REINING ALBERTA

Year-end Update

2022 was an amazing year for Reining Alberta.

By Kathie MacKenzie Photos by Graeme Koppes

For the first time in three years, Reining Alberta was able to hold three Classic shows and regular branch events all over Alberta. The association saw great numbers at all of our Classic Shows with amazing horses and talented riders from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and of course, Alberta.

The Four-Year-Old Non-Pro Derby, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) L4 and L1 and Reining Alberta Performance Program (RAPP) was dominated by Meaghan Myers on This Chics A Flinn (In Like Flinn x Little Step A Roo) with a 143.5. Reserve in the NRHA L4 and L1 was Nicole Flood on Smart Nu Guns (Smart Spook x Silky Nu Guns) and in the RAPP L4, Sara Seelhof and Magnumswhizkeyremedy (Dun It For Whizkey x Magnums Remedy) took home the reserve championship.

In the Open Four-Year-Old Derby, 2021 NRHA L3 and L2 Futurity champions Jesse Beckley and Trashinyurdreams (Gunnatrashya x This Chicsdundreamin) took home the L4 championship in both the NRHA and RAPP classes with a 147 for owner, Norma Siebert. Close on their heels in the reserve spot was Shawna Sapergia on Catmans Smart Shiner (Sugar Cat Man x Smart Shinealo) with a 145.5 for owner, Dorthea Sigloch. In the L1 Open Derby (NRHA and RAPP), Sage Sapergia piloted both the champion and reserve placing horses. The L1 champion was Spookn Red Dream (Dreams And Prizes x Red Moon Spook) owned by Tammy Sorensen with a 142 and in reserve, was Joan Girletz’s Chics Pistola (Chics Loaded Gun x Hang Whiz Me) with a 141.5.

Running concurrent with the Four-Year-Old Derby was the Four-Year-Old Maiden Class. Taking home the buckle sponsored by the Lauder Family, was Wendy Nelson on Strooberry (Mia Colonel Rooster x Sheryl Strawberry) for Chad Dalziel.

The Spring Classic also holds Reining Alberta’s 5/6/7-Year-Old Derby, with both NRHA and RAPP classes. This year, Legitness (SG Frozen Enterprize x Whizzen For Chex) and Shawna Sapergia scored an amazing 150.0 for Sunnyside Stables in the L4 NRHA and RAPP. Austin Seelhof rode two horses to tie for the reserve spots. BB Gunna Trash Talk (Gunnatrashya x BL Whizbelle) for owner Julie Olenyk-Wong and Flinns Northern Rose (In Like Flinn x Solitary Gunner) for owner Marie Whitmarsh, both with a 148.0. In the L1 Open (NRHA and RAPP), Sage Sapergia and Lil Glamour Gun (Colonels Lil Gun x Ultra Covergirl) took home the championship with a 145.0 for owner Nancy Dibben. In the NRHA L1 Reserve was Shayla Malmberg on WCR Gata Big Star (ARC Gunnabeabigstar x Gata Little Blond), scoring a 144.0 for owner Carrie Peace and in the RAPP L1, Amanda Self and Little Electric Step (CFR Centenario Wimpy x Electra Fy Me) were reserve for owner Shelagh Stadel with a 143.0.

In the 5/6/7-Year-Old Non-Pro Derby, Colton Wong and (Gunnatrashya x BL Whizbelle) took home the championship in both the NRHA and RAPP classes with a 146. In the NRHA class, Custom Olena (Smart Chic Olena x Custom Spinderella) and owner Kyle Ryan scored a 144.5 for the second-place spot. In the RAPP class, Meaghan Myers and Smoking Mistress (Smoking Whiz x Miss Lil Ruf) scored a 142.5 for the reserve placing.

Congratulations again to all of our derby owners, breeders and exhibitors on a great show in the spring.

During the Summer Classic, Reining Alberta’s Pro/Am Challenge was a huge hit once again, with 17 teams. Taking home top spot was Natalie Weichel and Llana Malmberg on Malmberg’s horse, MM Golden Eldorado. In second, Sage Sapergia and Tammy Sorensen rode Tammy’s horse Spookn Red Dream and in third, Sapergia joined Barbara Jo Lutley on her horse Dolls Starlight Whiz. Everyone had a great time with prize money and prizes for the top 10 teams.

