Bridle & Bit Magazine November 2024

Bella Hadid wins first buckle in cutting competition

‘I could just cry,’ Hadid said.

By Priscilla Aguirre

Bella Hadid attends the “Window To The West” series premiere at Kemo Sabe Pop-Up on September 12, 2024 in New York City.

Bella Hadid, an international supermodel turned Texas cowgirl, won her very first champion buckle in a cutting event on Saturday, October 26 during the Southern Cutting Horse Futurity in Jackson, Mississippi. She won riding on a horse from Weatherford, Texas.

named Imma Be Smooth, walked away with her first buckle in the 5/6-year-old limited amateur finals, according to the event’s results page. She ended up winning $2,035.50.

Hadid, who moved from Hollywood to the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex earlier this year, has been competing in several cutting competitions while in the Lone Star State. She has honed in on her skills by practicing with her Texas cowboy boyfriend, Adán Banuelos, a professional horseman and trainer.

In the most recent competition, Hadid, and her horse

Hadid also placed fourth in two other cutting events in the competition. Cutting is a Westernstyle equestrian competition where a horse and a rider work together to separate a cow from a herd and keep it from returning, according to the National Cutting Horse Association.

After the competition, Cowgirl Magazine reported that Hadid posted about her big win on Instagram by sharing a photo of the champion buckle. She said, “My first ever Gist Silversmiths Champion Buckle! I could just cry!” She joked Imma Be Smooth tried to eat the buckle.

Adan Banuelos and Bella Hadid attend The American Performance Horseman by Teton Ridge at Globe Life Field

on March 08, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Adan Banuelos and Bella Hadid attend The American Performance Horseman by Teton Ridge at Globe Life Field on March 08, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Since her move to the South, Hadid has been sharing more about Texas with Hollywood and New York. In September, Hadid showcased her Texas cowgirl lifestyle with Banuelos in New York City. The two gave a New York City crowd a glimpse of cutting by transforming a street in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan into a mini equestrian ring.

TMZ the two shared a love for horses, as Hadid grew up riding them.

In 2024, Hadid shared with Allure she wanted to break from the runway and bought a home in Fort Worth. Before buying her Texas home, Banuelos told the Along For The Ride with Andrea Fappani podcast that Hadid lived in his trailer for some time as he built his home.

In an Instagram post, Hadid wrote, “My love brought Texas to NYC. Lucky me.”

Hadid and Banuelos confirmed their relationship on Valentine’s Day 2024 after months of rumors speculating their union. In October 2023, TMZ snapped the first images of the couple kissing, hugging and holding hands at a stockyard in Fort Worth. Sources told

Not long after Bella’s move, her mother Yolanda Hadid joined the fun and bought a “cowboy’s dream” property overlooking a river in Fort Worth. She told Architectural Digest that she and her fiancé Joseph Jingoli decided to build a home base in Texas after attending a horse show in Fort Worth. Yolanda said, “That trip was really my first introduction to Texas. We went straight to Fort Worth, where there was a huge horse show with hundreds and hundreds of real, authentic cowboys. It was like being dropped right into a Western movie.”

NRHA Launches Inaugural $100,000 Futurity Slide

There will be $100,000 up for grabs as the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) will introduce a new event during the 2024 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.

The inaugural Futurity and Military Slides will take centerstage in the Jim Norick on December 4. This special event will highlight a section dedicated solely to military veterans and will also feature traditional Charreada riders.

NRHA is teaming up with Two Ravens Foundation, whose mission is to provide our nation’s heroes a transformative experience that fosters personal growth, enables reflection, and empowers our combat veterans and first responders by using coaching, horsemanship and community support while leveraging the power of horses and the western way of life.

“As our owned events continue to grow, we are always looking ahead for new opportunities to engage our members and excite our fans, and this was a no-brainer,” said NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith. Smith, whose son is a combat war veteran, made it a point to have a special military section for the Slide.

“NRHA and our reining community are incredibly grateful for the sacrifices our veterans have made and we wanted to make sure to recognize and honor them during the Futurity,” Smith continued.

“Thank you to our executive committee, board of directors, staff, and the Two Ravens Foundation for helping make this possible. This is just the first year and I know the event will continue to grow in the future,” Smith added.

The Futurity Slide will be open to any individual or horse with no restrictions on membership or licensing.

A SELECTION FROM EXCLUSIVE BRIDLE & BIT INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEW - TAYLOR SHERIDAN

BY TRACY WAGER

AUGUST 2024

Hello Taylor, we want to thank you for the time today and the prior interviews with us, plus all of the things that you have done for the horse industry. The Run For A Million sure has been a game changer in so many ways and we want to make sure that you know that before we start.

“Well Tracy, the New York Times called me and asked to do an interview. I told them no. They said, well you have the cover and 5 pages in the Bridle & Bit, why won’t you do an interview with us? I replied, well the answer is no, and you can read into that what you want.”

Q - What inspired you to create “The Run for a Million” event

A - During the first season of Yellowstone, I did a scene that included NRHA riders. When I was talking to these guys about the industry, there was some discussion about the current state of the industry and how it could improve. I thought about it and started work on creating an event that would showcase and elevate the western performance genre. Originally, the first year, we started with only reining. Then we set out to create something that had never been done before with a horse show. We were going to produce a horse show that was an event experience like you have at the NFR. With the help of Mandy Brumley and her team the pieces came together.

Part of that is, I had the idea to film a non-scripted tv show that would showcase the event, the horses and riders. We would film this show during competitions all season long, and then culminate with The Run For A Million competition. Each season of The Last Cowboy TV show gets better and better, just like the live event. It is exciting to watch and is a real hit. We show the World how cool all of this is. It is available to watch on cable, or stream on Paramount+ and CMT.

Every year we add more excitement, competition, concerts, and things to do. This year we added 2 more days to accommodate new events and competition. Working with the Brumley team and South Point are all part of why we can make this event bigger and better every year.

Q - The performances run like a Swiss watch; how do you lead the team to execute the plan?

A -The team gets all the credit, headed up by Mandy Brumley. They have done a phenomenal job of running the event with South Point. The South Point staff, the manager, the staff, the Gaughan Family, everyone does what it takes to make this event happen. We could not do it without them, and they have done exceptional work, year after year. The Run For A Million would not be what it is today without the hard work and dedication of South Point and Brumley Management.

Q - How can people watch the event if they can’t make it to Las Vegas?

A -We now have a cool livestream available and have added interviews, videos and commentary to really give the folks that cannot attend a feel for the excitement of the competition and to be part of the event. Even in the Rookie class, we have the best competition in all categories at this event. Last year we added a huge video screen, a stage and bar in the ballroom where the vendors are. Everyday there is a concert, the riders all draw their order of go and sign autographs, and you can watch the show live on the big screen. We keep that area very

busy with things going on, it is fun and exciting every day of the event.

We have made it so you can enjoy the event without a ticket. The tickets sold out this year in 10 minutes! But now you can come to Las Vegas, stay at the South Point and enjoy so many aspects of the event. There are so many things going on, and most of the time the concourse is open, and you can walk around everywhere. Then when the ticketed event starts anyone can watch on the huge screen, shop with the vendors, eat, drink and dance.

Q - A New competition was added this year, the Bareback Buck Out Invitational. Where 10 cowboys compete for $150,000. What motivated you to add that layer of excitement onto the event?

A -The top ten PRCA rodeo bareback bronc riders will be competing on the best horses there are. These horses love what they do. They are best bucking horses, and they are bred to do this, they love it. These horses are true athletes. These horses and cowboys are the best in the world, the Top 10. There will be so much excitement, and this competition will have you sitting on the edge of your seat!

Q - You get a lot of bang-for-the-buck attending The Run for a Million, with world-class competition, entertainment, shopping, and socializing. How does it feel knowing that the audience, and competitors look forward to your event, every August, in a very similar emotional way folks feel about the National Finals Rodeo?

A -As I shared earlier, the NFR is the most exciting western performance event that there is. It is an honor to have been able to capture some of that magic. That is what we strive for and keep working hard at since our first TRFAM held in 2019. We work to make each year better and better, with so many new things to do, that you will have something to do every minute that you are there. We also have continued with a focus on having the best of the best in the western performance genre competing and concerts with talent like Lainey Wilson live at the South Point Showroom.

Q - How important do you think Las Vegas and South Point are in the overall success of The Run for A Million?

A -We could not have the event that we do without the hard work and dedication of South Point and their amazing team. They support us in every way possible. I cannot say enough about how great they are to work with. They start planning next year’s event in September! As soon as this year’s event ends and moves out, the South Point management start working with the Brumley Management Team to make it better and better every year. The logistics are crazy. Each day the arena footing, and set-up changes multiple times. Cutting pen, reining, they add chutes for the broncs. It’s high-speed excitement with a lot of logistics and South Point gets it done every time. We could not have done with this event without South Point!

Q - Two years ago, my son and I were in the car driving. On the radio we heard an interview with Lainey Wilson where she gave you a lot of credit for helping her career. She said you heard her sing, spoke with her on the phone, and gave her opportunities that she was so blessed and thankful for. Lainey also credited you for ramping up her career really

fast. She said that she had never acted, but you wrote a role for her on Yellowstone. One of the last things she said was, “Can you just believe it?”

A -Lainey is great. She just is amazing. Her shows have so much energy and excitement, no one walks away without a memory for life. There is so much talent and drive, she is really great. Her concert is on Saturday night August 17th in the South Point Showroom.

TAYLOR SHERIDAN

INTERVIEW BY TRACY WAGER

Q - Yellowstone – did you expect it to be as big a hit as the series has become?

A - I knew from the beginning that it had the potential, it relied upon my execution. It relied upon a lot of things, but yes, I did. I knew it had the potential to be the biggest thing on TV, and it is, now. But what happened over the past two years, our numbers after Season 3 were a massive 10.5 million viewers worldwide with the season finale. But then what happened was COVID. Then all of the city kids found it. They discovered it in New York, in L.A. and it became hip to be a cowboy again. Which was the goal. But now it has become such a juggernaut. Season 4 of Yellowstone is the most purchased show of any TV show on iTunes, and it isn’t even out yet! Those are pre-orders. I feel like, there is no telling what the numbers will be when this airs in a few weeks. I am really anxious to see. Real curious to see. The goal was to have it bigger than the “Who shot JR on Dallas.”

couple. It has been a lot of fun to explore that. ‘

Q - I think that everyone can relate to being flawed and still find the that perfect someone else that is flawed, can they?-

A - 100%, I mean show me the perfect person.

Q - Cole Hauser had not worked with you prior - Why did you choose Cole Hauser for the part?

A - No, but I was a big admirer of his work for a long time. He is a big guy, but there is also a quiet intensity to him that perfect for the character. I did not even read him for it, I just offered it to him. When I told him about the part, he wanted to do it.

In my business, which is largely dominated by people that have come from two places, and both are these massive urban areas. Many times, they say that “The Western is dead,” but it’s dead because people do not know that World. Its authenticity is the most important element of it and the audience knows when it is fake. Even an audience that is not made up of equine enthusiasts, they still know. I strive to make everything real. I figure if it looks real, it will be dramatic. I don’t try to make things look dramatic; I try to make things look real. That is the reason I spend so much time with these actors at what I call Cowboy Camp. They are on horseback 8 hours a day, and we are trying to get them as comfortable as possible, so I can utilize them to do things on horseback. The more comfortable they are, the more I can film it, the more that I can show the World.

Q - Why did Kevin Costner support you in playing John Dutton?

Q - When you wrote the part of Rip, did you realize going into it he would galvanize such a large fan base?

A - No. I knew the character was iconic, and sort of this throwback to the black hat with the good heart. I did not even know at the time that I was going to write this romance between Rip and Beth that seems to have just enamored the audience. I had this unique opportunity to avoid all of the cliches that we see in these romances and let these two hideously flawed people be the perfect

A - He was really intrigued by this World. When he read the script, he really responded to it. This is a genre he is familiar with. He has done a few Westerns, and he was fortunate that all of the Westerns he was in were very well done. A couple of them, he directed himself. He enjoys this World, and thru this lens. He had never seen something about a modern-day ranch, albeit highly dramatized and fictionalized, but he had never seen this World presented this way before. He splits his time between California, and he has a ranch in Colorado, so it is a World that he knows. He also wanted to be a part of something like this that was physical.

We were very excited to have him. We had met before and had tried to find a couple of projects to do together. When I sent him this script, and he read it, he was in.

Q - When we first meet at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, back in 2010, you were the best on horseback of any of the celebrities that rode there. How did you learn to ride?

