-For Immediate
Release-
-September 1, 2006-
-National Reining
Horse Association (NRHA)-
2006
FEI World Equestrian Games -
USA
Wins Team Competition!
The number of
countries represented in the Reining competition at
the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen,
Germany, doubled from Reining’s inaugural debut at
the 2002 WEG held in Jerez, Spain.
Reiners from around
the world, including the Eastern European countries
of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, rode for a total
purse of $65,000 EURO under the watchful eyes of
five international judges: Ralf Hesselschwerdt
(GER), Sylvia Katschker (AUT), Jan Boogaerts (BEL),
Patti Carter (CAN) and Allen Mitchels (USA).
All teams consisted of
four riders with the exception of
Germany who only had
three. However, the low score is dropped and the
remaining three are tallied. Since
Germany did not have
the luxury of a dropped scored, each German
contestant had to do his best. Undoubtedly
encouraged by the “home field” advantage and the
thundering applause from the standing-room-only
crowd of spectators,
Germany failed to
medal by just a half point!
With a combined score
of 665, Team
U.S.A. won the Gold
Medal, edging out the Silver medalists, Team
Canada, by just one
point. Team Italy
earned the Bronze with a combined score of 656.
Team
Germany placed
fourth with a score of 655.5 and Team
Switzerland,
comprised of four women, earned a total of 651.5
points to finish in the top five!
Team
U.S.A. had two “old
pros,” NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Tim McQuay and
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks. In
addition to their Million Dollar Rider status, both
McQuay and Hendricks have won the prestigious NRHA
Futurity in
Oklahoma City, OK.
Team
U.S.A. also had two
riders who were enjoying their very first
international competition: Aaron Ralston and Matt
Mills. Each contributed to the win and all will
advance to the Individual Competition (consisting of
the top 20 scoring riders) slated for Sunday
afternoon.
Dell Hendricks rode
Starbucks Sidekick by Smart Starbuck and owned by
Adair Reiners, LLC; Aaron Ralston, who logged
U.S.A.’s highest
score of 223.5, rode his wife Meg’s Smart Paul Olena
by Smart Chic Olena. Tim McQuay wowed the crowd on
Jerry Kimmel’s Mister Nicadual by Mister Dual Pep
and Matt Mills rode Easy Otie Whiz by Topsail Whiz
and owned by Outwest Stallion Station/Bobbie Cook.
Team
Canada was well
represented by Lance Griffin, a Non Pro competitor,
riding his own Whiz N Tag Chex by Topsail Whiz.
Luke Gagnon rode Lil Santana by Lil Ruf Peppy and
Francois Gauthier rode Snow Gun by NRHA Hall of Fame
Inductee Gunner (AQHA Colonels Smoking Gun). Both
horses are owned by Andre de Bellefeuille. The high
score of the competition, a 225.5, was earned by
Team
Canada’s NRHA
Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer riding Manntana
LLC’s Hang Ten Surprize.
Team Italy’s riders
included Marco Ricotta riding Peppy Secolo (Peppyseco)
for AM Syndicate, Christian Perez, riding Dualin For
Me (Dual Peppy) owned by Mancone QH, Dario
Carmignani aboard Andrea Castrucci’s Skeets Dun (Hesa
Sonofa Dun) and Adriano Meacci riding Docs Tivio
Hancock (Little Pie Jac) for Lorenzo De Simone.
Team
Germany’s three
riders included Grischa Ludwig riding Jutta
Weckmuller’s BV Smart Innuendo (Puro Chic), Nico
Hoermann riding Lil Ruf Cody (Lil Ruf Peppy) for
Rolf Reinschmidt and Sylvia Rzepka riding Peter
Prokes’ Golden Mc Jac (Jac O Rima).
Team Switzerland
consisted of two sisters, Selina and Carmen
Schultheiss, Jeannette Kraehenbuehl and Evelyne
Rothlisberger who logged the team’s highest score
(220) on Daniel Straumann’s Gallo Pequeno by Gallo
Del Cielo. Selina rode Dunit Sugar Quixote by
Hollywood Dun It for Willem J. Langendoen. Carmen
rode Flites
Enterprise (Chex Enterprise) owned by
Carmen Schultheiss and Jeannette rode her 2004 NRHA
Non Pro Reserve World Champion, ARC Golden Boy
(Surprise Enterprise).
With the exception of
Canada’s Snow Gun,
all horses on the top five teams were American
Quarter Horses.
The FEI President, HRH
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, was on hand for the
last several competitors. She joyfully watched Duane
Latimer and Hang Ten Surprize earn the day’s highest
score and, showing her appreciation for the event,
affectionately patted each horse as the awards were
presented.
The Reining
competition at the
FEI World Equestrian Games was a resounding
success. The reining horse once again proved its
tremendous appeal to people who love a good horse.
It seems that “whoa” is understood in any language
and the admiration for the exciting sport of Reining
is worldwide!
Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse
Association is the governing body of the sport of
Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters
in Oklahoma City,
is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining
and working to ensure the highest standards of
competition. NRHA receives corporate support from
Cinch, Rockies and Cruel Girl; Markel Insurance;
Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Kiser
Arena Specialists; Houston Ranch Embryo Transfer
Center; Classic Equine; John Vance Auto Group;
LaQuinta Inns & Suites; The Rider’s Edge; Land O’
Lakes / Purina Mills LLC (Official
United States Feed Sponsor of the NRHA);
Anderson Bean Boot Co.; Elite Trailer Mfg.; Platinum
Performance; MD Barns; Adequan® (Official
Joint Therapy of the NRHA); CR Morrison
Specialties; Pard’s Western Shop, Smith Brothers and
Big Ass Fans. The NRHA continues to educate its
members and the public about Reining. For more
information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining,
please visit www.nrha.com or call 405-946-7400.
NRHA
Media Contact:
Carol Trimmer
3000 NW 10th Street
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
73107-5302
www.nrha.com
E-mail: media@nrha.com
Phone: 405.946.7400, ext. 117
