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Katherine Berg marked a 142 on her 7-year-old mare Custom Foxy Lady to win the National Reining Horse Association Youth Unrestricted Ancillary class at the 2010 National Reining Breeders Classic on Saturday, April 17. The pair earned $27 for the feat. However, Katherine’s talent in the reining pen has earned her even more – the opportunity to obtain a college degree in journalism.

The Florence, Texas, high school senior has been showing reining horses since she was in fifth grade but will be traveling to Waco, Texas, this fall to join the Baylor University Equestrian Team.

“I love this sport,” the 18-year-old said. “It’s amazing and very family-friendly, too. It is a lot of fun.” By Custom Crome and out of Coffees Darling, “Foxy” has almost $1,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings and Katherine has been showing her in youth for a little over a year under the guidance of Casey Deary.

“He’s so very helpful,” she said. “He keeps it light, even when you do badly. Even though it’s something serious, he makes a joke out of it and makes it not seem so bad.”

Katherine and Foxy will be heading next to Oklahoma City in June for the NRHA Derby. After that, it’s off to college.

Second place in the Unrestricted Youth Ancillary went to Nick Schmersal, who marked a 141 on Blazing In Black and earned $21.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, celebrating its tenth anniversary at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just thirteen years, the NRBC has grown to include upwards of 230 subscribed stallions and in 2009, there were over 2,800 enrolled foals. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.3 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.