A - I grew up on a ranch and rode my whole life. The funny thing is, I didn’t really like it that much when I was a kid. We had to do it. I worked on some ranches during the Summers, and you know, when you are 14, 16, 18 years old and getting a horse job is not that exciting. When I graduated from High School, I don’t know that I got on a horse again until I was in my late 20’s, when I would go

up to Wyoming. I bounced around up there, pulled some pack trips, and again, it was a job. It wasn’t really until I discovered Reining that I really fell in love with it, the riding. I enjoyed the horses, but it was Reining that made me fall in love with the horses.

Q - Back than it were tough times for you making it in LA on the acting pay from Sons of Anarchy – and you walked away and really struggled. Then, boom you hit it big! Biggest swing for anyone we’ve ever seen, the real comeback-kid story American’s love. How does that make you feel?

wants to be, but I am going to miss his Soccer practice because I am going to a Windex commercial audition, or whatever the case may be. So, I decided I was done telling other people’s stories, I was going to tell my own, and I quit and started writing. It was two years before I sold a script, and we were down to our last nickel. In fact, I had gotten a job up in Wyoming at the headwaters of Grovont as the wrangler to wrangle all of the horses for this Dude ranch. They didn’t allow kids in the employee housing, so my wife and my baby were going to have to stay in a trailer park in Pinedale. Which, as you can image, none of us were happy about. We were pretty desperate, so I sold all of my horses, we got moved out of our house and into a crummy apartment. My wife took jobs, and I took any job that I could get, as far as anything! Mow lawns, do anything. I taught acting classes, I did everything I could and then finally I sold “Hell or High Water”. The day it sold I had $800.00 in my bank account and rent was coming up.

Q - You really did it, looking back on that time, and knowing that you said how you would write your way out of trouble, it sounded rather far-fetched, Hollywood is so tough – and you’ve done it now over, and over. Back then, what did you think your chances were of hitting it big?

A - The journey was so difficult. I had met my wife, and we had fallen in love, and we were moving to Wyoming. I was trying to buy this little place in Wyoming when I was renegotiating my deal with Sons of Anarchy for Season 3, and they offered me really poor money. Like not enough to be able to buy a $300,000 house in Star Valley, Wyoming. They said, “Look, you are right.” I still remember when their attorney said, “You do deserve more, but we are not going to pay you more because we don’t have to. You are just a Journeyman, that is all you are ever going to be. So, take your licks and be quiet”. I realized right then that they are right, and how can I raise my son in this town and tell him he could be whatever he

A - What I believed was what I had worked for as an actor. I had read, I don’t know how many scripts over my career, 500 or a 1,000? I could not remember 5 that were great stories. Now, I wasn’t Brad Pitt, so I wasn’t getting the scripts he was reading, but I sat down one day and said, “I have no idea how to do this, but I know how not to do it. Because I have been reading bad scripts my entire career”. So, I decided to tell a story about something I cared about. To be honest, to be very disciplined and economical, don’t explain things with the dialogue, explain things with the vista of what I am seeing and then just let the characters talk about it. It is really that simple. Hell or High Water for me, was a story about where I lived in West Texas as a kid. It was on fire, everybody was selling everything they had, as far as horses and cattle because there was no food. All the auction houses even closed down. They would not even take any more cattle. It was watching this way of life, that seemed like a constant to Me die. So, Hell or High Water was for the love of Texas, and an homage to a way of life that seemed like it was disappearing.

Q - You are premiering Y:1883 on November 19, right after Yellowstone, and Mayor of Kingstown with Jeremy Renner, truly one of my favorite actors, on November 26th, again, right after Yellowstone. A real double, double-header! Wow, imagine the pressure as an artist, producer, and businessman- How will you maintain control with all of your obligations?

A - I do it very different that anyone else does it and Paramount lets me. I don’t know how to make a TV show, I know how to make an independent movie, because that’s what I had made. What I did, was make Yellowstone like I made a movie. I wrote all the scripts and then we went and filmed it. Then I cut it together and then we aired it. By Paramount trusting me, and letting me just treat it like that, without committees and all these things and notes and whatever. They said, “Just go make it good Taylor.” Which is what I did. It streamlined the process. Mayor was quite difficult because it shot in Canada. I just keep my head down and keep working, if I look up it gets to be too daunting. So, I just keep my head down and work. continued on page 28

TAYLOR SHERIDAN

INTERVIEW

Q - Yellowstone has opened the door for more Western, and equestrian exposure in movies, television, videos, movies and online. Since Paramount’s production of Urban Cowboy and CBS’s production of Dallas in 1978 (the year Bridle & Bit began), there has never been a bigger impact made in this genre of television than with Yellowstone. You’re actually shaping how people perceive our Western culture on a global scale. You are the man responsible for defining and sharing that culture. How does that make you feel?

A - Well, that was the goal. Look, I was alive when Urban Cowboy came out and when Dallas was a hit. I was a kid, but I remember it. We had been wearing Cowboy hats and boots always because I lived in Texas, but then they popped up everywhere! But Urban Cowboy, even the name denotes it, it had nothing to do with Cowboy’s. It’s about a guy that is going to ride a mechanical bull in a bar in Houston. Dallas was about a rich oil family. No one had ever made a story of Cowboys; you saw it just like I did. In 2010 I was with Tom Foran, he is a good friend of mine, and the horse market and everything else just collapsed, it felt like that era was ending. I wanted to do something to revive it. If you think about horses, it is really the only sport that you can do with your kids. You can drive them to soccer, you can watch them do motor-cross, you can take your daughter to gymnastics, or dance or your kid to baseball, or whatever. But you can’t do it with them. This you can do with them! I think it is so important to have things that you can do with your family. I ride a lot of Cutting horses now, because my wife likes to show the Cutters. I said, “Ok, I’ll get a Cutter too.” My son loves to rope, so I said, “Ok, I’ll get a rope horse.” We do these things together! So, I wanted to do everything I could to show the real world and shift the wrong thinking about what a Cowboy really is to what the Western Lifestyle really is. To make it cool, not trendy, because it is cool! Nothing is cooler than going out at 4:30 in the morning and gathering 300 head of cattle. There is just nothing cooler!

Paramount, called the Four Sixes. Please share a little insight as to what that series will be about.

A - It is very possible, yes. If I can figure out the story. It must benefit the Ranch and it has to benefit the audience. I have no idea what it will be about, look I had no idea what 1883 would be about until it came to me! The Network said, “We want you to do another show.” I said, “OK. “They wanted to do a spin-off of Yellowstone, and I did not want to do a spin-off. I said, “Look, let me do the origins story. If we do the story of these folks going West, that is an interesting story! Let’s tell that story.” So, that is what we did. I told them that, and they bought it! Then they called and asked, “When are we getting the script?” I said, I don’t know, I haven’t figured it out yet. I can’t write it until I know what it is! Then one day it hit me. I was actually talking with Sam Elliott and the whole thing hit me. Then I met the actress that is playing one of the leads in it, and then the structure made sense to me. Then I wrote it and that is how it is with all of my scripts. Until I understand how the thing ends, and the reason I am telling the story, I cannot begin it.

Q - The Last Cowboy Season 2 is on CMT starting November 12th. We are excited about that because it is part of what you said previously about keeping the lifestyle alive. How do you feel about that?

A - It is a funny thing about that, I don’t even get paid for it really. It is such a labor of love, and it’s done exactly what I wanted it too! It has brought an excitement to the Horse Shows again. It has increased interest. Call any trainer, call anyone. I was speaking to Gary at the NRHA, call him and he is going to tell you how many more members they have now. We have more people just going to Horse Shows. Just showing up to watch. I believe it is the future, which is why I keep adding so much money to these events and getting media attention, is because the future of this is as a spectator sport. Watching The Run for A Million, and you were there too, there is not a more exciting hour of athletics on the planet!

Q -You fixed all the problems with the horse shows-

Q - Just imagine a kid from a little town in Texas grows up to hit it big in Hollywood and comes back to buy the Four-Sixes Ranch and you did it! Now it will be the landscape for a new series with

A - I made it for the audience! I did not make it for the riders. I gave the riders an opportunity to win a whole lot of money, because that’s their job! They are professional riders. But I make the horse show for the people sitting in the stands. Because at the end of the day that is what I am, I am a showman, and I am putting on a show! I just did an aged event in Cutting, it was a Derby called the Brazos Bash. It is the highest paying 4, 5, 6 and 7 year old event of the year. It had the highest attendance it ever had. And, I treated it just like I treat The Run for A Million, it was a rock concert and people

Cynthia & Cole with Taylor & Nicole

had fun again. Because at the end of the day, that’s why the Non-Pros (who drive the business, they are the horse owners) are doing it. They are doing it because the love it! Now, for an Open rider to be successful, he has to love it too, or he is not going to want to sit on horses for 12 hours a day, haul all over the Country and sleep in hotels and be on the road all the time. The Open riders have to love to do it obviously, but it has to be an experience for the Non-Pros. The horses are too expensive, it costs too much, it takes too much time to not enjoy. My goal is to affect all of the other shows. It is going to bring more attention to the sport, it is going to bring more sponsors, it is going to bring more awareness, it is going to up the prize money everywhere, and it already has! Not just in Reining, it has happened in Cutting and the Cow Horse already. The bigger the horse shows get, the better it is for the whole industry. I have some plans that I cannot talk about yet, but it is where I am going to start getting all of these finals on television. The Networks are now noticing, and the Sponsors are watching. If you look at the PBR and what they did. They did a fantastic job of marketing the experience, the excitement of Bull Riding. Yet I still find it more exciting to watch someone put together a 228 run, or a 230 run in Reining. I just do not think there is anything like it, and it is so conducive to television! I think the future of Reining, and quite honestly all of the Performance Horse events is going to be as a spectator sport, that is aired on television.

years than most in a lifetime, how does that make you feel?

A - Well, thank you Tracy. Sometimes it is better to be lucky that good! I just recognized there was an opportunity, I had a window and I jumped through it. And then, everyone jumped with me. People have tried this before; I am not the first person to try this. Everyone got on board, and everyone trusted and supported me and as a result we have this great thing. The goal is never to make money with The Run for A Million and when you give away 1.3 million dollars at a horse show you are not going to make any money! I am not trying too either. What it pays me in satisfaction to see an industry re-energized, and with so many new people coming into the sport, to all of the equine sports, that was my goal. That was the goal with The Run for A Million and it will continue to be my goal. I think the World is a better place with horses in it and people riding them. With more people riding them, the more people can set differences aside and focus on what we have in common. That is the goal.

Q - Speaking to you today is an inspiration, Taylor, we have covered all of the questions, do you have anything that you wish to add?

Q - This year at The Run for A Million, with the Top 15 Cow Horse Open riders one night going down the fence, and the next night the Top Open Reining riders, all showing the best horses for a lot of prize money was one of the most exciting events ever witnessed - it was a real made for TV show just with those 2 nights - there was no live streaming of the event, folks had to go, and they knew it was going to be a real show because they trusted you - they knew that you can make a show. A - Yes, and they did! The first year of The Run for A Million took a lot of trust. When I started reaching out to the riders, the first one was an invitational because there was no other way to do it. They hung it out there, and then when they went to the event, then they all got it. And now, it is the premier event in Reining!

Q - You have done so much in such a short time; I have spent 38 years promoting the horse industry and you have done more in 5

A - Well, Thank You. All I want to do is bring happiness and excitement to the Horse World. This World, for 40 years of my life, told me “No” in everything I tried to do. When I had a kid and I had a wife that believed in me, I stopped taking “No” for an answer. That does not mean that I don’t still hear it all of the time, I just do not accept it. I was determined that I was going to do something that was going to have a big impact. And look, I am lucky because I have this platform where I can continue to do it. To introduce people to the real riders. I had Todd Bergen, Bob Avila, Andrea Fappani, the entire McCutcheon and McQuay family and I worked it into the story, and we do a lot more of it in Season 4 of Yellowstone. I really show the World what is like to be a Cowboy and I really show the World what the Horse Show life it. Because now that I know that the audience really, really likes that, I am feeding them more and more and more of it.

Q - Not listening to the word “No” - isn’t that very hard to do?

A - Yeah, it is! It was the hardest lesson that I ever learned. It was not accepting NO, and the flip side of that coin is knowing when to say it yourself.

By Tracy Wager

TAYLOR SHERIDAN INTERVIEW

Q - How does it feel to be able to invest in good horses?

A - At this point we are trying to raise our own rather than buy them finished. I have some very good stallions and a very strong brood mare band. Initial foal crops are now 3 so we’ll see how all this is going very soon.

