The first day of preliminary competition for the National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro concluded with former Champion Mandy McCutcheon setting the pace of the Non Pro Level 4. The NRBC is held annually at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.

The four-time NRBC Champion was riding Always Gotyer Gunsup, and piloted the 5-year-old mare to a 224. Always Gotyer Gunsup, by Colonels Smoking Gun out of Always A Dunit, is owned by McQuay Stables.

In the Non Pro Level 3, Sarah Willeman has the lead. Willeman and her horse A Shining Sidekick, marked a 219. A Shining Sidekick, a 4-year-old mare, is by Starbucks Sidekick out of A Shining Starlett.

Cross-over competitor Anne Reynolds has the lead of both the Non Pro Level 2 and the Non Pro Level 1. Reynolds, a National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider, piloted her horse Shiney And Verysmart, to a 218. Shiney And Verysmart is a 6-year-old gelding by Very Smart Remedy out of Shirley Shine.

Another former NRBC Non Pro Champion, Lance Griffin, currently leads the Non Pro Prime Time with a 219. Griffin was riding Kachina Tag Olena, a 5-year-old stallion by Whiz N Tag Chex out of Kachina Oak Olena.

The competition continues Wednesday, April 18, with the second half of the Non Pro preliminaries. The top 30 Non Pro Level 4 entries, as well as the top twenty in the Non Pro Levels 1-3 and Prime Time, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, April 21.

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.