Tag Archives: Reining

Championships, Competitions, FEI, Western/Reining

Consolation Provides Riders a Chance in FEI World Reining Championships for Seniors Individual Competition

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Bastien Bourgeois (FRA) and Gunspinner. (FEI/Andrea Bonaga)

Lausanne (SUI), 13 August 2016 – The SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Seniors Team Competition not only saw team Belgium claim the gold, team Germany the silver and team Austria the bronze medals. It also determined who would qualify for the SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Seniors Individual competition that will close the prestigious event on Saturday night in Givrins, Switzerland.

The top 15 combinations plus ties qualified directly for the Individual competition and it took a score of 214.5 or higher to do so. The Consolation (second qualifier) opened the day at the CS Ranch and, out of 19 horse-rider-combinations fighting for a spot in the final, the top five paved their way to the final competition. After a tight battle, two riders posted a 219 – the top score of the Consolation: Bastien Bourgeois (FRA) and Shane Brown (USA).

Bourgeois rode Gunspinner, a 10-year-old registered American Paint Horse stallion owned by Sven Olaf Johansson. Ann Fonck of Belgium rode the horse trained by NRHA legend, Tim McQuay, in the 2010 NRHA European Futurity to top honors in the Level 3 Open Futurity division. As Bourgeois stated, the flashy stallion was “simply great”.

Brown rode Wind Er Up Wimp, owned by Susan Geiger, back to the Individual finals. The 7-year-old stallion and his rider will be joining team mates Troy Heikes and RSD One Hot Deal (owned by Denise Biller) and Kari Ann Klingenberg riding Mr Electricspark (owned by Pamela Nelson) who earned their way to the finals in the first qualifier. “It was a tough team competition filled with great riders and talented horses and the second qualifier was just as tough. I am thrilled to have made it back,” said the U.S. rider who flew over along with his team – horses and riders – to compete in Switzerland.

Qualifying along with Bourgeois and Brown were Tina Kuenstner-Mantl (AUT) and Nu Chexomatic owned by Jacpoint Quarter Horses, Morey Fisk (CAN) aboard Chics Smokingun owned by Sabine Schmid and Paolo Fabbri (ITA) riding Lenas Drawin His Gun owned by Lenas Syndacate.

Twenty-one elite horses and riders representing seven Nations (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and U.S.A.) will make their way in the arena Sunday to showcase the sport of reining at the highest levels… all aiming to conquer the prestigious FEI medals.

For complete results, information, live stream and live score, please visit the official website:  http://www.worldreiningchampionships2016.com/en/start.

By Simona Diale

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Championships, FEI, FEI, Western/Reining

Team Belgium Takes Gold at 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Seniors

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From left to right: team Germany silver, team Belgium gold, team Austria bronze. (FEI/Andrea Bonaga)

Lausanne (SUI), 12 August 2016 – Though Belgium may be a small country, the Belgian team at the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships in Givrins, Switzerland posted a big score to take home the gold medal in front of Germany and Austria. The heat of the competition could be felt from the very first moment the in-gate opened, but it wasn’t until the last rider of the day would perform that the final placings would be determined.

In a field of 44 riders vying for the team medals as well as a spot in the individual competition, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck was the last entry of the day. With his mount Smart N Sparkin between the reins, not only did he post the top score of the day (222), his result made the final team score rise to a 661.5, one and a half points higher than team Germany who until that point was in the lead.

“The pressure was on because I knew that our final standings would depend on my run,” said Fonck. “I went in the arena knowing that I had to mark at least a 220.5 to claim the gold medal and my plan was that if we went past the first maneuvers – the spins – without penalties, then I would ask my horse for more. I did not think that Smart N Sparkin would make any mistakes because he’s a really talented and good minded horse, but in case that would have been the scenario, then I would have aimed for the second step of the podium. I am extremely happy that things worked out the way they did because I’ve been riding this great stallion for a long time now and I am very grateful to his owners, 7 Heaven Reining Horses, for their trust in my program and for giving me the opportunity to show him here. I now look forward to the individual competition on Saturday though my main goal was that of earning the gold here. I would like to thank all my team for giving it all they had and, of course, all the owners of the horses!”