Q - You empower several top trainers with your horses in different disciplines, how do you keep track of what is going on?

A - I don’t have a ton of horses in training. I have a ton of babies — managing those and trying to decide who to put in training and which we sell is the tricky part. Right now I’m really focused on the fillies so we look to market the colts.

Q - What horse is your favorite to ride and why?

A - It depends on what I’m doing. If we are ranching I’ve got a Gunners Special Nite mare that hated the reining, but she is wicked in the big country: very sure footed, nothing rattles her, very cowy and even though she’s not very big but will pull her weight with a rope.

Q - When did you know The Run for a Million was a hit?

A - I knew if I could get people to Vegas that first year, it would change reining and all western equine sports over the next few years. And it has. Prize money has doubled or more at every major event in every discipline, attendance is up, and look at horse prices. Everyone says it’s the Yellowstone effect, but I think Run For A Million did more for the horse market than Yellowstone — at least the big time performance horses.

Q - Las Vegas sure proved to be the perfect location and South Point the perfect venue – did you see that as an advantage from the start?

A - South Point is the perfect place — It is a spectator sport, and that’s how we treat it. Las Vegas is the perfect town for it and South Point the perfect host. Run For A Million has become a destination. The hotel sold out for this year at last year’s show, that tells you how phenomenal a partner the South Point has been for all of us. My goal is they have to build a bigger arena to accommodate us.

INTERVIEW: Luca Fappani

By Payton Neiberger

Q - What inspired you to create an online subscription service, and how do you envision it helping riders at all levels?

A - What inspired me to create the subscription service was going through the learning process myself and realizing how few online training resources are out there. I was blessed enough to grow up with the help of a multimillion dollar rider; however, this is not the case for most people trying to train horses. Therefore, I wanted to put out quality training advice that would help people learn and improve their training methods all the way from beginner to advanced training. Moreover, I wanted to create a resource for individuals who are unable to put their horses under the guidance of a trainer but are still in need of training advice.

Q - Could you tell us more about the kinds of videos and content subscribers can expect? What sets your service apart from other online equine training resources?

A -Our subscription service offers content over most all aspects of reining. I believe our service is different from other services out there due to the fact that we have training videos on horses of every age. This winter, I will be launching a colt starting series that explains the absolute foundation of a reining horse. We also currently have training videos that go through the two-yearold process later in the year, focusing on the maneuvers and mental aspects. For three year olds, we offer maneuver tips & show the process of how I school my horses in preparation to show. As for the aged horses, we have a variety of videos displaying how I keep my derby horses pure and progressing during prime show season. Moreover, we

have videos covering common complications of showing older non-pro horses and how nonpros can keep their horses honest to show. In addition to covering all age categories, we have videos reviewing some of my show runs and how our subscribers can improve their showmanship and pattern placement. Finally, we interact with our subscribers through a Q&A series that answers questions asked by our subscribers.

As the subscription library grows, my goal is to have a specific horse that I show the process of their entire two year old year from the start all the way up to the futurity season.

Q - You’ve been incredibly successful as a Million Dollar Rider; how do you break down and share that experience through your videos?

A -I am able to break down the training tips that I have used that have helped me on all of my horses. In addition, I explain key tips that I use in the show pen that keep me successful. Most importantly, I am able to share the knowledge I’ve learned over years of messing up, hopefully helping subscribers bypass some of those costly mistakes and improve their performance in the training process and the show pen.

A -Our subscribers are always able to send inquiries from the website, as well as take advantage of our one on one service. We offer 30 minute video call sessions in which subscribers can meet with me

Q - With new content being added regularly, what can subscribers look forward to in upcoming videos?

A -As we come into winter, we will be covering a large portion of colt starting and groundwork videos. I am extremely passionate about this portion of horse training, so I am super excited to get hands on in the round pen and show my subscribers what I have learned throughout the years. We will also be following my twoyear-old’s careers as they become three-year-olds and i continue training them, getting them more broke for the show pen.

Q - What’s next for you in terms of both your career and new content for subscribers?

Q - How are you making this experience interactive? Are there ways for subscribers to ask questions or request topics?

for one on one help. These sessions are completely tailored to our subscribers needs. During these calls, subscribers get detailed tips on anything that they are needing help with. Most subscribers take advantage of sending me videos of them training beforehand and I am able to review those videos and provide them with constructive feedback during the call. In addition to the one on one service, we also have the Q&A series where we answer interactive questions from our subscribers.

A -In terms of my career, I am excited to be opening my own business in Scottsdale, Arizona next year. I will get the opportunity to train out of my dad‘s ranch, and continue growing my knowledge of reining while competing with the highest level of horses. I am excited to dedicate more time to my online services in order to help my followers grow as horse people and help those who have passion for the game get more involved.

Q - Do you have any other business ventures beyond the service?

A -I have recently opened a shop on my website where I will be selling my most used equipment that I couldn’t train without. Currently available online, is my go to hackamore that I start all of my colts in, as well as what I use when I go back to the basics on my older broke horses.

25th Return to the Remuda Sale

Ranches saw record-breaking success 148 horses were sold, grossing $3,327,700

The 25th Return to the Remuda Sale, featuring horses from the renowned ranches of Beggs Cattle Co., Four Sixes Ranch, Tongue River Ranch, Pitchfork Land & Cattle Co., King Ranch and Wagonhound Land & Livestock, on September 28 concluded with remarkable results. A total of 148 horses were sold, grossing $3,327,700 and a record-breaking average of $22,484 per horse, marking a 5.5 percent increase from the previous record of $21,307 and an 18 percent rise in 2023.

The largest gains were seen in the 2-year-old and aged fillies, whose average prices soared by more than 53 percent. Additionally, aged geldings enjoyed a significant rise, with a 47.5 percent increase in average sale prices, demonstrating strong market demand for these exceptional horses.

Buyers from Arkansas, Colorado, Alabama, Texas, California, Idaho, Oklahoma, Georgia, Utah, Virginia, Kansas, New York, Florida, North Carolina, Nebraska, Wyoming, Tennessee, Arizona, Iowa and New Mexico participated in the sale. In addition, the sale attracted international interest, with buyers from Mexico, Argentina and the Dominican Republic adding a global element to the event.

“The Return to the Remuda Sale is comprised of six historic ranches, most of which were established well over a hundred years ago and all American Quarter Horse Association Best Remuda Award winners. Buyers leave confident, knowing that every horse from these ranches has decades of knowledge poured into them.

High Seller hip #71 Smart Ingredient, aka “Hot Wheels”.

Photo credit: Four Sixes Ranch

Whether it be through intentional breeding selection, excellent husbandry or being developed by top cowboys, there is no better source.” stated Four Sixes Ranch Horse Division Manager and Resident Veterinarian Dr. Nathan Canaday.

The Top Six High Sellers:

#71 Smart Ingredient, aka “Hot Wheels”

Johns Creek, Georgia • $120,000

2012 sorrel gelding (WR This Cats Smart-Natural Ingredient by Peppy San Badger)

Four Sixes Ranch/Dusty Burson

#133 Bet Its Sunshines, aka “Little Bit”

San Antonio, Texas • $110,000

2013 red dun gelding (Bet Hesa Cat-Sunshine Ingredient by Mr Sun O Lena)

Four Sixes Ranch/Zane Herrin

#77 Becaco Will, aka “Willy” Albany, Texas • $68,000

2020 red roan gelding (CD Son Of Magnolia-Becaco Diamond Girl by Doctor Echo)

Beggs Cattle Co./Darren Johnson

Co. raises commercial cattle and American Quarter Horses. The ranching business is still done the traditional way using horses.

www.6666ranch.com

The Four Sixes’ history dates back more than a hundred years to when Captain Samuel “Burk” Burnett founded the ranch in 1868.

1998 AQHA Best Remuda Award Winner, Pitchfork Land & Cattle Co. - Guthrie, Texas

#47 WR Future, aka “Vaquero” San Antonio, Texas • $62,000

2015 sorrel gelding (WR This Cats Smart-Stylish Future by Playin Stylish)

Four Sixes Ranch/Joe Leathers

#97 Brims Cat, aka “Chubs”

San Antonio, Texas • $60,000

2014 sorrel gelding (WR This Cats Smart-Brims Fever by Playboys Buck Fever)

Four Sixes Ranch/Spur Leathers

#61 Becaco Cat One “Waylon” Encinal, Texas • $58,000

2020 gray gelding (Very Especial Cat-Ms Becaco Goldie by CD Son Of Magnolia)

Beggs Cattle Co./Darren Johnson

The Return to the Remuda Sale continues to set new benchmarks, and plans for next year are already underway. The dates for the 2025 event have been set for September 26-27.

More about the participating ranches

2024 AQHA Best Remuda Award Winner, Beggs Cattle Co. – Fort Worth, Texas

www.beggscattleco.com Today, the Beggs Cattle

www.thepitchforkranch. com

Its heritage and stature position the Pitchfork Land and Cattle Co. among a handful of great American ranches. The Pitchfork’s operations span around 180,000 acres in two states and more than a century of continuous operation primarily under one family.

www.tongueriverranch.net

Tongue River Ranch still focuses on many of the traditions that were utilized by the Swenson’s Ranches in 1898. Cowboys still head out for the day on horseback.

www.kingranch.com

In 1853, Capt. Richard King purchased a creek-fed oasis in the Wild Horse Desert of South Texas, sparking generations of integrity, preservation and innovation. The King Ranch now covers 825,000 acres, more land than the state of Rhode Island.

www.wagonhound.com

Wagonhound Land and Livestock’s roots go back to the late 1800s when the cattle drives came up from Texas and the pioneers traveled through on the Oregon Trail.

ART

OF

THE COWGIRL

2025 Workshops & Clinics

We are excited to offer another great lineup of hands-on workshops and clinics at the 2025 event February 25-March 1 in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Art of the Cowgirl workshops and clinics are designed to introduce and preserve traditional western arts and trades for people of all ages and walks of life. The clinicians, presenters, and teachers have dedicated years, and even lifetimes, to honing their disciplines.

All proceeds from the workshops and clinics help further the mission of the Art of the Cowgirl Foundation to promote and preserve the knowledge of a diverse and talented group of women.

Registration Now!

Colt Starting with Tom and Trina Curtin BeUnstoppable Clinic with Sandy Collier and Barbra Schulte, sponsored by Yonder Horse Adult Cutting Clinic with Cara Brewer sponsored by NCHA Youth Cutting Clinic with Cara Brewer sponsored by NCHA Packing and Outfitting Clinic with Lisa Barnes

Leather Belt Making Workshop with Chelsea Sazama

Bosal Building Workshop with Teresa and Bill Black Songwriters Workshop with Joni and Olivia Harms Photography Workshop with Phyllis Burchett and Kimberly Beer

“Nice Job Cowgirl” Brand Building Workshop with Judy Wagner

Memoir Writing Workshop with Jolyn Young, sponsored by Trafalgar Books

*One complimentary fiveday pass to Art of the Cowgirl is included in every workshop registration*

Mr Farenheit : “Turning Up the Heat” in 2025

In the world of reining, few horses have garnered the acclaim and excitement that Mr Farenheit has achieved. Standing stud at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses, this striking 2018 AQHA Sorrel Stallion (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimpys Little Girl) has quickly become a celebrated figure in the equestrian community. Known for his dynamic presence and exceptional talent, Mr Farenheit is not just a champion in the show ring; he is also making waves as a promising sire as the highest money earing son of Magnum Chic Dream.

A Winning Legacy

Ruben Vandorp has had remarkable success riding Mr Farenheit, particularly at the Open Level 3 Derby during the 100X show, where they placed third in the Level 4 at the 100X Open Derby Finals. They earned a score of 229 and over $80,000.

Their performance was a perfect demonstration of the synergy between horse and rider, showcasing Mr Farenheit’s unparalleled agility and precision. With each slide, spin, and stop, they captivated the judges and audience alike, ultimately clinching a well-deserved victory.

But the success doesn’t stop there. Mr Farenheit has also shone brightly in other competitions, consistently demonstrating his versatility and competitive spirit. With each event, he is not only raising the bar for himself but also for the entire reining community. His ability to perform at such a high level

speaks volumes about his training and the dedication of his team.

