Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Open Bridle Champions
Santiago Time
PHOTOSPREAD INSIDE!
11 year old Arno winning one of his many championships as a child with his sister Tabea (5 years younger), brother Josh (10 years younger) and father Markus
When I met Arno Honstetter for the first time I immediately noticed his manners. He always said “Thank You.” The second thing I noticed was his work ethic.
I’ve always thought good manners and hard work will carry you far. Arno is evidence that they will.
Arno was born and raised in Radolfzell, Germany. His parents own and operate a restaurant that has been in their family since 1894. There is no doubt in my mind that’s where he was instilled with a work ethic.
His father was an avid horseman and it was through him Arno inherited and
Arno’s sister Tabea tells a story of Arno when he was 3 years old. He was already in love with horses. Because of this his parents began looking for a school where he could ride. They found none of the normal riding schools took children that young. Markus, Arno’s father, began working with a friend to convince a school to accept him despite his age. They relented and accepted him. It was a vaulting school.
“All he wanted to do was go fast on a
horse and hang off the side of it!” Says Tabea. One day Arno was lopng a horse and it tripped and flipped over hitting the ground launching the young Arno.
All the other kids, most twice his age or older, began crying. They were afraid Arno was hurt and they wouldn’t get near that horse because they were afraid it would hurt them.
In classic Arno matter-of-factness after the drama settled down he said, “Well, can I keep riding now?” He climbed back on the horse and loped off. The other children were amazed.
And so it was, this is how Arno began his journey to become a professional horse trainer and a Million Dollar NRHA rider. Being a whiz kid, he graduated high school at 16. He had the option of going to college but his passion was training horses.
Markus was acquainted with Cowhorse legend Bobby Ingersoll. He inquired regarding a summer internship for Arno and
Bobby said “I’m not in the business of raising babies.” He was referring to Arno’s relatively young age. Bobby was blunt but he gave them good advice and a good lead.
He referred him to NRCHA Hall of Famer Ken Wold in Wilton, California. Ken and wife Ramona agreed to give Arno a summer internship. That summer stretched into three years.
Ken says “he’s the best assistant I ever had. He was a natural horseman and excellent rider. No one could out work him.”
“He would start at 6 am and I would have to come get him to quit or he would ride all night,” says the million dollar rider.
Arno became an “adopted” member of the Wold family. Ken credits his mother, Betty, the common sense Wold ranch matriarch and native of Atoka, OK with taking the young Arno under her wings.
“My mom was a generous, loving and caring person. The two of them hit it off the first day.”
Young Arno loping his horse at a fast pace.
According to his family he always liked to go fast
One of the first assignments given to Arno was to get on an unbroke Grey Starlite mare. Ken’s round pen was uncovered at the time. There had been a late spring storm that muddied its black soil.
“Arno was loping around on that mare when the dirty rascal turned inside out,” Ken said. “She went left and Arno was ejected right rolling him into a ball and covering him with mud from head to toe.”
I told him to go up to the house and clean up. When Arno went to the house he was met at the door by Betty. She said, “You’re not coming into my house looking like that. Take off your pants!”
She went back in the house to get a towel. When she returned to the back door to her surprise Arno was standing there buck naked. All he had on was raccoon eyes from the mud.
Betty broke out in laughter and promptly grabbed the garden hose near the back porch and sprayed him off. She threw him a towel and told him “go get dressed and get back to work!”
Arno on WHIZKEY CHASER in the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City
Brenda Joyce, Arno & COLONELS SPLASHY
GUN owned by Brenda and riden by Arno to the 2014 Level 3 NRHA Open Derby Championship
Arno and Ken still talk about once a week discussing training, problem horses and just to check on each other.
Arno moved on working for World’s Greatest Horseman and NRHA Futurity champion Randy Paul and the all-time winningest rider in NRHA history Andrea Fappani.
Arno was met with immediate success. In 2011, he showed SHOW ME THE BUCKLES to reserve Level 4 open champion in the NRHA Futurity.
Soon thereafter, he set off on his own starting Honstetter Performance Horses. The success and the wins
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continued. In 2016 he won the Level 3 Open NRHA Futurity on WHIZKEY CHASER.
In the Spring 2019 long time client and friend Brenda Joyce built Five Bells Ranch. Brenda along with husband Rick Christen brought Arno on board as resident trainer and general manager of their state-of-theart facility which is the home of STORYBOOK STABLE’s in Scottsdale, AZ.
His success continued. He won the level 2 and was reserve Champion in the Level 3 of the NRHA Derby in 2020 on SPECIAL MADE WHISKEY
Arno is known for his jovial nature and sense of humor. He carried that into the show pen at the 2020 RUN FOR A MILLION winning the freestyle reining on Storeybook Stables WIMPYS HIGH BID.
His success at THE RUN FOR A MILLION continued into 2022. He had the high score at the Cactus Classic RUN FOR A MILLION qualifier on Rick Christen’s MSDREAMY with a score of 229.5. He followed that with a 231.5 and 5th pace finish earning $60,000 that summer in THE RUN FOR A MILLION.
Arno’s personal life took a dramatic turn in 2016 when on the last day of the high roller reining classic in Las Vegas mutual friends introduced him to Laura Fourre. They’ve been together ever since. They were married Dec 29, 2018.
They were blessed three years later with a baby girl, Tatum. She’s the new boss at the farm.
She was born Feb 7, 2022. Much to the delight of grand parents Leo and Sharon Fourre and Markus and Bea Honstetter.
Arno & Laura’s wedding was a beautiful affair in Scottsdale. It was attended by many members of the horse community.
In Arno & Laura fashion a great dance and celebration followed the wedding
Tatum has become Arno’s little buddy. She has inherited her parents and grandparents love of horses.
Brenda shares a great story about Arno. “The first time I ever laid eyes on Arno, I was riding Arabian reiners. It was dark and I was leaving the big Scottsdale show, on foot, and two guys were walking towards me. Being from New York City, walking towards men in the dark causes alarm. But when their faces came into view, the little skinny one smiled that famous Arno Honstetter smile at me, I nodded, and all was well.
A few years later when I was riding “real” reiners, I had to leave Tracer Gilson who had moved to California. I had no idea where to go. And I was standing on the rail, again at the Scottsdale Arabian Show, next to this skinny guy I remembered. Now, I
had seen him show for Fappani since that first encounter. I knew how good he was and that he had gone out on his own. He smiled at me and I blurted out that I was looking for a trainer and I had a dozen horses. Was he interested?
Obviously he was. I moved in. We were one month out from the NRBC. I had a horse named A SHINING SIDEKICK which was way too much horse to me. This is what I told Arno:
“Can you show her at the NRBC in the Derby? Just mark a 216 so we can get her sold.”
He said yes with a funny expression on his face. I didn’t know him then, so I didn’t know that aiming for a 216 in an Open Derby was not a possibility.
He spent the entire month circling her. The day of her go, he could not get her to change leads. Of course, he only told me that after they had showed. And he went in and marked a 222 on her!
We were so happy, and now we just wanted her to be respectable in the Finals so we could get her sold. Unbelievably, he marked another 222 on her in the Finals! And that is how my eleven year relationship with Arno began.”
Arno will be competing in all the major fall reining events. We wish him and his lovely family continued success.
By Joe Carter DVM
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) –With a less than a month to go -- The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort, is proud to announce the return of America’s most attended polo event to WestWorld of Scottsdale on Saturday, November 4th with a new lineup of starstudded teams, cool on-site activations and events, and brand new for 2023 – a Sunset Concert and party to keep fans entertained for the most distinct day in world polo.
The Sunset Concert will be organized by top concert promoters and feature a nationally recognized DJ. It will be staged within the footprint of the Riot House Polo DayClub during the day’s fourth and final match as the sun begins to set on the McDowell Mountains. More details will be announced in the coming weeks and organizers say it is the event’s first attempt to emulate the success of the Waste Management Phoenix Open’s Bird’s Nest. If the concept proves successful the Scottsdale Polo Party may look to expand musical elements later into the night and even on additional days in future years.
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are currently available for the 2023 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships at www.thepoloparty. com.
Last year some 12,144 fans turned out for Scottsdale’s incomparable Polo Party and the state’s top selling champagne event as preparations continue to make 2023 an even bigger and better experience for polo revelers.
Also, brand new for 2023 an expanded wine tasting experience, new charitable partners and elements, and a polo debut by acclaimed Scottsdale steakhouse Maple & Ash. There will also be the first-ever Event & Fall Fashion Showcase in-store September 30th at Neiman Marcus by invitation only.
Among the polo teams slated to play in the four action packed matches of the day – The Arizona Polo Club, Texas - Garland, Aspen Valley Polo Club starring USA’s Top Polo Star Nic Roldan along with the Ganzi family, the Wales polo team captained by Ricky Cooper, plus other teams internationally and locally.
Aspen Valley returns having won an unprecedented seven Scottsdale titles. The team will return for its 8th time to try and win the coveted Molina Cup in the featured match of the day.
The polo matches will entertain crowds throughout the day on November 4th, and so will the other fan favorites events like the Canine Couture Fashion Show by Lugari Pet Salon and The World’s Longest Catwalk Fashion Show Produced by Phoenix Fashion Week and other cool elements. 2023 will also offer more car displays and horsepower supplied by Barrett-Jackson, Bentley Scottsdale and hundreds of other exotic cars displayed throughout the event.
“We couldn’t be more excited and grateful to all of our sponsors, fans and players who are returning for our 12th year coming up on November 4th,” said Beli Merdovic of Bentley Scottsdale. “As always the lineup of unique events, concepts and experiences are shaping up to make this yet another memorable day.” Longtime and marquee sponsors returning for the 2023 the event include Title Sponsor Bentley Scottsdale, Presenting Sponsor Talking Stick Resort, Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, Molina Fine Jewelers, Sanderson Lincoln, Earnhardt’s Genesis of Scottsdale dealership, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Hensley Beverage Company, Breakthru Beverage, Neiman Marcus, Mark-Taylor Residential and several others.
