By Jennifer Walker


Conveniently located in Oklahoma right around the same time as Youth World and NSBA World, the Reichert Celebration is a must-do. A favorite show of many, the Celebration hosts some of the best American Quarter Horses and their riders and handlers from all over the country.

If the economy is keeping some people from showing, it did not seem to affect this year’s Celebration. With over 5,300 entries, the show was actually up from last year.

“The Reichert show is like no other in our industry,” says Nancy Renfro. “It gives the opportunity to show in many different levels and classes with futurity horses. For my clients and me, it’s a feasible show to attend since we are already in Oklahoma City for the Youth World show.”

Renfro showed two three-year-old hunt seat futurity horses. Livin In The Big Time, owned by Carol Thomsen of Nicolaus, CA, was Champion in the Color Breed Open Three-year-old Hunter Under Saddle Futurity with Renfro. For his effort, he received a beautiful NSBA Bronze, money and some gift certificates. He was also the Reserve Champion in the Three-year-old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity. Kirsten Thomsen also showed him in the NSBA Non Pro Three-year-old, taking home the 3rd place prize.

Renfro also showed Al See You Later, owned by Kathleen Downs of Redding CA, to a fifth place in the Green Hunter Under Saddle Futurity and ninth in the Open Three-year-old Hunter Under Saddle Futurity.

“Both horses showed extremely well and many classes had over 20 of the top three-year-olds in the country in them,” says Renfro. “We were very excited and pleased with the results.”

Renfro also showed Sleep By invitation, a three-year-old western pleasure horse owned by Carol Thomsen. He placed Top Five in the Color Three-year-old Western Futurity and the Non Pro Three-year-old futurity.

Renfro adds, “The show is run extremely well. It’s very organized for the amount of classes, arenas and horses that are at the show. The facility is wonderful. With many warm up areas and show pens you never feel as though you are unprepared.”

Renee Howes of Prescott, Arizona, had an amazing show with Triplicate Pleasure. Together, the pair won first place in Amateur Select Hunt Seat Equitation, Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle and Amateur Select Showmanship and placed in Amateur Select Western Horsemanship, Amateur Select Hunt Seat Equitation, Amateur Select Trail, Senior Trail, Senior Western Riding and Amateur Performance Halter Geldings. They also received the Circuit Award in Select Showmanship. They were also Select High Point Champions.

Another winner from the west coast was Ryan Norberg with CE Cool Reflections, hailing from Hillcrest Training Center in Chino Hills, California. Ryan and “Snip” have been picking up blues left and right in the halter arena this year, and the Reichert Celebration was no exception. They were first under all judges and received the Circuit Award in Youth Geldings 3 & Over and took the title of Youth Grand Champion Gelding. Trey Keys also showed the horse to a win and a Circuit Award in Aged Geldings and the Open Grand Champion Gelding title.

Ryan has owned Snip for two years. “This is Ryan’s second year of showing and he is also riding my horse, Chip Of The Day, AKA Ziggy, in the 13 and under Western Pleasure and the Novice Youth Western Pleasure,” explains his mother, Geni Addicott. “Ryan will be showing Ziggy at the Santa Barbara Fall Classic this month and the Scottsdale Classic next month. Ryan hopes to qualify Ziggy for the 2010 Youth World and he is already Nationally qualified with CE Cool Reflections in the Aged Geldings.”

Congratulations to all who showed at the Reichert Celebration!