The second highest score for Belgium was the 220 earned by Cira Baeck and Whizasunnysailor BB. Owned by Ruediger Diedenhofen, the 8-year-old stallion, a.k.a. ‘Sailor’, has an impressive show record to his name with Baeck in the saddle. “Once again he was with me all the way and gave me all he had,” said a smiling Cira. “I just love this horse! His big heart and talent never cease to amaze me and placing this medal around his neck is the best thing that I could have ever hoped for.”

Ann Fonck and Nic Ricochet, owned by Vannietvert-De Pauw, were the second duo to perform for team Belgium on Thursday afternoon. Their score of 219.5 was the first step toward making it to the highest step of the podium. The fourth member of the team was Piet Mestdagh who was seen riding his own Reining Whiz.

Team silver for Germany:

Members of the German team are no strangers to the pen and they have left their mark in more than one FEI competition. Alexander Ripper riding Hollys Electricspark (owned by Christian and Rosy Wagner), Dominik Reminder and GR Hug A Jewel (owned by Vanety Korbus), Grischa Ludwig and Gwhiz Im Smart (owned by Momo & Amy) and Verena Klein riding her own Olena Joe Cody gave it all they had. They were leading the team competition with a total score of 660 until Fonck turned the cards on the table. “We are really proud of the result achieved here today,” said German team coach and multiple past German reining champion, Nico Hörmann. “In coming here we knew that the level of competition would be very high but we had a group of great horses and riders who were able to achieve this result and we made our flag fly high!’

Posting the highest score – a 221 – for team Germany was Grischa Ludwig riding Gwhiz Im Smart. Dominik Reminder and GR Hug A Jewel closed his performance a half a point behind. Ripper and Hollys Electricspark scored a 218.5.

Team bronze for Austria:

With a total score of 653.5, team Austria settled for third place honors claiming the bronze medal. Earning the highest score (221) for his team was Martin Muehlstaetter aboard Jacpoint Quarter Horses’ 7-year-old stallion, Gotta Gold Chain. Based in the U.S.A. where he runs his own training facility, Muehlstaetter made his way to Switzerland to compete for his country. “This was certainly a great experience and I am very happy that we made the podium,” he said. “I am very thankful to Tina and Klaus of Jacpoint QH for giving me the opportunity to ride this great horse here.” Joining the duo on the podium were team members NRHA Million Dollar Rider Rudi Kronsteiner and AB Peppy Diamond (owned by Jennifer Nixdorf) who scored a 218.5, Tina Kuenstner-Mantl and Nu Chexomatic (owned by Jacpoint QH) scoring a 214.5, and Johannes Hasenhauer riding Keen Little Juice (owned by Olga Hofmann) with a 207.

“My team was simply great and we couldn’t be any happier for this result,” said team coach Gerold Dautzenberg. “Unfortunately one of our horses was slightly injured before the competition so we had to retire him, but at the end of the day all our riders did a wonderful job and we are thrilled to go back home with the team bronze.”

Missing the podium by one point was Team Italy. In the first and only edition of the FEI World Reining Championships for Seniors held in 2008, on home-ground the Italians had earned the team gold medal in front of team U.S.A.

Building up to the medals

Who would have a chance of stepping on the podium was determined once Italy’s Gennaro Lendi, riding his Yankee Gun, posted a 219 to bring his team’s total score to a 652.5. Three horses later, Austria’s Martin Muehlstaetter and Gotta Gold Chain (owned by Jacpoint Quarter Horses), thrilled both the crowd and the judges. A 221 appeared on the scoreboard and secured his team a medal by bringing the total score to a 653.5 behind Germany and in front of Italy.