“We are excited for another fantastic afternoon at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships and can’t wait to show off all of the pomp and circumstance that has been planned,” said Event Owner and Producer Jason Rose.
This year fans can also enjoy a return of Riot House Polo DayClub, Grimaldi’s Pizza Disco, which was a hit in its first appearance last year, as well as over ¼ mile of VIP Tents anchored by some of the finest brands in Arizona, as well as the Million Dollar Mingle organized by former NFL Star AC Caswell.
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are currently available for the 2023 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships at www. thepoloparty.com or email Info@ThePoloParty.com.
RENO, NV: The Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity presented by Scooter Kat slid into the “Biggest Little City” for its seventh year, Sept. 13-17, 2023. The cow horse tradition was held at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center.
Justin Wright, from Santa Maria, Calif., claimed his second Open Futurity championship title at the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity riding Clint Kat Sugar with a composite score of 663. The champions started the week off with the high herd work score of a 221, and then marked a 222 in the rein work and a 220 down the fence, securing their top spot. Clint Kat Sugar is a 2020 gelding by Kit Kat Sugar, out of Cut N Klass, and owned by Janet Handtmann.
With the Open Futurity Championship sponsored by Markel Insurance, Wright and Kit Kat Sugar won a check for $35,000 and a trophy buckle sponsored by Lone Oak Large Animal Veterinary Services, Inc.
Wright first won the Open title in 2018 riding Metallic Flame, a gelding owned by Bill Stevenson. Wright also took home the reserve championship title riding Talkin Schmack and took home a check for $19,000 and a buckle sponsored by J&S Farms.
Kitty Wilkins and Carmen Buckingham, from Bruneau, Idaho, slid into the Reno Winner’s Circle, winning both the 2023 Non Pro Futurity and Intermediate Non Pro Futurity championship titles with a composite score of 656 (217.5 in the herd work, 216.5 in the rein work, and 222 down the fence). The duo had the high scores in all three events for both divisions. Kitty Wilkins is a 2020 mare by WR This Cats Smart, out of Miss Bella Blue, and is owned by Tom & Carmen Buckingham. The champions won a check for $20,000 for their Non Pro win, and $2,500 for the Intermediate Non Pro, bringing their total 2023 Reno winnings to $22,500. The Non Pro Futurity championship was sponsored by Beal’s Quarter Horses/ Rare Earth Coffee/Day & Night Markets, and the duo received a trophy buckle sponsored by Boot Barn. The Intermediate Non Pro Futurity championship was sponsored by 4-D Ranch and Gotta Go Get It, and Buckingham received a buckle sponsored by Jim and Linda Schrack.
Open Futurity Divisions: Clint Kat Sugar and Justin Wright win Open Futurity Championship
Non Pro Futurity Divisions: Kitty Wilkins & Carmen Buckingham win Non Pro & Intermediate Non Pro Futurity championships
McKinley Blake and Tex Me A Cat (a 2013 mare by Zezes Pepto Cat, out of Texas Switch) took home the 2023 Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Youth Boxing championship title and a scholarship for $1,500. The champions also received a bronze traveling trophy “Biting Off More Than He Can Chew” by Copenhaver-Fellows and donated by Linda Mars, a gold and silver headstall sponsored by Paula Gentry, Tres Osos Performance Horses, and a buckle sponsored by Mac Stein and Teresa Home. Tex Me A Cat is owned by Rainy Walker.
The Reno
featured the 4th annual Jimmie Paul/ Tenlight Memorial Open Two Rein at the 2023 event, sponsored by the family and friends of horseman, Jimmie Paul, who lost his life in April 2020. The Jimmie Paul/Tenlight Memorial Open Two Rein champion was awarded a perpetual trophy, created by John Mincer Silversmith, in memory of Jimmie Paul and his horse, Tenlight. Tucker Robinson, from Shandon, Calif., and Smooth Outta Style (a 2017 gelding by Smooth Talkin Style) rode into the winner’s circle after earning a composite score of 440. For their 2023 win, Robinson and Smooth Outta Style, owned by Julie Weinhardt and F. Velazquez, took home the perpetual trophy, a check for $1,880 and a buckle sponsored by Tim Terkelsen. Added money for the class was sponsored by Peg Green and Jim Cleary.
Reserve champions were Lance Johnston and Lil Starlight Cat (a 2017 stallion by High Brow Cat), owned by Kenneth & Karen Haugland, winning a check for $1,410.
On Thursday, Sept. 14, the Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Foundation presented the annual Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Open Bridle at the 2023 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, honoring the cowgirl who won the Open and Limited Open Bridle championship titles in 2005 in the Reno arena. Added money for the class was sponsored by PEDIGREE®.
Nick Dowers, from Dyer, Nev., and Santiago Time (a 2014 stallion by One Time Pepto, out of Reymanising) were crowned the 2023 Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Open Bridle champions after marking a composite score of 443.5. Santiago Time is owned by Clinton Marshall. The champions were presented with the traveling bronze “Boots” trophy, which is a cast of Gilkerson’s boots and spurs donated by Marc & Lauren Gilkerson, a check for $5,824, a gold and silver headstall sponsored by Jack Hammond and family, and trophy buckles sponsored by Mike Gilkerson.
The Kieckhefer family’s Legacy Ranch Horse Sale featured 39 of the industry’s best ranch and rope horses which followed a special match roping between two cowboy legends, Tuf Cooper and Joseph Parsons who both competed on LRHS sale graduates that they had purchased through the sale in prior years. The sale featured breeding stock, prospects, and geldings from the K4 Ranch and Diamond A Ranch– both iconic and historic Arizona ranches.
Established in 1941 by J.W. Kieckhefer, the K4 Ranch is recognized for producing well-known rodeo champions. In 2023, AQHA recognized K4 for their 75 years of consecutive breeding. The Kieckhefer’s horses on the famous Diamond A are also known for their strength and stamina, which is necessary to handle the miles of rugged terrain.
“Every year gets more exciting, seeing people walking the stalls and checking out the sale horses as soon as the gates open on Saturday morning. We are proud to offer a small selection of our
talented horseherd to the public each year” says Sarah Kieckhefer
The 8th annual sale took place on the historic Prescott Rodeo Grounds, where an enthusiastic, standing room-only crowd, gathered for their chance to take home a horse from the K4 and Diamond A Ranches. Buyers came from eight states.
“We raise these horses for our cowboys and cowgirls to use while tending to our cattle on these ranches, and it’s very rewarding to watch these same horses end up in the hands of some of the world’s best ropers,” says Rick Kieckhefer. “We take a lot of pride in our cattle operations, horses and employees, and it’s an honor to get to showcase them every year at the sale.”
In addition to the ranch-raised horses offered employees are given the opportunity to consign their own horses. This year, the top-selling employee-consigned horse brought $36,000 with an employee consignment average of $19,700. 12-year-old Diamond A cowboy, Trail McCorkell stole the show during the branding demonstration with his roping skills on a 3-year-old gelding he consigned that sold for$14,000.
“This year’s sale was one of the most impressive auctions I have ever been involved with. The production, quality of stock, and cowboys and cowgirls of the K4 and Diamond A operations were unparalleled. The hard work, passion, and determination of the Kieckhefer family and its employees have made the LegacyRanch Horse Sale the premier Production Sale of the Southwest and beyond and one that I’m certainly proud to be involved with” says sale auctioneer Rick Machado.
Next year’s annual production sale is tentatively scheduled for September 14, 2024.
Sale highlights included 39 head sold with a gross of $838,250. The high seller went for $100,000 and the sale average was $21,500.
Bill Parker, who rode bulls in high school in Oklahoma and then put his rodeo career aside to enlist in the U.S. Army, becoming the first soldier to storm Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, passed away yesterday at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, surrounded by family and friends.
Parker died at 11:11 a.m. on Sept. 11, a day that will always remind Americans of the continuing threats to our country and way of life and how extraordinary people responded with selfless heroism.
In the Second World War, Parker was the only soldier known to have fought from the sands of Omaha Beach all the way to Germany. He covered some 600 miles on foot, hedgerow to hedgerow, farmhouse to farmhouse, a .45 six-shooter strapped to his hip until Allied forces accepted Germany’s surrender in May 1945.
U.S. Senator (Oklahoma) James Lankford said, “The sacrifices Bill Parker and his fellow soldiers made are immeasurable, and they laid the foundation for the freedoms we enjoy today. Bill’s heroism on that fateful day in Normandy is etched into history, inspiring countless generations to come.”
Funeral services were held on Monday, Sept. 18, at Skiatook Church of Christ in Skiatook, Oklahoma.
Parker, a member of the Choctaw Nation and a private in the 116th Infantry, 29th Division of the U.S. Army, is recognized by many as the very first man to lead the charge that tilted the trajectory of World War II. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, four Bronze Service Stars, and the Distinguished Unit Badge and has received the highest honor France has to bestow, the Legion of Honor.
He was also recognized with PBR’s “Be Cowboy” honors when the premier series visited Tulsa this past February.
At age 19, he awoke one June morning at 3:30 a.m. for a beans breakfast on a Navy ship rocking across the choppy English Channel heading for a daring mission that pretty much looked like a death sentence.
As a wire cutter responsible for taking out razor barriers set across the beaches of France by German forces, Parker was “first boot” on Omaha Beach, leading a massive seaborne invasion that landed 133,000 Allied troops on five invasion beaches.
