The NRHA Markel Futurity Sale returns to Oklahoma City on Dec. 4, 2025, offering buyers one of the most important marketplaces in the reining industry. Held during the NRHA Futurity, the sale brings together elite bloodlines, standout yearlings, proven show horses, and high-potential prospects that often become major players in the show pen.
With competitive sessions, a growing international buyer presence, and incentives that add real value for future show homes, the sale continues to evolve as both a buying opportunity and a reflection of where the reining horse industry is headed. This year also brings a few notable adjustments to the sale format, prompting consignors and buyers to approach the event with new strategies and expectations.
To help buyers navigate the sessions, understand the updated format, and make informed decisions, we break down what to expect at this year’s sale—and bring in expert insight from top consignor Cooper Smith, whose experience offers a unique perspective on buying a horse in a sale with confidence.
Breaking Down the Four NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Sessions
The NRHA Markel Futurity Sale is divided into four sessions, each designed to highlight different segments of the reining market and cater to a wide range of buyers.
The Performance Horse Sale is a session offering started or finished riding horses—two-year-olds in training, seasoned show horses, and reiners ready to move directly into a program. This makes it a top destination for buyers seeking prospects that already have a foundation under saddle.
The Elite Yearling Sale is focused on pedigree depth and maternal strength. To qualify, a yearling’s dam must have produced at least $25,000 in lifetime or producer earnings through NRHA, NCHA, or NRCHA.
The Preferred Breeders Sale centers on stallions, broodmares, weanlings, embryos, and breeding stock.
The Premier Sale offers the most variety, with more flexible entry requirements. Horses of all types can appear here, from show horses not tied to specific maternal-earnings criteria to younger prospects and breeding stock.
Regardless of which session buyers choose to shop, one major benefit applies across the board. Beginning in 2024, any weanling, yearling, or show horse of Futurity/Derby age purchased through the sale ring becomes eligible for a 50% discount on NRHA Futurity and/or 6666 NRHA Derby entry fees.
This incentive does not apply to PO horses, embryos, breeding stock, or horses older than Derby age—and the horse must sell through the ring to qualify. But for buyers planning long-term show careers, the savings can be significant, making an already-strong sale offering even more appealing.
A Global Marketplace: International Buyers Are Shaping the Sale
Beyond the structure of the sessions, the NRHA Markel Futurity Sale is defined by who shows up to buy—and in recent years, that audience has become increasingly global. Buyers from Europe, South America, Canada, and across the U.S. participate heavily, whether attending the event in person or bidding online. Their influence has helped elevate prices, deepen competition, and expand the reach of reining on a worldwide scale.
Cooper Smith has seen that shift firsthand. In recent years, many of the top selling horses have been purchased by European buyers.
“I’ve had several high selling horses at past NRHA Markel Futurity Sales that have gone overseas,” he says. “The Europeans and South Americans are so influential in the reining. It’s something that needs to be recognized as it’s helped our industry continue to grow at a global level.”
Their influence extends beyond sale-day prices. As high-quality mares, prospects, and potential stallions move overseas, European breeding programs gain access to bloodlines and individuals that elevate their own breeding operations.
What’s New for 2025: Format Updates & How Consignors Are Adapting
While the foundation of the NRHA Markel Futurity Sale remains the same, this year brings a key adjustment to how horses are presented. Due to the recent EHV-1 outbreak linked to an unrelated barrel racing event in Texas, NRHA announced that the 2025 sale will shift to a video-only format, with all horses staying home.
Inside Barn 3, buyers will still experience the familiar rhythm of a live auction—the announcer, auctioneer, ring staff, and bid-spotters remain in place, and online bidding through CCI.Live continues exactly as usual. The only difference is that each horse’s video will play in the ring instead of a live horse entering. The change preserves the excitement and structure of sale day while prioritizing the health and safety of horses on the grounds.
Consignors Step Up with Enhanced Digital Presentation
The updated format has prompted consignors to expand and refine how they present their horses to potential buyers. Across all sessions, sellers are providing more comprehensive video packages, including longer riding clips, walk-around footage, conformation views, and even round-pen evaluations. Many are also offering vet documentation, x-ray summaries, and additional photos to help buyers make informed decisions from a distance.
Smith says the shift has pushed everyone to raise their game.
“The consignors are taking more pictures, making more videos, doing walk-arounds—even vet letters,” he explains. “All of us have gone over and beyond to make it more suitable.”
He notes that while nothing replaces the excitement behind seeing a horse in a sale in person, the added transparency and detail in the videos allow potential buyers to shop, and bid, with confidence. He also credits NRHA staff—especially Angie Honeywell—for ensuring the sale keeps its energy even with the temporary format change.
