Paints Victorious at 2011 NRHA Futurity & Open World Championship Shootout
Press Release
American Paint Horses dominated the standings at the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity and competition held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on November 24 – December 3, amassing over $116,000 in earnings at the event.
Gunner Boy and Brazilian rider Eduardo Salago were victorious in the $75,000-added level 2 open and $35,000-added Level 1 Open divisions of the NRHA Futurity with a score of 223.0 in the Level 1 and Level 2. The pair also tied to win the Level 3 before a runoff determined that Gunner Boy would be the reserve champion with a score of 225.5. They took home close to $30,000 in prize money along with numerous awards from sponsors. Gunner Boy is a 3-year-old stallion by Colonels Smokingun (Gunner) and out of Kat Jordan, owned by Jefferson Abbud.
In the Non-Pro divisions of the NRHA Futurity, Spooks Gotta Run and Oklahoma rider Michael Jeffcoat won the Level 2 Non-Pro division and Prime Time Non-Pro division championships with a score of 218. Spooks Gotta Run is a 3-year-old stallion by Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizasprettydoes AQHA, owned by Jeffcoat and bred by Clint Haverty of Krum, Texas. Spooks Gotta Run is also the full brother to 2010 NRHA Open Futurity champion Spooks Gotta Whiz.
The Level 1 Non-Pro championship and Level 2 Non-Pro reserve championship went to Gunner Be Really Good, ridden by Germany rider Felix Schnabel and earning a score of 215.5. Gunner Be Really Good is by Colonels Smokingun (Gunner) and out of Bay Brim Hat AQHA, owned by Schnabel and bred by Roxanne Koepsell of Aubrey, Texas.
With a prize money of $100,000-added, the NRHA Open World Championship Shootout attracted the top reining horses in the world. Again, an American Paint Horse was at the top of the list of results. Tinker With Guns, ridden by last year’s champion Andrea Fappani, together marking a score of 231.5 and took home more than $31,000. Tinker With Guns is sired by Colonels Smokingun (Gunner) and out of Tinker Nic AQHA. The 5-year-old stallion has earned more than $197,000 in NRHA competition.
Paints also made an impressive showing in the NRHA Futurity Sale. Sugar Pop Step Ahead, a 2010 palomino overo stallion, sold for $50,000 and is headed to Mexico. By Wimpys Little Step (QH), this colt is out of Sugar Pop Gun, who produced The Sweet Spot, among others. Spooksgottaprettyboy, a 2010 sorrel solid stallion who is the full brother to last year’s NRHA Open Futurity Champion Spooks Gotta Whiz, brought a price of $42,000.
More About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association (APHA), founded in 1962 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the international breed registry for the American Paint Horse. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses. APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves approximately 64,000 active members around the world. The Association will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2012.
APHA needs to support the Paint Reiners again within the association by providing outstanding competition with and appropriate schedule and monetary payback. APHA cannot expect the Paint Reiners to flourish merely through the grace of other associations. Please bring back the days when a great Paint Reiner could compete in the APHA 3 YO Reining Futurity and then go on to the NRHA Futurity and Affiliate Championships. It isn’t possible in today’s schedule but it needs to be – Paint Reiners deserve the opportunity and only APHA can give it to them.
I agree! We have some outstanding talented paint reiners out there and they need the opportunities to compete. APHA needs to support our breeders and exhibitors.