When his craft carrying 33 men came to a halt in the shallow surf far from the beach, Parker waded through waist-deep water, carrying a rifle and a backpack filled with ammunition and dynamite for blowing the barbed wire.
Chewing a wad of gum, he scrambled onto Omaha Beach at 6:31 a.m. Machine gun bullets kicked up sand around him. Stealing a quick look around for his five-man team behind him, he saw no one. Seconds after he’d left the boat, a German artillery shell had scored a direct hit—96% of the men in the entire infantry unit were dead or wounded within a half hour.
On a hill in front of Parker, a German pillbox sprayed machine-gun fire. He was completely exposed, with no one available to provide covering fire. Death seemed seconds away.
“The Navy had orders not to bring the battleship close to shore, but they saw we were hung up. They came in closer and fired shells eight or 10 feet over our heads to knock that pillbox out,” Parker said. “I give the Navy credit for saving the invasion.”
The artillery burst from the USS Doyle sounded like a hundred freight trains screeching past Parker’s head, and his hearing would never be the same. But the barrage sprung him loose, saved his life and helped change the course of the battle.
“You can’t imagine what that beach looked like. There were bodies everywhere. The sea was blood red,” Parker said.
He took as much ammunition from dead soldiers on the beach as he could carry, then led a group of dazed stragglers to the town of Vierville Sur Mer, where an Army lieutenant approached Parker.
“Sergeant, get your men in this foxhole. We’re fixing to take this town,” he ordered.
“All right, sir,” Parker replied, “but I’m a private, not a sergeant.”
“Well, you are one now,” the officer said.
Within a day of landing in Europe, the courageous private was promoted to staff sergeant.
William Norman Parker’s life as a cowboy began the moment he was born in a tent in a Southern California oil field on Nov. 1, 1924. His father, Guy, a self-sufficient farmer who took the family to California when times got tough in Oklahoma, declared: “This boy’s name is Bill. He was born a cowboy. He’ll be a cowboy. And he’ll die a cowboy.”
Guy horse-traded, and he put Bill on a horse before he could walk. At 5, Bill was riding milk cows and steers. The family was too poor to afford a saddle; Bill rode bareback until he was 12. By 16, back in Oklahoma, he was entering rodeos, riding broncs and bulls.
“On a Friday night, they’d pay you a dollar to ride a bull and a
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dollar to ride a bronc,” he says. “I’d ride one of each, then go on Saturday and make two dollars more. Sometimes I’d be back again on Sunday. I could buy my girlfriend a candy bar and a soda, and I imagined I was the richest cowboy in the country.”
Last month, at his son Keith’s house outside of Tulsa, friends saddled up seven horses, and Bill got to see his youngest great-grandson on the
back of one of the animals that meant so much to his life.
Even surrounded by peaceful, dutiful horses, Parker carried a heavy weight of battlefield horrors for many years. His nightmares wouldn’t stop.
“I think about it every night. There’s no getting away from it,” Parker said in an interview before Jun. 6, 2022, when he returned to Omaha Beach for the first time since 1944. He looked out from the same bluff he’d crawled up against enemy fire 78 years earlier and again
saw all those bodies. Then he noticed nobody was shooting at him.
The sounds of gunfire and explosions had been replaced by the squealing laughter of children splashing in the water below. Dogs rolled in the grass. Families had picnic blankets spread out.
A Frenchman put his hand on Bill’s shoulder and thanked him for saving his country. Those words and the blue sky and clean green water cleared his mind. The images of hor-
ror flew away like birds through prison bars. He never had another nightmare.
“I’ve lived a good life,” Parker said.
“I didn’t have much.
But I had the best wife, a good saddle, a good horse, and that’s all I needed.”
When his wife Colleen passed away in 2018, Bill would visit the cemetery in Sperry, Oklahoma, every day to speak to his soulmate.
He will now rest next to Colleen forevermore.
It’s no secret the name Fappani is synonymous with greatness within the reining community. As the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) all-time leading rider, Andrea Fappani continues to set the standard within the sport and shatter records. Recently, he stamped his name in the history books once again by becoming the first NRHA Eight Million Dollar Rider. In addition, he accomplished yet another rare feat by adding his name to the list of NRHA Million Dollar Owners.
The further you investigate Fappani’s history, the more impressive he gets. Hailing from Bergamo, Italy, the now 46-year-old professional grew up on a dairy farm. His love for reining blossomed from a horseriding hobby shared between him and his father. That passion grew until Fappani finally moved to the States to pursue a career in the sport and eventually went out on his own in 2003. Three years later, the young professional surpassed his first NRHA million and has only continued to grow from there.
During his climb to $8 million, three owners seem to have found the formula for success with NRHA’s all-time leading rider at the reins: Rancho Oso Rio LLC (owned by Pat Warren), Tim Anderson, and Marilyn Overgaard. Of Fappani’s top 10 earning performances on his way to this milestone, nine were aboard a horse owned by one of these elite NRHA members.
Fappani entered the 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, less than $12,000 away from this historic milestone after amazing performances at The Run For A Million (TRFAM) and Reining By The Bay. Only three days into the competition, he more than surpassed his needed earnings after snagging the Level 4 Open Futurity Championship aboard Bill Coburn’s Vintage Chex for $14,879 and fourth place on Hypnotyze owned by Overgaard, earning an additional $9,565.
Since becoming the first NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider, Fappani’s highest earning performances on his way to eight million include:
2022 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition Reserve Champion aboard Trash Talkin Spook, owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $100,000
2022 NRHA Futurity 4th Place aboard Gunna Run N Slide, owned by Tim Anderson and bred by Toyon Ranch LLC, earning $78,620
2023 The American Performance Horseman Reserve Champion aboard Trash Talkin Spook, owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $75,000
2022 NRHA Futurity 5th Place aboard Mic Dropp, owned by Tim Anderson/Clark Reining Horses LLC and bred by Clark Reining Horses LLC, earning $64,159
2023 National Reining Breeders Classic Reserve Champion aboard Trash Talkin Spook, owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $60,000
In addition to an impressive career in the showpen, Fappani has found great success as an NRHA owner. Much of that success has been a family affair, with nearly all his owner earnings coming from the success of the people closest in his life. In fact, over 20% of Fappani’s owner earnings are from Spooks N Jewels (Smart Spook x Whiz Jewels), whom he; his wife, Tish; and sons, Luca and Jeremy, rode to a combined $200,285 in lifetime earnings (LTE).
The Fappani family has combined earnings on several other horses, including Icecube, whom Tish and Luca piloted to more than $176,000 in LTE when Fappani owned the 2015 gelding. Icecube’s most notable win came when Tish and the SG Frozen Enterprize x Taris Designer Genes bred Quarter Horse won the 2018 NRHA Level 4 Non Pro Futurity.
In addition to the aforementioned horses, top performers contributing to Fappani’s NRHA owner earnings are:
Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes) bred by Rancho Oso Rio LLC and contributing $155,438
Sharp Dressed Spook (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena) bred by Bobby Lewis and contributing $100,891
Gotta Get Diamonds (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Tinker With Diamonds) bred by Rancho Oso Rio LLC and contributing $66,953
Litn Up Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Aleena Starlight) bred by Cache Performance Horses LLC and contributing $44,296
Gunna Chic Dream (ARC Gunna Sparkya x Magnum Chic Dunit) bred by Rabboni Reining Horses and contributing $41,207
Fappani has flown through the milestones within reining and earned the right to call himself one of the greatest riders in NRHA history. Now, he is also considered one of the greatest owners and is one of the few able to call themselves a multi-million dollar rider and a million dollar owner within the association. And, considering his competitive drive and fierce passion for the sport, this impressive NRHA Professional certainly has more to come.
Stetson Wright is a man on a mission in 2023 and no record will get in his way of accomplishing his ultimate goal of winning three gold buckles and $1.2 million by season’s end.
A year ago, he set the PRCA record in the all-around and bull riding for the most money won in a single regular season before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He couldn’t help but one up himself this year.
With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season – it ends Sept. 30 – Wright has already blown past those totals from 2022. As of Sept. 19, he has earned $403,913 in the all-around and $324,128 in bull riding. He said while the standings reflect a huge season, it didn’t feel that way until recently.
“The money earned in the standings doesn’t reflect on how slow the year felt like it was going for me until literally these last 19 days,” said Wright, a seven-time PRCA World Champion. “It felt like everything was moving slow, but finally when I was able to get on everyday that’s when it started really clicking again.”
In the first 19 days of September, Wright has won a total of four rodeos between saddle bronc riding and bull riding, pocketing $129,839 in the process. With the season winding down, his goal of winning a rare rodeo
triple crown is in sight. He currently leads the PRCA | RAM World Standings in the all-around, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding.
“My main goal every year is to win the triple crown. I set the money records in hopes that if I completely dominate those that I’ll dang for sure have those gold buckles at the end of the year,” Wright said.
“When I don’t win all three honestly, it’s a letdown. I’m still happy obviously with winning, but in the back of my mind there’s still that feeling that you didn’t get that done. That eats at me and why I’m constantly striving to get the triple crown.”
Wright’s six years in ProRodeo have been nothing short of astonishing, as he creeps closer toward the $3 million career earnings mark. It makes you wonder what the now 24-year-old still has left to accomplish in the sport. According to him, this is only the beginning.
“I keep telling myself that people don’t hit their prime until their 30s, so I should be getting better every single year. I feel like at times I set unrealistic goals, but then by the end of the year it was actually realistic, and I need to go even higher,” he said. “It’s one of those things that I expect of myself, but at the same time I see how blessed I am to be doing what I’m doing. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid.”
PENDLETON, Ore. – No one could step on Superman's cape.
