Not only is the National Reining Breeders Classic one of the world’s most elite reining events for 4-, 5- and 6-year-old horses, it also hosts a full-slate of ancillary classes approved by the National Reining Horse Association.

Most of the Ancillary classes are held in the East Arena of the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, and on Tuesday, April 19, the first was held. The Limited Non Pro class ended in a three-way tie for first place between Alexa Maass, Houston, Texas on Flashy With Chrome, Wendy Rhoads, Whitesboro, Texas, on This Rose Will Shine, and Javier Melo on Heza Bantie Rooster.

All three entries marked a 140.5, and each collected $93. Prizes included a C.R. Morrison trophy, a $50 gift certificate to Peggy’s Horse Blankets Cleaning and Repair, a pair of Pro Equine Products skid boots.

The win was special for Maass, who has owned Flashy With Chrome for two years. “This is actually my first class that I have won with him, so it means a lot. We’re showing for Rookie of the Year this year,” Maass, who trains with Steve Archer, said. The pair will actually compete twice more during the week.

Fourteen-year-old Javier Melo is also entered in several classes this week – including the NRBC Youth Classic Challenge. “My horse was really good today. We had a little trouble in our circles, but I think that will be better,” he said. Melo, who rides with Mark Rafacz, is from Pincrest, Florida.

Unlike Maass and Melo, Rhoads, of Whitesboro, Texas, is done competing for the week. “I’m going out on top!” she joked after receiving her awards. Rhoads has owned This Rose Will Shine for five years, although she has only been showing for a year. “We had some issues with lead changes this year, so this was the show to get our mojo back.”

The NRHA Ancillary classes continue Wednesday, April 20, and continues through Sunday, April 24. The entire NRBC is webcast free, thanks to Waltenberry Productions. To access the webcast, visit www.nrbc.com .

The NRBC also features a full-slate of National Reining Horse Association-approved classes, which run in the East Arena while the Classic is held in the Coliseum. The National Reining Breeders Classic is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just fourteen years, the NRBC has grown to include nearly 200 subscribed stallions. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.4 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.