Editor-in-Chief Simona Diale Production and Design Chiara Milani
Olivia Diale Cover photo by Bee Silva Photography
www.internationalhorsepress.com
March 10, 2023 | Arlington,
The American Western Weekend at Globe Life Field in Arglington, Texas, offered a one-of-a-kind multi-event celebration of the spirit of the American West with four nights of action-packed entertainment, world-class talent in the performance horse industry, multi-platinum musical entertainment, and much more. Brand new for 2023, fans experienced a first-of-its-kind event: The American Performance Horseman (TAPH) presented by Teton Ridge. Celebrating the elegance and excellence of cutting, reining, and reined cow horse, three distinct western equine performance sports, the inaugural event saw the 2022 top five money-earning professionals of each discipline compete for both individual and team standings for a total payout of $1,000,000.
Texas
Photos by Martina Tonello Photography
By Simona Diale
Team Royal Blue Performes
Royally
to First Place Honors; Deary Storms to Victory In The Individual Competition
The team aspect was a very unique component of this event; one we haven’t really seen in the horse show world. Comprised of one cutter, one reiner, and one cow horse rider decided by random draw, each team’s standing was determined by combining the three individual scores.
Once the curtain fell on the Globe Life Field arena on Friday night, Sarah Dawson and Adan Banuelos had topped the cow horse and cutting individual competition and, along with Fernando Salgado who placed third in the reining portion, also took team gold.
“I had to say goodbye to her [All Spice] after winning the Futurity since owners Teton Ridge had decided to retire her—when this opportunity came up, I was over the moon.”
– Adan Banuelos
Adan Banuelos & All Spice
The event kicked off with the cutting where 2020 NCHA Open Futurity Champions and 2021 NCHA Open Horse of the Year All Spice, AKA “The Queen,” and now NCHA Six Million Dollar Rider Adan Banuelos laid down an amazing performance paid back by the judges with a 229 for the lead. “This is the best horse I have ever ridden,” said Banuelos about the stylish red roan mare owned by Teton Ridge. “I had to say goodbye to her after winning the Futurity since the owners had decided to retire her so when this opportunity came up, I was over the moon.” The duo picked up from where they left off thrilling the crowd with their incredible connection and with the mare showing off her athletic ability on “an unbelievable stage” as Banuelos put it. “We’re just full of emotion and happiness and I knew it was going to work out right. This is a thing that people dream about doing and when you get the opportunity to perform somewhere like this, you just shut up and like it! We have all put so much criticism into ourselves, into our program, into our horses. We can dissect anything and the truth is that these guys’ horses have done a lot for people for a long time and have endured some tough situations under a lot of pressure. We have taken the cowboy out of our sport. None of the 15 here ever doubted what Teton would put together; they did their very best and made us all look better. They set the stage and showed it can be done and I think we’ll absolutely find more shows like this around the country — maybe not to the level these guys pulled it off but I’m certain we will.”
As event staff reworked the arena for the reining, Rock and Roll Hall of FamerSheryl Crow entertained the public with a line-up of hit songs. When the Grammy Award winner left the stage, the attention returned to the arena for the reining.
First in the arena was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Fernando Salgado riding Pale Dun Star, a 7-year-old gelding owned by Ian Jr. and Kristen Cantacuzene. The pressure was on for the native of Brazil now based in
Gainesville, Texas. With Banuelos on top of the cutting leaderboard and Dawson posting the highest score in the rein work, which took place before the show began, the pressure was on. “I am a big fan of both of them and I was nervous,” he told. “When you watch them showing
and how their hors es perform, they’re amazing; that put a lot of pressure on me and I didn’t want to drop the ball. I was really happy I was able to do that.”
Salgado rode to a 224 score closing in third place which was accompanied by a $50,000 paycheck.
“Love for the horses is the answer to everything and why the atmosphere was so high tonight. That’s the reason that I moved from my country to here. We all work so many hours, and I think what makes us go to this level is the love of the horse. It always pays off.”