Here are some of Mr Farenheit’s other accomplishments:

Lifetime Earnings of $380,000+

2024 100X Open Level 3

Champion in Waco

2024 NRBC Open Level 3

Co-Champion

2024 100X Level

4 Open Reserve

Champion

2023 TRFAM Top 10

2023 NRBC

Open Finalist

2022 HRRC Level 4

Open Stakes Res. Champion

2022 HRRC Level 3

Mr Farenheit Colt Coming 2 Year Old Mr Fahrenheit X Lil Run Joe (Daughter of Dunit A Lil Ruf)

Weanling Colt

Mr Farenheit X Shesa Little Trashy

Weanling Colt

Mr Farenheit X Girlz On Fire

Open Stakes Champion

2021 NRHA Open Futurity Co-Res. Champion

2021 AZRHA Open Futurity Co-Champion

2021 RMRHA Open Futurity Champion

A Champion for All Riders

Mr Farenheit has proven to be an exceptional partner for a diverse range of riders, showcasing his versatility and talent in the reining arena. Notably, Andrea Fappani had an outstanding performance with Mr Farenheit, capturing the title of Reserve Futurity Champion. Their synergy highlighted the stallion’s remarkable adaptability, allowing him to shine under different riders’ styles.

Mandy McCutcheon’s success over two years at The Run For A Million event in Las Vegas further exemplifies Mr Farenheit’s exceptional talent and versatility. Together, they have consistently demonstrated his ability to perform at a high level, captivating audiences and judges alike. This impressive track record of success with multiple riders speaks volumes about Mr. Fahrenheit’s innate abilities and willingness to excel, making him a sought-after partner in the competitive reining world.

Mr Farenheit’s adaptability and success across a spectrum of riders not only highlight his extraordinary talent but also enhance his standing as a leading stallion in the sport. Each rider brings out a different facet of his capabilities, contributing to his growing legacy in reining.

Promising Offspring

The future looks bright for Mr Farenheit, as his first crop of yearlings and weanlings are already showcasing immense potential,

while also throwing a lot of color on these babies. With their sire’s exceptional athleticism and trainable temperament, these young horses are drawing attention in the equine community.

Breeders and trainers are excited about the characteristics these foals

Coming 2 Year Old-Starting Under Saddle with Vandorp’s

Mr Farenheit X Trashya Darla (Daughter of Electrinicki)

are inheriting—dynamic movement, intelligence, and a strong work ethic. Early assessments indicate that they possess the same spirit and versatility that have made Mr Farenheit a standout competitor.

As they begin their training journeys, the anticipation builds for their performances in the ring. Each yearling and weanling not only represents the continuation of Mr. Fahrenheit’s legacy but also embodies the promise of future champions in the sport of reining. With such a strong foundation,

Alexis, Leon, Ayda & Max Morin, Ruben, Melissa & Peyton Vandorp With Mr Farenheit

it’s clear that these young horses are set to carry on their sire’s legacy of excellence.

“Turning Up the Heat”

The theme of “Turning Up The Heat” resonates deeply within the narrative of Mr Farenheit’s journey. From his fiery performances in the arena to the passion of his owners and riders, the heat of competition is palpable. Mr Farenheit is more than just a stallion; he is a catalyst for excitement in the sport of reining.

As the equestrian world looks forward to upcoming competitions, including the eagerly anticipated 2025 events, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Mr Farenheit and his growing legacy. His role as a competitor and sire is just beginning, and with each passing year, he continues to turn up the heat in the reining community.

The future for Mr Farenheit, his riders, and his progeny is full of promise. With each competition entered and each foal born, the legacy of this AQHA stallion grows ever more vibrant. As the Morin/Vandorp partnership continues to support and promote Mr Farenheit, it’s clear that this horse will remain a significant force in the sport for years to come.

In conclusion, Mr Farenheit is not just a name; he is a symbol of excellence, talent, and the relentless pursuit of greatness in reining. As he stands proudly at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses, his influence and legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire riders and breeders alike, truly embodying the theme of “Turning Up The Heat.”

Contact Ruben Vandorp for more information at (214) 243-0447

BRIAN BELL New

NRHA

$3 Million Rider

NRHA Professional Brian Bell has crossed the $3 million mark in National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Lifetime Earnings. Bell achieved this milestone following his performances at the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress & All Star Reining Stakes.

Bell and Cooper Smith’s Dunitthemodernway took sixth place in the Level (L) 4 Open Futurity of both events, while Bell and I Dream Of Stopping, co-owned by Bell and Wallace Wood, secured seventh place finishes. These placements solidified Bell’s status as an NRHA $3 Million Rider, just three years after he crossed the $2 million mark at the same show.

Corinna Schumacher

New NRHA $3 Million Owner

Corinna Schumacher has become only the second in NRHA history to reach the $3 million owner milestone. The Swiss native, who owns and operates XCS Ranch LLC and CS Ranch, surpassed the $2 million mark in August 2023. Since then, her daughter, Gina Schumacher, has continued to lead the charge, earning significant victories aboard their horses.

A former NRHA non pro competitor with over $55,000 in lifetime earnings (LTE), Corinna has a strong personal connection to the sport. However, it has been her daughter, Gina, who played a key role in helping her mother reach this remarkable milestone. Gina’s exceptional performances on Corinna’s horses have been instrumental in Corinna’s ascent to the $3 million owner mark.

A native of Valley View, Texas, Bell owns and operates Brian Bell Performance Horses and has been a fixture in the reining world since he began competing as a youth with NRHA in 1991. He became an NRHA Professional in 2006, steadily building a reputation as one of the sport’s top talents. Bell was named the 2023 NRHA Professional Horseman of the Year, an accolade he earned after winning the 2023 NRHA Futurity. In a memorable runoff, Bell and Wallace Wood’s Crystalized Whizkey—affectionately known as “Disco”—claimed the L4 Open championship. The duo has accumulated nearly $600,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

Bell’s top-earning finishes since crossing his last milestone include:

2023 NRHA L4 Open Futurity Champion aboard Crystalized Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Lonely At The Top), bred by Curtis Performance Horses LLC, nominated by Rhodes River Ranch, owned by Wallace Wood, earning $332,500 2024 100X Cowtown Classic L4 Open Stakes Champion aboard Crystalized Whizkey earning $150,000 2023 All Star Reining Stakes L4 Open Futurity Champion aboard Crystalized Whizkey earning $38,000

2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress L4 Open Futurity Champion aboard Crystalized Whizkey earning $32,294

2024 North American Reining Stakes L4 Open Derby Champion aboard Vintage Couture (Platinum Vintage x Couture Tag), bred, nominated, and owned by George & Carol Bell, earning $30,000 Crossing the $3 million threshold marks yet another highlight in Bell’s impressive career, which continues to inspire and elevate the sport of reining.

In addition to her competitive accomplishments, Corinna has established herself as a remarkable breeder of elite reining horses. Her dedication to developing top-quality equine athletes has yielded numerous champions, with her horses consistently excelling at major NRHA events. In 2024 alone, Gina and XCS Ranch and CS Ranch horses have teamed up to contribute nearly $400,000 to Corinna’s owner record with standout performances at the 100X Cowtown Classic Stakes, National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), 100X Reining Classic Derby, and the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel continue to build on the Schumacher family’s legacy in the sport of reining.

Significant performers owned by Corinna Schumacher include:

Gunna Stepya (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step), bred and nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch, owned by XCS Ranch LLC, $254,141 NRHA LTE

CS Especially Moody (Gunners Special Nite x Judys a Little Moody), bred and nominated by XCS Ranch LLC, $229,059 NRHA LTE

CS Nifty Sailor (Gotta Nifty Gun x La Bigia Sailor), bred and nominated by CS Ranch Management SA, owned by XCS Ranch LLC, NRHA LTE $145,424

Snip O Lution (Einsteins Revolution x Snip O Chex), bred and nominated by Cinder Lakes Ranch, owned by XCS Ranch LLC, $108,563 NRHA LTE

Gotta Nifty Gun (Dun It Gotta Gun x Custom Nifty Nic), bred and nominated (N.A.) by Carl Lambert, nominated (Europe) by Luga Quarter Horses, owned by XCS Ranch LLC, $97,923 NRHA LTE SG Frozen Enterprize – NRHA $3 Million Sire

NCHA CELEBRITY CUTTING COMPETITORS

FORT WORTH – Join the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) as we welcome a distinguished list of celebrities to our NCHA Celebrity Cutting Challenge. This exciting event will take place on November 29, 2024, at the iconic Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. Participating actors and actresses will show case their skills in the cutting horse arena, all in a competitive effort to raise funds for the UT Southwestern Medical Center. This esteemed medical center is renowned for its groundbreaking work and focus on pioneering the future of medicine today. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see your favorite celebrities in action for a great cause!

Competing in this year’s competition:

Brandon Sklenar (1923, It Ends With Us)

Mo Brings Plenty (Yellowstone)

Brecken Merrill (Yellowstone)

Michelle Randolph (Land Man, 1923)

LaMonica Garrett (1883, Lioness)

Thad Luckinbill (Lioness)

Aminah Nieves (1923)

Jen Landon (Yellowstone)

Jill Wagner (Lioness)

Nicole Muirbrook Sheridan

In attendance will also be:

Laysla De Oliveira (Lioness)

Gil Birmingham (Yellowstone, Hell or High Water, Wind River)

*As of October 10, 2024. The list is subject to change. Competitors will be matched with experienced trainers to learn the details of the cutting competition. Tickets are available starting on October 16 at 8 AM at bit.ly/NCHACelebrityCutting_Tickets. VIP experiences and sponsorship opportunities are also available for those who wish to further contribute to this exciting event. For more information on the NCHA or upcoming events and schedules, please check out our website at nchacutting.com.

BRANDON SKLENAR

BRANDON SKLENAR

MO BRINGS PLENTY

BRECKEN MERRILL

MICHELLE RANDOLPH

AMINAH NIEVES

JEN LANDON

JILL WAGNER

ZOE SALDAÑA

GIL BIRMINGHAM

LAMONICA GARRETT

NICOLE SHERIDAN

By Ann Bleiker

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association are excited to announce the return of the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka to the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Dec. 3-4, 2024.

The Top 15 WPRA breakaway ropers will compete for prize money of $300,000 in 2024 an increase of $50,000 from a year ago, during the two-day, 10-round performance.

The South Point Arena & Equestrian Center has been the host of the NFBR since 2022.

2024 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping

General admission tickets are $30 each day, with reserve admission tickets available for $45 per day. Tickets can be purchased online at southpointarena.com or ticketmaster.com, by phone at 866-796-7111 or at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa box office. Tickets are electronic unless purchased at the box office or specified otherwise online or over the phone.

The 2024 event will begin daily at 2 p.m. (PST) with doors opening at 1 p.m. daily. Parking at the South Point Hotel and Casino is FREE.

“I’m happy to see the success and growth of

breakaway roping since the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2020,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “Breakaway roping has experienced substantial growth and it is now featured at 500 rodeos annually. It is amazing that the breakaway ropers now have an opportunity to compete for $300,000 at the NFBR.”

The 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge is Dec. 5-14 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Jimmie Munroe, WPRA president, is also excited for the 2024 NFBR and the future of the event.

“We are always excited to see growth in our Association and this is a great step forward for our breakaway roping membership,” stated Munroe. “We encourage all the fans to come out and support these ladies. This will be our third year at the South Point and last year produced three of the fastest times in the history of the NFBR with 1.7-second runs, so you can expect to see lightning-fast times from the best breakaway ropers in the world competing for a world championship.”

Breakaway roping has gone from being featured at 30 rodeos in 2019 to 500 rodeos in the 2024 season.

MARKEL Sponsors NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive

Pilot Point, Texas—The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) recently launched the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive to allow breeders to reap the benefits of producing top-notch stock while also increasing the purses of the Open, Non Pro and Non Pro Boxing divisions of the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, held in Las Vegas. Leader in equine insurance Markel recognizes the innovation this incentive offers and has joined as presenting sponsor of the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive.

“We are excited to continue our long-standing collaboration with the National Reined Cow Horse Association,” shared Frank Costantini, Senior Director of Western Disciplines at Markel. “Over the years, NRCHA has made many historic moves while not forgetting about traditions that have been well established over the last 75 years! Markel has moved in a similar fashion. Evolving over time as a global specialty insurance provider, we have continued to develop new strategies while keeping our commitment to the horse industry and continuously providing insurance solutions to horse and farm owners as well as equine professionals. We can easily align with NRCHA’s mission to serve its members as well as with the new Cow Horse Incentive, which is geared to recognize stallions, support foal nominations, and ultimately produce larger purses for the owner and exhibitor alike.”

Cow Horse Incentive Program Manager Patty Tiberg recognized the connection between Markel’s mission and NRCHA’s from her first day in the position. “I knew from Day One that Markel would be the perfect fit to support this incentive,” she said. “We share a focus on these young horses, from insuring them from the time they’re born to giving them opportunities to earn large purses as they reach competition age to recognizing the breeders and stallion owners who help create the future of our sport. With more than 187 stallions already subscribed in this incentive, the sky is the limit for our young horses competing in the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, as well as those horses’ breeders and the stallion owners.”