The Fall Classic was once again the host of the Western Canada Regional Affiliate Championships (WCRAC). The WCRAC’s are the qualifying event for riders from western Canada to qualify to run at the North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC’s) in Oklahoma City during the NRHA Futurity at the end of November.

Along with the WCRAC’s, one of the biggest highlights of the annual Fall Classic Show is the Three-Year-Old Futurity. This year Reining Alberta had a record number of 33 runs in the Open Three-Year-Old Futurity which is thought to be the biggest reining futurity class in Canada in a very long time.

The L4 Open Three-Year-Old Futurity (NRHA and RAPP) had

Meaghan Myers and This Chics A Flinn dominated the Four-Year-Old NonPro Derby, NRHA L4 and L1 and RAPP, at this year’s RA Spring Classic.

Shawna Sapergia and Legitness scored an amazing 150.0 for Sunnyside Stables in the L4 NRHA and RAPP in the Spring Classic’s 5/6/7-Year-Old Derby.

Austin Seelhof taking both the champion and reserve champion spots. Austin on Star Spangled Top (Star Spangled Whiz x This Chics On Top) took first with a 145.5 for owner Outrider Ranch and in second place, Austin on Try N Catch The Mob (HF Mobster x Magnum Cee Eye) was a 145 for Seelhof Performance Horses (owner). In the L1 Open (NRHA and RAPP) Amanda Self on Looks Electra Fyed (Looks Rio Nice x Electra Fy Me) scored a 143 for owner Shelagh Stadel. In the NRHA L1 Futurity, Hubert Heule on She Gotta All (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Double Boon S Back) scored a 142.5 for owner Carrie Daher. In the RAPP L1 Futurity, Sage Sapergia on Paleshiningricochet (Pale Face Dunnit x Starletts Wrangler) scored a 142.0 for owner Joan Girletz.

Amanda Self accepted the George Lauder Memorial buckle (for owner Shelagh Stadel,) which is presented to the owner of the Level 1 RAPP winning horse. George was a well respected owner and breeder of top quality reining horses and he loved the Three-Year-Old Futurity. Reining Alberta is honoured to have this award in his name to pass on.

The No-Pro Futurity also had a great showing with Sara Seelhof on Try N Catch The Mob (HF Mobster x Magnum Cee Eye taking first with a 141.50 in the NRHA and RAPP Non-Pro classes and tied for second were Diane Latrace on Wright to Bear Arms (Shiney Golden Gun x Wright To Slide) and Katie Park on Little Mellow Yellow (Yellow Jersey x Chic In The Bar) scored a 138.50.

Events like these take a lot of planning and coordination. Support from Reining Alberta sponsors this year has been heart warming and truly outstanding. Thank you to all of them for their support and contributions to making our events a success.

Thank you also to our volunteers, our stallion owners, our trainers, our exhibitors, the entire membership, the Board of Directors and our staff for your endless hours of dedication. 2022 was a great year! From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! Planning for 2023 is underway. Our sport is strong and continues to grow. Our horses are great and our people are faithful and dedicated. Looking forward to 2023 – See you then! Keep calm and ride on!

THANK-YOU TO OUR 2022 SPONSORS:

Findoor Adh Mor Big Luck Ranch Cambridge Hotel Rose Fire Saddles & Tack Compass Performance Horses Jensen Silversmiths CorVet Services Northern Performance Horses Clint Lomheim Boontek Industries Ltd MJ Myers Ventures Dechra Veterinary Products Ranch By Design Bar Heide Quarter Horses Jones Boys Western Wear Burwash Equine Services Integrity Buildings Friend of Reining Alberta (anonymous donor) The Mill Store Trouw Nutrition Prairie Mountain Ranch 70Plus Performance Horses Yvon Performance Horses Smith Training Stables Double S Ranch Equine Oasis Brand It Designs Geri Greenall TLC Tack Greenhawk Calgary Rock Lake Consulting Larry & Deb Manley Fraser Valley Reining Club Jo & Howard Lutley Caflisch Quarter Horses The Lauder Family Don & Arlene Hepburn Llana Malmberg Equine Unlimited Bullet Proof Bumpers Wimpys Nu Chex (Doug Baker) Kyle Ryan Denture Clinic Linda Reese-Friesen Hynes Family Dorothy Williams Reich The Kolsun Family Janice Hepburn Beckley Reining Horses Wilma Yule Advanced Fire & Safety Burwash Equine Services Nelson Family Carola Friesen CR Equine Omega Alpha EquiFuse Canada Rocket Fizz Airdrie

Congratulations to the 2022 RAPP winners!