Stetson Wright, thanks to a superhero performance, captured the Pendleton Whisky Xtreme Bulls Finale and Xtreme Bulls Tour titles for the second-consecutive year.
The Milford, Utah, star had 263.5 points on three head to win the average. No one rode four bulls. Wright had a commanding lead in the Xtreme Bulls Tour standings and secured his second career Tour crown by earning $29,093 at the Xtreme Bulls Finale.
"It feels better this year, honestly," said Wright, 24. "Anytime you come back and repeat a title you comeback to show everybody it is not a fluke. I always love showing people that nothing I do is a fluke. This is a pretty special feeling."
His latest heroics didn't come without plenty of drama before a sold-out crowd of 5,000 spectators at Happy Canyon Arena.
As the last bull rider of the event, Wright needed a qualified ride of 80.5 points to defeat Josh Frost, who had 254.5 points.
Wright delivered in the clutch, registering an 89-point trip on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Bouchon.
"I have had extremely good luck with (Bouchon), but I don't think he has ever been that good," Wright said. "That ride felt awesome. I couldn't even hear the whistle go off because the crowd was so loud. When I stepped off a lot of people (in the crowd) were standing up. These fans and this whole bull riding is unreal."
Wright opened the door to get beat in the Tour Finale when he was bucked off by Big Rafter Rodeo's Kiss Me in Round 3 on Tuesday. Couple that with the fact Frost (254.5 points) and Creek Young (250 points) each started the competition by going 3-for-3.
"I wasn't worried about what Josh and Creek did," Wright said. "I thought let's just win the last round. I didn't think I was out of it, but I put myself in that position and if I was going to win, I had to do really good."
Frost and Young opened the door back up for Wright to be triumphant when they were bucked off Macza Pro Rodeo's Wreckonciled and Brookman Rodeo's Road Rage, respectively, in the final round.
"This means a lot," said Wright about being the Xtreme Bulls champion two years in a row. "I struggled to the point that I didn't want to do Xtreme Bulls events. Then, I decided to change my attitude and because attitude is altitude, and it just seems like that ever since I wanted to be at them I have done a lot better."
Wright adds his latest two Xtreme Bulls titles to his seven PRCA World Championships – four in all-around (2019-22); two in bulls (2020, 2022) and one in saddle bronc riding (2021).
"I just feel lucky, and it goes back to my support system," he said. "I couldn't do this without my mom and my dad and my brothers and sister. They push me every year. It is an unreal feeling being where I'm at and I feel lucky, and I know it all because of them."
Last month, only three horses were known as NRHA $10 Million Sires. However, after a full summer of premier events within the reining community, two more elite stallions have etched their names in NRHA history again—Gunnatrashya and Magnum Chic Dream.
Gunnatrashya
A mere five months after crossing the last milestone, Gunnatrashya is now an NRHA $10 Million Sire. With his superior breeding, it’s no surprise to see the 2023 NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee among the top of the record books. Sired by NRHA $14 Million Sire Gunner and out of Natrasha, Gunnatrashya was bred by Katarina Dorminy of Georgia. Arcese Quarter Horses USA has owned the 2006 stallion since the beginning and has seen him achieve great success both in and out of the breeding shed.
Gunnatrashya had a short but prosperous career within the show arena. With NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida at the reins, the stallion amassed nearly $220,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE). The duo’s top wins came during the 2009 NRHA Futurity and subsequent NRHA Derby, where they were crowned the Level 4 Open Champions at each event.
Within his breeding career, Gunnatrashya has sired numerous offspring—with 17 having more than $100,000 in NRHA LTE, including Gunna Stop (out of Stop Little Sister), who is NRHA’s Third All-Time Leading Horse. At this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, 20 of the stallion’s progeny made the finals in open and non pro competition and averaged more than $7,000 in earnings. One of these incredible offspring was Gunnabebigtime (out of Big Time Jazzy). With NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham at the reins, the stallion earned over $52,000—taking home the Level 4 Open Reserve Championship.
Vanlandingham and Tami Nelson’s bred and owned Gunnabebigtime went on to add even more to Gunnatrashya’s earnings. The duo won big again in Vegas during The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Open Shootout, taking home the Reserve Championship and $17,551. Then the pair added nearly $30,000 more to the sire’s earnings at the 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa, OK, where they won
the Level 4 Open Derby Reserve Championship, the NARS Level 4 Open Derby Reserve Championship, and the Open Mare Power Championship. Vanlandingham and Gunnabebigtime added approximately $100,000 to Gunnatrashya’s offspring earnings and helped him officially become an NRHA $10 Million Sire.
Gunnatrashya’s highest-earning offspring are:
Gunna Stop (Stop Little Sister), owned by Amber Gokey and bred by Toyon Ranch, LLC, earning $672,762
Andiamoe (Wimpys Little Chic), bred and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, earning $430,302
Ten Thirty (Dainty Little Step), owned by Rancho El Fortin and bred by Brooke Wharton, earning $418,788
Super Marioo (HA Chic A Tune), owned by Tom & Mandy McCutcheon and bred by Hillis Akin Family Partnership, earning $338,891
Trash Talkin Spook (I Spook), owned by Marilyn Overgaard and bred by Vicki Dias, earning $320,085
Magnum Chic Dream achieved his first million with NRHA in 2010. Bred by Guy Du Ponchel and owned by Jack and Viola Scott, the 1996 stallion has been one of NRHA’s leading sires for 23 years. Less than a year after crossing the nine million dollar mark, Magnum Chic Dream is an NRHA $10 Million Sire—only the fifth in the association’s history.
Magnum Chic Dream earned over $44,000 in NRHA LTE during his show career. NRHA Professional Patti Brownshadel rode the stallion during his first three years in competition. Then, owner Viola Scott took the reins before passing him off to NRHA Million Dollar Rider Casey Hinton. Hinton piloted the horse to the Senior Reining Championship at the 2004 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show.
From there, the elite stallion began a full-time breeding career. The NRHA Hall of Famer has 23 offspring with more than $100,000 in NRHA LTE and has nearly 700 offspring with earnings registered with the association. With such a successful set of progeny and increased event payouts, the stallion had several horses to help push him over the $10 million mark.
“Magnum” reached this milestone after impressive performances at the 100X Reining Stakes, where his offspring earned
continued on page 58
The Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, will kick off October 6 through 21
Total event payout over $2.2 million
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) announces that nearly $130,000 in added money will be up for grabs at the 2023 Snaffle Bit Futurity® presented by Metallic Cat through five different incentives.
Returning to the 2023 event, the Western Bloodstock sale incentive will pay nearly $80,000 to the top four placing sale graduates in the Open and Non Pro prelims. Additionally, the return of the APHA Chrome Cash incentive, which will pay out across the Open, Non Pro, and Non Pro Boxing divisions, and the Gelding incentive, which will be awarded to the highest placing gelding in the prelims of the Open and Non Pro divisions.
“The number of incentives that we are seeing throughout the performance horse industry is astounding, and the Snaffle Bit Futurity® is no different. These incentives allow our riders and owners to get a piece of the largest payout to date,” Emily Konkel, NRCHA executive director, said. “We will be paying out our Western Bloodstock Sale Incentive, APHA Chrome Cash and Gelding Incentive along with two new incentives for our high placing mare in the Open Futurity Finals sponsored by East West Equine and our new and coveted Triple Crown Incentive.”
New for this year is the addition of the Mare incentive sponsored by East West Equine and the beginning of the Triple Crown incentive. The Mare incentive has $5,000 in added money and will be awarded to the highest placing mare in the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® finals.
In the NRCHA, only one rider has won the Open Hackamore, the Open Bridle, and the Snaffle Bit Futurity® in the same year. Bobby Ingersoll won the prestigious title in 1975 when he won the Snaffle Bit Futurity® on Hankey Pankey, owned by Strain Ranches, the Open Bridle on Burnt Girl, owned by Stain Ranches, and the Open Hackamore on D’Or Sugar Spice, owned by Don Calegari.
In honor of this feat, the NRHCA launched the Triple Crown Incentive, which will be awarded to a rider who wins the Open Hackamore, the Open Bridle, and the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® in the same year. The NRCHA has added $30,000, bolstering the purse from the automatic entry fee for horses competing in the Open Bridle, Open Hackamore, and Open Snaffle Bit Futurity®. The purse will be carried forward for each year there is not a winner.
The addition of these incentives will expand the total event payout to over $2.2 million. The Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, will kick off October 6 through 21 at the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in Fort Worth, Texas. For complete event details, visit nrcha.com/snaffle-bit-futurity.
From page 54
$184,531. Magnum With Addytude (out of Dunit With Addytude) took home the 100X Stakes Level 3 Open Championship and fifth place in Level 4 with NRHA Professional Josh Tishman at the reins. Bred by Bruce Koefoot and owned by High Medow Ranch, LLC, Magnum With Addytude added $62,000 to his sire’s offspring earnings.
Customize My Dream (out of Gunna Be Custom) and NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary added another $40,000 after taking 3rd in the 100X Stakes Level 4 Open. This was straight off their 6th place performance at TRFAM Open Shootout, where they earned a paycheck of over $8,000 and secured a spot in the 2024 Run for a Million Competition for Deary. Bred and owned by Devin Warren, it’s only fitting that Customize My Dream and Deary would be an integral part
of helping Magnum cross the $10 million after ushering the stallion to his last milestone with their Reserve Championship at the 2022 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity.