Markel and NRCHA will jointly promote the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive at events and horse sales across the country to build the incentive purse and share the benefits of the incentive.

“We remain passionate about horses and our business,” Costantini continued. “We are proud of all the long-term relationships we have in place with associations and show managers, as well as the network of horse insurance agents representing Markel exclusively who attend and support horse events all over the country. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to be the official equine insurance provider of NRCHA, and we look forward to servicing NRCHA members by providing insurance protection for their passion and lifestyle.” To learn more about Markel’s horse and farm insurance products, visit markelhorseandfarm. com.

The NRCHA Stallion Stakes will be held April 3–12, 2025, at the iconic South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. To learn more about the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive and the Stallion Stakes, visit nrcha. com.

The King of The Cowboys Doug Williamson

1942 - 2024

By Dr. Joe Carter

I am truly sad. Doug was a special friend and an idol of mine. He was always happy. Never complained. Always got back up. I love his wife Carol. She was his rock. I know she is heartbroken. I am sorry Carol. He was truly one of the great horsemen. I tried to be a sponge when around him and listen intently.

If I remember this right I met Doug for the first time in 2007. The circumstances were unusual. It was the first time that Doug, the two-time NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion didn’t make the Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals. I really didn’t know him beforehand, but after this moment we became lifelong friends. We were in Reno, Nevada at the Snaffle Bit Futurity. He pulled me aside. He introduced himself as if I didn’t know who he was.

He called me doctor. He never ever called me by anything other than that afterwards. He explained to me that he failed to make the Snaffle Futurity finals. This I already knew because it was the talk of the show. I didn’t know where he was going with the conversation at this point.

I came to learn that Doug assumed nothing. It was one of his traits. He tended to all details. No matter how small. He was always a gentleman. His word was his bond. He wasn’t down. He wasn’t complaining. He seemed resolved on solving a problem. With that infectious smile, with the twinkle in is eye we all know, and the utmost in self confidence, he looked me straight in the eyes and proclaimed, “I need better horses!” We both then chuckled.

“Will you help me?” he went on to ask. I replied, of course.” The two year old sales were coming up the next day. “I have picked out the horses I like, will you look at their X-rays?” And so it began. We looked at Xray after Xray. I remember vividly looking at every Xray with Doug on a two year old named ARC Sparkin Chic. He really liked that colt. He described to me how his shoulder muscles tied into his withers and how that would give him the ability to get around a cow. He described to me the way in which his withers then tied into his back. This would allow him to sprint forward and catch a fast cow. One that he could get a big score on. The X-rays were clean and Doug bought that colt. The colt went on to earn over $200,000 for Doug.

In 2019, Doug was 77 years old and ARC Sparkin Chics was 14 years old, at their ages that pair went on mark a remarkable score of 231 down the fence. They had 77’s from all 5 judges in winning the NRCHA Derby Open Bridle Spectacular Championship in Paso Robles. It is a moment I will never forget. How things go full circle.

Rest in Peace my friend. Take your boots off.

I am comforted to think that you are watching over me and my herd. Looking forward to the day I see you again. Miss you already.

Prescott Arizona- The 9th Annual Legacy Ranch Horse Sale wrapped up this past month, continuing its tradition of offering top-quality ranch horses and delivering an impressive lineup for buyers. The event held at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds on September 14th, attracted a great turnout of horse enthusiasts and performance

Successful 9th Annual Legacy Ranch

Horse Sale Concludes with Strong Sales and Quality Horses

horse buyers, with spirited bidding reflecting the value and reputation of the horses offered.

This year’s sale held with the current market value of horse’s selling at an average

price of $18,329.00 and the high seller going for $69,000. The horses from K4 Ranch and Diamond A Cattle Company demonstrated the versatility, skill, and temperament that caught the eye of top buyers.

Sale Highlights:

• High Seller: ND Stylish Lil Pep, sold for $69,000 to Hoffman Ranch, Nebraska

• Top Selling Gelding: CB Peppermint Twist, brought in $57,500, showcasing exceptional talent in the roping arena as well as ranch work.

• Young Prospect Success: Several young prospects also performed well, with Pimento Pepper Hick from the Diamond A Cattle Company fetching $30,000, demonstrating early promise in the team roping.

The preview and demonstration portions of the day gave attendees the chance to see the horses in action, whether working cattle in the live branding demonstrations, roping the sled and live cattle in the arena. The feedback from buyers was overwhelmingly positive, with many remarking on the consistency, quality and preparedness of the horses.

Looking ahead, plans are already underway for the 10th Annual Legacy Ranch Horse Sale, held in conjunction with Olsens Grain Equifest, which promises to continue the tradition of offering superior ranch horses to meet the needs of buyers looking for dependable, versatile partners.

For more information on the 10th Annual sale and to stay updated, visit www.ranchhorsesale.com or social media, The Legacy Ranch Horse Sale.

About the Legacy Ranch Horse Sale:

The Legacy Ranch Horse Sale is an annual event that brings together top-quality ranch horses only offered once a year from established programs from the K4 Ranch and Diamond A Cattle Company and their employees. Known for offering honest, sound, and versatile horses, the sale attracts a wide variety of horse enthusiasts looking for horses that are ready to work or compete.

New vaccine to protect cattle from deadly tick-borne disease

The research team created the vaccine by genetically modifying the Anaplasma marginale pathogen, successfully immunizing cattle from bovine anaplasmosis.

Researchers at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) are developing the first vaccine to protect cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a severe tick-borne disease. This research is critical for Missouri’s $1.6 billion cattle

industry, aiming to safeguard the state’s economy.

Bovine anaplasmosis, prevalent in Missouri, infects cattle’s red blood cells. In a report by Mizzou, the disease results in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses in the U.S. and nearly $1 billion globally, due to decreased production, treatment expenses, and cattle deaths.

Led by Roman Ganta, a professor at Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a

Bond Life Sciences Center researcher, the team created the vaccine by genetically modifying the Anaplasma marginale pathogen in a lab. By deleting a specific gene and then injecting the modified pathogen into cattle, the vaccinated cattle were reportedly successfully immunized against the disease.

“I often receive calls from cattle producers who are excited about our research and want

to know how soon they can get the vaccine,” says Ganta. “There is currently no effective, widely available, vaccine for the disease, and cattle farmers are very worried about the disease harming or killing their cattle. We want to help farmers in Missouri and around the world and are working hard to come up with a viable solution.”

For more information, visit the Mizzou website.

Photo courtesy Abbie Lankitus

Silvano Alves announces retirement as career comes to emotional end

The three-time World Champion called it a career in Las Vegas this weekend.

LAS VEGAS – Head ing into the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship, Silvano Alves knew this was his proverbial last rodeo.

Having retired from the Unleash The Beast at the 2024 PBR World Finals in May, the threetime World Champion was ready to hang up his spurs for good after one last season with the Nashville Stampede.

Every time he took to the dirt in Las Vegas, his career was in his hands.

The Stampede battled to TMobile Arena through the RideIn Round on Oct. 17, where his teammates secured the win before he even had to ride.

They took on the Texas Rattlers in their first head-to-head game in Las Vegas, and while the Stampede came up short, Alves rode Lapua for 86.75 points.

Relegated to the Last Chance Game following the loss, Alves was slated to be the second-tolast man out. The Stampede, Austin Gamblers, and New York Mavericks each had one ride –the Mavericks were mathematically eliminated, and a ride by Alves would put the Gamblers in a must-ride situation.

Alves climbed aboard Black Gold – letting the chute clock tick down towards zero, as has

always been his custom – and eight seconds later, the whistle sounded.

But so did the challenge horn.

The Gamblers had challenged Alves’s ride, alleging he’d let go of the rope before the 8-second whistle, and the judges agreed.

SEE HIS LAST RIDE

Alves had been bucked off in an agonizing 7.96 seconds. The Stampede’s season was over, and so was his career.

It was an emotional moment, but with a weekend to process, Alves shrugs the whole thing off.

“I feel good,” the newly retired bull rider said. “It was very emo-

tional, but nothing sad. Just emotional, happy to look back at my career and God blessing my career. I had an amazing career, in the United States and in Brazil, my full career. It’s a blessing.”

Alves was greeted on the dirt with a hug from close friend Kaique Pacheco, whose qualified ride for the Gamblers ultimately sent the Stampede packing.

“It’s part of the game,” Alves said of his friend indirectly ending his career. “It’s normal. It’s Kaique there, but I cheer for him when he rides, and same thing – I know for sure, 100%, that he’s cheering for me too. It happens. It’s a game. There

He also has the third-most qualified rides in history with 527, behind only Guilherme Marchi (637) and J.B. Mauney (538).

was a challenge and a replay. I want my team to win, but I know someone on the other side is my best friend. It’s part of the game. But I’m happy that happened for him because I love him. We’re really close, me and him. It was a good moment, a good memory for me and him. I have to say some words for him because he’s special to me.”

For his part, Pacheco is grateful for everything Alves has done –for him and for the sport.

“Silvano is a guy I grew up watching in Brazil, and I always have a dream to meet him one day,” Pacheco said. “I thank God for the opportunity to meet him, and he become one of my best friends and part of my family. He is one of the legends of PBR. In PBR history, he’s one of the greatest bull riders of all time. He’s helped me so much in my career. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me.”

Alves retires as the most decorated rider in PBR history.

He’s one of only two riders to win three World Championships and one of two riders ever to win two back-to-back. He was the 2010 Rookie of the Year, and in 2011, his first world title season, he had an eye-popping 69% riding percentage. He’s second on the all-time money earners list with $6,787,339.99 and added a fourth title with the inaugural PBR Teams Championship in 2022.

Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Foundation Awards Scholarships to Riders Nationwide for 2024-2025

The Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Foundation is proud and excited to introduce the academic scholarship winners for 2024-2025! Every year, in honor of nationally renowned reined cow horse trainer Sherri Gilkerson, the Foundation awards scholarships to qualified students. After Sherri’s untimely passing in 2006, the Foundation established academic scholarships in her name. The Foundation awards the scholarships to deserving students to honor and remember Sherri’s legacy of excellence in and out of the horse show arena.

“The Sherri Foundation was pleased to recognize such a diverse group of students from all over the country. Some are freshmen and some are returning for post graduate studies. They are participating in a variety of top-notch programs including Equine Studies, Agriculture Tech, Rangeland Management, Business, and various Medical fields. Many participate on school equine and rodeo teams as well as NRCHA events. We are so proud of their participation and motivation to honor Sherri with their hard work”, commented board member Cynthia MacDonald Singer.

To qualify for consideration, applicants must be enrolled in post-secondary education, demonstrate academic distinction, good citizenship and either be a member of the NRCHA or related to a member of the NRCHA. Applicants must submit a written application which includes essay questions. Applications are due June 30th of each year and can be found at: http://www.sherrifoundation. org/academic1.html.

The 2024-2025 scholarship winners are:

Claire Edwards is attending Texas Wesleyan University, majoring in Nurse Anesthesia, is active in Reined Cow Horse and is from Troy, TX.

Danli Valdez is attending New Mexico Junior College, majoring in Equine Science, is active in Cutting and Reined Cow Horse, and is from Animas, NM.

Bryce Barkemeyer is attending Texas A&M, majoring in Agriculture Economics, is a member of the Corps of Cadets, is active in Reined Cow Horse, and is from Scottsdale, AZ.

Katie Huntzinger is attending Texas A&M, working toward her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, is active in Reined Cow Horse and is from Tucson, AZ.

Elise Mason is attending the University of Tennessee Martin, majoring in Health and Human Performance, is a member of the UTM Equestrian Team and is from Olympia, WA.

Shawny Telford is attending Montana State University, majoring in Marketing, is active in College Rodeo and Reined Cow Horse and is from Caldwell, ID.

Colton Martin is attending Sheridan College, WY, majoring in Rangeland Management, is active in College Rodeo and is from Beulah, ND.

Mary Ryan Branch is attending the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, majoring in Biology and Environmental Sciences, is active in Reined Cow Horse, and is from Meridian, OK.

Baliegh Lane is attending Ohio University majoring in Equine Studies, is active in Cutting and Reined Cow Horse, and is from Huntley, WY.

Claire Edwards

Danli Valdez

Bryce Barkemeyer

Katie Huntzinger

Elise Mason

Colton Martin

Shawny Telford

GIFT CERTIFICATES

Both Adult & Childrens IN STOCK! IN STOCK NOW!

