National Reined Cow Horse Association - NRCHA - National Reined Cow Horse Association

John and Kate Hyde, owners of Fairlea Ranch in Badger, California, sponsor the incentive, which reward the accomplishments of horses sold in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Select Yearling Sale. Each year, the sponsored funds, along with funds created from nominations paid by yearling sellers or buyers, were held until the yearlings turn three and compete in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. The program began in 2007. The first Fairlea Ranch - Silver Gun Incentive bonuses were paid out in 2009 to Tucker Robinson and This Will Be The Day.

The yearling sale incentive payout is sponsored by Fairlea Ranch and Silver Gun. Each year, the Fairlea Ranch and Silver Gun purse will be added to the incentive fund dollars collected from the select yearlings that actually changed hands in the Snaffle Bit Futurity Select Yearling Sale. Those moneys will be paid out during the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity to the highest advancing Snaffle Bit Futurity entry that sold in the sale which was nominated to the program.

John Hyde expressed the couple’s excitement about being the sponsor of the yearling sale incentive. “We are proud to be the sponsor of one of the great NRCHA horse sales, especially the yearling sale which always holds such promise for the future of the NRCHA.”

Fairlea Ranch was established in 1984 when the Hydes bought a 1,500-acre ranch in Badger, California. They put a few ranch-bred horses on the place but it wasn’t long until they bought some quarter horses. When friend, Tom Marvel, put John on a cutting horse, it was a life-changing experience for the Hydes. They eventually moved into showing and raising reined cow horses and, John has served on the NRCHA Board for five years, also having served as the association’s Vice President.

Silver Gun headlines the stallion roster at Fairlea Ranch, standing with Smart Steady Date. The 2006 Reserve AQHA Superhorse and AQHA Senior Heeling World Champion, Silver Gun was the 2003 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Reserve and Intermediate Open Champion and won an array of reined cow horse events that earned him his NRCHA Superior Reined Cow Horse Merit Award.

For information on Fairlea Ranch and Silver Gun, visit the web site atwww.fairlea.com or call 559-337-2595.

Professional Auction Services to Manage

2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale

Schedule Changes Announced!

Sandy Collier, Chairman of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Horse Sale Committee, has announced that the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Horse Sales will be handled for the second year by Professional Auction Services.

Mike Jennings, President of Professional Auction Services, Inc. states, “We are excited to continue our involvement with NRCHA and the Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales. We look forward to working with the NRCHA Board and Sale Committee. The NRCHA leadership is willing to be innovative in order to support the Sales for the benefit of members.”

Collier welcomed Jennings and Professional Auction Services on board. "We are looking forward to our continued relationship with Mike and Professional Auction Services and the plan is to put on the very best sales in the West!"

She noted the following changes and information for the 2010 Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales:

Also new for the 2 Year-Old Sale Incentive Purse:

The consignor of the horse that is the Highest placing eligible sale horse in the Open Preliminaries will receive $1,500 of the Open Incentive purse.

The consignor of the horse that is the Highest placing eligible sale horse in the Non Pro Preliminaries will receive $500 of the Non Pro Incentive purse.

Digital Horses Services will return in 2010 to provide the sale horse video viewing system that was so popular last year. Processing the videos of the Select 2 Year-Old Sale entries will be provided as part of the sale entry fee. Other consignors took advantage of services provided by DHS to prepare sale videos, post to their website and display at the Futurity. Professional Auction Services, Inc. will again link from the online Sale Preview to seller’s videos on DHS, seller’s website or YouTube.

Entry Deadlines for the Sales will again be June 1st. The Sale Committee sift meeting for the Select Sales will be held on June 14, in Paso Robles, California prior to the NRCHA Derby. Videos will be required for the Select 2 Year-Old entries and pictures will be required for the Select Yearling and Broodmare entries.

Jennings is enthusiastic about the future of the Futurity Sales. "NRCHA is a vibrant, strong part of the performance horse industry. The loyal participation of the members will support the Reined Cow Horse market through the current economic situation. Today’s horse market can provide a lot of opportunity for those who stay active. There is opportunity to acquire better horses, whether it is prospects, breeding stock or show horses. There is opportunity if you continue to breed or buy wisely, because there will not be as many prospects to compete with when you are selling a few years from now."