5 minute read
National Reining Horse Association
BORN IN OHIO
National Reining Horse Association
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(L-R): Bill Horn, Sr., Dale Wilkinson, brothers Bill and Paul Horn
Photo courtesy of Rick Weaver
by Elaina Eppinger
When thinking of reining you may think of Texas first, but did you know that reining has deep roots in Ohio? The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) was started and first registered in Ohio. Today, reining is one of the fastest growing horse sports, gaining attention from all over the world and earning new investors in the sport. Why? It is entertaining and exciting for even a non-horse enthusiast to watch. There are purses as high as a million dollars and even the popular new television show, Yellowstone, includes reining horses. More than that, though, people love the western lifestyle and family atmosphere of the shows. And once you ride a reining horse, it’s pretty hard not to be hooked!
How It Started
Before there was a club exclusive to reining horses, known today as the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), reining enthusiasts used to show at open shows, jackpots, and state fairs. The state fairs were a really big deal and most of the reining horses were shown in several disciplines, such as halter, pleasure, cutting, barrels and, of course, reining classes. Every discipline and breed of horse was seen at the state fairs, which were then the lifeblood of showing horses. The quarter and stock horse shows were usually where you found a lot of the reining horses. In Ohio, there were three major shows put on by the Ohio Western Horse Association, including: Spring Horse Show, Midwest Horse Show and the Fall Round Up. The Fall Round Up is what we know today as the AllAmerican Quarter Horse Congress, which was first held in 1967, a year after NRHA formed. The first NRHA Futurity was held in Columbus, Ohio in 1966, continuing there until 1972, when it moved to Sedalia, Missouri. It was moved back to Columbus the following year to be part of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. In 1994, the NRHA Futurity moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where it is now held at the end of November and first week of December. (source - NRHA Historical Archives)
It is important to mention a few
of the people who influenced and supported the formation of the NRHA: Dale Wilkinson, brothers, Bill and Paul Horn, Dick Pieper, Stretch Bradley and son, Clark, Dr. James Glenn, his wife, Mickie, and Clayton Woosley. They all came from the Columbus area.
Dale Wilkinson, known as the “father of modern-day reining”, is among the original innovators in the sport and was the first inductee to NRHA’s Hall of Fame. Dale was born near Tiffin, Ohio, in 1925, the son of a farmer. On October 18, 1947, he married his wife, Lucy, and they had 3 children. Dale was gifted at empowering others, and instinctively knew who would be good at tasks in order to ‘get something going’ for the reiners. James and Mickie Glenn were his clients at the time, and with Dale’s direction, Mickie became a driving force in getting NRHA started. He gave Mickie the information and she did the footwork to help get NRHA up and going. What drove James’ and Mickie’s passion was their horse, Continental King. Mickie wanted him to be a cutting horse, but Dale thought he would make a better reining horse. Continental King was turned over to Dale’s assistant trainer, Bill Horn, to ride and train.
On October 30, 1965 there was an AQHA show, but it wasn’t just the show that caused all the excitement, but rather the reining jackpot class held afterwards! Carroll Brumley, the judge from earlier in the day, was asked to stay and ‘place’ the jackpot class for them. Carroll placed Continental King first, creating a lot of excitement, especially for owners, James and Mickie. They were absolutely thrilled about this jackpot winning! Mickie called Dale and said they needed to create something just for reining horses. Dale didn’t say much or get fired up, but did suggest, “why don’t you come up and we will talk about it?” Dale helped point Mickie in the right direction, suggesting who she should talk to. She contacted the president of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), AQHA public relations, and other reining enthusiasts. The following year, 1966, the National Reining Horse
Shawn Flarida
Association (NRHA) was born and first registered in Ohio, with Dr. James Glenn as its first president. But the NRHA didn’t stop there… even more momentum picked up for the association and, in 2000, the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports) welcomed reining as its first western discipline. In 2002, reining debuted at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Currently the number one NRHA rider hails from Springfield, Ohio. Shawn Flarida, famous for wearing his ‘green shirt’ while showing, has won numerous reining titles, NRHA Futurities, and Derbies, with winnings in excess of $6.5 million dollars - ultimately earning five gold medals in reining at the World Equestrian Games. Today, reining is still strong in Ohio, and you can participate in reining throughout the state with clubs hosting shows in Jackson, Springfield, and Findlay - as well as during the first weekend of the prestigious All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.
If you are interested in learning more about Ohio reining here are links to reining clubs and events in Ohio: buckeyereiningseries.com centralohioreining.com ovrha.org ♦
Photo courtesy of Rick Weaver
Elaina Eppinger, a Penn State graduate with a degree in Animal Science, is the Northeastern Inside Sales Specialist for Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC. She is a member of the National Reining Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. Elaina started showing reining horses in 2016 - after she took one for a spin, she was addicted! In 2021, Elaina started taking photos at NRHA events on the east coast. Elaina lives in Butler, PA with her husband Eric, on their 25-acre farm.
