As each year heads toward its close the reining world celebrates the days of new beginnings. The 3-year-old stars of the freshman class are embarking on careers that might mark them for greatness and rewrite record books!
The Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and Show, set for October 19-24 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, is often the last stop on the futurity trail before the bright lights of Oklahoma City in November. Reiners from across the country converge on the Hardy Murphy Coliseum for a final opportunity to get competition exposure. For almost four decades, the event has been known as “Where the finest go first.”
Many SWRHA Futurity graduates have gone on to win big in Oklahoma City at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity. It has regularly been one of the association’s larger events, thanks to the support and success of its annual stallion auction.
In 2020, the SWRHA Futurity and Horse Show paid out more than $246,159, including $133,500 in futurity added money and there were over 1900 entries, placing the show 9th on the list of the year’s NRHA leading events. With $20,000 more in added money for 2021, it’s clear that it is going to be another big year.
“We will have the same capacity as last year – and that was the year we had the most-ever horses on site,” Cheryl Cody of the SWRHA management team said. “This event keeps growing.”
The Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Futurity will be held Friday October 22, and the Billingsley Ford Open Futurity will run the next day . Throughout the week, NRHA classes feature great prizes for participants
and high point buckles for both slates.
In addition to serious competition, there is an important fun factor at the show. Along with the Futurity and NRHA ancillary classes, the “Southwest” as it is affectionally called, is known for entertaining events.
That is the case for Friday evening following the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Futurity, when the Nutrena Back Gate Pizza Party provides a time to visit and enjoy the Rein in Cancer Dog Races and the Kid’s Halloween Costume Leadline and Walk-Trot classes.
Friday night’s fun continues when the Outta Dough Master’s Non Pro Challenge for riders 60 and over takes over the arena. It will be followed by the new Petroll Reining Horses Platinum Non Pro Challenge for riders 70 and over.
Speaking of fun, on Thursday, participants can enjoy the Salute to the Sires Exhibitor Party, which features the Pinnacle Equine Embryo Transfer Auction plus a Halloween parade where youngsters can model their Halloween costumes. Another highlight of the evening will be the drawing for the SWRHA Stallion Auction golf cart. A cart is given each year to a lucky winner in the drawing of all the stallions that sold in the SWRHA Stallion Auction.
For complete results, make sure to “Like” the SWRHA Facebook page, or visit the website.
Contact: Southwest Reining Horse Association, 13181 Hwy 177, Byars, OK 74831, PH: 580-759-2929 •
FAX: 580-759-3999 swrha@swrha.com.