The Western performance horse industry made headlines across the U.S. in mid-September, with key events such as the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, High Roller Reining Classic in Las Vegas, and Legacy Reining Breeders Sale in Aubrey, Texas.
The World Equestrian Center Championship Show crowned ranch riding champions, while the All American Quarter Horse Congress is set to begin on September 26.
Stay updated on all things Western with the Weekly Performance Report for the latest events and upcoming calendar schedules.
Recap of September 14–20
Reined Cow Horse: Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity
Reno, Nevada | September 11–20 | Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center
Shane Steffen and Von A Gun (Kandu Ranch) emerged victorious in the Open Futurity Composite with a score of 668, earning $40,000. Phillip J. Ralls and Karmas A Mitch (Jordyn N. Hall) secured second place with a score of 657.5, taking home $21,500, while Nicholas S. Dowers and Cureyous George (Jim and Linda Schrack) claimed third place with a score of 655 and $14,500.
Marisa Julian swept the Non Pro Futurity on her horse Sheza Lil Chili Pep, leading all four Composite divisions with a score of 647: Non Pro Composite ($9,000), Intermediate ($3,000), Limited ($1,735), and Level 1 ($3,240), totaling $16,975.
In the Non Pro division, Mason Beal and Imthekingofdiamonds (Beal Ranches LLC) tied with Jayson J. Fisher and Royal Spots Hot (Jayson and Teresa Fisher) for second place at 646, each receiving $4,250.
The week culminated in a successful run for Justin Wright, sweeping the Open Derby Composite podium with three different horses: Rsr Closing Time, Skooby Do, and Stevies Blondie, earning a combined $46,980, as detailed in last week’s edition.
2026 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Futurity Composite Results
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Von A Gun | Shane L. Steffen | Kandu Ranch | 668 | $40,000 |
| 2 | Karmas A Mitch | Phillip J. Ralls | Jordyn N. Hall | 657.5 | $21,500 |
| 3 | Cureyous George | Nicholas S. Dowers | Jim and Linda Schrack | 655 | $14,500 |
| 4 | Reyz Little Peppy | Brandon C. Buttars | Kristine Getzie | 654 | $10,680 |
| 5 | Snickerss | Justin T. Wright | Justin and Amber Wright | 653.5 | $8,275 |
View the complete results of the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity here.
Reining: High Roller Reining Classic
Las Vegas, Nevada | September 11–17 | South Point Equestrian Center
The Fappani family dominated the High Roller Reining Classic’s Open Crown Jewel Futurity. Luca Fappani and On Tour (Neiberger Performance) claimed the top spot in the Level 4 Open division with a score of 223, earning $32,250, while Jason Vanlandingham and Vintage Kobe (Vaughn C. Zimmerman) secured second place with a score of 222.5 and $19,630.
Luca’s father, Andrea Fappani, also had a successful run, earning three paychecks in the same class. He tied for third place with both Bigg Dreamz (Devin K. Warren) and Spooked By Design (Juston Palmer) at 221.5 and finished fifth with Gunner Git A Vintage (Villa Di Roma) at 220, totaling $38,560. Andrea also tied for the Level 4 Open Aged Event Derby championship with Gennaro Lendi and Smoken Barbie (Marc and Kathy Gordon) on Hypnotyze (Diane E. Yoder) at 226, each winning $6,226. The father-son duo accumulated $77,037 between the two classes.
On the Non Pro side, Krista Marshall stood out, winning both the Level 4 Non Pro Aged Event Derby on Gunnabea Chic Magnet and the Non Pro Crown Jewel Futurity on Thee Batman.