Magnum Chic Dream’s top-earning offspring are:
Msdreamy (A Gal With A Gun), owned by Rick Christen and bred by Jana Simons, earning $263,131
Mr Farenheit (Wimpy Little Girl), owned by Morin and Vandorp and bred by Peter Morgan, earning $256,526
Chic Dreamin (Skeets Red Dunit), owned by Silver Spurs Equine and bred by Casey Hinton, earning $248,880 Made By Magnum (Ready Make Cowboy), owned by Lucinda Human and bred by Lagle & Savage LLC, earning $200,586
Taris Dreamer (Taris San Cutter), owned by Ron Thompson and bred by Werner Hermus, earning $194,312
The 44th annual Fall Triangle Horse Sale will return to the 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows.
The American Quarter Horse Association is proud to announce that the 44th Triangle Fall Sale will be held October 26-28 in conjunction with the
2023 Nutrena AQHA World Championship Show and Adequan® Select World Championship Show at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, October 26 - November 16.
“We are looking forward to hosting the annual Triangle Fall Sale at the most prestigious American Quarter Horse show
of the year,” said Scott Neuman, AQHA Director of Competition. “The sale has added an exciting component to the Nutrena AQHA World and Adequan® Select World these last few years. The
Triangle Sale team is bringing this highly anticipated annual sale back for our members and western performance horse enthusiasts from across the na-
tion to enjoy.”
Western Bloodstock is the official sale company for the National Cutting Horse and the National Reined Cow Horse associations, hosting annual futurity sales for each association, as well as a Mid-Year Cutting Horse Sale. For those who would prefer the option to bid offsite, Triangle offers preapproved absentee bidding by phone or through Triangle’s online bidding platform.
Consignment entries were due Monday, September 11; forms and sale details are available at www.trianglehorsesales. net.
Markel is pleased to provide 24-hour fall of the hammer mortality insurance coverage for horses purchased during the 44th Triangle Fall Sale at the AQHA World Show. Fall of the hammer mortality insurance coverage provides buyers immediate all risk mortality and theft coverage on horses purchased for 24-hours after the close of the sale. Markel’s all risk mortality and theft coverage reimburses you for the death, theft, or human destruction of your covered horse, including illness or disease. Coverage can be extended past the 24-hours provided, by contacting Markel directly at 800-446-7925, or connect with a Markel horse insurance specialist at www.markelwestern.com. Markel must hear from you before the coverage expires, or prior to the horse being transported or shipped. Horses already in transit are not insurable until the final destination is reached.
Rapp Ranch and Dont Stopp Believin will be providing $100,000 in incentives to be distributed between 6 NCHA Derby classes during the Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular.
FORT WORTH – It’s with great excitement that Rapp Ranch and Dont Stopp Believin
announce that they will be offering an incentive at the 2024 NCHA Open Derby during the Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular. They will be providing $100,000 in incentives to be distributed between 6 NCHA Derby classes. In order to be eligible, you must have a FULLY PAID 2024 breeding to Dont Stopp Believin!
Dont Stopp Believin (Dual Rey x Dont Look Twice) will be standing at Oswood Stallion Station for the 2024 season. The 2011 Sorrel Stallion has obtained a LTE of $461,561 and is owned by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp of Rapp Ranch. Dont Stopp Believin has offspring earnings totaling over $2 million. His career highlights include (2018) NCHA Open Res World Champion, NCHA Non Pro Top 10, AQHA Res World Champion, Congress Mercuria Open Champion, Congress Mercuria Non Pro Champion, (2017) NCHA World Finals Top 10, Brazos Bash Classic Open & Non Pro Top 10, and much more! For a full list and lineage, check out rappranch.com/DontStoppBelievin.htm.
“We are pleased to partner with Rapp Ranch and their stud, Dont Stopp Believin to offer additional incentives for the 2024 NCHA Summer Spectacular Open Derby,” said Jay Winborn, NCHA Executive Director. “The NCHA is dedicated to promoting the industry of cutting horses by ways of creating a positive and competitive edge that encourages sportsmanship, dedication, and healthier equine atheletes.”
When NRHA Professional Craig Schmersal pulled into Las Vegas for The Run For A Million (TRFAM), he was sitting at around $5,000 away from crossing his next NRHA milestone. When the dust settled, Schmersal had slid his way to more than three times that amount—earning the title of NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider.
In 1988, Schmersal won his first check and added $61.38 to his lifetime earnings. Since then, the NRHA Professional has built a successful reining business in Scottsdale, AZ, with his wife, Ginger, and children Chris, Nick, Brendyn, and Addisyn. Having won many of the sport’s major events, his riding experience has helped pave the way to this new milestone and maintain his status as the association’s third all-time leading rider.
No stranger to pressure, Schmersal piloted two horses to checks during TRFAM’s Open Shoot Out and surpassed the $5 million mark before the show’s final event even began. It was icing on the cake when he earned another $5,000 during the Million Dollar Competition aboard No Smoking Required (Gunner x Icing Required)—a mount the NRHA Professional has ridden to great success on his journey to this milestone.
No Smoking Required is a 2013 stallion owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi. Together, ‘Ice’ and Schmersal have earned more than $458,000 since becoming an NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider in 2018. Most notably, the pair scored an impressive 229.5 to win the inaugural 2019 TRFAM Invitational, although the $307,500 in earnings did not count toward Schmersal’s road to $5 million, making this milestone an even larger achievement.
A seasoned trainer, coach, and horse owner, Schmersal’s passion for reining and NRHA is apparent to all he meets as he continues to impact non pros, youth, and the industry as a whole.
Schmersal’s top earning performances on his way to $5 million include:
2021 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition
4th Place aboard No Smoking Required, owned by Schmersal/ Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi, earning $65,000
2019 NRHA L4 Open Derby 4th Place aboard No Smoking Required, owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi, earning $40,545
2019 NRHA L4 Open Futurity 8th Place aboard Starjac Vintage, owned by Teton Ridge and bred by Petra Zeitler, earning $29,791
2019 NRHA L4 Open Futurity 11th Place aboard Pale Whiz, owned by Thorsport Inc. and bred by Hickory Creek Ranch LLC, earning $20,316
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) is proud to welcome Luke Jones of Allerton, Iowa into the elite NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Club.
Jones crossed the million dollar mark at the South Dakota Reined Cow Horse Association Road to Texas show at the end of August. Going into the event, Jones was just shy of $1,500 from the milestone. After winning both the Futurity and Derby events, Jones brought his lifetime earnings to $1,009,932.79.
“This has been a goal of mine and something I hoped to accomplish this year. Going into the South Dakota show, I honestly thought I needed to win a lot more to cross but my wife, Erin, had been in contact with NRCHA and when I won the Derby on Blinded By The Boon, she told me I did it,” Jones recalled. “It is still sinking in.”
After watching the cow horse events at the AQHA shows and watching the World’s Greatest Horseman competition, Jones be-
came interested in trying the reined cow horse. Although Jones first began his career as a professional in the roping pen, he quickly found success in the reined cow horse industry, with the help of Dell Hendricks, Jay McLaughlin, Don Murphy and Les Vogt.
Jones made his first Snaffle Bit Futurity® Limited Open Finals in 2007 and since then he has been multiple-finalist in the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® and the World’s Greatest Horseman, along with qualifying for The Run For A Million in 2022, placing 5th, and has won multiple AQHA World Championships in the Working Cow Horse.
“I would not be here without my faith in God, the support of my family, and my customers that have been with me throughout my career,” Jones said. “Erin has always encouraged me and believed in me through the years, and I have been extremely fortunate in having clients like David Pratt, Kenny Schueller, and the Hockenson’s who have been with me since the early 2000’s.”
Sage Kimzey finding his stride upon return to PBR Teams
young kids coming up. There are obviously some kinks to work out, but it’s a great place where if we can get everything worked out as the stewards of the sport, I know the PBR has done a great job with advancing the sport, then it really is going to be the future of the sport, and I’m happy to be a part of that.”
Three of which came last weekend during the team’s homestand event, Cowboy Days, where Kimzey stormed back onto the scene during his first 5-on-5 action since the season-opener in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Suffering a broken clavicle during some extracurricular competition just days after making his debut with Carolina, Kimzey was forced to watch the league’s next six events from the sidelines.
But it didn’t take long for the revered veteran to round back into shape.
Quickly reminding the tour of just how potent he can be, Kimzey went on to post a sick 91-point conversion atop Mike’s Motive.
“Great matchup,” Kimzey shared.
“I feel like Jerome has done a great job
Eventually pairing that ride score with 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis’s 87.25-point mark after dueling Black As Coal, Kimzey stepped right into a winning lineup, as the home team captured a big 178.25-173.75 final over the streaking Arizona Ridge Riders to begin the weekend.
For
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Disclaimer
Celebrations a plenty, it had to feel good to be able to provide a spark for his teammates after sitting on the sidelines for the past month and half.
“I really think this is the future of the sport of bull riding,” Kimzey admitted.
“There’s a lot of growth potential for the league as a whole and I really think it’s a great place, especially for the
While Friday night’s victory would be Carolina’s only win of the weekend, that wouldn’t stop Kimzey from staying hot. Picking up a quality 89.25-point ride aboard Buckeye Nation on Championship Sunday, Kimzey completed the weekend 2-for-3.
Now 3-for-5 on the season, Kimzey has produced a 90-pointer in two of his three conversions.
After being selected No. 1 overall during the 2023 PBR Teams Draft in Fort Worth, Texas, this past May, just ahead of a good friend in Josh Frost being picked No. 2, Kimzey had plenty of expectations to live up to.
“It’s awesome. Josh and I have been travelling together for the last three years and obviously everybody wants to be the No. 1 pick. It was kind of like my life’s work was rewarded when I was selected as the No. 1 pick, so it was great,” Kimzey offered.
“To know the group of guys that Austin Dillon and our front office has assembled, it’s a great group of guys and we’re all friends too, so we’ve got a pretty special locker room atmosphere.”
