Brown Wins Adequan NAAC Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year
North Central Region Leads SmartPak Team Championship Standings
ARC Gunnabeabigstar Tops NRHA / Markel Insurance Sale

The $100,000-added National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine brought some of the best reining horses in the world to the NRHA Futurity & Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Thursday, November 29. Entries were headlined by four of the top 2012 NRHA Open World Championship contenders: Rr Hi Ho Star, Sail On Top Whizard, Dreamy Little Sailor and Reminhick.

After a thrilling performance stacked full of high scores, the Shootout out ended with tied scores of 228.5 and a shared championship for NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck (Incisa Scapaccino, Italy) aboard Sail On Top Whizard and NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani (Scottsdale, Ariz.) riding Shiners Chic.

Sail On Top Whizard (Whizard Jac x Miss N Sis by Miss N Cash) is a 2005 stallion owned by Danny and Mireille Cerato (Overijse, Belgium). He has had an extremely successful show career under Fonck’s training and has earned $213,200 in NRHA lifetime earnings including the 2009 NRHA European Futurity Level 4 Open Championship, 2010 Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Championship and 2011 IRHA Derby Level 4 Open Championship. Prior to the Shootout paycheck ($30,294), they earned $42,437 for a total of $72,731 in 2012 Category 1 Open classes unofficially.

Shiners Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Ebony Shines by Shining Spark) is a 2005 gelding owned by Rosanne Sternberg (Aubrey, Texas). He has excelled in both open and non pro competition to a tune of $182,400 in NRHA lifetime earnings and the following accomplishments: 2008 NRHA Futurity Open finalist, two-time National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Level 4 Open finalist (2009 and 2010), 2011 NRBC Level 4 Non Pro finalist, 2012 NRBC Challenge Level 4 Non Pro Champion and 2012 Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic CRI-3* Champion.

The 2012 NRHA Open World Champion will be recognized on Saturday, December 1 prior to the second section of the NRHA Futurity Open finals.

Equine Sports Medicine was a proud sponsor of the $100,000-added NRHA Open World Championship Shootout. To learn more about their veterinarians, show schedule and technology, visit www.equine-sportsmedicine.com.

Brown Wins Adequan NAAC Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year
Thursday’s competition in the Adequan Championship Arena featured 65 competitors in the Adequan NAAC Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year. Betsy Brown (Worthington, Ohio) qualified for the Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year on her Sv Peppys Whiz at the NRHA East Central Regional Affiliate Finals in Lexington, Kentucky. They earned a 217.5 in the Adequan NAAC championship class for the win.

Wayne Thompson (Lexington, Ky.) rode his Crazy Lights (Hit The Lights x Smart Attack) to a 217 for the reserve championship. The duo also represented the East Central region.

The top ten finishers in the Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year received Montana Silversmiths trophy buckles.

North Central Region Leads SmartPak Team Championship Standings
In the Adequan NAAC Team Championship standings (prior to Rookie of the Year), the North Central region leads with 64 points so far. The Mountain region is right behind with 43.5 points and the South Central has 50.5 points for third thus far. SmartPak will present $2,500 and the 2012 Adequan NAAC Team Championship on Saturday evening. The award goes to the region that earns the most total points at this year’s Adequan NAAC.

NRHA / Markel Insurance Breeders Showcase Results (unofficial)

• Gross Sales – $933,000
• 87 head sold (approx. 90% of  horses that went through the ring were sold)
• Average = $10,700
• High Seller – $50,000 – Hip 32  – ARC Gunnabeabigstar – Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic (by Wimpys Little Step) – Consigned by Arcese Quarter Horses (Jeff Oswood, Agent) –  2011 Palomino colt – Purchased by HDC Quarter Horses USA, Inc.
• 2nd High Seller – $48,000 – Hip  101 – Sparkling Seets – Shining Spark x Remedy For Sweets (by Grays Starlight) – Consigned by Sunrise Ranch – 2008 Palomino mare – Purchased by Maria Margarita Buey Arielti

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW

It’s the most elite reining event in the world with 3,000 entries competing for more than $2 million in cash and prizes. More than 1,300 horses and 127,000 visitors come from nearly 20 countries to compete and watch the excitement unfold. During its 10-day run, the show contributes more than $67 million to the overall Oklahoma City economy.

The show features the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 1 when the winning entry is guaranteed a check for $150,000, as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors. The NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity offers an additional $260,000 in added money for non pro reiners, which will be awarded on Friday, November 30. More than $100,000 in nominator incentive money also will be distributed to those individuals who originally nominated horses to the NRHA Nomination Program, despite whether or not they still own the horse.

The NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show offers a variety of spectator events and activities including a western gift market, NRHA / Markel Insurance Horse Futurity Sales, NRHA Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine, Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year and 4R Performance Horses Hometown Heroes Slide & Freestyle Reining benefitting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Go to nrhafuturity.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Supporters

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan, Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center, Classic Equine, Darling 888 Ranch, Downunder Horsemanship, Horse&Rider, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialists, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl, Montana Silversmiths, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Purina, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company, Silver Spurs Equine, SmartPak, Twister Trailer and World Development Group International.

In addition, NRHA thanks NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Event Sponsors:

• Platinum Futurity Sponsors: 4R Performance  Horses, Equine Sports Medicine, KO Trading, RAM, Roleski Ranch, Sandbur Productions LLC  and Scott Cleaners
• Gold Futurity Sponsors: Cowdog Saddles, Equine Oasis, Kyle Tack, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, Soft Ride and The New West
• Silver Futurity Sponsors: Avila’s Pro Shop, E-Z Go, Forewheeler Golf Cars, Heat-A-Zone and Millennium Luxury Coaches