2026 High Roller Reining Classic Open Crown Jewel Futurity Results
Level 4 Open
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | On Tour | Luca Fappani | Neiberger Performance | 223 | $32,250 |
| 2 | Vintage Kobe | Jason Vanlandingham | Vaughn C. Zimmerman | 222.5 | $19,631 |
| 3 (tie) | Bigg Dreamz | Andrea Fappani | Devin K. Warren | 221.5 | $13,671 |
| 3 (tie) | Spooked By Design | Andrea Fappani | Juston Palmer | 221.5 | $13,671 |
| 5 | Gunner Git A Vintage | Andrea Fappani | Villa Di Roma | 220 | $11,217 |
Find the complete High Roller Reining Classic results here.
Ranch Events: World Equestrian Center Championship Show
Ocala, Florida | September 15–20 | World Equestrian Center
The $50,000 NSBA Open Senior Ranch Riding at the World Equestrian Center Championship Show saw Shannon Quinlan Hill and Debbie Kuffer’s EverybodysTalkinAtMe tie with Bud Lyon and Sumac Gunnabeflashy (Leslie Vagneur Lange) for the top spot, both scoring 248.
Matt Gouthro rode Erika Collins Sterling’s Xtra Wimpys Catalyst to third place with a score of 243.5, while Jennifer A. Burton claimed the top spot in the Limited Open division on her horse Great Red Spook AC with a score of 240.
Bud Lyon had a successful week in the ranch pen, winning the $10,000 NSBA Open 3-Year-Old Ranch Riding on Its Sho Time and finishing as the runner-up on SS Got My P H D, owned by Jennifer Dawson. Jennifer Burton and her horse HezRealClever topped the Limited 3-Year-Old division.
In the Non-Pro category, Erika Collins Sterling and Xtra Wimpys Catalyst won the $10,000 NSBA All-Age Non-Pro Ranch Riding, with Sydney Sargent and Woodford On Ice securing second place. Sargent and Woodford On Ice also won the Limited Non-Pro Ranch Riding.
2026 WEC Championship Show Ranch Riding Results
| Class | Place | Horse | Rider | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 NSBA Open Senior | 1 (tie) | EverybodysTalkinAtMe | Shannon Quinlan Hill | Debbie Kuffer |
| $50,000 NSBA Open Senior | 1 (tie) | Sumac Gunnabeflashy | Bud Lyon | Leslie Vagneur Lange |
| $50,000 NSBA Open Senior | 3 | Xtra Wimpys Catalyst | Matt Gouthro | Erika Collins Sterling |
| Limited Open Senior | 1 | Great Red Spook AC | Jennifer A. Burton | Jennifer A. Burton |
| $10,000 NSBA Open 3-Year-Old | 1 | Its Sho Time | Bud Lyon | Lee Orr |
| $10,000 NSBA Open 3-Year-Old | 2 | SS Got My P H D | Bud Lyon | Jennifer Dawson |
| Limited 3-Year-Old | 1 | HezRealClever | Jennifer Burton | Jennifer Burton |
| $10,000 NSBA All-Age Non-Pro | 1 | Xtra Wimpys Catalyst | Erika Collins Sterling | Erika Collins Sterling |
| $10,000 NSBA All-Age Non-Pro | 2 | Woodford On Ice | Sydney Sargent | Sydney Sargent |
| Limited Non-Pro | 1 | Woodford On Ice | Sydney Sargent | Sydney Sargent |
Reining: Legacy Reining Breeders Sale & Designer Sale
Aubrey, Texas | September 18–19 | ThorSport Ranch
The Legacy Reining Breeders Sale concluded at ThorSport Ranch in Aubrey, Texas, with the 26th annual sale taking place on September 18–19, 2026.
A new addition this year was the 1st Annual Legacy Designer Sale, an evening auction preceding the traditional daytime sale. The Designer Sale featured a curated selection of prospects, broodmares, and proven performers from top reining breeders in a black-tie dinner setting.
The Designer Sale achieved $2,320,000 across 31 lots, averaging $89,230, with a median sale price of $78,750.
The top-selling horse of the event was Dun Deja, a 2-year-old stallion by Gunner and out of Dun Its Deja Vu, making him a full brother to Gunner Dun It Again.