The Tulsa Reining Classic is committed to providing a quality experience for attendees and in 2015 an enhanced focus on youth and youth activities has become a priority. Thanks to sponsorship from Cinder Lakes Ranch, educational opportunities will abound during the show that takes place Aug. 31-Sept. 6.
Highlighting the numerous youth opportunities are instructional hands-on clinics for two age divisions set for Saturday, Sept. 5. Gunny Mathison will work with youth up to 18 years of age and Matt Mills will be teaching the younger set.
Mathison began training reining horses professionally in 2002 as an assistant trainer for the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon. He gained valuable experience in many aspects of the Equine industry while working for McCutcheon, and in 2008 started his own training operation now located at Cinder Lakes Ranch in Valley View, Texas.
Over the years Mathison has trained and shown many outstanding horses. With over $640,000 in NRHA earnings, Mathison has been a finalist at every major NRHA event multiple times and earned championships in both the American Quarter Horse Association and American Paint Horse Association. He currently coaches a limited number of non-pros. To learn more about Mathison visit him on Facebook and on his website.
Mills, of Cave Creek, Arizona, enjoyed a successful career as a youth showing western pleasure, horsemanship and trail horses. In 1996, he switched to reining exclusively and is consistently ranked as an NRHA Top Twenty Professional and has lifetime earnings of more than $638,000, according to Equi-Stat.
In 2006 Mills was a member of Team USA that earned Gold at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. He brings his expertise and show experience to helping non-pros and youth riders and is known for his professionalism, showmanship and charismatic personality in his clinics across the United States, Europe and Mexico. He has also launched a video series designed for riders of any discipline. The videos help riders who do their own training at home as well as advanced level riders looking to fine-tune their show horses. For information, visit his website.
People interested in the youth clinics at the Tulsa Reining Classic can sign up online, or can use the printable clinic sign-up form.
