June 28 – July 4, will be hosted by the New South Wales Reining Horse Association at its annual State Show at K Ranch in Sydney, Australia.

While the concept of regional organizations hosting major NRHA championships is not new in other parts of the world, it is a first for this region. Rob Lawson, Chairman of the Oceania Council said, “It is an exciting time as it allows us to try new and imaginative ideas to grow our industry through our clubs!”

Lawson, who operates Lawson’s Performance Horses in Bungonia, New South Wales continued, “The offers of support from the other clubs have been heartening, with the overwhelming sentiment that it is ‘our’ Regional Championships. It is these clubs working together that will make this work!”

The clubs involved in the Regional Championships are the NSWRHA, Orana Reining Horse Association, Victoria Reining Horse Association, Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association, South Australian Reining Horse Association, Collie Western Riding Club, Calliope Sliders Reining Horse Association and Southern Cross Reining Horse Association.

NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter said, “Observing the energy and vitality of our reining friends in Australia is incredibly rewarding. We can’t fully comprehend the trials they have been through to get to this point. The pandemic, wildfires, and the challenges that change brings – they have overcome them all and are poised to bring a new day to our sport.”

K Ranch’s owner, Mick Kearney has had a significant impact on the NSWRHA as K Ranch has been its home base for the last 6 years and a close partnership has evolved over that time.

More information about the 2021 Oceania Regional Championships can be found here.

2020 NRHA European Futurity: May 15-22, 2021 (Daily Updates)

Posted on May 13, 2021 - 10:26 pm by

The oval arena in CremonaFiere is set to welcome European riders vying for the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity titles.

Open to horses born in 2016 named and nominated in the NRHA European Nomination Program, the 2020 edition counts 111 horses entered in the €160,623,14-added Open division and 60 in the €135.810,00-added Non Pro.

Visit NRHAEuropeanFuturity.com to keep up with the action!

5.13.21 – The Stage is Set for the 2020 NRHA European Futurity

5.14.21 – Europe’s Best Horses and Riders Saddle Up in Cremona

5.15.21 – 2020 NRHA European Non Pro Futurity and IRHA 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity Finalists are Determined

5.16.21 – Ann Fonck and Manuel Cortesi Slide to the Top Spot of the 2020 NRHA European Open Futurity and 2020 IRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity

5.18.21 – 2020 NRHA European Futurity Consolation Tuesday

5.20.21 – 2020 NRHA European Non Pro Futurity: One Mr JJ Slides Gina Schumacher To The Win

5.21.21 – 2020 NRHA European Open Futurity: And the Winners are Manuel Cortesi and AR Vintage Dream!

CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest Returns to 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

Posted on May 11, 2021 - 6:58 pm by

At the 2021 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 will return 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, and have the option to compete for $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 from the NRHA Handbook, which is a guide to judging reining horses. 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.

“I am excited for this scholarship opportunity for youth members to return to the 2021 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. I encourage NRHyA members to grab a friend, get out of their comfort zone, and try this contest. It’s a great way to practice a life skill around people who want you to succeed, all while having the potential to win a scholarship,” NRHyA Youth Programs Manager Sara Honegger said. “First place in each category of each age group will receive a $500 scholarship, which is such a fun way for youth at any age to start stacking up scholarship dollars. Youth members and their parents would be amazed at how much they can accumulate if they start early in their NRHyA careers.”

Youth members interested in competing in this year’s CINCH NRHyA Speaking Contest can find more information, including the entry form at NRHyA.com. Entry deadline has been extended to June 9 at 5 P.M. CDT. Please email entries to youth@nrha.com.

2021 NRHA Markel Futurity Sales Update

Posted on May 11, 2021 - 2:18 pm by

The National Reining Horse Association Markel Futurity Sales have long been recognized for leading the industry and providing the annual value benchmark for top reining horses. The 2020 edition continued that successful tradition, with averages and gross sales up across the board.

The Futurity Sales Task Force is not resting on those laurels. Early this year, its members began firming up details for the 2021 event with twin goals of increasing convenience for consignors and expanding the avenues of purchase for buyers.