Cntinuing to understand his role in the chutes and locker room alike, Kimzey, who now gets to travel and compete alongside his younger brother, Trey Kimzey, just wants to keep it simple ahead of the 2023 PBR Teams
SAGE KIMZEY & JOSH FROST ON DRAFT NIGHT
Championship.
“It can be a long grueling season, but I think we’re a really determined and a really focused group of guys and that’s what we’ll keep working on.”
LAS VEGAS (August 25) – Las Vegas Events announced today the list of Opening Acts for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo®. The annual showcase is scheduled for Dec. 7-16 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Each of the entertainers will perform prior to the rodeo competition getting underway and will include a variety of production elements, including pyrotechnics, lasers, an interactive stage and full-arena LED and video board supporting graphics.
The full list of Opening Acts includes:
Thursday, Dec. 7 – Vegas Night
Friday, Dec. 8 – Ian Munsick
(also playing at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Dec. 9) Saturday, Dec. 9 – Bryan Martin
Sunday, Dec. 10 – Kodi Lee (America’s Got Talent winner, Season 14)
Monday, Dec. 11 –Chancey Williams (also playing at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Dec. 15)
Tuesday, Dec. 12 – Drake Milligan (also playing at the Palms Casino Resort, Dec. 14)
Wednesday, Dec. 13 –Eddie Montgomery (also playing at the Golden Nugget, Dec. 15)
Thursday, Dec. 14 –Jake Worthington
(also playing at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Dec. 13-14)
Friday, Dec. 15 – Lainey Wilson (also playing at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Dec. 13-16)
Saturday, Dec. 16 – Gold Night
Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2022, the event had a total attendance of 173,350 over the 10 days of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out more than 350 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.
The arch of steer wrestler Dalton Massey’s career has gone nearly straight up since his rookie season of ProRodeo in 2014.
That year, he entered his name in just 19 rodeos scattered throughout the Pacific Northwest. When his Resistol Rookie season came to an end, he had won just $1,388. It was a steady climb over the next four years, but even that total came out to just $24,340. But he never lost sight of his goals.
Fast forward 10 years later and he’s rewriting the ProRodeo record books one steer at a time. With over a month left to go in the 2023 season, the Hermiston, Ore., cowboy has earned $164,649, which surpasses steer wrestler Ty Erickson’s record of $163,152 for the most money won in a single regular season before the NFR in the event. Erickson set the mark in 2017.
“It’s just been a great year you know,” said Massey, 30. “I’ve had a lot of great chances everywhere I’ve competed at. The horse (Tanner Milan’s horse Eddie) that I have been riding this year have been awesome. I’ve just tried to use all the opportunities that I can get out here rodeoing.”
Massey sits No. 1 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, before this season he had never finished higher than 17th, which he did a year ago with $67,349. His 2023 campaign was highlighted by winning the $50,000 check at RodeoHouston. It’s been a constant progression over the last decade.
“You know I got married last year and my wife and I bought a house. I have bills now, so you can’t go without winning,” he said. “I needed to step it up. Being 19th, 16th, and 17th just wasn’t cutting it and I knew that. I’ve also been saying that for two years, but I wasn’t about to quit. I’ve put my life into this deal, and I was going to see it through no matter what.”
His passion and love for the sport is shining brightly. He said he wrote down his goals before the season began and up to this point they have gone exactly to plan, but he knows the work is far from done.
“Obviously the first goal was to make the NFR, the second was to win $150,000, and the next one was to break the earnings record,” Massey said. “A guy would love the chance to come back No. 1 to Las Vegas.
“I’m just trying to prove every time I get a chance that I’m supposed to be there. It’s a big deal and everyone is looking at you when the announcer says, ‘he’s sitting No. 1 in the world’. You have to prove it every time to everybody that’s there to watch. I’d love nothing more than to continue having a record-breaking year and win everything.”
OKLAHOMA CITY – At the 2023 PBR Heroes and Legends ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Bob Funk Sr. was not on hand to accept the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I hit the dirt for about 8 seconds,” Funk joked in a pre-filmed statement, “and I’m getting back up and getting some strength, but I hope you have a great time and enjoy your fellowship today with one another.”
For a man who thrives on helping people, it was only fitting that he had some help in accepting his award.
The PBR Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award, named for perhaps the greatest Western sports athlete of all time, recognizes those who, throughout their life and professional career, have contributed to the advancement of the sport of bull riding and rodeo. Their efforts include significant contributions that have had a positive and continued impact on the development and growth of the bull riding and rodeo industries.
“Mr. Funk did so much for rodeo and so much for the PBR,” Marvin Paul Shoulders, Jim Shoulders’ son, as he presented the award.
Funk is a multi-hyphenate businessman who, in 1983, founded Express Employment Professionals, headquartered in Oklahoma City, which has since grown into a multi-billion-dollar company with more than 780 franchises that employ upwards of 500,000 people globally. Among numerous other positions he has held, Funk has also been chairman of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which now hosts Heroes and Legends and the newly launched PBR Hall of Fame.
He’s also chaired the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and the Oklahoma Youth Expo. He has been named Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record newspaper, Man of the Year by Impact OKC Magazine, and he’s been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the International Franchise Association Hall of Fame, and the Sales and Marketing Executives International Hall of Fame.
“I don’t think anybody will understand just how involved Bob Funk has been in the success of the PBR over the years,” said PBR Commissioner and CEO Sean Gleason. “He’s a promoter partner, has been for many, many decades. He established rider and athlete representation when it was the Wild, Wild West, and brought a level of professionalism to it. And that helped us grow to yet another level. I owe the world to Bob Funk, and I wish I could be there to induct him myself.”
Funk was raised on a dairy farm in Washington state, instilling in him a deep love of the Western lifestyle. He’s still involved in the cattle business today.
“Definitely a cowboy in the boardroom and a cowboy on the ranch,” said Brandon Bates. “He can wear both of those hats really, really well.”
But ultimately, what Funk wants to be known for is helping people. In addition to Express Employment Professionals, he launched additional businesses, including Express Sports, now known as Prodigal LLC, which served as a representation agency for dozens of bull riders and helped grow various premier series PBR events in Oklahoma.
Funk assisted with the growth of careers for athletes, including World Champions Chris Shivers, Ednei Caminhas, Jess Lockwood, and others.
“Bob Funk just changed the Western sports lifestyle to treat the cowboys with respect, dignity,” said Paulo Crimber. “Two times, he helped me in a bad situation. It’s just amazing what that guy got and how much he does for others. I owe my life to him. That’s the true cowboy code right there.”
Funk’s personal philosophy is simple: you’re only as good as the last person you helped.
“My object is to help people be successful,” Funk said. “And these guys that ride these bulls and are at the rodeos, they are true athletes, and they have to build up their strength in order to be successful.
“Earning money isn’t that much fun, but giving money is a lot of fun.”
Bob Funk Jr., his son, was on hand in Oklahoma City to accept the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf.
“As most of you know, Bob Sr., for him, it’s all about the people. Always has been,” Bob Funk Jr. said. “Anything he’s ever done and been a part of in the rodeo world – that hasn’t changed. His motivations have always been to recognize the athletes for their daring, their courage, their honor, and how they represent some of the best qualities of Western values and cowboy effort. It has been his privilege to be part of this from the beginning with Billy Etbauer and going on 20-plus years being part of the rodeo world, and most importantly, a part of the PBR.”
The PBR may not have grown into what it is today without the impact of Bob Funk Sr. And for that, his name will be enshrined among the most important in PBR history forever.
“The PBR is just a great organization, and they’ve done a great job for the cowboys,” Funk said. “We, as agents for the cowboys, raised about $16 million for them over the past few years, and we’re so proud of them because they’re great athletes, and they just don’t get paid enough for what they do, for risking their lives and their future every time they get a bull and get out of the chute. So thank you very much, I appreciate it, and hopefully, we can return the favor to you many times over.”
A year ago, bareback rider Keenan Hayes was a star on his PRCA permit, earning $81,128 in the PRCA | RAM Rodeo Permit Standings, which is the record for most money won on a PRCA permit for one year.
Well, the Hayden, Colo., proved that was no fluke.
In 2023 as a Resistol Rookie, Hayes set the singleseason earnings record in bareback riding – before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – with $237,546 as of Sept. 14, to lead the PRCA | RAM World Standings. The record was
$233,504 set by Clint Cannon in 2009.
“It’s pretty cool to get that record,” said Hayes, 20. “I grew up watching Clint when I was younger, and I started going to his Mini Bareback Riding events and I competed at the one he had in Vegas for four
years and I got to meet him and he kind of got me started in my career.”
This season has been an amazing one for Hayes. He’s won 15 rodeos, including Rodeo Austin (Texas), the San Angelo (Texas) Cinch ChuteOut and the NFR Open pow-
ered by RAM in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I found out on permit that I could ride with these guys (in the PRCA) and everywhere I go I expect to win, but I didn’t expect it to go this well,” Hayes said. “I have been drawing super great everywhere I have been and that’s helped tremendously, and everything has just fallen into place. It is pretty awesome.”
With the PRCA regular season concluding Sept. 30, Hayes has his mind on making his Wrangler NFR debut, Dec. 7-16 in Las Vegas.
“I just want to be as ready as I can be going into the (NFR),” Hayes said. “I have heard a lot about it and watched it all my life and hopefully everything there will go as well as it has this year. I’m just trying to keep my head on straight and have fun doing it.”
– The contract personnel for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge and the National Finals Steer Roping were announced Tuesday by the PRCA.
The announcers at the 2023 Wrangler NFR will be Randy Corley, Roger Mooney, and Andy Seiler. The NFR is Dec. 7-16 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Corley, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2017, will be making his 23rd NFR appearance, while it will be the seventh appearance at the NFR for Mooney. Seiler is making his second appearance at the NFR, as he made his NFR debut in 2020.
