For Casey Deary, 2025 will be remembered as a year shaped by consistency at the highest level of the sport. Long before the final run in Oklahoma City, the season had already delivered defining moments — performances that reflected years of experience, thoughtful horsemanship, and a program built to let horses progress on their own timeline. By year’s end, those moments added up to a milestone that placed Deary among reining’s elite: crossing the NRHA $6 Million Rider mark.
The year’s momentum began earlier in the season at the NRHA Derby, where Deary piloted Customize My Dream to the Level 4 Open Derby Championship. The win reaffirmed his ability to bring horses to peak form when the pressure is highest and added another major title to a résumé already filled with career highlights.
Later in the year, Deary stepped onto a different kind of stage at The American Performance Horseman, capturing the championship aboard Down Right Amazing. Competing in a made-for-television format with heightened expectations, the performance showcased the same calm execution and preparation that has become a hallmark of Deary’s approach.
That steady progression set the stage for the final and most defining chapter of the season — the NRHA Futurity.
Success in the reining pen doesn’t always follow a straight line, and few stories illustrate that better than Deary’s journey with Belissimo. Their path to the 2025 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Championship was marked by unexpected challenges, thoughtful decisions, and a commitment to always putting the horse first.
The Futurity itself unfolded under unusual circumstances, with schedule adjustments made in response to an equine virus outbreak. But the twists in Belissimo’s story began well before Oklahoma City. The young stallion first entered the spotlight at the 100X Reining Classic in August. Competing in a hackamore, Belissimo showed uncertainty early, struggling to settle into the run.
In that moment, Deary made a deliberate choice. Rather than push through the performance, he dismounted, reassured the horse, and accepted the result — a decision rooted in patience and long-term thinking.
Belissimo returned to the pen just days later in a Novice Horse Open class, delivering a confident run to mark a 146.5 and earn the win. For Deary, it was a clear sign that the foundation was coming together, even if the timeline wasn’t conventional.
The partnership continued to gain confidence at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, where Belissimo and Deary advanced to the Level 4 Open finals in both the Congress and All Star Reining Stakes futurities. The pair marked a 226.5 to finish as reserve champions, confirming they were ready for the sport’s biggest stage.
In the first round of the NRHA Open Futurity, Belissimo delivered a strong, composed performance that earned a 225, placing him second overall. The semifinals brought another test. With the added energy of the OG&E Coliseum crowd, Belissimo felt the pressure early, incurring penalties in the first half of the run. Deary stayed composed, guiding the stallion through credit-earning maneuvers to secure a spot in the finals by the narrowest of margins.
Deary advanced all three of his Futurity entries to the finals, setting up a demanding night. Belissimo ultimately drew last — 30th out of 30. Rather than leave anything to chance, Deary and his team recreated a high-energy environment ahead of time, allowing Belissimo to experience the noise and intensity before stepping into the arena.
The preparation paid off.
Calm, focused, and ready, Belissimo delivered a standout run in the finals, earning a 231.5 and securing the Level 4 Open Futurity Championship. The win paid $350,000, including incentives, and pushed Deary past the NRHA $6 Million Rider mark — a milestone reached through years of consistency, trust, and perspective.
The victory marked Deary’s fourth NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity title. His first came in 2012 aboard Americasnextgunmodel, Belissimo’s dam, making the win a full-circle moment that underscored the depth of the program behind the horse.
Belissimo is owned, bred, and nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, whose partnership with Deary has produced multiple career-defining successes. The 2025 Futurity title became the seventh NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity championship for the Arcese program, adding another chapter to its legacy.
Beyond the titles and earnings, Deary credits his success to the influence of horsemen who shaped his approach and taught him to prioritize understanding, confidence, and willingness in his horses.
“My goal is to build something that my children can take — my life experiences, what I’ve learned and the opportunities — and build on it to do far greater things than I accomplish,”
-Casey Deary
That vision is already taking shape. Just one day before Deary’s own Futurity victory, his son Owen Deary tied for an NRHA Levels 3, 2, and 1 Non Pro Futurity sweep and topped the Youth Non Pro Futurity — a moment that underscored what the season truly represented.
While the wins, championships, and milestones of 2025 will stand on their own, Deary’s focus remains firmly on the future. The success of the year wasn’t about a single horse or a single night — it was the result of years spent building something meant to last.
