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.
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	Jason Vanlandingham crosses 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, Jason has been crowned the champion of all three major NRHA events in North America: NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and the NRBC. 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	First time to pay $350,000: Ten Thirty Casey L. Deary Rancho El Fortin
2023	NRHA introduces new Lawson trophy created by artist Mehl Lawson.