Livestock superintendent
John Barnes makes his 18th
consecutive Wrangler NFR appearance. The assistant livestock superintendent is Terry Autrey. Raina Hudson is the saddle horse boss.
The chute bosses are Tony Amaral (timed events) and Tom Neuens (roughstock).
Sunni Deb Backstrom, who was inducted into the ProRo-
deo Hall of Fame in 2021, is the NFR secretary, marking the 18th year in a row she has been selected. Courtney Morehead is the assistant secretary.
Timers are Nancy Dorenkamp, Michelle Corley, who is making her second appearance and Molly Twitchell, who is ap-
pearing for the third time and third year in a row.
Josh Hilton is the music director, and the assistant music director is Brad Narducci. The specialty acts are Dusti Dickerson and the Flying Arena Stars.
At the NFSR at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 17-18, Jody Carper will handle the announcing duties, along with Steve Kenyon. This is Carper’s ninth appearance at the NFSR and fifth in a row. This is Kenyon’s NFSR debut.
Chute boss John Gwatney is back for his 14th consecutive trip, and the arena usher is Matt Scott. The NFSR secretary is Jackie Northrop. The timers are Sandy Gwatney and B.J. Voigt. This is Gwatney’s fifth time as an NFSR timer.
Mark Evans will be making his debut as the music director at the NFSR.
Enter the AQHA World Championship Collegiate Horse Judging Contest, scheduled for November 2, in conjunction with the 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World. competitive horse judging contestants judge a halter horse class
The registration deadline
for the contest is October 20. The late registration deadline is October 27.
The world champion horse judging teams in the junior and senior college divisions will be named on November 2 during the Nutrena AQHA World Championship Show and AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
A youth audit option will also be offered for free in conjunction with the collegiate judging contest to allow youth the opportunity to practice their judging skills concurrently with the AQHA World Championship Collegiate Judging Contest. The audit option is open to all American Quarter Horse Youth Association members and will provide placing cards for youth to submit, and tabulation of placings at the conclusion of the contest. There are no awards or reasons judging offered with the youth audit option. AQHYA members can register online here.
The National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association will once again host the Intercollegiate Reining Horse Judging Contest on November 3 in cooperation with AQHA and the National Reining Horse Association. The contest will allow participants to judge live reining horse runs during the Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World. Having both judging contests at the show will allow collegiate teams to make the most of their time at the event and other judges’ written and video testing. Please submit entries for the reining contest to John Pipkin at jpipkin@wtamu.edu.
Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations that have been named to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, as well as the first reserve combination. The dressage portion of equestrian competition will run October 22-23 and 25 at the Escuela de Equitación Regimiento Granaderos in Quillota, Chile. As USEF Dressage High Performance Pathway Advisor, George Williams will serve as the U.S. Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe.
The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been named to the U.S. Dressage Team for the Pan American Games and are listed in alphabetical order:
Codi Harrison (Wellington, Fla.) and Katholt’s Bossco, her 2007 Danish Warmblood gelding
Anna Marek (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Fire Fly, a 2010 KWPN gelding owned by Janet Simile
Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) and Son of a Lady, a 2011 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Christina Morgan and Clifton Simonson
Sarah Tubman (Wellington, Fla.) and First Apple, a 2010 KWPN stallion owned by Summit Farm
The following athlete-and-horse combination has been named as the first reserve combination for the U.S. Dressage Team for
Lexington, Ky. – The US Equestrian Federation strives to consistently ensure the safety and welfare of both our human and equine athletes. One fundamental aspect of equine safety is microchipping. Microchips in horses allow for immediate onsite verification of horses for the purpose of safeguarding the health of each horse. This is vital, especially during times of disease outbreaks or natural disasters.
To this end, the US Equestrian Board of Directors approved a new microchipping rule during the 2023 Mid-Year Board meeting. Beginning December 1, 2025, under GR 1101.1, all horses competing in USEF-licensed or -endorsed competitions must be microchipped with a 15-digit ISO compliant 11784/11785 chip.
“I am thrilled to see widespread use of microchipping technology put in place,” said Judy Sloan, amateur dressage competitor and USEF Secretary Treasurer. “Knowing that we can quickly and accurately identify, track and protect our horses is a positive step for horse welfare and gives me real peace of mind as a horse owner.”
The implantation process of a microchip takes only a few seconds to complete. The microchip is inserted into the nuchal ligament of the horse’s neck, and the chip will last the duration of the horse’s life.
“In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, microchip readers may be utilized by state and federal animal health officials or veterinary staff to scan microchips of horses on the competition grounds for the purpose of identification of exposed horses to be isolated and quarantined,” states Dr. Flynn. “Microchips will allow our competitions to become an even safer and healthier place for
the Pan American Games:
Kevin Kohmann (Wellington, Fla.) and Duenensee, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding owned by Diamante Farms
Detailed selection procedures for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games can be found here. For more information, visit santiago2023.org/en.
Stay up to date on U.S. Dressage Teams by following USA Dressage on Facebook and Instagram and US Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Use #USADressage.
equine athletes.”
“I strongly recommend horse owners consider the use of a biothermal microchip,” said Dr. Katie Flynn, USEF’s Equine Health and Biosecurity Veterinarian. “This microchip not only identifies your horse, but when scanned, a temperature is recorded. These biothermal chips can be utilized by horse owners for daily monitoring of their horse’s health at home and on the road. As a rise in temperature is often times the first sign of an infectious disease, this allows a horse owner to take prompt action to isolate and care for this horse before it is shedding a virus or bacteria in the stable and infecting other horses.
Recognizing the potential costs associated with requiring microchips for horses entering licensed competitions, US Equestrian is seeking potential partnerships with microchip companies, software companies and veterinarians to provide our members access to discounted microchipping services. USEF is also exploring options for microchip implantation events to occur at future USEF-licensed competitions as well as collaborating with equine veterinarians on strategies for microchipping USEF horses at designated locations across the country.
“I urge everyone, especially those connected to a registered breed who see no purpose to microchip a horse because their horse’s pedigree was verified by DNA, to educate themselves on the value of an equine microchip,” states USEF Board of Directors Vice President Judy Werner. “From providing the easiest, fastest and most accurate way to improving traceability in disease outbreak scenarios, which allows for the rapid management of investigations to minimize spread of contagious disease, to the ability (with the biothermal chip) to take one horse or twenty horses temperature several times a day quickly and safely with no distress to the horse, the microchip is a tool who’s value is many times its price.”
US Equestrian has developed a microchip information webpage which contains outreach and educational resources. We encourage everyone to review Microchip 101, Microchip Mythbusters, and the Microchip Rule FAQ.
The legendary 16-time World Champion was honored at the 2023 PBR Heroes and Legends ceremony in Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY – It’s safe to say that bull riding and the Western sports industry wouldn’t be what it is today without Jim Shoulders.
The winningest cowboy in PRCA history, he won 16 World Championships, including the world all-around rodeo cowboy championship five times (1949, 1956-1959), world champion bareback rider title four times (1950, 1956-1958) and world champion bull rider title seven times (1951, 1954-1959).
Those accomplishments alone are good enough to earn him any accolade imaginable, and they pretty much have. He was in the inaugural class inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor in 1996 and has one of PBR’s most prestigious awards named after him – the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who, throughout their life and professional career, have contributed to the advancement of the sport of bull riding and rodeo.
At the 2023 PBR Heroes and Legends celebration at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Shoulders was enshrined one more time, as he received the Ty Murray Top Hand Award.
Created in 2018, it is given annually to individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to enhance the sport of rodeo. It is based on traditional American values and fundamental ideals such as courage, pride, respect, and hard work. Their contributions align with the original goals of the PBR founders and serve to protect and advance rodeo’s heritage for generations to come.
“It takes a lot to be a World Champion,” PBR co-founder and former Director of Livestock Cody Lambert said as he presented the award. “It’s really, really, really hard to be a World Champion. Coming from a guy that was around a lot of World Champions and didn’t get that accomplished, it’s really hard to win a World Championship.
“The Top Hand Award is going this year to Jim Shoulders, who won 16 World Championships. That’s unthought of. That’s unbelievable. In the roughstock, on top of that. To be able to have a career that even lasts long enough to win a few World Championships in the roughstock events means you’re extremely tough. Jim Shoulders – he’s the hero and legend of toughness.”
But that’s not all Shoulders did for Western sports. Not by a long shot.
When injuries ended Shoulders’ career in 1970, he became a stock contractor and ran a rodeo school. He quickly became a
celebrity outside of the Western world while doing promotional work for brands like Wrangler, who had signed him in 1948, and Justin Boots, in addition to appearing on television for Miller Lite beer alongside baseball legend Billy Martin.
He also co-founded the Mesquite Championship Rodeo in Texas and helped bring the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to Oklahoma City in 1965, where it remained until 1984.
“We would hear them talk about having to spend so much time in cars, planes, trains, trying to get people to come,” Shoulders’ daughter Jana said as she accepted the award on her father’s behalf. “He said those first years, you could’ve shot a shotgun and not hit anyone. It’s amazing to think the NFR is where it is today.
“And the Mesquite Rodeo. He and Neal Gay had a great vision that they were going to make rodeo one of the prime interests for the DFW area. I have to say, our family thought it would’ve been nice if that was NASCAR, maybe more money, but it sure was a great shot in the arm for rodeo.”
Jana said that her father was all about the fans. He wanted to have a production that people wanted to come see and were excited about, and he never tired of signing autographs. Even as his health failed – Shoulders passed away in 2007 at 79 – he remained rodeo’s biggest fan.