SADDLE PADS & BLANKETS IN STOCK FOR THAT HARD TO BUY FOR PERSON

NEW & USED ENGLISH SADDLES from 151/2” to 18” BREECHS

EXCEPT: SADDLES - BREYERS & SOME OTHER EXCEPTIONS

ZEKE THURSTON CAPTURES

FIFTH STRAIGHT SADDLE BRONC CHAMPIONSHIP

BY DIANNE FINSTAD

There’s no ‘whoa’ in the stellar career of Zeke Thurston.

Chalk up another significant win as the Big Valley, Alberta, talent collected his fifth straight Canadian saddle bronc championship dur-

ing the $1.5 million Canadian Finals Rodeo Saturday night. He’s the first saddle bronc rider to accomplish such a feat in Canadian rodeo history.

Thurston came into the event, which celebrated its 50th anniversary by returning to its original home of Edmonton, Alberta, with a $6,000 lead in season earnings over his next closest rival, Lucas Macza.

Thurston opened up his drive for five with a first-round win, racking up 89.25-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Freedom Express. He followed that up with a Round 3 victory with a 90-point trip on Duane Kesler’s Miscreant.

Then to put the icing on the cake, Thurston matched up with another Stampede horse, Tokyo Bubbles, for an outstanding 92.75-point trip and his third goround buckle, paving the way for the championship title.

“Each one is honestly more special,” said Thurston, 30. “They’re hard to come by, and to have it happen this many times in a row is unbelievable.”

Thurston is a big fan of Canadian bucking horsepower and was happy to team up with an old friend in the Saturday night finale.

“I had Tokyo last year in the last round too, and I had him the year before at the Canadian Finals. He’s been a staple in my Canadian titles, and that’s pretty special,” he said. “Every time I get on that horse, he really bucks. He knows his job and he likes it. Man, you can give me that horse any day, any time.”

Thurston earned $41,411 over the five CFR performances with 432.25 points on five horses, pushing his Canadian season earnings to $100,215, best of all the CFR competitors.

“That’s pretty crazy. That makes me proud to be Canadian, proud to rodeo in Canada. If a guy can win that kind of money up here, it’s pretty impressive and says a lot about our rodeos.”

Peptoboonsmal dies at age 32

Owners Aaron Ranch of Commerce, Texas, announced recently the death of their senior sire, Peptoboonsmal, a 1992 red roan stallion who has sired the earners of more than $28 million.

Peptoboonsmal, bred by Larry Hall of Weatherford, Texas, had been owned by Aaron Ranch since 2014. He was by Peppy San Badger, out of Royal Blue Boon by Boon Bar. During his performance career, he won the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity in 1995 and earned more than $180,000.

According to QData, Peptoboonsmal went on to sire 1,435 AQHA-registered foals with earnings of $28,728,157 -- with $25 million of that in cutting and another $2 million in reined cow horse. His progeny earned five AQHA world championships and 14 AQHA reserve world championships, along with 36 AQHA Superiors and 193 Registers of Merit.

His top 10 QData earners are Little Pepto Gal ($523,742); Copaspepto ($480,433); One Time Pepto ($331,097); Once In A Blu Boon ($319,002); Pepto Boom ($317,018); Peptos Stylish Miss ($302,911); Boon Too Suen ($263,009); Freckles Lena Boon ($259,818); Sweet Lil Pepto ($237,783); and Blind Sided ($224,945).

In an online tribute, Aaron Ranch posted this: “Peptoboonsmal may be a horse to some, but to the Aarons, ‘Pepto’ had the soul of a human, the wisdom of a professor and the kind of connection to people that comes along once in a lifetime. He was a person trapped in a horse’s body, through and through. ... On Tuesday, October, 22, 2024, Pepto left this realm, due to complications of age. Despite the family’s silent prayers for him to pass peacefully in his sleep when it came time for him to go, Pepto, ever in control, made sure his loved ones were ready to let go first. True to form, he politely requested permission to go, and of course -- one last peppermint for the road.”

He was laid to rest near the statue on Aaron Ranch, where he can continue to watch over his broodmares and his family.

Fresh off a beautiful week in Columbus, Ohio, the accolades for the All Star Reining Stakes are still coming in. Event organizers are celebrating the reining industry with more than half a million dollars given back to the people of the sport. Less than a week after the last run had concluded, checks were in the mail, paying more than $530,000 back to exhibitors, more than $10,000 back to foal enrollers and $30,000 paid back directly to stallion owners.

The top two nominated stallions were Spooks Gotta Whiz and Gunners Special Nite, who earned $5,000 and $1,210, respectively, from their offspring.

“We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who made the 2024 All Star Reining Stakes such a huge success,” says Vincienzo Santos, one of the owners of the ASRS. “From the exhibitors to the enrollers and

All Star Reining Stakes Celebrates

Historic Pairing with All American Quarter Horse Congress

the stallion owners, we know there was some concern about the move to the All American Quarter Horse Congress, but it ended up being one of the best things we could have done for the event. And, for that, we’re especially grateful to the All American Quarter Horse Congress for becoming our partners.”

While the world’s largest single-breed horse show is still happening, plans are already in the works for the 2025 edition of the All Star Reining Stakes to make the event even bigger and better.

A multi-year contract has been signed with the organizers of the Congress. “We’re excited to call the Congress our home in the years to come,” says Santos.

Also to come in 2025:

Added money will be increased to $446,000, with an anticipated payout of roughly $650,000

The Level 3 and 4 Open Futurity will pay out 25 places in the finals

All other levels of both the Open and the Non Pro Futurity will pay out 15 places

All levels of both the Open and Non Pro Derbies will use the NRHA Schedule B payback

“We want exhibitors and program participants to know that we heard you—you wanted more places paid out and more money, and that’s what we’re doing in 2025,” says Santos. “All while staying at an exhibitor-friendly 50 percent retainage.”

Stallion nominations are now open for the 2025 All Star Reining Stakes Stallion Service Auction. Stallion owners are encouraged to nominate their stallions by simply donating a breeding to the auction prior to December 31, 2024, by visiting http://allstarreiningstakes.com

Prospect enrollments are also open for future All Star Reining Stakes until December 31. Weanling enrollments start at $150.

Any questions pertaining to the stallion auction and the All Star Reining Stakes event itself can be sent to allstarreining@gmail. com.

ALL STAR REINING STAKES

The All Star Reining Stakes is the culmination of the work of Vincienzo Santos, Shannon Rafacz and Chris Wiley, reining professionals who were looking for a way to celebrate the industry and the backbone of the sport: the stallions, stallion owners and the breeders.

NRHA Leadership Gathering

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) officially unveiled its new Leadership Gathering, held Downtown Oklahoma City Omni Hotel February 2–3, 2025.

The two-day event is open to all NRHA members and will feature experts on a variety of important topics including financial planning for horse operations, mastering NRHA governance, finding and retaining farm staff, and federal rules impacting horse owners. All the sessions are designed to engage and elevate leaders and those who want to be leaders in NRHA’s committee and governance structure.

“This event will help us achieve one of our strategic goals to help our members become the most qualified and innovative leaders in the horse community,” said NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith. “If you’ve ever wanted to be engaged

in NRHA’s governance, this is where to begin.”

The Leadership Gathering and its new schedule will replace the previous NRHA Winter Meeting, which focused on a traditional meeting format. The new condensed structure, which includes the Annual General Membership meeting set for February 2, will shift its focus to a more innovative design geared toward better equipping members, riders, and trainers to improve their experience with NRHA and their reining businesses.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our members to come together, away from the show pen, and to really engage within our industry,” stated NRHA Director of Governance & Executive Administration Liz Kelsey.

The year-long schedule features the 60 highest paying rodeos in the sport. The Playoff Series will culminate with the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., followed up by the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Playoff Series accounted for more than $28 million in payouts in 2024 and is expected to increase yet again in 2025.

PRCA ANNOUNCES 2025 PLAYOFF SERIES

Below, are the rodeos included in the 2025 Playoff Series.

Odessa, Texas

Denver, Colo.

Fort Worth, Texas

Jackson, Miss.

San Antonio,

Texas

Tucson, Ariz.

Mercedes, Texas

Houston, Texas

Austin, Texas

Logandale, Nev.

San Angelo, Texas

Red Bluff, Calif.

Clovis, Calif.

Guymon, Okla. Redding, Calif.

Woodward, Okla. Sisters, Ore. Vernal, Utah

Prineville, Ore. Reno, Nev. Pecos, Texas Greeley, Colo. Mandan, N.D. Cody, Wyo. Livingston, Mont. Basin City, Wash. St. Paul, Ore. Oakley, Utah

Prescott, Ariz. Sheridan, Wyo. Casper, Wyo. Calgary, AB Nampa, Idaho

Salinas, Calif.

Salt Lake City, Utah Ogden, Utah

Spanish Fork, Utah Deadwood, S.D. Cheyenne, Wyo. Heber City, Utah

Dodge City, Kan. Castle Rock, Colo. Logan, Utah

Lovington, N.M. Hermiston, Ore. Caldwell, Idaho

Gooding, Idaho

Moses Lake, Wash. Canby, Ore. Bremerton, Wash. Kennewick, Wash. Tremonton, Utah Filer, Idaho

Walla Walla, Wash. Ellensburg, Wash. Lewiston, Idaho

Pendleton, Ore. Abilene, Texas

Albuquerque, N.M. Mandan, N.D. (Roughrider Cup)

CINCH PLAYOFFS

Puyallup, Wash.

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Wellington International to be Acquired by Former Ownership Group

Majority Partners Mark Bellissimo, Marsha Dammerman, Lisa Lourie, and Roger Smith to purchase Wellington International Murray Kessler to serve as CEO; Partners and Kessler deeply committed to supporting all three disciplines while investing in both existing and new showgrounds

WELLINGTON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The former majority owners of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Mark Bellissimo, Marsha Dammerman, Lisa Lourie, and Roger Smith (“the Partners”), formed a new entity called WI FL Acquisition, LLC (“the Company”) to acquire Wellington International. The Company announced today that it signed a binding agreement to acquire Wellington International from Global Equestrian Group (“GEG”). Effective upon close of the transaction, Murray S. Kessler will lead Wellington International as Chief Executive Officer.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to invest in the existing showgrounds, undergo a major expansion, and add new executive leadership to ensure Wellington remains the premier horse sport venue for show jumping, hunters, and dressage at all levels of competition,” stated Bellissimo of WI FL Acquisition, LLC. “We are committed to long-term ownership, ensuring the showgrounds thrive in Wellington for generations to come while welcoming new riders and new families to the sport.”

“When we invested in Wellington International, we promised to take the venue to the next level, and I am happy to conclude that has been achieved. The sale is a testament to the fact that Wellington International is now ready for its next chapter,” says Andreas Helgstrand, CEO of Global Equestrian Group.

Incoming CEO Murray Kessler is the former CEO of three Fortune 500 companies, former President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), former President of the North American Riders Group, father of 2012 London Olympic show jumper Reed Kessler, and stepfather to dressage rider Bebe Davis. He is a 48year resident of Wellington where he currently resides with his wife, Sarah.

“I am excited to work with Wellington International President Michael Stone and his world class management team to capitalize on this remarkable growth opportunity,” stated Kessler. “We will immediately be seeking input from community leaders, governing bodies, exhibitors and partners as we develop and execute our plans that include significant investment for existing facility upgrades and the building of new world-class facilities on the expanded showgrounds.”

“Wellington International and its horse shows are the anchor of Wellington and a key ingredient to what makes our great community unique,” said Kessler.

Wellington International is the largest and longest-running equestrian competition series in the world, hosting 42 weeks of competition annually across the equestrian disciplines of show jumping, hunters, dressage and para-dressage and welcoming over 350,000 spectators, 15,000 horses and 7,500 competitors. Each season, Wellington International stages the Winter Equestrian Festival (“WEF”) and an array of competitions, divisions, and participants in the sport, and contributes an estimated $400+ million in economic impact to Palm Beach County.

Wellington International President Michael Stone stated, “I look forward to working with Murray and the Partners who know the business and the community so well to make Wellington International’s showgrounds the standard to which all grounds are measured.”

“For me, this is an amazing opportunity to provide the stable, longterm success we all want for the showgrounds and the community of Wellington,” concluded Lisa Lourie, Partner and also founder of SpyCoast Farm, one of the nation’s largest sport horse breeding operations. “We all want the showgrounds to be a world-class venue where we can enjoy our sport in a community we love, and our partnership is committed to making that happen.”