– Fernando Salgado
Fernando Salgado & Pale Dun Star
The
Another page was turned in the arena and it was time for the muchanticipated reined cow horse fence work. Sarah Dawson and Shine Smarter were the last to go: The NRCHA Million Dollar Rider needed a 215.5 to ride her team to victory, yet, with the 11-year-old mare between the reins, she didn’t settle on riding easy and once their fast and precise performance was over, a 226.5 appeared on the scoreboard bringing their composite to a 452.5, the win, and and a $125,000 paycheck.
that was great for all three disciplines, to making the show roll. We’ve always talked amongst ourselves about how our sports are so freakin’ cool but the problem we’ve always had is that we don’t have spectators. We get the same people over and over again coming to our shows but here Teton has proved that we can make it a spectator-driven event as opposed to a competitordriven one, and I am excited to see what it’s going to turn into. They’ve opened a door for us that we didn’t know we could open.”
“Teton Ridge has proven that we can make this a spectator-driven event as opposed to a competitor-driven one, and I am excited to see what it’s going to turn into. They’ve opened a door for us that we didn’t know we could open.”
- Sarah Dawson
“She was fantastic! It hasn’t sunk in and I haven’t even wrapped my mind around the money yet,” said Dawson during the press conference. “I just can’t get over the fact that that mare accomplished what she did tonight. I felt like we kinda cheated this morning because we all warmed up in that arena, we come out for 15 minutes, and then went back in to show. For the fence work, we were a little bit in different shoes as opposed to the reiners and the cutters because these horses don’t take a lot of preparation to go down the fence: all they have to do is stretch their legs. Mentally they can be a little up and that’s OK. I have a lot of respect for the cutters and reiners because they are the ones that had to manage their horses’ nerves because of the situation they were put in but Teton Ridge did a great job of managing everything, from the ground
Sarah Dawson & Shine Smarter
American Performance Horseman
Casey Deary and Down Right Amazing
“Personally, the reason I do what I do is because I love these horses,” said Deary. “Everything we do daily is about preparing our horses to handle any situation we put them in. To have to shift gears and put in all that time to settle into a situation where we are just a small component took a bit of adjusting; the guys here picked the horses capable of doing that and we had to make sure that we were not only picking the best athlete but that we were picking the most adaptable one.”
NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary made sure he picked the best, and the most adaptable: Down Right Amazing. Draw four in the competition the combo burst into the arena and the public exploded. They kept the spectators hooked until the very last maneuver of the modified version of NRHA Pattern #10 and proving the judges liked their performance as much as the spectators did was the score: A 231.5. The win added $100,000, as well as an additional $8,333.33 for Team Green’s third-place team finish, to their Lifetime Earnings (LTE).
“He’s a very special horse and has been part of the family since he hit the ground, and his mother who I won the NRHA Futurity and Derby on, was very special too,” said Deary about the 6-year-old sorrel stallion by NRHA Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner, out of Shesouttayourleague (by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz) owned by DAG Ventures LLC. “He did most of the work for me and I tried to spend as much time as I could in the arena—including when the cattle came in—so he would get accustomed to these surroundings. From a spectators’ standpoint, we had to make little adjustments that maybe we are not accustomed to, but it ran incredibly smooth. Teton set the bar so high that it’s going to be difficult to top it.”
2016 S (Gunners Special Nite x Chic Olena Starbuck)
Owner: Tim & MaryBeth Ruckman
Breeder: Turnabout Farm Inc. Score: 221 Team Burnt Orange Points 847.5
About Teton Ridge
Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to the iconic American western way of life and western sports. Teton Ridge’s Sports division was created with the singular focus of elevating classic western sports and America’s western culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. In 2021, Teton Ridge acquired The American, the iconic event of the rodeo circuit, to continue to expand the audiences for rodeo sports and make it the world’s premier western culture event. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit www.tetonridge.com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook.
