Emanuel Gebert: A Little guy among the big boys

29/09/2026 – There are still a few major international reining competitions on the calendar for this year, in which Europe’s top- and NRHA $1 Million riders are sure to compete. Among these European top riders is now 13-year-old German Emanuel Gebert (DE). He’s making a name for himself not only in Europe, but also across the pond.
Who is this young man among the big boys? Emanuel Gebert learned to ride even before he could read or write. He’s been in the saddle since he was two and a half years old. He competed in his first competition in 2017 at the age of 4. He earned his first NRHA dollars in 2021 at the NRHA European Futurity, and since then, his NRHA lifetime earnings have reached > $105,777, with $ 54,936 added this year alone. Most of it was won in the USA at The Run For A Million, which took place in Las Vegas in August. There are two things that are important to Emanuel: reining and school. In close consultation with the school, he has been able to successfully balance these with homeschooling to accommodate his competition schedule.
His participation in Las Vegas was made possible by German Arno Honstetter who has been based in Arizona for years. In 2025, The Run For A Million was on Emanuel’s bucket list and Honstetter arranged for Emanuel to lease the 11-year-old stallion Gunna Cash Ya [Lil Joe Cash x Gunners Blonde Chic] owned by Story Book Stables. That worked out well, resulting in a 2nd-place out of 33 combinations in the Youth Reining Challenge, posting a 218,0. This year, things went even better. With a 224,0 Emanuel claimed the Run For A Million Non Pro Reining Champion title and with a 220,5 the Run For A Million Youth Reining Champion title.
On European soil Emanuel already surprised at the NRHA European Affiliate Championship scheduled in Grathem (NLD) by winning the Youth 13&Under Champion title with verve. But even more surprising was his participation at the NRHA Belgium Futurity, which took place earlier this month in Lier (BEL). The 13-year-old entered with two horses in the Level 4 Open- and Level 3 Intermediate Open Futurity for 3- and 4-year-old horses: the 4-year-old mare Rooster Little Sugar [Sugar Little Step x Rooster Billabong], owned by Italian Franzesca Cazzola and the 4-year-old mare Gunnabelle [Walla Whiz Crome x ARC Lendmeyourgun] owned by German Martin Bachmann. In Level 4 the pair placed 8th and 14th and in Level 3 3rd and 7th.
According to NRHA Rules and Regulations a Youth rider may compete on horses owned by third parties in the Open competition without losing his or her No Pro status. The big names simply can’t ignore this little man anymore.
Emanuel is guided in his development by his parents. The family takes turns riding all the horses, which allows them to learn a lot from one another. The best thing about this little man though are the following words and his motivation: “I don’t think about having to compete against NRHA $1 million riders. There are so many good riders who don’t have that status. We’re just trying to get a little better all the time and make it easier for the horses so they feel comfortable.”
Still on the schedule for this year are the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity, the NRHA European Derby and the NRHA Italy Futurity. Worth following.

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Photo: Emanuel Gebert and Gunna Cash Ya. Photo: Purple Media Group, USA