The group simplified consignment requirements and selection criteria for yearlings:

  • Video and photograph requirements will not be compulsory as part of the yearling consignment application procedure. Please note that videos, photographs, and radiographs will still be required prior to the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales for marketing materials and to be available for buyers.
  • New guidelines will now govern yearling placement. Foals of dams with $25,000 or more in progeny and/or lifetime earnings will be placed in the Select Yearling Sale, while those not meeting that threshold will sell in the Marketplace Sale.

The Task Force will continue the all-on-one-day concept begun in 2020, so all the Markel Futurity Sales will be held on Thursday, December 2.  Also in 2021, look for modified two-year-old preview opportunities. Those have expanded into two-hour sessions in Arena 6. To provide ample time for consignors to present their horses in a controlled environment, these sessions will be held on November 30 and December 1 at the conclusion of each day’s Futurity Semi-Finals.

Other important announcements from the Task Force were the return to Barns 3 and 4 where the Sales have been traditionally held, and continuation and enhancement of online bidding through DVAuction.com.

Capitalizing on its success in introducing broodmares, the Task Force will continue to include embryos and weanlings. Those have enjoyed tremendous success with weanlings selling as high as $40,000 and embryos as high as $45,000.

The Sales will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, December 2 with the Futurity Prospect Sale, followed by the Select Yearling Sale and the Select Breeders Sale. The Marketplace Sale will finish out the day.

The consignment deadline for all Markel Futurity Sales is August 31. For more information, visit NRHAFuturity.com/Sales or contact NRHA Senior Manager of ReinerSuite and Futurity Sales Angie Honeywell at ahoneywell@nrha.com.

2021 NRHA Futurity Open Champion to Win $350,000!

Posted on May 10, 2021 - 3:43 pm by

National Reining Horse Association Announces Massive Futurity Payout Increase

Andrea Fappani’s victory at the 2020 National Reining Horse Association Futurity on All Bettss Are Off was more than memorable; it was historic. Dedication and generosity from a committed group of NRHA members determined to raise the stakes at the world’s biggest reining resulted in the largest championship payments in the event’s history.

Not only did the Open Level 4 Champion receive $250,000, the CINCH Non Pro Champion took home $60,000, and added money for the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships was doubled.

With that accomplished, the Futurity Challenge task force members did not rest on their laurels and began working to raise the bar even higher. At the May 2021 NRHA Board of Directors meeting, their proposal to increase the 2021 MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Championship payout to $350,000 was unanimously approved. That will make the NRHA’s Futurity Open Championship the highest paying aged event title in the western performance horse world!

The additional money earmarked for the Level 4 Open Championship is fully funded by private investors. Rick Clark, NRHA President and member of the Futurity Challenge Task Force is proud of those people who “believe in the future of the reining industry and have pledged their support.” Initially the brainchild of the late Doug Carpenter and former NRHA President Frank Costantini, the Futurity Challenge concept grew quickly. Initial seedstock funding came from Clark along with John and Nancy Tague, Tim Anderson and Kim Niven, and Bob and Arlene Santagata, who were joined by Mark and Julie Blake, Craig and Ginger Schmersal, Mike Hancock, Joao Marcos, Rosanne Sternberg, and Shane Brown. Other investors came on board in the ensuing months and additional commitments are still being received.

Clark said, “I am proud to be President of the NRHA during this time of amazing growth. I applaud the members of the Futurity Challenge group for their commitment of both time and money. Our goal continues to be to increase earning capabilities for both professionals and owners, which will ultimately raise the value of reining horses and create a great future for our industry.”

Because the Futurity Challenge investors have pledged a five-year commitment, the Level 4 Open Champion payout is ensured to not decrease over that time. “The members of the Task Force aspire to enhance participation at all levels of reining by building the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC to the show of a lifetime,” Clark concluded.

The guaranteed payouts in the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals have been further expanded. In 2021, the Level 4 Open Reserve Champion will take home $150,000, while the third-place winner will receive a check for $100,000. There will also be substantial increases in the payout for fourth through tenth places in the Level 4 Open Finals.

Those boosts, as well as the doubled added money for Adequan® NAACs and the secured $60,000 for the L4 Non Pro Champion that will continue in 2021, are funded by NRHA’s monetary commitment.

