Historic Milestones

Year Milestone
1966 Formation of the National Reining Horse Association
1966 National Reining Horse Association incorporated November 30
1966 First NRHA Futurity held in Columbus, Ohio
1972 NRHA Futurity held in Sedalia, Missouri
1966 NRHA initiated the Sire & Dam Program
1980 First REINER magazine published
1980 First NRHA Maturity (Derby) held in Raleigh, NC
1983 First NRHA Superstakes in Northbrook, IL
1983 First $100,000 NRHA Futurity winner - Craig Johnson on Lucky Bay Glo
1985 NRHA Derby moved to St. Paul, MN
1985 Initiated the new Judging System, which began the scoring of maneuvers rather than the assessment of the overall run
1986 Futurity moved from Columbus, OH to Oklahoma City, OK
1986 Arbuckle Trophy first awarded
1986 NRHA establishes Hall of Fame
1986 Added Youth classes to NRHA competition
1986 First Freestyle Reining held at NRHA Derby in St. Paul, MN
1987 The International German Championship was the first Event in Europe to be NRHA Approved.
1988 The first Americana Event was NRHA Approved.
1989 NRHA holds the first Intercollegiate Judging Contest
1989 First Competition License Issued
1991 Instituted Affiliate Championship competition
1993 NRHA initiates Rookie of the Year Award to honor Rookie Reining competitors
1994 Hollywood Jac 86 named as NRHA's first Million Dollar Sire
1994 Derby moved to Oklahoma City, OK
1994 Initiated the first Youth Team Tournament at the Derby in Oklahoma City
1995 Bill Horn was named as the first Million Dollar Rider at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK
1998 Reining accepted as first western discipline of the United States Equestrian Team
1998 NRHA Office relocates to Oklahoma City
2000 Reining accepted by Federation Equestre International (FEI) for International Competition
2000 First NRHA Futurity $150,000 winner - Todd Sommers on Von Reminic
2000 First Derby Spotlight Sale
2000 Membership topped 10,000
2000 First Pfizer/NRHA Gelding Incentive (Open and Non Pro)
2000 First NRHA approved Prime Time classes at Futurity
2001 National Reining Horse Youth Association formed
2001 Reining Horse Sports Foundation was approved as a charitable organization
2001 First runoff in NRHA Open Futurity Finals; RR Star became the first APHA horse to win the NRHA Open Futurity; Andrea Fappani became first International rider to win the NRHA Open Futurity
2002 Reining approved for the World Equestrian Games, Jerez, Spain
2002 NRHA Intercollegiate Reining Championship debuted at NRHA Derby
2002 First Rookie Day to benefit the RHSF Crisis Fund - Ardmore, OK
2002 First European Affiliate Championship held in Balzano, Italy, Team winner-Italy
2002 Hollywood Dun It becomes first Three Million Dollar Sire
2002 First-ever Reining Team medalists at World Equestrian Games - US - Gold, Canada - Silver, Italy - Bronze
2002 First-ever Reining Individual medalists at WEG - Shawn Flarida US - Gold, Tom McCutcheon US - Silver, Shawna Sapergia Canada - Bronze
2003 RR Star becomes first horse to win the NRHA Futurity and the NRHA Derby
2003 RR Star and Custom Pistol become the first horses to earn over $200,000
2003 Topsail Whiz becomes Two Million Dollar Sire
2003 NRHA Futurity Open Champion guaranteed $175,000
2003 Duane Latimer rides The Great Whiz to first-ever $175,000 Open Futurity pay check
2004 Prime Time Rookie debuts
2004 Prime Time Open Division debuts
2004 Rookie Youth class debuts
2004 Gelding Incentive classes debut
2004 Cowboy Central Saddle Series debuts
2004 North American Affiliate Championships debut
2004 North American Freestyle Championships debut
2004 Eleuterio Arcese becomes first European member inducted into Hall of Fame
2005 Electronic Reiner debuts to members and non members
2005 NRHA Futurity marks 40th Anniversary
2005 Tim McQuay becomes the first Two Million Dollar Rider at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK
2005 Rookie Professional class debuts
2005 Apprentice Program initiated
2006 Kelly Zweifel, Italy, riding Master Snapper owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi, Italy, becomes the first woman to win one of NRHA's major events - the NRHA Derby
2006 Kelly Zweifel, riding Master Snapper owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi, becomes the first entry to win the NRHA Derby Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions at one Derby
2006 Impresa Agricola Cuoghi's Master Snapper, ridden by Kelly Zweifel, becomes the first European (Italy) bred, born, raised and trained horse to win the NRHA Derby
2006 Italian Reining Horse Association Derby NRHA approved for the first time
2006 ANCR Brazil holds first NRHA-approved show in Brazil
2006 South African Reining Horse Association holds first NRHA approved show
2006 Team Medalists at 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen, Germany - Gold - US, Silver - Canada, Bronze - Italy
2006 Individual Medalists at 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen, Germany, (following a runoff for the Gold) - Gold - Duane Latimer (Canada), Silver - Tim McQuay (USA), Bronze - Aaron Ralston (USA)
2006 First National Associate Affiliates are Reining Canada, Austrian RHA, Dutch RHA, NRHA Belgium, Italian RHA, NRHA of Israel, NRHA of Switzerland, Swedish RHA, UK Reining, ANCR Brazil, NRHA of Australia
2006 First Affiliates to Join the International Affiliate Program are ANCR Brazil, Austrian Reining Horse Association, Dutch Reining Horse Association, Italian Reining Horse Association, NRHA Belgium, NRHA of Israel, NRHA of Switzerland and Reining Canada
2006 Non Pro Futurity First Time Trainer Award Instituted
2006 NRHA Futurity Youth Division Debuts
2007 Prime Time Non Pro Division Becomes Eligible for NRHA Top Ten/World Championships
2007 Youth (10 & Under Short Stirrup) class debuts
2007 Unrestricted Youth class debuts
2007 First NRHA-approved event in South Dakota. (Hosted by the Cowboy States Reining Horse Association)
2007 Hollywood Dun It becomes first NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire
2007 First NRHA approved show in Poland
2007 Mandy McCutcheon becomes first non pro and first woman to achieve Million Dollar Rider status, becoming NRHA's tenth Million Dollar Rider.
