National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby hosted the High School Reining Championship for NRHA and Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) members. At the end of the class, Julia Purus won the championship with a score of 148.5 aboard Spook Goes Hollywood donated to the competition by Matthew Armenta.
ThePurus, a high school senior from Purcell, Okla., qualified to compete in the championship through her involvement with NRHA. After high school, she plans to attend Oklahoma State University and be a member of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Team.
Benjamin Beckett, a junior from Dublin, Ohio, took second place on Crank Up The Band scoring 146.5 donated to the competition by Brett Walters.
The championship class brought together the top four riders from the Individual Open Reining at the IEA National Western Championship (held during the NRHA Derby) and the top four riders from the 2013 NRHA 14-18 Youth World Championship standings in an exciting “catch ride” competition where riders show unfamiliar horses graciously donated by supporters.
Riders included: Ben Beckett, Monika Ernenwein, David “Ryan” May, Holly Phillips, Julia Purus, Caroline Robinson, Tristen J. Rowland and Morgan Sykes.
The NRHA and National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHYA) thank the following horse owners who donated their horses for the High School Reining Championship:
Kirk George – A Smokin Enterprise
Blair Thompson – Boggies Gun Phire
Brett Walters, Walters Equestrian Center – Crank Up The Band
Clark Reining Horses, LLC – Rowdys Pistol
Kim Oldham – San Juan Whiz
Matthew Armenta – Spook Goes Hollywood
Mindy Truex – Streakin Catalyst
Torpey Performance Horses – Wunder Bread
The IEA was formed in 2002 to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students. Its purpose is to set minimum standards for competition, provide information concerning the creation and development of school associated equestrian sport programs, and to generally promote the common interests of safe riding instruction and competition, and education on matters related to equestrian competition at the middle and secondary school levels.