Horse competition a staple of Oklahoma City

  • 2020-10-15
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), headquartered here in Oklahoma City, will host the Futurity Championship Show later this fall.

Reining is a rapidly evolving skill in the equestrian world, and this is one of the world’s leading events in the discipline. Normally, almost 3,000 contestants from over 20 nations perform while around 125,000 people watch. The finals include 700 horses.

During a reining event, like many horse shows, a ranch horse demonstrates its agility in an arena in front of judges. The NRHA guidebook outlines the routines permitted during a competition, which are selected beforehand. Competitors must perform large and small circles at various speeds, slides, mid-stride changes of leads, and rollbacks. Each participating horse is three years old.

There is a total championship prize of $150,000 for horses and almost $2.3m in prizes and earnings for exhibitors. Other events of note include the Celebrity Reining benefit, the Fédération Equestre Internationale World Reining Masters, a clinic on horseback riding, college competitions, and a vendor area with diverse wares. Some competitors will be invited to participate in a freestyle event. Business card printing can help breeders and competitors network at this sort of event.

The NHRA Futurity Championship Show will take place Oklahoma State Fair Park, which is at 333 Gordon Cooper Boulevard. The dates of the show are November 26 to December 5.