“He traveled to far-flung places – Hawaii on a cargo plane in a folding chair, to Argentina, and to Turkey, to be a goodwill ambassador and an advocate for rodeo,” Jana said. “And those rodeo riding schools were truly a labor of love. Certainly, his passion was teaching people how to ride bulls.
“No one was more excited to see his records broken. He was absolutely gleeful. And until his last days, there was no one who was a better advocate or a bigger goodwill ambassador than Jim Shoulders, and no one would be more thrilled to see all of the support and all the action that the PBR has brought to the sport of rodeo.”
Indeed, Shoulders was a staunch supporter of the PBR during his lifetime, wearing his Ring of Honor ring and sitting in the first few rows at PBR events.
Lambert points out that all bull riders today have learned from Jim Shoulders or from somebody who learned from Jim Shoulders.
“He taught more guys about rodeo and being tough and what it takes to be a champion and to be a cowboy every day – he taught more guys than we’ll ever know,” Lambert said. “It all goes back to him. The Heroes and Legends is really mostly about Jim Shoulders and his impact on this sport. We wouldn’t be here without that kind of impact. He took rodeo, which was a great sport before he got there, and he took it and elevated it to a great professional sport. And he took it to a level that we hopefully make him proud.
“But the Top Hand Award is a great thing that we get to remember that Jim Shoulders – first, before it all, and before all the rest of them, was a top hand.”
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) is excited to announce the latest million dollar rider, John Swales of Millarville, Alberta, Canada. Swales is also the first Canadian rider to pass the million dollar mark in the NRCHA.
Swales crossed the million dollar mark at the Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity, Derby, & Cow Horse Show at the end of August. Going into the event, Swales was just over $10,000 from the milestone. After earning top placings in both the Open
Bridle, Futurity, and Derby events, Swales brought his lifetime earnings to $1,009,932.79.
“A couple of years ago, I realized that earning a million dollars in the reined cow horse was a possibility. At the beginning of this year, I knew that it was in reach and so I thought it
would be a cool thing to accomplish,” Swales said.
“I actually didn’t realize I had won as much as I did to this point in the year until my sister [Veronica Swales] told me.”
Growing up in the horse and cattle industry, Swales has been immersed in the industry since a young age. After working for Les Timmons, Swales was first exposed to the reined cow horse. In the late 1990s, he began training professionally and has become no stranger to the winner’s circle. Earning titles both throughout Canada and the USA, Swales is a nine-time Calgary Stampede Open Bridle Champion, and an NRCHA Open and Intermediate Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® finalist, and a 2-time World’s Greatest Horseman Champion.
“I couldn’t do this without the support of my family, and I have been fortunate to have some really good horses throughout my career,” Swales said.
“Everyone in this industry is so supportive, whether it is helping at a show or offering advice.”
The NRCHA will induct Swales, along with Ken Wold and Luke Jones, into the NRCHA Million Dollar Club at the 2023 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Finals on Saturday, October 21, at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Working Western Rail series returns with $35,000 in added money and two trophy saddles at the 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows and the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
The much-anticipated $25,000 open and amateur working western rail stakes classes, sponsored by Headley Quarter Horses, return to the Nutrena AQHA World Championship Show and AQHA Select World Championship
Show, presented by Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. In addition, owners of horses competing in the open working western rail at both the Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World and the open ranch rail stakes at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, will have a shot at an additional $10,000 in cash, courtesy of the
Headleys. Returning in 2023, Headley Quarter Horses will also generously provide two ranch-style Harris Leather saddles to the owners of the overall open and non-pro high-point working western rail horses between the two events.
The Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World and the All American Quarter Horse Congress will host a two-part ranch series, with $10,000 awarded, courtesy of Headley Quarter Horses, to the owners of the open high-point horses competing at both the Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World in western working rail and the All American Quarter Horse Congress in open ranch rail stakes. The three highest accumulative point earners in the open division will receive the following cash awards:
First place - $5,000
Second place - $3,000
Third place - $2,000
The owner of the first-place open high-point horse and the owner of the first-place overall non-pro horse between the two events will also win ranch-style Harris Leather saddles.
Returning this year, $25,000 in cash and prizes will be added to the open and amateur working western rail classes at the Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World, along with 70% of the entry fee to also be paid out over 10 placings in each class. The entry fee is $250 per class, with late entry fee options available, as well. Entry information is available at www.aqha.com/ worldshow.
Cross-entering between the working western rail classes and any other western pleasure at the Nutrena AQHA and continued on page 86
The 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows will award in excess of $3 million in purse and prizes.
The American Quarter Horse Association is excited to announce that the 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows will award in excess of $3 million in added purse and prizes!
In an effort to improve the show, the Association has implemented changes to the 2023 show, including bringing back World Show jackets. These changes are among several that have been made to this year’s show. To find out more about how AQHA is improving the World Show experience for its exhibitors and for more information about the show, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.
There is still time to enter the 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World!
Entries are open through September 15 at 5 p.m. Central with late entry options through October 9.
The Nutrena AQHA World, Adequan® Select World, Adequan® Level 2 Championships and Nutrena Level 1 Champion of Champions are the premier events in the equine industry for amateur, Select amateur and open exhibitors. The show includes Level 3 and Adequan® Level 2 classes. The shows feature exciting competition, educational opportunities and a bountiful trade show. For more information, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.
From Page 84
Adequan® Select World is not allowed. View the results from the 2022 open working western rail class and amateur working western rail class.
For more information about the 2023 Nutrena AQHA and Adequan® Select World, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.
For additional information about the 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress, visit www.quarterhorsecongress. com.
The 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress is
September 26 - October 22 in Columbus, Ohio. The Congress is the world’s largest single-breed horse show with over 26,000 entries in 2022. Held annually at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, the show attracts 650,000 people and generates over $409 million in the central Ohio economy. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is hosted by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, a state affiliate of AQHA. OQHA is committed to setting the standard in the equine industry by engaging equine enthusiasts through world-class competition, recreational activities, education and engagement of the next generation of participants and industry leaders.
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Las Vegas Events announced today that the NFR Access ONLY Ticket will be returning in 2023. The NFR Access ONLY ticket provides entry into the Thomas & Mack Center, but not a seat. It provides access to all the experiences at the NFR – Cowboy Corral, The Cowboy Channel Bar, Bull ‘N Barrel Saloon and ProRodeo Zone – and then allows you to watch the rodeo in the designated areas.
An NFR Access ONLY ticket, available for $70 (including all fees), is available today at noon PT. When rodeo fans purchase an NFR Access ONLY ticket, they will have multiple entertainment options
to enjoy. For more information on the NFR Access ONLY ticket and to purchase, click here.
“The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is one of Las Vegas’s longest-running events and our goal is to provide another opportunity for rodeo fans to experience the spectacle and excitement at the Thomas & Mack Center,” said Tim Keener, president of Las Vegas Events. “There are many ways to enjoy the NFR Experience on-site. We invite fans to explore this ticket option and find their own NFR Experience.”
The opportunities to enjoy the Wrangler NFR experience are abundant at the Thomas & Mack Center. Rodeo fans with an NFR Access ONLY ticket will be greeted by the ProRodeo Zone and the StubHub Fan Zone which include sponsor tents, live music, the official ProRodeo and Wrangler NFR merchandise trailer, food and beverage options, video screens and tables for attendees to congregate.
Corral, which takes over the adjacent Cox Pavilion with live music, a huge bar and plenty of space to sit and relax or kick up your heels. The live entertainment will include pre and postevent performances by Will Jones (Dec. 7-9), Mae Estes (Dec. 10-11), Old Hickory (Dec. 12-14) and Wyatt McCubbin (Dec. 15-16). Doors open at 4:30 pm and the live
Wrangler NFR Fans, whether in Las Vegas for the rodeo or simply following the action from home, will have access to all the NFR action in the palm of their hand for free. The NFR App allows fans to manage their tickets through My NFR Account, search for tickets on StubHub and access relevant content through the summer and early fall rodeo season. Additional features, including a comprehensive schedule of events for the rodeo, entertainment around town, live stats, scores, contestant information and more, will be added in October of 2023.
When rodeo fans enter the building, they will have access to all of the arena activations, including both The Cowboy Channel Bar and Cowboy Corral. Upgraded again in 2023, The Cowboy Channel Bar will feature a saloon, additional seating and a 2,500-squarefoot, glass-enclosed balcony with Strip views. The Cowboy Channel will host their PreShow starting at 5 p.m. prior to each night’s performance. An additional highlight will be an all-encompassing exhibit detailing the 37-year history of the NFR in Las Vegas. The area will be a great place to take in the live broadcast of the rodeo each night as it will include a large-screen projection.
Meanwhile, on the arena’s southeast side, opposite The Cowboy Channel Bar, fans can enjoy all the activities and amenities of the returning Cowboy
music starts at 4:45 pm.
Sitting right outside of Cowboy Corral is the Bull ‘N Barrel Saloon, featuring its own bar and food service and the Hall of Champions with tributes to former NFR champions.
Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2022, the event had a total attendance of 173,350 over the 10 days of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out more than 350 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.
For more information on the Wrangler NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at @LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR.
For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ ProRodeo.
by Alyssa Saldivar
Ranger Fred Koegler is retiring on Monday. He has completed over 200 Search and Rescue missions, most of which were done with the help of his patrol horse of over 20 years, King.
Koegler says he can tell many stories, as he has patrolled since before Tioga Road was paved, keeping notes in his ranger logbook along the way.
“I’m proud to have served Yosemite as part of the greatest Mounted Patrol Program in the country. We need to honor that history. It’s important to share that our Rangers are still riding. King has put in honorable years with the National Park Service, and they need to know he’s served me well. It’s just been an honor,” said Koegler
Fred and his patrol horse King were congratulated by the National Parks Service on their retirement after many years of service.