2007 First Australian Affiliate Championship held in Gatton, Queensland, Australia
2007 Online Show Approvals posted on website
2007 First NRHA Australian Affiliate Championship held in Gatton, Queensland, Australia
2007 First Board of Directors meeting webcast
2007 Inaugural NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Sally Brown
2007 First Mexico Affiliate Championship held in Monterrey, Mexico
2007 Lance Griffin becomes first Million Dollar Owner
2008 Wimpys Little Chic & Shawn Flarida become the 1st horse/rider combination to win the NRHA Open Futurity, NRBC Open, and NRHA Open Derby consecutively.
2008 North American Junior Young Rider Championship includes Reining for the first time.
2008 Inaugural FEI Reining World Championship held in Manerbio, Italy
2008 Youth Non Pro Division added to the NRHA Derby
2008 NRHA Futurity entries reached an all-time high with 945
2008 NRHA Derby hosts the first USEF National Youth Reining Championship and U.S. NAYRC Selection Trial
2008 The NRHA Reiner wins awards in five categories at the American Horse Publications Awards Banquet
2008 50,000 NRHA Competition license issued
2008 NRHA Derby breaks the $600,000 purse mark
2008 Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA's #1 Leading Sire
2008 Shawn Flarida is the first Three Million Dollar Rider
2008 Peppys Superboom purchased for $240,000 to be the highest selling horse in NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale history
2008 Father/Daughter Tim McQuay and Mandy McCutcheon won the Open and Non Pro Divisions of the NRHA Futurity
2008 Nearly 3,000 foals are nominated to the inaugural year of the NRHA Futurity / Derby Nomination Program
2009 NRHA holds the first NRHA European Futurity & Show in Kreuth, Germany
2009 Topsail Whiz's accomplishment as the first horse to achieve 6 Million Dollar Sire
2009 Wimpys Little Chic becomes first horse to break the $400,000 mark in NRHA Lifetime Earnings.
2009 First NRHA Derby Youth Non Pro division initiated
2009 Colleena Chic Olena is noted as NRHA's Leading Dam with $546,185 in offspring earnings
2009 NRHA welcomes its 60,000th member
2009 NRHA begins using a numbered level system for non pro and open divisions at Category 2 and 6 events (i.e. level 1, level 2, level 3 and level 4).
2009 Show Stewards Program approved (August)
2010 First European Programs Advisor position instituted
2010 Wimpys Little Chic becomes the first horse to exceed $500,000 in NRHA earnings ridden by Shawn Flarida and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA.
2010 Entry Level Programs (Category 10) made its debut.
2010 First-ever Green Reiner 1 Buckle winner announced – Steve Tyner
2010 Wimpys Little Step becomes youngest Two Million Dollar Sire to date
2010 Shawn Flarida becomes first NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider
2010 Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA's first Seven Million Dollar Sire
2010 Team Medalists at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky: Gold - USA, Silver - Belgium, Bronze - Italy
2010 Individual Medalists at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky: Gold - Tom McCucheon & Gunners Special Nite (USA), Silver - Craig Schmersal & Mister Montana Nic (USA), Bronze - Duane Latimer & Dun Playin Tag (Canada)
2010 NRHA hosts first "Ride a Reiner" at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Kentucky
2010 First NRHA $100,000-added World Championship Open Shootout held at NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show
2011 Conquistador Whiz becomes NRHA's 20th Million Dollar Sire and the first third generation Million Dollar Sire (both his sire Topsail Whiz and grandsire Topsail Cody also earned Million Dollar status)
2011 First NRHA Cowtown Classic, including NRHA's first Novice Horse Derby, Pre Futurity, and Non Pro Shootout held in Fort Worth, Texas.
