The Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity received notice from the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) on June 23, 2020 that the 2020 show will not be approved. Regardless, the tradition will continue September 13-20, 2020 at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center in Reno, Nev.
The official non-approval notification came via email from the NRCHA on June 23, 2020 and stated, “Unfortunately, we cannot move forward with the approval process until the box on the cover page which requests the use of NRCHA’s trademark Snaffle Bit Futurity is checked.”
The box referred to in the email corresponds with the following statement: “By seeking approval for the event described in this show approval request form on the dates above, the applicant understands and acknowledges that any approval and license to use the NRCHA’s trademark ‘Snaffle Bit Futurity’ is limited to the above-identified event only and this license does not extend to future events not specifically identified in this form.”
On March 22, 2017, the NRCHA applied for trademark claim for the term ‘Snaffle Bit Futurity,’ which was granted by the Trademark Office on October 8, 2018. The Reno event was approved by the NRCHA without issue in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“We believe the use of ‘Snaffle Bit Futurity’ does not belong solely to the NRCHA, and many shows and associations have used the term for decades to describe their event for what it is: an event for 3-year-olds competing in a snaffle bit,” explained Dar Hanson, President of the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity. “The NRCHA set precedence by approving the previous three years of our show without objection to the use of ‘Snaffle Bit Futurity’ in our show name. During that time, $30,000 in youth scholarships have been awarded through the ‘Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity,’ and we are very proud of that contribution to the future of the reined cow horse sport.”
With the non-approval by the NRCHA, monies won at the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity will not count towards horse or rider NRCHA-related lifetime earnings, however, they will still count towards a horse’s pedigree-related lifetime earnings for reined cow horse or stock horse earnings. Year-end points will also not count towards the NRCHA year-end award program.
“We are still having the 4th annual Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, and we are looking forward to a great show with our competitors and owners, vendors, and fans,” said Hanson. “We will be awarding 17 saddles, over 80 buckles, numerous prizes, scholarships to the top youth winners, and over $200,000 added throughout the futurity divisions and horse show classes. We’ll see you in Reno!”
Entry information is available online for Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity and horse show competitors by visiting www.renosnafflebitfuturity.com/entries. Up-to-date information about the 2020 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity can be found on www.renosnafflebitfuturity.com and by following “Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity” on Facebook and Instagram.