Germany’s team favourite, Grischa Ludwig riding Gwhiz Im Smart (owned by Momo & Amy), was determined to keep his country’s flag high. They ran an impressive pattern #5 and closed their run with a 221 bringing the total score to a final 656.5. In order to determine who would conquer the coveted FEI World Reining Championships medals, the athletes and the public had to wait for the very last horse/rider combination to make their way in the pen. Belgian Bernard Fonck and Smart N Sparkin did exactly that!

The team competition was also the first qualifier for the individual competition that will be held on Saturday. Riders that did not automatically qualify will have a chance to earn a spot in the consolation held on Friday morning prior to the SVAG FEI European Reining Championships for Young Riders and Juniors team competition.

For further information, visit the event official website:  http://www.worldreiningchampionships2016.com/en/start.

By Simona Diale

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Championships, FEI, FEI, Western/Reining

Setting the Stage for the 2016 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Senior Riders

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The Team Podium at the 2008 FEI World Reining Championships (Team Italy gold; Team U.S.A. silver; Team Germany bronze) (FEI/ Andrea Bonaga)

Lausanne (SUI), 10 August 2016 – Reining has gained significant ground since being adopted by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 2000 as its first western discipline. Two years later, reining made its debut at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. In 2008, the very first FEI World Reining Championships for Seniors event held in Manerbio, Italy marked the first time in the history of the sport with FEI medals awarded outside the World Equestrian Games (WEG). On home ground, Italy took the team gold and U.S.A. rounded the event by claiming the individual gold.

Welcoming the competition this year is the CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland, where riders representing 10 countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States) will vie for the prestigious team competition FEI medals. Canada, the Czech Republic, Morocco, Mexico and The Netherlands will be competing only on an individual level.

The road to the CS Ranch arena

The finest horse-and-rider combinations in the world are now settled in the beautiful facility owned by Corinna Schumacher ready to put their bid for the medals. For the European athletes, the trip to Switzerland was on mainly on the road. Team U.S.A., horses and humans, instead crossed the ‘Big Pond’ along with chef d’équipe, Jeff Petska, who has served in that role since 2002. The first step for the athletes was the vet check held today. The second step will be the team competition – and individual qualifier – which will be held on Thursday 11 at 2 pm. The consolation run on Friday will give the athletes who did not qualify for the individual competition a second chance to ride for a spot on Saturday afternoon when individual medals will be determined.

SVAG FEI European Championships Reining Young and Junior Riders

Young and Junior Riders will also be proving their worth along with the SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Senior Riders in Givrins. The team competition will be held on Friday and the individual will be held on Saturday. Last year Germany clinched both the Junior team and individual gold medals. Italy went on to claim the team and individual gold in the Young Riders division.

In this 2016 edition of the championships, three full teams (Germany, France and Italy) will be riding in the Junior Riders competition along with representatives from Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland who will be competing on an individual level.

In the Young Riders competition Austria, Belgium, Germany and Italy will be vying for the team medals. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Switzerland will be represented on an individual level.

For further information, visit the event official website:  http://www.worldreiningchampionships2016.com/en/start.

By Simona Diale

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Championships, Competitions, USEF, Western/Reining

Hurd, Johnson, and Van Duys Earn Top Honors at USEF Youth Reining National Championships

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Amanda Hurd and CC Enterprises (Waltenberry)

Oklahoma City, Okla. – Rising stars in reining came to the 2016 USEF Youth Reining National Championships on July 2 with the goal of claiming a national title. Held in conjunction with the NRHA Derby at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., Amanda Hurd took home the USEF 19-21 Youth Reining National title, Alexandra Johnston earned the USEF 14-18 Youth Reining National title, and Bo Van Duys was the USEF 13 & Under Youth Reining National Champion. All three divisions were judged by Ben Balow, Bob Kail, and Ann Salmon.