2011 NRHA holds the first NRHA European Derby & Pre Futurity in Manerbio, Italy
2011 NRHA completes the Association’s 70,000th membership.
2011 Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s first Eight Million Dollar Sire
2011 Rudi Kronsteiner becomes the first European-based NRHA Million Dollar Rider
2011 Animal Welfare & Medications Policy approved (July)
2012 Beth Himes serves as NRHA's first woman President
2012 NRHA is the first association to win the American Horse Publications Equine-Related Website category
2012 The NRHA Derby surpasses all previous marks and has the largest purse in its history ($889,000 for the Derby and $994,000 for the entire show)
2012 Spooks Gotta Whiz wins the Level 4 Open division at the National Reining Breeders Classic and NRHA Derby consecutively with Shawn Flarida. In 2010, he won the NRHA Futurity Open Championship with Jordan Larson. Spooks Gotta Whiz is the first stallion to win all three of NRHA's major North American events.
2012 Andrea Fappani becomes NRHA's second Three Million Dollar Rider at the NRHA Derby
2012 Wimpys Little Step - Youngest Four Million Dollar Sire
2012 Topsail Whiz becomes first Nine Million Dollar Sire
2012 Ann Fonck, a Belgian rider based in Italy, riding Spook A Little owned by Rosanne Sternberg, becomes the first woman to win the NRHA European Derby Open.
2013 NRHA begins offering Masters Non Pro for riders 60 or older (Category 5)
2013 Wimpys Little Step Becomes NRHA’s Newest Five Million Dollar Sire
2013 Taris Little Vintage is NRHA’s All-Time Leading Dam
2013 Shawn Flarida becomes NRHA's first Five Million Dollar Rider
2013 Arcese Quarter Horses USA becomes the first Two Million Dollar Owner
2013 Mr Magnum Dun It purchased for $300,000 to be the highest selling horse in NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale history
2013 NRHA Reiner magazine wins American Horse Publications General Excellence Association Publication award.
2014 Adaptive Reining class debuts (Now called Para-Reining)
2014 Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA’s first Ten Million Dollar Sire
2014 Miss Tinseltown is NRHA’s All-Time Leading Dam
2015 NRHA, RHF, and the NRHA Hall of Fame move into new Oklahoma City headquarters at 3021 West Reno
2015 NRHA received the Hometown Heroes Award from the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau
2015 Cade McCutcheon (15) is the youngest NRHA Derby Level 4 Non Pro Champion on Champion on Custom Made Gun owned by McQuay Stables Inc.
2016 NRHA celebrates 50th anniversary
2016 NRHA’s charitable arm, the Reining Horse Sports Foundation, celebrates 15 years and becomes the Reining Horse Foundation
2016 Topsail Whiz Becomes NRHA's First 11 Million Dollar Sire
2016 Not Ruf At All and Jason Vanlandingham win the NRBC Level 4 Open Championship with a score of 231–one of the highest scores in NRBC history. This win completed a trifecta of major event L4 Open wins for Not Ruf At All (the 2013 NRHA Futurity, 2014 NRHA Derby and the NRBC).
2017 Shawn Flarida Becomes NRHA's First Six Million Dollar Rider
2018 Ebony Shines named as NRHA's first Million Dollar Dam
2018 Topsail Whiz becomes NRHA's first 12 Million Dollar Sire
2019 Spat Olena Is First European NRHA Million Dollar Sire
2020 The NRHA Derby presented by Markel hits record numbers for entries, stall reservations, and purse pay out in event history. Three NRHA Million Dollar milestones were crossed during this event.
2020 2020 At the NRHA Derby, Jason Vanlandingham crosses the NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider milestone while riding A Vintage Smoke which helped push A Sparkling Vintage, the sire of A Vintage Smoke, over the NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire mark. With this win, A Vintage Smoke and Vanlandingham were crowned the champion of all three major NRHA events in North America: NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and the NRBC. Also at this event, Rancho Oso Rio, LLC became an NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner.
2020 Thanks to Futurity Challenge Donors, the NRHA Futurity MS Diamonds Open Level 4 Champion wins $250,000, and the CINCH Non Pro Level 4 Champion wins $60,000. The open champion is All Bettss Are Off ridden by Andrea Fappani and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The Non Pro champion is Mandy McCutcheon riding Shining at Nite.
2021 Emanuel Gebert (8) is the youngest NRHA European Derby finalist qualifying in the the Level 1 and 2 Non Pro on Gunnalittlestep.
2021 Andrea Fappani is first NRHA member to surpass $7 million in lifetime earnings, and becomes NRHA's newest All Time Leading Rider.
2021 2021 First time the NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open championship to pay $350,000: Won by Ten Thirty and Casey L. Deary for Rancho El Fortin
2023 NRHA introduces new Lawson trophy created by artist Mehl Lawson
2023 Andrea Fappani becomes the first NRHA $8 Million Rider
2023 Wimpys Little Chic becomes the first NRHA $2 Million Dam
2024 Arcese Quarter Horses USA becomes the first NRHA $3 Million Owner
2024 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel breaks payout record with $1.6 million
2024 Down Right Amazing becomes the highest-earning horse in NRHA history