Byars, Oklahoma-June 22, 2004–In the past eight years, the National Reining Breeders Classic program has become an integral part of raising reining horse prospects.

The NRBC Show, held in April at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, paid over $900,000. And the money was well-spread around the country, according to Bridget Bliss and Carri Warren of the NRBC Headquarters office. "In the Classic alone, the 2004 NRBC paid people from 26 different states and three Canadian Provinces," Warren noted. "We had winners from Massachusetts to California!"

Bliss added that in order to be eligible to win any of that big money, foals must be enrolled in the program, and an important enrollment deadline is right around the corner. "Foals can be enrolled for $200 as long as the enrollment is postmarked by September 15 of their weanling year," she commented. "After that, it's $250 per foal through December 31 of the weanling year."

She noted that people are getting foals enrolled earlier and earlier each year. "It's something they plan for, and a lot of people send in their foal enrollments when they send off their registration application to the breed associations."

Terry Wegener of Bennett, Colorado, is a perfect example. Wegener, a National Reining Horse Association approved judge and reining horse trainer, beat the rest of the pack in 2004, as his enrollment application for Stop The Reyn was the first one received for 2004.

He's adamant about the importance of enrolling the foals he raises. "That's the first thing people ask when they come to look at a colt," noted Wegener. "If they're not enrolled, they don't even want to look at them."

Wegener owned NRHA Derby Finalist, Reyn Mann, a son of Colonel Rey Lena, until this spring when he sold him to Inga Guernsey, also of Bennett. As a stallion owner, he was careful both to subscribe his stallion and enroll all his foals. "Why wouldn't you?" he exclaimed. "Having judged that event twice, I know what a great show it is. There's something there for everyone – at all eligibility levels – so the prize money is not out of reach."

The National Reining Breeders Classic is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just five years, the NRBC has grown to include over 250 subscribed stallions. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.