It begins when you decide to breed a mare to a particular stallion.

First, you believe... then you wait...through the birth, then for the foal to grow to riding age. You wait...for proof that your decision was a sound one. That this colt, this filly, can be exactly what you hoped from the beginning. Time is the true test of an athlete and only the best will stand the trial of world class competition. The arena is a proving ground because vision has to take flight to become real.

The National Reining Breeders Classic is, above all, an arena of dreams... where only the sky's the limit on achievement and tremendous equine athletes reach for the promise of their parentage and soar to the stars. Exceptional performance gains them admittance into the next level - where they, by realizing their birthrights, will earn the honor of becoming the sires and dams of the next generation.

Where the process begins again. The circle of life - reining style.

A Success From the Start...
The NRBC was born in the fall of 1997 when a group of reining breeders, Tom McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, Pete Kyle, Dick Pieper, Carol Rose, Gary Putman, and Robert Chown got together and created the National Reining Breeders Cup. Other early members of the team were Colleen McQuay, Cheryl Magoteaux and Mike Christian.

The fledgling stallion incentive program was projected to be a success if it could enroll a hundred stallions. That goal was targeted and passed and the list of subscribed stallions read like a list of "Who’s Who" in the reining industry. By October first of 1997, before a single advertisement had appeared, word of mouth had resulted in paid enrollment of sixty stallions. That number steadily grew to nearly 300 total the organization enjoys today.

Part of the early success came from melding the fledgling program with an already-existing show – the Lazy E Classic. That two-year-old show had already set a precedent of exceptional treatment of exhibitors, great working conditions and attention to detail. When the show became part of the NRBC, the inaugural show, held in 1998, became the largest added money reining in history and the industry raved about the amenities, social events and overall tone of the show.

Later, in 1998, the organization’s name was changed to National Reining Breeders Classic to reflect the growing prominence and importance of the event.

In the first 11 shows, the NRBC Has Paid Out over $10 Million!

The Breeders Classic set out to provide a place to show 4 and 5-year-old (and later, 6-year-old) reining horses for lucrative purses that pay deep into the placings. As the largest added money reining in history, the NRBC has done just that - and more.

The first NRBC - in April of 1998, paid over $210,000, and featured a $10,000 Added Open NRHA Reining - the largest National Reining Horse Association approved Open Reining to date, as well as a $5,000 added Youth Reining.

In 1999, it paid $345,000 and featured over $200,000 in added money. Also in 1999, the NRBC Show was chosen as a qualifying show for the first-ever Cosequin $100,000 added United States Equestrian Team Reining presented by Bayer, held in Gladstone, New Jersey in June.

Both the added money and the designation as a USET qualifier held constant for 2000, with a total payoff of $346,394.

In 2001, the first year of maturity for any enrolled foals, the NRBC added purse soared to over $450,000 and Saltgrass Steak House became the major sponsor of the show, which was renamed the Saltgrass Steak House National Reining Breeders Classic.

The 2001 payoff zoomed past the half million dollar mark to over $646,000.

In 2002, the show payout exceeded $700,000 and in 2003, the total payout was over $820,000!

At the 2004 NRBC Show, the payout exceeded $900,000, and in 2005 the show crossed the Million dollar payout mark!  The 2006 NRBC Show payout exceeded $1,100,000!  The 2007 NRBC Show payout exceeded $1,200,000!

Then, at the record-shattering 2008 Show, the payout was over $1.3 Million Dollars.

Along the way, the show has grown from a four-day event in one arena to one that has competition spanning seven days with classes going on simultaneously in two separate arenas!

But the appeal of the NRBC show can’t be explained by dollar signs alone. The show is like no other, with amenities designed by the organizers to make showing a fun experience. Special activities and thoughtful touches set this show apart. From reiners roping to reiners golf, and even impromptu basketball and stickball games, the NRBC has always boasted an aura of fun. Generous arena time and paid warm-up schedules allow exhibitors to enjoy a less rushed atmosphere than at most major shows.

Foal Enrollment...
The foal owner doesn’t have to enroll until the foal is actually born and there is a liberal time frame throughout the weanling year. Once enrolled, a foal stays eligible, whether or not his sire continues to be involved.

Foal owners pay a $200 enrollment fee by September 15 of the weanling year or $250 by December 31. Late enrollments can be made at $2,500 for yearlings, $7,500 for 2-year-olds and $10,000 for 3-year-olds and older. Only enrolled foals are allowed to compete as four, five and six-year-olds in the Breeders Classic.

The value of NRBC enrollment has been well documented and people regularly call the NRBC office or check the web site for lists of enrolled foals when shopping for prospects.

The National Reining Breeders Classic has changed the face of reining in modern times and will continue to do so - breaking records, reaching new goals, and continuing to provide a quality place to show the world’s greatest reining horses.

Showing Off...
Stallion owners pay an annual enrollment fee of $1250 (includes mare incentive) due on February 1st of each year and they assist in the promotion of the NRBC by informing mare owners about the NRBC, using its logo in their advertising, distributing NRBC information to mare owners and mailing NRBC nomination forms to the owners of each live foal at the time they provide a Breeders Certificate. Stallions are promoted by the NRBC through listing on www.nrbc.com, regular advertising, press releases, brochures and materials distributed at major events, as well as in the Annual Show Program, the Annual Newsletter, and the Annual Yearbook.

The special appeal of the National Reining Breeders Classic organization and what sets it apart from other events is that the NRBC is a year-round stallion incentive program.

Why the NRBC is Important...

--For Reiners
it's a place to show four ,five, and six year old horses for international recognition and top prize money.

--For Owners
it's a venue for increasing the value of their reining horses.

--For Breeders
it's an opportunity to take an active role in the future of reining.

--For Spectators
it's an introduction to an exciting sport that will ultimately become the only western equestrian event to be a part of the Olympics.

Why Should You Become Involved...

Because this event is the highest added-money event in the world for reiners with a growing purse that has surpassed a million dollars annually.

It's an opportunity to join a proven winner. The innovative NRBC has raised the standard for excellence in reining.