Rodeo Daily

The American Performance Horseman: Top Reiners Vying For Million-Dollar Crown

Witness the ultimate showdown at the American Performance Horseman on March 8 at Globe Life Field as top professionals in cutting, reined cow horse, and reining disciplines compete for a million-dollar prize. Which reiner will emerge as the champion?

Jenna Link

Anna Krause Photography, courtesy of Teton Ridge

The American Performance Horseman event is set to showcase the finesse and prowess of Western equine sports and the skilled riders who command these powerful quarter horses. Scheduled for March 8, the event will bring together cutting, reined cow horse, and reining disciplines at Globe Life Field. Professional horsemen, ranking among the top five earners in each category, will vie for top honors individually and as teams, competing for a chance to claim a million-dollar prize.

Representing the National Reining Horse Association are:

Andrea Fappani
Andrea Fappani

Andrea Fappani (Team Racing Green), hailing from Scottsdale, Ariz., with a lifetime earnings (LTE) of $8,801,083, riding All Betts Are Off (Colonels Smoking Gun x Wimpys Little Chic), owned by Rancho Oso Rio. All Betts Are Off's career highlights include victories at prestigious events such as the 2020 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Champion, the 2023 The Run For A Million Reining Open Shootout Champion, and the 2022 Reining By The Bay Level 4 Open Derby Champion.

Cade McCutcheon
Cade McCutcheon

Cade McCutcheon (Team Regal Red), based in Aubrey, Texas, boasts an LTE of $2,417,205. He rides Finals Bound (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic), owned by Burnett Ranches LLC. Finals Bound's notable achievements include a fifth-place finish in the 2022 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Level 4 Open Derby and a fourth-place finish in the 2023 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby Level 3 Open Finals.

Jason Vanlandingham
Jason Vanlandingham

Jason Vanlandingham (Team Imperial Purple), representing Whitesboro, Texas, holds an LTE of $3,780,702. Vanlandingham rides Gunnabeabigtime (Gunnatrashya x Big Time Jazzy), owned by Tami Nelson. Gunnabeabigtime's career highlights include being the 2020 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Champion, the 2023 NRHA Level 4 Open Derby Reserve Champion, and the 2023 The Run For A Million Reining Open Shootout Reserve Champion.

Brian Bell
Brian Bell

Brian Bell (Team Burnt Orange), hailing from Valley View, Texas, with an LTE of $2,650,768, rides Gunna Whoa (Inferno Sixty Six x Whoawhiz), owned by Catherine Crandon and David Maynard. Gunna Whoa's career highlights include being a finalist in the 2020 NRHA Futurity L3 Open and the 2023 Adequan NAAC Open & Ancillary Open Champion.

Casey Deary
Casey Deary

Casey Deary (Team Royal Blue), based in Weatherford, Texas, boasts an LTE of $4,180,984. Deary rides Down Right Amazing (Colonels Smoking Gun x Wimpys Little Chic), owned by DAG Ventures LLC. Down Right Amazing clinched the 2023 NRHA Level 4 Open Derby Champion, the 2023 The American Performance Horseman Individual Reining Champion, and the 2023 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Level 4 Open Derby Champion.

Published
Jenna Link
JENNA LINK

Jenna Link is an accomplished journalist with a passion for rodeo. Born and raised in Arizona, she grew up competing in barrel racing, team roping and breakaway. After studying marketing at Arizona State University, Jenna honed her skills working for top media outlets in the Western industry, which eventually led her to journalism.  Today, she works for Sports Illustrated’s Rodeo Daily, where her career and passion for rodeo combine. Despite her busy schedule, Jenna still finds time to compete in rodeos and jackpots. With her unique perspective as both a journalist and a rodeo athlete, Jenna brings a fresh and insightful voice to her reporting.

Home/Western Lifestyle