Twenty-year-old Hurd (Wilmington, Del.) claimed the USEF 19-21 Youth Reining National Champion title. Riding her father Mark Hurd’s seven-year-old Quarter Horse sire, CC Enterprises, Hurd guided her young mount to a score of 194.

Seventeen-year-old Johnston (Brentwood, Tenn.) claimed the USEF 14-18 Youth Reining National Champion title. Riding her own eight-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, Mr Get Smart, Johnston earned a score of 203.

Eighteen-year-old Elena Hurd (Wilmington, Del.) and It’s All About Bud, her father Mark Hurd’s 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, received a score of 190 to earn the USEF 14-18 Youth Reining Reserve National Champion title.

Bo Van Duys and Aim Your Pistol (Waltenberry)
Bo Van Duys and Aim Your Pistol (Waltenberry)

Van Duys, a 13-year-old resident of Parkland, Fla., scored top honors in the USEF 13 & Under Youth Reining National Championship. She and Aim Your Pistol, her own 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare, laid down a solid run, scoring 208 and claiming the title.

“Aimee and I have been trying our hardest to be the best we can be,” said Van Duys. “It felt awesome to win the USEF championship, and the prizes aren’t even the best part. The best part of this entire experience is putting time and effort into the sport you love. So thank you USEF, NRHA, and all the other associations that let us compete and do what I love.”

The USEF 13 & Under Youth Reining Reserve National Champion title was shared by Ava Bush and Lisa Prittle. Bush piloted Wimpy Whiz Kid, Easy N TIme Ranch LLC’s seven-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, to a score of 199.5, as did Prittle with her own Last Pop Star, a 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding.

Find more information on the NRHA Derby.

From the USEF Communications Department

FEI, USEF, Western/Reining

USEF Names US Representatives for SVAG FEI World Reining Championships

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Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the athletes and horses who will represent the U.S. at the SVAG FEI World Reining Championships in Givrins, Switzerland, August 11-13, 2016.

The U.S. will be represented by the following combinations (in alphabetical order):

Shane Brown (Elbert, Colo.) with Susan Geiger’s Wind Er Up Wimp, a 2009 Quarter Horse stallion

Troy Heikes (Scottsdale, Ariz.) with Denise Bixler and Steve Tarani’s RSD One Hot Deal, a 2007 Quarter Horse gelding

Kari Klingenberg (Scottsdale, Ariz.) with Pam Nelson’s Mr. Electric Spark, a 2009 Quarter Horse stallion

Nick Valentine (Pilot Point, Texas) with Glo Tazi’s Hollywood Golden Gun, a 2007 Quarter Horse stallion, or with Denise Bixler and Steve Tarani’s Lil Gun Dunit, a 2006 Quarter Horse gelding

Find out more about the SVAG FEI World Reining Championships.

From the USEF Communications Department

Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

Do You Know What It Means to Moderately Extend the Jog?

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By Dan Trein in The American Quarter Horse Journal

What is the moderate extension of the jog supposed to be?

Simply what it’s called: It’s just a moderate extension of the jog. We put enough extension to it so that there’s a notable difference.

However, with this gait in a western pleasure class, you won’t see the level of impulsion as you would if you asked that hunter under saddle horse to trot ahead.

A Little Bit of Flutter

We like to sit back a little more and use a “flutter” or bump with the legs to ask the horse to extend. We might use or add a verbal command.

When we want to back off the extension, instead of fluttering the leg, we take the full leg down around and underneath the rib, so the leg comes up against the body, and the horse comes to associate that squeeze with a slowdown.

If our horse surges forward at that point, we restrict and restrain his face with our hands. But we’re not going to demand or command so strongly that the horse is intimidated and the face goes behind the vertical. If the horse yields, he gets a reward: We soften that hand control. But we might still keep that wrapped leg so he understands what we’re trying to do.

The Comfort Zone

For me, the comfort zone relates to how knowledgeable a horse is.

