The National Reining Horse Association is pleased to announce the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will be awarding belt buckles to the top female reiners in the 2006 NRHA Futurity. The 2006 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show is currently being held in Oklahoma City at the State Fair Arena through December 2.
The buckles from the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will go to the highest-scoring female riders in each of the 2006 Futurity and Cinch Non Pro Futurity’s divisions “Go Rounds” including the Finals. A total of twenty-two buckles could be awarded.
Wendie Gerber, from Michigan, an active reiner and a member of the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, spearheaded the project. Ms. Gerber recruited contributors from the sport of Reining and the Equine industry to make this special project possible because Reining is one of the few professional sports where men and women compete on the same level. The Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Ft. Worth, Texas.
At the 2006 NRHA Derby, Kelly Zweifel, an American-born reiner currently residing in Italy, won the Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions besting many of Reining’s top riders. Ms. Zweifel is the first female reiner to win the Derby.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame wished to recognize the accomplishment of other female reiners with these buckles. Their mission statement reads:
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and documents the lives of women who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneer spirit of the American West.
The NRHA is honored to be selected by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and welcomes this very special award.
