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Strong Field Lines Up for USEF Open Reining Nat’l Championship & Selection Trial for 2014 WEG U.S. Reining Squad

Mandy McCutcheon (Alleyn Evans for Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Lexington, Ky. – The focus of the reining the world will be on the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park April 25-27, as a talented field lines up for the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad which is being held as part of the Kentucky Reining Cup. Twenty-two of the best in the U.S. will go head-to-head to stake their claim on the National Title, 21 of which are also competing for a spot on the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad as part of the Selection Trial. The top six combinations, which are in Selection Trial contention, at the conclusion of the weekend’s competition earn a spot on the U.S. squad for the Games in Normandy, France. The 2014 Championship and Selection Trial will be held over two rounds with the Opening Round getting underway Friday at 6pm ET and competition coming to a conclusion on Sunday morning with the Final Round, and the crowning of the 2014 Champion.

On Thursday, 37 horses were presented before the CRI Ground Jury at the Horse Inspection with two not being accepted.

This weekend will host three members of the United States’ Gold medal winning team from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games as they head back to the scene of their success in Lexington. Team and Individual Gold medalist Tom McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas) will ride Jennifer Marley’s Dun Git a Nicadaul and Turnabout Farm’s Dun Got My Rest. 2010’s Individual Silver medalist Craig Schmersal (Overbrook, Okla.) is vying for top honors and selection with Karl Robert’s What A Wave. Former National Champion Shawn Flarida (Springfield, Ohio) joins his teammates from four years ago and will be riding Michell Kimball’s Spooks Gotta Whiz.

Mandy McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas) will be busy this weekend as she has two shots to claim top honors. She will look to do so on her father Tim McQuay’s Yellow Jersey, as well as on Robert Webb’s Spin N Wimp.

“I’m very excited to be here and am just trying to keep my expectations for the weekend in check,” said McCutcheon, who would welcome the opportunity to compete for the U.S. in Normandy. “It would be a dream; I try not to even think about it because it would be so amazing.”

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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