For more information on the NRHA Futurity Challenge, email Sammi Miller, NRHA Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Communications at  smiller@nrha.com. For information on the 2021 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC visit NRHAFuturity.com.

NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations Due June 1

Posted on May 8, 2021 - 3:27 am by

Named for the man known as the “father of modern-day reining,” the National Reining Horse Association Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious accolade.

Dale Wilkinson stood out among his peers as his technique and willingness to teach transformed the sport of reining into the model of collection and finesse that we know today. Wilkinson was one of the founding members of the NRHA and the first Hall of Fame inductee. During his lifetime, he was an educator, promoter, and mentor to all reiners. He set an example of how riders should conduct themselves, train and exhibit a horse. Due to his unmatched lifetime of accomplishment in reining, the NRHA Hall of Fame Committee created the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, supported by the Reining Horse Foundation.

Each year, the NRHA Board of Directors and past Hall of Fame inductees vote to approve a worthy candidate for recognition. Unique among its counterparts, the criteria for the award is not centered around NRHA membership, competition/earning records or even status as a breeder or owner. It is solely based on the person’s positive impact on the sport of reining.

In keeping with the culture that Wilkinson helped to form, the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award nominee must have an inherent passion for the industry. They must have contributed to or changed the course of reining in a positive way irrespective of personal gain. Additionally, the recipient will have demonstrated the ability and desire to attract new people to the sport.

“To be nominated for and receive the Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award is one of NRHA’s highest honors,” says NRHA Executive Assistant & Governance Coordinator Liz Kelsey, who also serves as the staff liaison to the NRHA Hall of Fame Committee. “When you look at who else has received the award, you will see some of reining’s most notable contributors.”

Any NRHA member can submit a nomination which is due on June 1, 2021. All nominations should be sent to Liz Kelsey at lkelsey@nrha.com.

This year’s recipient will be formally recognized during Sliders’ Night Out presented by Toyon Ranch held on December 1 during the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships in Oklahoma City.

Click here for the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award nomination form.

Event Sponsor Mental Athletics Offers Workshops to NRHyA Members

Posted on May 7, 2021 - 4:27 pm by

Since 2001, young reiners in the National Reining Horse Youth Association have benefited from their membership through college scholarships, learning and leadership experiences, life-long friendships and a whole lot of fun along the way.

That’s why NRHA Professional Gil Friedman of Mental Athletics is now a proud event sponsor of the National Reining Horse Association and is focusing on the association’s younger membership.

“I truly believe that the youth of the NRHA are the future of our industry and will frame the competitive culture for years to come,” Friedman shared. “This group of young and passionate riders will one day be the leaders of our sport. Mental toughness is widely considered a foundation for the development of successful athletes and leaders in the world of competitive sports. The reining industry deserves those kinds of athletes and leaders.”

Mental Athletics is a mindset coaching program practiced around the globe, and Friedman will be offering two separate three-part online workshops free of charge exclusively to NRHyA members. The first workshop is set and scheduled to begin June 3, giving youth members the opportunity to complete training prior to the NRHA Derby presented by Markel.

The second workshop will be held in the fall leading up to the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.

The three-session workshops will provide knowledge, techniques and training tools for the personal development of every competitive rider. “We have two major goals. We want to help riders reach their peak performance and achieve a high level of wellbeing, all while living a competitive life,” Friedman said. “We hope to encourage every young rider to overcome unseen barriers and mental challenges, all while chasing their dreams.”

NRHA Manager of Youth and Professional Programs Sara Honegger says she is excited for the opportunity available to NRHyA members. “I believe it will be such a benefit to NRHyA members. The skills they will gain from Mental Athletics extend far past the show pen and I feel that our members will still use them long after their days as youth members. Gil is brilliant at what he does, and I cannot wait for NRHyA to experience it,” she said.

The scheduled dates for the first Mental Athletics Online Workshop are:

  • Thursday, June 3 at 12:00 pm CT
  • Thursday, June 10 at 12:00 pm CT
  • Thursday, June 17 at 12:00 pm CT

To sign up for the workshop email youth@nrha.com
For more information about Mental Athletics, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mentalathletics.il/ or the website at www.Mental-Athletics.com.

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