About Wellington International

Recognized globally, Wellington International stands proud as the host of the esteemed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and 28 weeks of premier Annual Series horse shows. Since its establishment in Wellington in 1974, WEF has expanded to occupy over 111 acres, featuring 18 stateof-the-art competition arenas, 500 permanent equine stalls, picturesque horse trails, pedestrian walkways, and convenient golf cart paths. Proudly holding the title of the world’s largest and most enduring hunter/jumper horse event, we welcome an annual influx of equestrian enthusiasts from all 50 states and beyond, spanning over 34 countries. Beyond the equestrian competitions, we take pride in our VIP experiences, premium hospitality suites, versatile event spaces, world-class retail avenues, and more.

About Global Equestrian Group

Global Equestrian Group has activities in dressage, showjumping and events, the jewellery company Helgstrand Jewellery and equestrian appeal company Kingsland Equestrian, as well as other equestrian investments. With a dedication to excellence and a focus on innovation, Global Equestrian Group are committed to advancing the equestrian industry through strategic partnerships and cutting-edge solutions.

Protect The Harvest Ceased Operations October 31; Cites Funding Challenges

Protect The Harvest ceased operations effective Oct. 31, 2024, citing ongoing funding challenges that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization was created in 2011 as a non-profit

educational and advocacy effort to promote and defend American farmers and ranchers, improve food security, protect property rights, ensure animal welfare, and support outdoor sports such as hunting and

fishing. Protect The Harvest has focused on informing stakeholders about important issues, protecting against a myriad of ongoing threats and responding when appropriate.

“Over the past two-and-ahalf years we’ve been diligently working to secure funding that would allow Protect The Harvest to continue operations going forward, but the current economy has made it challenging for many individuals and organizations that have supported us in the past,” said Dr. Mike Siemens, Protect The Harvest executive director. “It’s been frustrating and disappointing to see the number of issues we confront multiply while our resources to address them have diminished. It’s also heartbreaking because we hear from so many stakeholders about how much they value Protect The Harvest and the work we do. Now, other organizations will need to step up to fill the void.”

“Since Charlotte and I created Protect The Harvest, we’ve helped many people, some who have become good friends, and we’ve accomplished a lot,” stated Forrest Lucas, founder and chairman of the board. “We’ve fought, and won, a considerable number of important battles that threatened property rights, would restrict freedoms and liberties America was founded on, make it more difficult to produce food or own animals, would curtail hunting and fishing, or would result in greater food insecurity. We have made many friends, enlightened many Americans, and fought the good fights to preserve the nation’s principles and values, but the time has come to pass the torch to others who will promote and defend A Free and Fed America™.”

The Lucas family will proudly continue to support a variety of organizations, including those in the agriculture sector, to address important issues. The Protect The Harvest website (www.protecttheharvest.com) and social media platforms will be deactivated by December 31, 2024.

USDA Invests More Than $46 Million for Underserved, Veteran, and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Projects Nationwide

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced a more than $46 million investment in projects supporting America’s veteran, underserved, and beginning farmers and ranchers to help aspiring producers enter the business and improve their skills and knowledge to sustain their operations for years to come.

“Starting or taking over a farm takes courage, and USDA wants to make sure our next generation of farmers have the resources and support they deserve to take that leap,” said Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing investments to support beginning, underserved, and veteran farmers with technical assistance and mentoring to build successful operations. These partnerships with local experts help ensure all farmers and ranchers have fair access to USDA’s programs and market opportunities.”

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The 46 projects funded at $23.7 million include:

Washington Farmland Trust will recruit and provide 50 beginning producers with personalized technical assistance and connect them with landowners who are ready to transition their farmland to a new operation and ultimately allow beginning producers to establish or expand their farm businesses.

Nirvana Tea, Inc., in Detroit, Michigan will provide underserved beginning farmers with education, financial literacy, technical assistance and mentoring with a special focus on hydroponic farming, a sustainable, year-round farming system.

Augusta Locally Grown, Inc. in Georgia will provide individual farm plots, mentorship, climate-smart agricultural training, business plan development, and more to help beginning farmers improve and sustain farming operations.

2501 Program Grants

The 2501 Program is administered by the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE). The program awarded $22.6 million to 31 Fiscal Year 2024 grantees. Among them:

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the average age of all U.S. farm producers was 58.1, up 0.6 years from 2017, and more than one-third are 65 or older. This continues a long-term trend of aging in the U.S. producer population.

USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and 2501 Program provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to help underserved, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. These investments also help provide equitable participation in USDA agricultural programs.

Tanka Fund in South Dakota will provide technical assistance to Native American and Native veteran buffalo producers on marketing, food distribution, and value-added product development for local and regional food supply markets.

The Florida International University Board of Trustees will teach veterans and youth from underserved neighborhoods in Broward and Miami-Dade counties about climate-smart and sustainable farming, incubator farms, local food system production, and financial management.

Wakulima USA in Washington State will provide a support system for immigrant and refugee farmers in South King County including training to help access farmland, improve production skills and facilities, and establish and expand market connections. More information about the funded projects is available at the USDA 2501 Program website.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

BETTY KUNESH AWARD

Nominations are NOW OPEN for Art of the Cowgirl’s Fourth Annual Betty Kunesh Legacy Award.

This award was created to honor women like our founder, Tammy Pate’s grandmother, Betty Kunesh. Grandma Betty was a woman who had a deep love of the land, horses, livestock, and the western way of life. She was a hard worker, and a big supporter of her family, friends, and community. She was the true inspiration behind Art of the Cowgirl.

Do you know a woman who embodies the cowgirl spirit? We invite you to nominate her for this special recognition award. The 2025 recipient will be honored during Art of the Cowgirl February 25-March 1, in Wickenburg, Arizona.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –

With pressure at a paramount he lived up to his nickname.

Shad “Money”

Mayfield clocked an electric 6.9-second time Saturday night to win the Final Four sudden-death round at the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup for the second year in a row at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

“There was a lot on my mind right there, Hunter (Herrin) went 7.1 seconds, which was awesome, and the rest of the field was wide open,” said Mayfield, 23. “I kind of got stuck going for second for the ($22,500) or going for (the win). I know I rope better going for it and I didn’t back off. My horse (Lollipop) makes up for a lot of it. She makes a lot of stuff happen. I have ridden Lollipop all year

We are thrilled to announce that the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Loan Assistance Tool (LAT) has been updated to better support lenders in the loan application process. Previously designed to guide farm loan applicants, the LAT now includes new features tailored specifically to meet lenders’ needs.

The LAT provides an interactive, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process. Initially created for farmers and ranchers to help streamline their loan applications, it now extends those same benefits to lenders. The updated tool allows users to access all resources by identifying themselves as either a producer or lender or by going straight to the farm loan application process.

SHAD MAYFIELD CAPTURES BACK-TO-BACK

VICTORIES AT CINCH PLAYOFFS GOVERNOR’S CUP

long and she’s pretty special.”

Mayfield won the eight-man semifinal round with a 7.1-second run earlier Saturday to put himself in position to go backto-back.

The Clovis, N.M., native earned $39,625 at the rodeo –$30,000 for winning the finals – and $9,625 for claiming the second round title Friday.

With his huge payday in Sioux Falls, Mayfield also set the single-season PRCA earnings record in tie-down roping – before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge – with $287,722. He eclipsed the previous record of $280,405 established by Riley Webb last year.

“I said at Fort Worth I had the record two years ago and Riley took it last year and I said at Fort Worth that my goal this year, I held off (hip surgery) and

SHAD MAYFIELD

everything to get that record. I had a slow end to the summer kind of and breaking that record looked like it might be in jeopardy, but I knew I could do it with the money won here. It is crazy because I was looking at

Farm Service Agency Loan Assistance Tool Now Serves Lenders

With these updates, the LAT now offers lenders the tools they need to navigate the farm loan guarantee process with ease, streamlining workflows, and ensuring smoother loan origination and servicing.

Lenders play a critical role in FSA’s Guaranteed Farm Loan Program, which helps family farmers and ranchers secure loans from commercial lenders. FSA guarantees loans up to $2.25 million, offering lenders peace of mind with up to 95% protection against financial loss.

With guaranteed loans, FSA partners directly with lenders, who are responsible for loan origination, servicing, and oversight. Once a loan is approved, FSA guarantees the loan, ensuring lenders are backed by a safety net in case of losses.

Eligibility and Participation in the Guaranteed Loan Program

Lenders subject to state or federal regulatory supervision, with experience in agricultural lending, are eligible to participate in the FSA Guaranteed Loan Program.

FSA offers four specific programs for lenders to make and service these loans:

Microlender Program (MLP) - Lenders with experience in making small business loans can participate in MLP. The program has specific criteria, including a loss rate below 3% on small loans, experience in originating 20+ business loans, and being free of government debarment.

Standard Eligible Lender (SEL) - SEL is the basic entrylevel program for lenders. Par-

everyone else who could have won some money and pass me, so I said ‘Shoot, I might as well win it.’

“I set goals for myself and that helps a lot, and I set out to achieve those goals.”

ticipants must have agricultural lending experience, regulatory oversight, and local community involvement.

Certified Lender Program (CLP) - Lenders under CLP enjoy streamlined loan processing and reduced documentation. To qualify, lenders must meet SEL criteria, maintain a loss rate below 7%, and have processed multiple guaranteed loans. CLP status lasts five years.

Preferred Lender Program (PLP) - PLP offers the highest level of loan origination efficiency. With reduced documentation and faster turnaround times, PLP is reserved for experienced lenders with a loss rate under 3% that have met both SEL and CLP criteria. The agreement lasts five years and is granted by FSA’s Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs.

For more information on the benefits of becoming an FSA lender, visit our new and improved Loan Assistance Tool!

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Dr. Gregg Knape has been named the recipient of the 2024 PRCA Veterinarian of the Year Award.

DR. GREGG KNAPE

NAMED PRORODEO VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR

The Alvin, Texas, native has over four decades of experience as a large animal veterinarian and serves as an official vet at RodeoHouston.

“In my life, this would be one of the most humbling honors that I’ve ever received,” Knape told the ProRodeo Sports News. “This is all based on something that we do every day. I’m a large animal veterinarian, and this is part of my life.”

Knape was raised on a farm and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1976 with a degree in veterinary medicine, specializing in farm animals.

He said the award meant more to him because of his appreciation for PRORODEO and its promotion of the Western lifestyle.

“To me rodeo, especially PRORODEO, is the avenue that we can show the rest of the world what type of life we live,” Knape said. “I just love it. My life is these large animals. The horses, the sport, the animals, the cattle, the whole thing.

NYCHA ANNOUNCES THE 2025 STALLION SERVICE AUCTION

This event will begin on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, and run through Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Dates: Wednesday, November 13, 2024Wednesday, December 18, 2024

The National Youth Cutting Horse Association (NYCHA) is excited to announce the launch of the 2025 Stallion Service Auction, one of the most highly anticipated auctions in the equine industry. Bidding will open on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, and will run through Wednesday, December 18, 2024, offering breeders and horse enthusiasts an incredible opportunity to bid on top-tier stallions for the 2025 breeding season.

Thanks to the generous contributions of our stallion owners and donors, this year’s auction features an exceptional lineup of stallions. The diverse range of elite sires available in this auction represents some of the best genetics in the cutting horse industry. Whether you are looking to expand your breeding program or secure a top stallion for your mare, this auction is your chance to access world-class stallions and support the future of youth in cutting horses.

Preview the Stallions at the 2024 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity

This year, bidders will have the unique opportunity to view photos of all stallions featured in the auction during the 2024 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity and the Broke Spur Ranch World Finals. These photos

will be displayed at the NYCHA Booth in the Best of the West Tradeshow, giving attendees an exclusive preview of the outstanding sires available. For those unable to attend the event, stallion profiles, including photos and detailed information, will also be available online at www.nycha.us or visit the NYCHA Stallion Service Auction Facebook page.

Supporting the Future of Youth in Cutting Horse

The Stallion Service Auction is the largest National Youth Cutting Horse Association (NYCHA) fundraiser. All proceeds from the auction directly benefit the NYCHA’s programs, which include educational initiatives, leadership opportunities, and scholarship funding. By participating in the auction, you are not only securing access to top stallions but also investing

in the development and growth of the next generation of cutting horse enthusiasts.

How to Participate

Bidding is easy and can be done entirely online. Visit the [NYCHA Stallion Service Auction] (https://nychastallionauction.com/) to view the full list of available stallions, review their information, and place your bids. The auction will run from November 13, 2024, through December 18, 2024, and winning bidders will be notified following the auction’s close. Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity!