To help a horse gain training stability and confidence, I ride him with a little bit of contact. I hold him in my hand, and he ultimately understands to yield at his face and throatlatch. It doesn’t mean he’s snapped and jerked behind the bridle, but it does mean that as I ask him to go forward, as a training technique, I don’t release his head completely.

When a horse resists, say if he’s going from the jog to the extended jog and he overreacts, to me that means he’s not in a comfort zone. My repetitive response to that would be to accelerate into the extended jog but hold him in my hand and get him to yield into the bridle and stay there.

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

Awards, JRPR, Western/Reining

Al Dunning and Expensive Hobby Inducted into AzQHA Hall of Fame

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Photo by Fallow.

Phoenix, AZ (March 1, 2016) – Al Dunning and his late mount Expensive Hobby were inducted into the Arizona Quarter Horse Association (AzQHA)’s Hall of Fame on February 20 for their individual and collective accomplishments in the Quarter Horse industry.

Vita Flex, a leading manufacturer of high-quality, veterinary-tested equine supplements, is proud to congratulate Al Dunning, who is a Vita Flex Victory Team rider. Vita Flex is dedicated to creating supplements that help horses and riders like Dunning continually cross the fine line between good and great.

Dunning’s impressive career includes 45 World Championships and Reserve World Championships through the National Reining Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Dunning was past president of the AzQHA and the Arizona Cutting Horse Association, as well as director at large of the AQHA. In 1996, Dunning was named the AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year.

“I have so many people to thank for helping me to be a success,” Dunning said. “I’ve been blessed with great customers who trust me to treat their horses with respect and get the job done. Then there are once-in-a-lifetime special horses like Expensive Hobby that make your dreams come true!”

Once-in-a-lifetime might be the best way to describe Expensive Hobby, who passed away in 2003. The buckskin Quarter Horse was a four-time AQHA Champion, and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2007. Expensive Hobby and Dunning won the NRHA Open Reining at the AQHA All American Quarter Horse Congress, and Expensive Hobby held AQHA Superiors in reining, working cow horse, and cutting. The famed Quarter Horse is forever eternalized as a Breyer model.

Dunning is proud to accept the honor and is grateful to those around him who helped him achieve such measured success.

“I have been riding most of my life,” Dunning said. “A great family, loyal friends, and amazing horses have blessed me throughout. I wouldn’t change a thing!”

Dunning continues to train and show western performance horses at his ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. With their induction into the AzQHA Hall of Fame, Dunning and Expensive Hobby join other Arizona greats including Doc Bar, John Hoyt, and Rick Johns.

Accomplishments like these demonstrate what it means to be a Vita Flex Victory Team rider. With his many successes, Dunning has proven he knows what it takes to maintain the competitive edge necessary to be leaders in the show and training industries. Vita Flex® equine performance products is something that Dunning always has on hand.

Vita Flex provides riders, trainers, and owners with a variety of high-quality equine products, including antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals, and topical solutions to help keep horses in top health, so they can cross the fine line between good and great. Vita Flex’s products are backed by clinical research to ensure horse’s peak performance. For more information about Vita Flex and its line of superior equine products, visit www.vitaflex.com or call (800) 848–2359.

Contact: Katie Stevenson
kstevenson@central.com
www.vitaflex.com
(602) 281-3872

Championships, Competitions, USEF, Western/Reining

Fappani Edges Mills to Win 2015 $25,000 Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship

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Andrea Fappani and Custom Spook (Waltenberry)

Las Vegas, Nev. – Andrea Fappani came out the gate strong Thursday night to earn the 2015 $25,000 Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship during the High Roller Reining Classic. Fappani scored a 229 to edge out Reserve Champion Matt Mills who scored a 226.

