It’s interesting to take a look at the issues facing reiners 35 years ago. Some of the topics in this article laid the groundwork for reining’s evolution into its current state. The addition of divisions that allow riders to grow in their skills before they move into the top level of competition is one. In the ensuing years, the addition of divisions has provided a tier system for riders. Conference calls were just being suggested as an alternative to in-person meetings. The constant is that today, as yesterday, forward-thinking individuals are still looking for ways to improve and grow the reining industry.
Reiners have long looked at the future of the sport – coming up with big ideas and plans for growth. They still do!
Looking back 35 years ago to the time of the NRHA Futurity, it’s interesting to see what they were talking about. In an article in The Reiner, different individuals were asked during the 1987 Futurity what they would like to see the NRHA do differently, and their answers ran in an article called NATIONAL ENQUIRER.
To frame the answers, it is important to remember that this was another day. The top year-end rider for 1987, Bill Horn, earned $174,116. Making the top 20 took $27,180. Richie Greenberg was the top Non Pro with $83,137 earned but being in the top 20 only required a bit over $13,000 won.
There were three divisions in the Futurity – Open, Limited Open and Non Pro and 11 classes eligible for yearend standings. A “gorgeous” 10-year-old mare with an AQHA Superior in reining and futurity earnings was advertised for $3,000. A young reiner named Shawn Flarida had just won the Youth Reining class at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Robert Chown of Bonsall, California felt that the NRHA had come a long way but thought the association should cultivate more corporate sponsors to help with major events like was being done in the hunter and grand prix events.
He felt that if he were going to add another class at that time, he’d add another novice horse. He thought, “If we added too many classes, we’d cost ourselves numbers,” although he said if there were a lot of people who needed a specific class who didn’t fit somewhere else, he wouldn’t be against it.
Another of Robert’s notes was that he’d like to see a Rookie of the Year award.
At the time, an issue was apparently how the Bronze Trophies were given. They had just been made exclusive for the Open and the $3,000 and above Non Pro classes after having been given in the Ladies and Limited Open.
Jackie Kryshka of Yukon, Oklahoma was a young NRHA Board member at the time, and felt strongly that excluding the bronze trophies from the Limited Open and the Ladies classes was a mistake. She said that the bronze was a tremendous incentive and encouraged people – especially new trainers – to become involved. She added that some prominent trainers had thought the current rule would encourage Limited Open riders to step up and enter the Open but that hadn’t happened.
She also talked about the cost of attending all the board meetings and felt they should consider holding some by conference calls.
Joe Hayes said that understanding that he, as a Limited Open rider, was not eligible for a Bronze didn’t really bother him. He said when he reached his $5,000 limit he would become an open rider and go from there. He also suggested making the finals night of the futurity more exciting by having someone like George Strait there to perform.
Colleen McQuay of Maple Plain, Minnesota said she would like to see the NRHA change the earning schedules to create a natural progression of stairstep levels for people in both Open and Non Pro competition.
She also strongly suggested that the NRHA should begin to track the earnings of horses.
Another item from McQuay was that the NRHA should begin approving other futurities – like the Farnam Futurity at the Congress. She said that it was going to happen anyway without NRHA approval, and it was strange that a horse could win $25,000 and still be eligible for NRHA novice horse classes.
Colleen agreed with Chown on the need for a Rookie Year-End Award.