For further information about the auction or to view the stallions available, visit the auction link or stop by our booth at the Best of the West Tradeshow during the 2024 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity and Broke Spur Ranch World Finals.

$100,000 to be added to 2025 AQHA VRH World Championships

Qualifying is underway for the 2025 AQHA

Due to the success of the 2024 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, for the first time ever, the American Quarter Horse Association will be adding a minimum of $100,000 to the overall payout at the 2025 AQHA VRH World, scheduled for June 15-21 in Amarillo, Texas. Additionally, qualifying information has been approved for the 2026 VRH World.

The AQHA VRH World combines three premiere ranch horse events into one: the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals and the AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, presented by Four Sixes Ranch.

Following the inaugural event in 2008, the ranching events have seen tremen-

Versatility Ranch

Horse

World

dous growth which has been further supported by VRH World’s move to the Tri-State Fairgrounds and the additional funding from Amarillo and Texas Venue Support Fund, Special Event Trust Fund as well as Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau.

It’s Everything for the Ride

Join Farnam and The Castellows as we celebrate horse owners for their early mornings, tireless dedication and unwavering commitment. Watch this special video tribute that honors your labor of love - because we know you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Watch New Music Video

Farnam x The Castellows

Collab Sweepstakes Winners!

A huge thank you to all who participated in our sweepstakes. Congratulations to the lucky winners!*

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Purse and Prizes

AQHA will award a minimum of $475,000 in cash and prizes at the 2025 AQHA VRH World, surpassing the record total cash and prizes of nearly $400,000 awarded in 2024.

“We are excited to offer a record-breaking payout and prize line to our ranching competitors,” said Karl Stressman, AQHA chief executive officer. “We are thankful to our exhibitors who continue to support this great show and to the committees and team members who work hard to make payouts like this possible”

Lavert Avent at VRH World

Photo credit:

Shane Rux Photography

Both the AQHA VRH World Championships and RHC Finals will feature added money along with optional jackpot opportunities for AQHA Level 1 Cattle Championships competitors. Custom designed trophies, buckles, jackets and more are awarded in each class as well as for the VRH all-around world champions.

2026 Qualifying

New for the 2026 AQHA VRH World, the qualifying period will begin January 1, 2025, and will end December 31, 2025. This period will mirror the Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals, whose qualifying period for 2026 will remain January 1 - December 31, 2025.

The qualifying period for the 2025 AQHA VRH World will continue to run through February 28, 2025, meaning that in January and February 2025, exhibitors will have the opportunity to qualify for both the 2025 and 2026 VRH World Shows at the same time.

For more information, view the VRH World qualifying requirements.

AQHLead and AQHA Emerging Leader Award

Do you know an inspiring AQHA member age 21-35?

We need your help to spread the word: Applications are open for awards and programs that recognize and develop our industry’s future leaders. If you know an AQHA member age 21-35, encourage them to apply for the leadership program AQHLead. Or in the case of the AQHA Emerging Leader Award, you can nominate a deserving young adult – a fantastic way to support their growth and recognize their potential!

These initiatives empower young adults, ages 21-35, with valuable resources, networking

and recognition.

AQHLead: Through this leadership program, participants gain access to mentorship, training and networking that cultivate leadership abilities.

AQHA Emerging Leader

Award: Recognizes deserving young adults for their professional, civic or equine industry journey.

This leadership program is designed for young adults, ages 21-35, to help support their development as leaders in the equine industry. Participants attend leadership-focused webinars, have access to a network of mentors, and receive grantfunded travel to ultimately gain more insight into their roles and impact in the industry. Selected young adults may also apply

for one of five additional travel grants of $1,800 each to attend a major industry event or place of interest. AQHLead is supported by a grant from the Dogwood Foundation through the American Quarter Horse Foundation.

Apply by December 31, 2024

Study shows a common pain medication can disrupt assisted reproduction in horses

By Austin Littrell, Assistant Editor DVM360

Texas A&M research uncovered a connection between phenylbutazone and the ability of mare egg cells to become viable embryos.

A recent study has discovered that phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) common in equine medicine for pain relief, can affect the ability of mare’s oocytes (egg cells) to become viable embryos.1 The study, out of the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) in College Station, found administration of phenylbutazone for 10 consecutive days at 4.4 mg/kg (orally, 1-2 times daily) to be associated with decreased ability for immature equine oocytes to undergo in vitro maturation and develop to the blastocyst stage following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).2 The ability of a mare’s egg cells to become viable embryos is a crucial part of assisted reproduction in horses.1

“In horses, the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is more complex than it is in humans,” Luisa Ramírez-Agámez, DVM, a PhD candidate in the VMBS Department of Large Animal Clinical Studies, said in a news release.1 “First, a mare’s oocytes need approximately 30 hours to mature in the laboratory once they have been collected before they can be fertilized. Then, we have to inject the eggs with sperm to induce fertilization, a process known as ICSI.

“We discovered that [phenylbutazone] can affect both the ability of a mare’s eggs to mature correctly when cultured and whether the fertilized eggs will develop into a viable embryo. In either of those cases, the eggs affected by [phenylbutazone] cannot be used in assisted reproduction,” Ramírez-Agámez added.1

These findings are significant because of the time and money that horse owners often invest in assisted reproduction. For horse owners who make their livings from their herds, and to those who

wish to produce offspring from their favorite horses to extend the bloodline, assisted reproduction is invaluable. Additionally, it’s common for chronically lame mares who are unable to support pregnancies to be used as egg doners. According to Ramírez-Agámez, the latter animals may be among the most impacted.1

“Mares who are chronically lame are likely going to be on [phenylbutazone ] because it helps with pain management–especially in the musculoskeletal system–which, according to our results, will hinder their ability to participate in assisted reproduction programs,” Ramírez-Agámez said.1 She added that they hope to identify a phenylbutazone alternative one day with similar levels of pain management, but no interference with reproduction.1

Some positive news from the study is that the negative effect from the drug on reproduction appeared transient, wearing off within a matter of weeks. Investigators noted there to be no differences regarding in vitro maturation, cleavage, or blastocyst rates 30- and 77-days post-treatment.2

Ramírez-Agámez expressed concern regarding the possible implications of her discovery regarding humans. She has also expressed her interest in one day collaborating with researchers in human medicine to explore any possible impact that this discovery could have on IVF in women.1

References

Common equine painkiller disrupts assisted reproduction technique efficiency in mares, Texas A&M research finds. News release. Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. August 13, 2024. Accessed August 13, 2024. https:// vetmed.tamu.edu/news/press-releases/equine-painkiller-disruptsassisted-reproduction/ Ramírez-Agámez L, Hernández-Avilés C, Whitfield-Cargile CM, Coleman MC, Love CC. Treatment of mares with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) phenylbutazone transiently affects in vitro maturation of equine oocytes and blastocyst development after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Theriogenology. 2024;223:53-58. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.04.017

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PENDLETON WHISKY’S LET ‘ER BUCK BUCKING STOCK OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Standing out among a crowd of exceptional roughstock requires a perfect balance of animal athleticism and the cowboys capable of showcasing that talent.

The 2024 “Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year Awards” are recognized as follows:

Bareback Riding Horse of the Year

1. Boot Barn’s Night Crawler –Pickett Pro Rodeo

2. Virgil – C5 Rodeo Company

3. Agent Lynx – Calgary Stampede

Saddle Bronc Riding Horse of the Year

1. All or Nothin –Andrews Rodeo

2. The Black Tie – Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics

3. Tokyo Bubbles –Calgary Stampede

Bull of the Year

1. Big Bank –Universal Pro Rodeo

2. Pegasus –Pete Carr Pro Rodeo

3. Ricky Vaughn –Powder River Rodeo

FORT WORTH – The NCHA Foundation is excited to announce their 4th annual “A Night at the Ranch” fundraiser is scheduled for December 4, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the premier events during the 2024 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity, the event will be centered around a live auction featuring cattle and western lifestyle experiences.

Presented by Fort Worth’s only two Michelin Key hotel,

NCHA 2024 A NIGHT AT THE RANCH EVENT

Bowie House – Auberge Resorts Collection, proceeds from the evening benefit the NCHA Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support the National Cutting Horse Association through youth programming and scholarships, equine welfare and research, historical preservation efforts, and continued education of the sport of cutting. The event, held at River Ranch in

the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, celebrates the rugged sophistication and elite traditions of the ranch and its connection to the sport of cutting.

Since the inaugural event in 2021, A Night at the Ranch has raised over one-million dollars in support for the NCHA

Foundation. Horse Association and MORE!

The celebration, expected to welcome over 400 guests, is the NCHA Foundation’s annual spotlight event and serves as their major fundraiser for the year. Along with the live auction, which is being facilitated by Superior Livestock Auction, the evening will feature cowboy cuisine, signature cocktails, live music by Royal Dukes Band! Tickets to the event are $250.00 per person, and tables of ten cost $2,500.00 to $10,000.00. Sponsorships are available. Unable to make it to the event, online bidding will be available at bid.superiorlivestock.com.

For more information or to purchase event tickets, visit nchafoundation.org today.

About the NCHA Foundation Since 1982, the NCHA Foundation has proudly supported the NCHA through youth scholarships and programming, equine welfare research and projects, historical preservation efforts, and continued education of the sport of cutting. We invite you to join us in our efforts and cement your legacy today!

AUCTION LOT LIST

National Cutting Horse Association - Enjoy premium seating and a parking pass to the 2025 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity. Your box for 6 and parking pass are valid for the entirety of the 2025 Futurity (excluding the NCHA Celebrity Cutting). These soldout box seats offer an unbeatable view of the action and are only available through this auction! As a bonus, this package also includes complimentary

food and beverages on Open Finals night, ensuring you and your guests have a first-class experience while witnessing the pinnacle of cutting horse competition.

Hawkins Ranch/D&D Ranch - 2 extremely gentle, Texas Longhorn steers cared for by Bobby & Mary Jo Hawkins at Hawkins Ranch. This pair of 12-year-old steers are the epitome of the Texas Longhorn breed, boasting impressive horn spreads over 72”, and tipping the scales at approximately 1,500 lbs. each.

Mini Moos, LLC – A. Sine Cattle Company - “Dolly” is a mini Chondro-positive miniHighland/Whitepark cross heifer born June 2, 2024. Expected to stand 39”- 40” tall once fullgrown, Mini Moos, LLC owner, Ally Pyles says, “Dolly is hands down the best personality that we have ever had in a calf!” With her loving personality and adorable charm, Dolly will be the star in any pasture.

XIT Ranch - Imagine your home transformed into a private, intimate dining experience led by Executive Chef Abby Knowles of XIT Ranch! Enjoy a luxurious multi-course meal for up to 8 guests featuring premium XIT beef, prepared in your home. Dinner to take place within a 50-mile radius of Fort Worth, TX, on a mutually agreed-upon date in 2025. This experience is sure to be a Ten In Texas!

Cuttin’Up Show Blankets, Moon Rein, Shannon Lawlor Fine Art - Reimagine your living space with help from Cuttin’Up Show Blankets, Moon Rein, and Shannon Lawlor Fine Art. Hunting experience at Tule Ranch with Joey Milner & Jay Winborn - Enjoy a Two-Night Hog and Audad Hunt in the Heart of West Texas with two of NCHA’s finest – Joey Milner & Jay Winborn! You and a guest will embark on an unforgettable adventure in the rugged beauty of Palo Duro Canyon on Dick Cogdell’s portion of the renowned Tule Ranch.

King Ranch Guided Nilgai

Hunt - The Birthplace of American Ranching is offering two hunters a one-day fully guided nilgai hunt on the Norias Division of the King Ranch. First acquired by the ranch in the late 1920s, today, over 18,000 nilgai roam one of the most exclusive hunting destinations in America in an area known as “The Last Great Habitat”. On this single-day hunt, each hunter will have the opportunity to harvest one nilgai bull

or nilgai cow, and lunch will be provided.

Churchill Downs – Winner’s Circle Experience - Immerse yourself in the heart of thoroughbred and bourbon country with this exclusive 3-night getaway at the Hyatt Regency Louisville, for an unforgettable VIP experience at the iconic Churchill Downs Racetrack! Your VIP experience at the world’s most legendary racetrack begins with a special

Barn and Backside Tour of the grounds where you’ll gain rare access to the inner workings of Churchill Downs. As your day at the races begins, you’ll take your seats in the famed Stakes Room, where you’ll be treated to delicious food, and enjoy prime views of the action overlooking the finish line. M Unable to attend the event? Bid online with Superior Livestock auction at bid.superiorlivestock.com.

SOLD Represented the Seller and Buyer

$545,000

Scottsdale, Arizona