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Flarida Captures Early Lead in USEF Open Reining Nat’l Championship & Selection Trial for WEG U.S. Reining Squad

Shawn Flarida & Spooks Gotta Whiz (Alleyn Evans for Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Lexington, Ky. – The 2014 Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad kicked off Friday evening at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena with the first of two rounds of competition. A field of 35 international veterans went to task in the CRI3* competition which is being held in conjunction with the Kentucky Reining Cup.

Leading the way in National Championship and Selection Trial competition is former National Champion and U.S. Team Gold medalist from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Shawn Flarida. Riding Michell Kimball’s seven-year-old Quarter Horse stallion Spooks Gotta Whiz, Flarida (Springfield, Ohio) executed a polished performance that was highlighted by solid transitions to score 225.

“He warmed up really well, and showed really sweet,” said Flarida, who looks for another solid round from Spooks Gotta Whiz on Sunday. “I hope he shows as pure again and I’ll let things fall where they do.”

Lying in second place after round one on Friday is Mandy McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas) and her father Tim McQuay’s Yellow Jersey. The 10-year-old Quarter Horse stallion demonstrated why he is so highly regarded in the U.S. by scoring 224; just a single point separates him and McCutcheon from first place.

Andrea Fappani (Scottsdale, A.Z.) and Silver Spurs Equine’s seven-year-old Quarter Horse stallion Smoking Whiz stand third heading into Sunday’s final round on a score of 223.5.

Following the second and final round of competition for the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad, the top six combinations will be named to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad.

By Helen Murray

Watch the Kentucky Reining Cup live on USEF Network presented by SmartPak at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014KRC/.

Learn more about the 2014 Kentucky Reining Cup here.

Follow the U.S. Rening Team here.

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