REINING ALBERTA PERFORMANCE PROGRAM “RAPP”

RAPP is a local breeding program designed to enhance the existing Reining Alberta Sire Incentive Program. The goal is to increase participation and purses. The program was expanded to allow any foal to be nominated to the program. Foals sired by enrolled stallions will be eligible for nomination into the program at significantly reduced rates. The goal is to continue to promote the local stallions and have a program that will also benefit local breeders who choose to breed to other stallions.

3 yr Old Futurity - L4 Open Champion AUSTIN SEELHOF ON STAR SPANGLED TOP (Outrider Ranch, owner)

4 yr Old Open L4 Derby Champion TRASHINYURDREAMS & JESSE BECKLEY (Norma Siebert, owner)

5/6/7 yr Old Open L4 Derby Champion LEGITNESS & SHAWNA SAPERGIA (Sunnyside Stables, owner)

3 yr Old Open L1 Futurity Champion AMANDA SELF ON LOOKS ELECTRA FYED (Shelagh Stadel, owner)

4 yr Old Open L1 Derby Champion SPOOKN RED DREAM & SAGE SAPERGIA (Tammy Sorensen, owner)

5/6/7 yr Old Open L1 Derby Champion LIL GLAMOUR GUN & SAGE SAPERGIA (Nancy Dibben, owner) 3 yr Old NP Futurity Champion SARA SEELHOF ON TRY N CATCH THE MOB (Seelhof Perf. Horses, owner)

4 yr Old NP Derby Champion THIS CHICS A FLINN & MEAGHAN MYERS (owner/rider)

5/6/7 yr Old NP Derby Champion BB GUNNA TRASH TALK & COLTON WONG (Julie Olenyk-Wong, owner) You must be a current Reining Alberta Member to nominate your foal. Nomination forms are available at www.reiningalberta.net and are due by November 30, 2022

ALLTHATSHINES IS JOE Shauna Getz/Whitby Farms BERRY FINNOMENAL Nicole Klassen BIG SHOES TWO FILL Judi Watt BUSY BLEACHIN CHEX D. Hanson Ranch CHICS REAL DEAL Ronald & Joanne Wytinck CRUSIN WHIZ Trueman Farms (Tammy Stewart) DUNITSMART THISTIME D. Hanson Ranch EINSTEINS CASHNCHEX Ronja Schippers ELECTRIC SNOW Equine Plus/Andre De Bellefeuille GALLOS ESTRELLA Veronica Robinson (Montana) GIBSONS FINEST Foothills Ranch GUNNERS SPECIAL NITE Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses (Tx) GUNNING FOR CHEX Bonnie McCutcheon, Manager SHINERS GOT SWAGGER Sandy Corriveau LEGITNESS Sunnyside Stables LIL JOE CASH Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses (Tx) LIL RUF CODY SSTAR Dyanna Keymer LOKOTA CHIC Brian Knutson/Bar K2 Ranch MAJOR DURANGO S. Gail & Robert Gatto MODERN GUN Michelle Walerius (Cdn agent) NORTH SAIL SOLITAIRE M. Whitmarsh/Willow Acres QH PALE FACE DUNNIT Silver Spurs Equine (J. Girletz) PS MEGA SHINE CHIC - Adh Mor - Big Luck Ranch REVOLTING REMINIC Ronald & Joanne Wytinck RUFF CUTTIN DIAMOND Carol Hollinger SHINEY GOLDEN GUN Brian & Vicki Braun SHINING IN TOWN Heule Reining Horses SKY VIEW GUNNER Gerold/Maureen Arnold SMOKIN AMMO Foothills Ranch SPECIAL MADE WHISKEY Gord Robinson (Big Rock Arena) SPOOKS BIG BANG Brian & Giselle Aebly SQUEAK GUN Shauna Getz/Whitby Farms SUGAR CAT MAN CD Quarter Horses VINTAGE VIBE Fehr Ground Ranch, Tiffany Fehr WIMPYS NU CHEX Doug Baker WRIGHTEOUS Wayne Soderberg XTRA RUF WIMPY Christa & Rocky Turel

RAPP 2022 Sires:

Enrollment Fees: Stallion fee $500/stallion/year Deadline for stallion nomination is May 15, 2023 After May 15, 2023 late fees apply: Stallion enrolment fee $750/yr