The 2015 $25,000 Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship was comprised of elite reining talent including four members who competed in the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Casey Hinton (Whitesboro, Texas) and Tracey Tuttle-Bryce and Roberta Faga’s Top Gun Tonite led the competition with a score of 222 before Fappani (Scottsdale, Ariz.) entered the arena as fourth to go. The 2014 WEG Individual Silver medalist Fappani and Rancho Oso Rio, LLC’s Custom Spook electrified the arena upon entering with their first sliding stop. This set the tone for an exceptional performance and helped them earn a great score.

Fappani had a commanding lead going into the final four performances. Mills (Cave Creek, Ariz.) and Dealer Auctions, LLC and Vincent and Lynn Maffucci’s Freckles Got AShiner took to the arena first. They also gave an exciting performance. However, Fappani and Custom Spook were more on point with their stops and spins, which allowed them to keep their lead.

Hinton as well as Troy Heikes (Purcell, Okla.) and Denise Bixler’s RSD One Hot Deal were tied for third place with a score of 222 until Tom McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas) and Jennifer Greenleaf’s Dun Git A Nicadual entered the arena. They put on a good show to take third place with a score of 223.

From the USEF Communications Department

Championships, FEI, FEI, Western/Reining

Dance Little Spook and Masi de Vargas Claim Gold in Aachen

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The individual medal podium at the FEI European Reining Championships (from left), silver medallist Grischa Ludwig (GER), gold medallist Giovanni Masi de Vargas (ITA), and bronze medallist Elias Ernst (GER). (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Aachen (GER), 16 August 2015 – Excitement and great reining were the key words at the FEI European Reining Championships in Aachen (GER) today. Twenty of Europe’s finest horses and riders performed in the Deutsche Bank Stadium with Giovanni Masi de Vargas of Italy clinching individual gold with Quarter Dream’s Dance Little Spook between the reins.

Last to enter the arena, the 22-year-old flawlessly guided the talented seven-year-old mare, by Smart Spook out of Sailors Dance, through pattern number nine. His deep stops, fast spins, smooth lead changes and perfectly painted circles pleased both the crowd and the judges who paid him back with an outstanding score of 222 and the top step of the podium.

“Earning two gold medals here is unbelievable and so emotional,” said Masi de Vargas, who also posted the highest score in the team competition on Friday when Italy took home the gold. “I cannot thank my team enough, our coach and the president of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), Cav. Vittorio Orlandi, for being here to cheer for us.”

The pressure was on for Masi de Vargas once it was his turn to enter the arena. German veteran Grischa Ludwig and the eight-year-old stallion Shine My Gun (Colonels Smoking Gun x Shiners Mistress), owned by Stephanie Maudas, had thrilled the crowd with their run and their perfect spins. Once they had performed their last stop, a 221 appeared on the scoreboard, meaning the duo just missed out and had to settle for individual silver on home soil. “I came here aiming for the gold,” Ludwig said. “I did not have much luck in my last stop but it was a great fight until the very end and I am proud of our results.”

Germany also kept the bronze medal at home as Elias Ernst and USS N Dun It (Reminic Dun It x USS Entrprise) closed their run with a 219. The talented 10-year-old stallion is owned by Christine Wilinski. “I can’t describe my feelings! To show here is awesome and the crowd was super,” said the young German rider.

Setting the pace

Austria’s Daniel Schmutz and BH Cielo Dry opened the competition with a score of 214.5. Closing the first judging block, and raising the score by a point, was the duo that made it through from the second qualifier, Verena Klein of Germany and her Olena Joe Cody.

Italy’s team veteran, Pierluigi Fabbri, was in the lead following the second of four judging blocks after posting a 217.5 aboard Broadway Jaba (Little Red Jaba x Tuff Lady Boss), owned by Az. Agricola Pollarini.

With a strong performance, Klaus Lechner of Austria and Cody Rooster Delmaso (Ricochet Rooster x Made Of Lacy), owned by Giulia Gaupmann, received a 218.5 from the judges, the highest score prior to the last five competitors which also earned them fourth place overall.

