Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center Manager Rick Ford will head up the 2010-2011 Southwest Reining Horse Association Online Stallion Auction.

Implemented in 2006, the Online Stallion Auction is one of the most successful in the reining industry and has helped the Futurity become the eighth largest added-money reining event, according to Quarter Horse News.

SWRHA President Jack Covington, who was the driving force behind the creation of the auction and managed the auction since its inception, is excited about Rick coming on board.

“With his expertise and knowledge of the reining world, I think Rick is going to help make the Online Stallion Auction even bigger and better,” said Jack, who still serves on the Online Auction Committee.

“I’m thrilled to be the chairman of the Online Stallion Auction Committee and manage this successful venture,” Rick said. “We’ve always supported the auction with the great stallions that stand at Cinder Lakes and now I am looking forward to helping the auction continue its success.”

Ending February 1, the 2010 auction grossed more than $56,580 and pumps a larger portion of the added money into the Futurity Purse as well as special Stallion Owner Awards, which will be given at the SWRHA Futurity slated for October 19-24 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Okla.

With the operating costs of the auction kept to a modest 5 percent, 80 percent of the proceeds raised go toward the SWRHA Futurity purse with 15 percent to the Stallion Owner Awards.

The continued success of the Online Stallion Auction has made the show the reining industry’s premier futurity leading to the National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Oklahoma City.

“It’s wonderful that the stallion owners had the vision to support this program as a way of growing the Futurity,” Jack said.

Some breedings for 2010 are still available and can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting the SWRHA Office at (580) 759-2572 and bidding at least half the breeding fee. To view available stallions, go online to www.magoteaux.com/SWRHA/homepage.php.

For more information on the SWRHA Futurity, visit www.swrha.com.