Before You Bid: Key Tips Every Buyer Should Know
With such a diverse and competitive marketplace, even a handful of smart strategies can give buyers an edge heading into sale day.
Smith is no stranger to big results in the NRHA Markel Futurity Sale ring. Over the last several years, he has handled some of the event’s most notable high sellers. In 2024 alone, he consigned the $177,000 Performance Horse Sale high seller, Daytona Five Hundred, and the overall high seller that sold for $250,000 in the Premier Sale, TR Gunna Bring It. In 2023, he topped the Premier Sale with Trick R Treat, who sold for $189,000 and headed to Belgium, and in 2022 he consigned overall high seller Chex N The Trash for $130,000 in the Elite Yearling Sale.
Smith’s recent high sellers speak for themselves, but he stresses that great horses can be found throughout the catalog—not just at the top of the price list.
Below are his best tips for navigating the sale with confidence—regardless of your budget or buying goals.
Do Your Homework Early. With expanded video packages, more detailed pedigrees, and veterinary information readily available online, most buyers now begin their evaluations well before the first horse video plays in Barn 3. Smith says this pre-sale research is where buyers can give themselves the biggest advantage.
“You have to do your homework,” he says. “Watch your videos, have your x-rays, have your pedigrees—have everything lined out.”
Strong preparation includes watching each prospect’s video, comparing movement between horses, and looking closely at conformation. Even if you plan to bid in person, clarity happens before the sale begins.
Lean on Someone with Experience: If you’re newer to reining prospects or simply want a second opinion, Smith recommends bringing a trainer or a knowledgeable horseman into the process. Experience counts in the sale ring, but it counts even more in the evaluation phase.
“Find somebody knowledgeable that you trust and value their opinion,” he explains. “They’re professionals for a reason.”
A trainer can help identify subtle elements—like how a horse tracks behind, how it carries its shoulders, or how its movement may translate into future maneuvers. Those insights can help buyers focus on prospects that not only look good on video but will stand up to the physical and mental demands of training.
A trusted veterinarian is also key—someone who can evaluate x-rays ahead of time and flag anything you should consider before bidding.
Quality Exists at Every Price Point. While high sellers draw attention for good reason, Smith reminds buyers that quality prospects can be found across sessions and at a wide range of price points. One standout example is Gunnabe Your Fantasy, consigned by Heather Thompson and purchased by Smith in the 2023 Premier Sale. She wasn’t the top seller that year, but she’s now proving herself among the industry’s best at this year’s Futurity.
Now owned by Rocky Cross Performance Horses and shown by Luca Fappani, her current success at this year’s Futurity underscores a core message Smith wants buyers to remember: competitive horses aren’t limited to the top of the price sheet. With thoughtful evaluation and a clear understanding of what you’re looking for, buyers can uncover exceptional prospects at a variety of price levels and in any session of the sale.
Spend Where It Counts. Even with quality distributed across the catalog, Smith encourages buyers to invest wisely within their personal budgets.
“Spend what you can spend and buy the best prospect you can buy,” he says. “Don’t try to save money for the sake of it, because then that’s the horse you’re stuck putting a foundation on.”
Choosing the right prospect matters. The horse you start with sets the tone for your training program and your goals over the next few years.
Sale Day Details: How to Watch and Bid
The NRHA Markel Futurity Sale takes place on Dec. 4, 2025, in Barn 3 of the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. The sale begins at 10 a.m. CT and will run through all four sessions:
- NRHYA Stallion Auction
- Performance Horse Sale
- Elite Yearling Sale
- Preferred Breeders Sale
- Premier Sale
With this year’s video-only format, each horse’s sale video will play in the ring while the announcer and auctioneer call bids live. Ring staff, bid-spotters, and the full in-person energy remain part of the experience.
If You’re Bidding in Person
Buyers attending the event can register at the sale office (Barn 3) and participate directly from the stands. Lunch and drinks will be provided for attendees.
If You’re Bidding Online
Buyers from anywhere in the world can participate through CCI.Live, which offers:
- live streaming of all sessions
- real-time bidding
- bidder registration and credit verification
This makes it possible to watch and bid from anywhere—whether you’re across the country or across the globe.
Where to Find Catalogs & Videos
Full catalogs, sale videos, and consignor updates are available through:
- NRHA.com
- CCI.Live
- NRHA Futurity Sale Facebook Page
- Consignors’ individual pages or social media
Buyers are encouraged to review videos ahead of sale day, as some horses will have extended clips, multiple angles, or additional updates in the days leading up to the sale.