Following the last drag, expectation and high class reining kept the public glued to their seats and the final tussle between Masi de Vargas and Ludwig couldn’t have been a better advertisement for the sport. There was no better way to close the 2015 edition of the FEI European Reining Championships in Aachen!

Quotes

Giovanni Masi de Vargas – “I started competing in 2009 in junior competition and this is my ninth FEI medal. This is the first time I’ve competed in a senior championship and it’s been an amazing experience.”

Grischa Ludwig – “I was fifth in the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and fourth last time, then I was individual third in the European Championships in 2013 and now second here, so the tendency goes up!”

Ralf Hesselschwerdt, President of the Ground Jury – “We expected a very close run and it turned out to be that. Grischa ran a great pattern, performed awesome spins, and at that manoeuver he was ahead of Giovanni; his horse anticipated the last stop and that pushed him half a point behind Giovanni. Giovanni was very consistent; his run reflected smoothness and finesse and nobody deserved it more than he did.”

The Reining family

When asked about the friendship/rivalry between them, the medalists answered:

Giovanni, better known as ‘Dido’ – “We compete every month against other. It’s a real friendship.”

Grischa – “I’m a bit older than Dido, and I’m a very good friend of his father’s; in fact we’ve had some fights on horses! I’ve known him (Giovanni) since he was that high (demonstrating with his hands) and I always told his father that he would grow to be a top top rider. When I saw him compete in junior competition through the years, I knew that he was a rising star. Reining is a family; we are the reining family. I’d like to thank the organisers here and say that this is probably the best organised reining show we’ve ever shown in. It’s unbelievable how much they’ve done for us.”

Reining competitors often refer to the connections they develop within the sport as being as close as family. That was literally true in Aachen. Filippo Masi de Vargas, Italy’s team coach and Giovanni’s father summed up his feelings by saying: “I’m bursting with pride and honored to be part of this team gold and individual gold all Italian experience. Each and every competitor here was wonderful and they all showcased the sport of Reining to the best of their ability.”

FEI European Championships Aachen 2015 results are here.

By Simona Diale

Media Contacts:

At Aachen:

Niels Knippertz
Press Officer
nielsknippertz@chioaachen.de
+49 (0) 241 9171 182

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Championships, FEI, FEI, Western/Reining

It’s Gold for Team Italy!

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Left to right: Giovanni Masi de Vargas, Francesco Martinotti, Pierluigi Fabbri and Edoardo Bernadelli. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Aachen (GER), 14 August 2015 – Today, Italy claimed team gold ahead of Germany in silver and The Netherlands in bronze at the FEI European Reining Championships 2015 in Aachen, Germany.

In a field of 40 competitors, and with 8 horse-rider combinations to go, the podium was determined by a superb performance from Italy’s Giovanni Masi De Vargas and Dance Little Spook.

Aboard the 7-year-old Quarter Horse mare by Smart Spook and out of Sailors Dance, owned by Quarter Dream, the young Italian rider posted a 221.5. Equaling the top score of the day was Germany’s Grisha Ludwig and Shine My Gun. The 7-year-old stallion, an own son of Colonels Smoking Gun and out of Shiners Mistress, owned by Stephanie Madaus, thrilled the crowd executing the only +1 ½ spins of the day. Once the duo closed their performance, they secured Germany’s European team silver.

“I am simply thrilled,” said Italian team coach, Filippo Masi De Vargas. “This squad is made up of young riders, the future of our discipline, and they were just great, very professional and full of enthusiasm. The only ‘older’ rider is Pierluigi Fabbri, who was also on the team in the past edition. He had to endure the pressure of opening the competition today and did a great job giving the other athletes on the team the confidence they needed.”

In the 2013 edition of the Championships, Italy took team silver behind Germany and today, again on German soil, the battle was on from the first to the last competitor. With only 10 horse-rider combinations left to go, vying for the medals were Italy with 651 points, The Netherlands with 637 and France with 634.5. The situation was soon to change following Masi De Vargas’s performance, which did put Italy in the lead but still left the highest step of the podium undecided.

