The ‘Spirit of the West’ will be alive and well in Oklahoma City November 27 - December 6.  The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Championship Show is the place to be for entertainment, education, horse sales, keen competition and shopping in true, ‘Old West’ fashion.  For most, celebrating Thanksgiving means a trip to grandma’s house or holiday preparations for a meal at home. For reiners, Thanksgiving Day means the start of the most important competition of the year – the NRHA Futurity & Championship Show.  More than $1,250,000 was awarded during its 2002 run, and the 2003 version promises to be another record-breaking event.

NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Rider, Shawn Flarida, and NRHA’s newest Two Million Dollar Sire, Bob Loomis Quarter Horses’ Topsail Whiz, will be honored during special ceremonies on Friday and Saturday evenings.  And NRHA will honor their Hall of Fame inductees at the Gathering of Legends reception to be held at the NRHA Office on December 5.

 

For the younger generation, there is a special 4-H and FFA Day Clinic presented by television personality Clinton Anderson, star of the Downunder Horsemanship television series, which airs on Outdoor Life Network (OLN).  Also featured in the clinic is one of NRHA’s most successful and influential horsemen, 1994 NRHA Open Futurity Champion Bob Avila.  It’s a chance to learn from respected clinicians and take in the Futurity competition.  Not a member of 4-H or FFA?  Go to www.nrha.com for clinic ticket information or call the NRHA office at 405-946-7400.

 

National Reining Horse Youth Association members will hold the annual NRHYA Conference and their Election of Officers on Friday, December 5.  The Intercollegiate Judging Contest will showcase college students as judging teams compete for the prestigious Intercollegiate Judging Contest championship title and a multitude of awards.

 

Looking for a reining horse, broodmare or prospect?  The NRHA Futurity has three topnotch horse sales scheduled: The NRHA Breeders Showcase Select Yearling Sale, Thursday, December 4; NRHA Breeders Showcase Elite Broodmare & Show Horse Sale, Friday, December 5; NRHA Futurity Prospect Sale, and Saturday, December 6. These sales feature excellent individuals representing the premier bloodlines of the reining horse industry.

 

If you’re looking for entertainment, check out the Freestyle classes.  A real crowd pleaser, Freestyle is a reining routine choreographed to music with horse and rider in costume.  The Non Pro Freestyle is slated for Thursday, December 4, 8:30 p.m., and the Open Invitational Freestyle will take place on Friday, December 5, 6:30 p.m. 

 

The NRHA Futurity also features shopping at its best, including Western décor, clothing, jewelry, artwork, tack, trailers and everything for horsemen and western enthusiasts and non-horseman alike.  There is something for everyone at the Futurity Trade Show.

 

The “PBR-style” Open Futurity finalists introductions were a big hit in 2002 and will be repeated in 2003 between sections of the Cinch NRHA Non Pro/Intermediate Non Pro Futurity Finals on Friday evening.  The Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Finals will showcase the best Non Pros in the reining horse industry as they compete at the most significant reining event of the year.  The Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Finals begin at 5:00 p.m., on Friday, December 5. 

 

For an on-the-edge-of-your-seat experience, don’t miss the NRHA Open Futurity Finals.  NRHA’s most talented and respected professionals go head to head in the event’s premier competition. The Futurity championship title is the ‘pot of gold at the end of the rainbow’ for the finalists – and in 2003 the ‘pot’ is bigger than ever.  For the very first time, the NRHA Open Futurity Champion is guaranteed a paycheck of $175,000!  Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the Open Finals first hand at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, December 6.

 

For those unable to attend, a whole hour of highlights from the 2003 NRHA Futurity & Championship Show, as well as lots of other interesting information about the NRHA, its members, its programs, its sponsors and its legends will appear on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). Look for coverage of the NRHA Futurity on OLN on Sunday, December 28, 3:00 p.m., EST, or Friday, January 2, 2004, 12 Noon EST.