Reining fans from all corners of the globe are looking forward to this year’s 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. It’s the largest show in all of Reining and is expected to pay out loads of cash, in addition to a plentitude of awards.
The event will welcome leading riders and the best three-year-old reining horses November 24 through December 3 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. More than 800 entries have been received for the Futurity thus far. Added money projections for the Futurity are shaping up for a sizeable increase and reining superstars are making plans to enter the $100,000 Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine.
SIZEABLE INCREASE IN FUTURITY
2008 foals competing at this year’s NRHA Futurity will be the first to reap rewards from the NRHA Nomination Program. Approximately $597,000 in new added money was created by the program bringing the added money total to more than $860,000.
The Open Futurity will offer close to $580,000 in added money with the Non Pro Futurity offering nearly $280,000. Additionally, nearly $100,000 in nominator incentive money will be distributed to those individuals who originally nominated horses to the program, despite whether or not they still own the horse. Total purse projections for the 2011 NRHA Open and Non Pro Futurity (based on 2010 final entry counts) come to nearly $2 million.
SUPERSTARS COMING TO OKC
With entries in the $100,000 added Open World Championship Shootout not due until November 7, many players are waiting to officially put their name on the list. However with that much money and an NRHA World Championship on the line, top players are not overlooking this opportunity made available thanks to presenting sponsor, Equine Sports Medicine. Several have stated their intent to enter some of Reining’s best horses in the class and to gun for the $30,000 estimated winner’s purse.
- Shawn Flarida (NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider) expects to enter Whizkey N Diamonds ($187,000 NRHA LTE)
- Andrea Fappani (NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider) anticipates showing Taris Designer Genes ($244,000 NRHA LTE) and Whiz Jewels ($92,000 NRHA LTE)
- Craig Schmersal (NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider) plans to bring Boom Shernic ($280,000 NRHA LTE) and Missy Lil Addy Tude ($83,000 NRHA LTE)
- Jordan Larson ($930,000 NRHA LTE) intends to bring Custom Harley ($125,000 NRHA LTE) and Stop Like A Dream (National Reining Breeders’ Classic Level 4 Open Reserve Champion)
In addition, some of the Europe top reiners are evaluating their options to give them the best shot at winning the Shootout and potentially the NRHA Open World Championship:
- Rudi Kronsteiner ($920,000 NRHA LTE) and Smart Spook ($396,000 NRHA LTE)
- Bernard Fonck ($800,000 NRHA LTE)
MORE ABOUT THE SHOOTOUT
Make plans to attend the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show for the $100,000 added NRHA Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine. In addition to crowning the Shootout champion, NRHA will honor the 2011 NRHA Open World Champion in front of the largest live Reining audience in the world!
Equine Sports Medicine is a proud sponsor of the $100,000 added World Championship Shootout. To learn more about their veterinarians, show schedule and technology, visit http://www.equine-sportsmedicine.com.