Adequan® NAAC Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year
NRHA Rookie Level 1
Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Rookie
NRHA Prime Time Rookie
Kristen Syburg had two horses entered in the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) Toyon Ranch Rookie of the Year class and finished on the top steps of the podium with both. Her gelding Magnums Peppy (Magnum Chic Dream x Mattie Pep) carried her to the top of the class, scoring 220.5, while her other gelding, Cinco De Magnum (Magnum Chic Dream x Calatrava), finished with reserve honors. Syburg also won the NRHA Rookie Level (L) 1, as well as the Adequan® NAAC Prime Time Rookie and NRHA Prime Time Rookie, and tied for the Adequan® NAAC Rookie L2 and NRHA Rookie L2 Championships with Magnums Peppy, taking home almost $2,000, which doubled her NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE).
Magnums Peppy arrived in Oklahoma City with $4,800 in NRHA LTE. “My horse was fantastic for me and just got better as our run went,“ said Syburg. “I struggled a little in the turns, but as soon as we got through them, I was having fun. We had strong circles and stops. I felt pretty confident about them, and the judges scored them well.”
Syburg, who started reining this year, was previously focusing on Ranch Riding classes and now rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Linde Von Koeding. “My horse is a man of many skills,” she said. “I have had him for four years and showed him in the ranch riding previously. He showed in the futurities, so he had a great start and knows his stuff. When I started riding with Linde, I actually took lessons on my other horse that I got reserve on [Cinco De Magnum], and Linde immediately recognized the talent of this horse and fell in love with him, so I get to do it with both now,” smiled Syburg.
“I am hoping to continue reining next season with my younger horse, who is still of derby age, so I am hoping to do some derbies on him. I love the maneuvers and the adrenaline in reining; it is so much fun. I try to be a good showman and when things get faster, it gets harder, so it’s a good challenge for me.”
Adequan® NAAC Rookie Level 2
NRHA Rookie Level 2
A three-way tie was called in the Adequan® NAAC Rookie L2 and NRHA Rookie L2 classes. Joining Syburg and Magnums Peppy on the podium were Shea Gilson and Isabella Sobral.
Shea Gilson rode Rolex N Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Miss Moth Money), a 16-year-old gelding owned by Kevin Rosenbaum and bred by Brad Lieblong.
“This show meant a lot to me, and he means more than anything to me,” said Gilson. “It meant a lot to be able to do this with him [Rolex N Chex]. I have never had a connection to a horse like I have with him. It was cool because this horse has done so much for so many people, and to be one of those people for him is priceless for me.”
Gilson has seen much success throughout 2024 while she has leased ‘Rolex.’ The pair was the 2024 The Run for a Million Rookie Reserve Champions after a run off and have an incredibly strong bond.
“He is so great-minded, and he loves his job. You can see it when he is out in the show pen—he has his listening ears on and does anything you ask. He knows his job and does it well. He is quirky and loves bananas and is just a whole-hearted horse and fun to show.”
The pair is unsure what the future holds now that they have accomplished the goals they set together.
“I really want to thank the owner, Kevin Rosenbaum, for this gift of a lifetime. I am obsessed with this horse. I cannot even tell you,” she continued with tears building in her eyes. “He has changed my life, and I want to thank my trainers [NRHA Professionals] Kari Klingenberg and Daniel Schloemer. They believed in me and us and pushed us, and paired us together. Without that, I don’t know where my happiness would be. I want to thank my parents for supporting me through this and always watching me. They were always the building blocks, and they set the path for me to get to this point.”
Isabella Sobral rode her 12-year-old gelding Frame Draggin (Einsteins Revolution x Coronas Major) to the co-championship.
“Our run was amazing, and my horse was perfect. He wanted to try so hard for me, and he just did everything I asked him to do. We ran in, and I asked him to stop, and he did so well. I love his stops,” said the 14-year-old about her horse.
Sobral started leasing the gelding, bred by Jackspar Enterprises LLC, in 2023 and bought it later that year. “He can be very silly and very playful. He likes to stick his tongue out… At home, we like to ride around and get ready for our next show. I have had him for about four years now, and we’ve showed quite a bit. We qualified for the [Adequan® NAAC] at the 100X Tulsa Reining Classic [South Central Affiliate Regional Championship].”
Sobral will also enter the youth classes as well as the Rookie Showdown aboard the gelding this week during the 2024 NRHA Futurity.
On Wednesday, December 4 at 8 a.m., the Rookie Level 1 and 2 riders will get to enter the Jim Norick Coliseum to compete in the Toyon Ranch Rookie Showdown and Bob’s Custom Saddles Rookie Level 2 Showdown where there is an additional $10,000 payout, with $5,000 going to the winner of each showdown.
Tomorrow, competition continues with limited open and rookie professional classes. Tune in to watch the action on the free NRHA ThorSport LiveStream at nrhafuturity.com/livestream.