The gold and silver medals were determined after Ludwig’s run, but reining enthusiasts had to wait until the last competitor of the day to find out which nation would complete the podium. Rieky Young Van Osch of The Netherlands, who performed aboard her Brady Chex, the 10-year-old stallion by Buenonic Chex and out of Somethingtocrowabout, ending up posting a 214, enough to earn the bronze.

Just off the podium was team Great Britain with three competitors and a total of 635 points. Francesca Sternberg and Ten Reasons (Hand Ten Suprize x Hotroddin Catalyst) closed with a 215.5, enough to advance automatically to the individual competition on Sunday. “Ten Reasons just gave me another reason why my husband Doug chose him!” said an enthused Francesca following her run.

Quotes

Frank Kemperman, Aachen 2015 Show Director, FEI Executive Board member and Chair of the FEI Dressage Committee, said: “It’s nine years since we did reining at the FEI World Equestrian Games, but this was fantastic sport.”

Joe Hayes, judge: “I’m from Texas so I probably don’t need a mic! If you didn’t see the reining today don’t miss it next time! It was really fun to judge and congratulations to all three teams. It was like a heavyweight boxing match, very exciting to judge. It’s really fun to show a good horse and it’s fun to judge good horses.”

Giovanni Masi De Vargas: “Being here in on German soil and being able to claim the gold is an incredible experience. The feeling we had when we got here was that this could be done but actually getting it done is a completely different story! The pressure was definitely on when I went in the arena, but I used that pressure to do the best I could. This is a tough arena to show in, especially considering the importance of this venue. I cannot express how I feel right now; the only thing I can say is that it’s simply great!” The 23-year-old De Vargas boasts multiple FEI team and individual gold medals in Junior and Young Rider competitions.

Dutch dressage champion, Anky van Grunsven, who holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any equestrian athlete, and is the only rider to record three successive Olympic wins in the same event, was on Team Netherlands riding her own Whizashinningwalla BB. This is her first reining medal in an FEI event. “It’s amazing, so much fun and I’m so excited about it,” said Anky. “I know I can do dressage but to be on a bronze medal winning reining team – that’s something else. Earning a medal at the FEI European Championships is so good for this sport and the reason that I enjoy this discipline is firstly because I’m not good at it and I like the challenge, and secondly, I love the atmosphere both in and outside the arena.”

Chefs d’Equipe quotes:

Filippo Masi De Vargas (ITA): “It’s really great to win here in Germany, especially as we’ve got some young team members and it’s their first time on a team.”

Nico Hoermann (GER): “We knew that the Italians had a very good team and in the end the final was really good sport. We only had a team of three, but in the end it was no difference as it was the scratch result.”

Dave Young (NED): “I’m very proud of my riders; all four of them worked really hard and showed very smart today. They worked hard on a strong team presentation today.”

The individual competition

Ten nations competed in the 1st individual qualifier (Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden). All except Austria presented full teams with Tina Kuestner Mantl and her Nu Chexomatic along with Klaus Lechner and Cody Rooster Del Maso both scoring a 215.5. The two secured a spot in the individual finals.

The 15 top scores from the 1st individual qualifier will automatically advance to the individual competition on Sunday, 16 August, at 10.00 CEST.

The next 20 scores will be able to compete in the 2nd individual qualifier with the first five also advancing to the finals. On Saturday 15 August, the second individual qualifier will begin at 18.15 CEST.

For more information on the FEI European Championships 2015 in Aachen, visit www.aachen2015.de.

FEI European Championships Aachen 2015 results are here.

By Simona Diale

Media Contacts:

At Aachen:

Niels Knippertz
Press Officer
nielsknippertz@chioaachen.de
+49 (0) 241 9171 182

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145