1 All Spice (Once In A Blu Boon x Show Biz Kitty) | Adan Banuelos | 229
Teton Ridge | Royce Stallcup
$100,000
2 Blackish ((Hottish x SS Blacks Lil Kitty) | Lloyd Cox | 224
Julie Jarma
$75,000
3 Third Edge (Metallic Rebel x Lil Rattler) | Wes Galyean | 221 Teton Ridge | SMF Cutting Horses LLC
$50,000
4 Kittennish (Hottish x Show Biz Kitty) | Austin Shepard | 220
Billy Wolf | Royce Stallcup
$25,000
5 Lil Maddy Rey (Dual Smart Rey x Miss Madelines Cat) | Lindy Thorn | 217
Misty Greenson | Clark Brewster
$25,000
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Lloyd Cox & Blackish
Wes Galyean & Third Edge
Austin Shepard & Kittenish
Lindy Thorn & Lil Maddy Rey
1
2
4
5
Justin Wright & Scooter Kat
Chris Dawson & CSR Lay Down Sally
Corey Cushing & Good Time
Lee Deacon & SJR Smooth Lil Oak
About The American Rodeo
Hailed as The Crown Jewel of Rodeo™, The American Rodeo is an unrivaled celebration of the pioneering spirit of the American West. The national sporting event offers fans a unique choice – to cheer on western sports’ finest champion athletes or root for the underdog “contenders” chasing a $1 million bonus – through every rodeo, roping, and riding effort. Acquired by Teton Ridge in 2021, The American Rodeo is an annual western sports and entertainment celebration that matches professional rodeo’s top athletes against the world’s most aspirational cowboys and cowgirls, who have put up their own money to bet on themselves in this high-stakes showdown. For more information on The American Rodeo, please visit www.americanrodeo.com or @TheAmerican.TR on Instagram @TheAmericanTR on Facebook and Twitter.
Photos by The American Western Weekend
The American Rodeo Champions
Photo courtesy Tha American Western Weekend
National Reining Breeders Classic A Record Breaking Year
Tulsa’s Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square was the site of a new era for the National Reining Breeders Classic. Not only was the central location appealing to a larger geographic range of reiners, the added money took a giant leap and competition was fierce.
April 16-23 Tulsa, Oklahoma | USA
Casey Deary Earns Second NRBC Championship on Down Right Amazing
Casey Deary came out swinging on Saturday night at the NRBC Open Classic Finals. First, as draw 5, he put up a 227 on Ten Thirty owned by Rancho El Fortin. Then came DAG Ventures LLCowned stallion Down Right Amazing (Gunner x Shesouttayourleague) at draw 17. The duo motored to a crowdpleasing 230 score that stood for the remainder of the 31-horse Final field to earn the Open Classic Champion title in the Level (L)4.
“That horse is a star and has shown up every time I’ve called on him,” Deary said of the horse called “Amazing.” “I knew he was going to do his job as he has the ability to do it. Obviously, there are a lot of really great horses in there. I just had to give mine the best opportunity.” It's been a year of opportunities for Deary and Amazing. The pair qualified to the top five NRHA earners for 2022 to make a run at The American Performance Horseman in Arlington, Texas, where they won the individual competition with a 231.5. Then, all eyes turned to the NRBC.
Casey Deary & Down Right Amazing
Photos by McKinnon Larcombe Photography
Edited NRBC Press Release
A 225 in the preliminary should have been a shoe-in, but with the deep NRBC field, Deary qualified the horse in the 23rd hole. Understanding that the competition was tougher than ever, he made a plan for the Finals. “This is a big arena and I knew it would be a tough horse show,” Deary said. “I went as fast as he was comfortable going. He turned around really good for me and let me put him exactly where I needed to be. He let me circle him as good as I’ve ever circled him—he went fast and slow and stayed between the bridle reins. I could tell that after I circled him, he was running out of gas running and stopping.” But, Amazing had enough
www.internationalhorsepress.com
for the five judges to credit him with a 230. The high score earned $100,000 and the use of the Twin Cities Trailers Gooseneck trailer for one year. It is Deary’s second NRBC Open Classic L4 title, the first being in 2020 when the show was also held in Tulsa during COVID. “The scores in the prelims were just phenomenal and this whole entire week has been exceptional,” said Good. “I’m very excited, grateful, thankful and blessed to own this amazing horse. Coming off The American, that was a pretty big show for him and he’s held up. Like Michael Jordan, he’s a top athlete and we’ve been doing our best to take care of him.”
When the Deary crew returns to Weatherford, Texas, Down Right Amazing will get some time off and also enter the breeding shed. One thing is for sure; right now, all eyes are on Las Vegas where Down Right Amazing qualified Deary to compete. It will be another family affair for Deary Performance Horses. “I want to thank my wife, my biggest cheerleader. She’s taught all my children the exciting cheers, like ‘shake it off dad!’ and I wouldn’t and couldn’t do it without her,” Deary said. “I have the best set of customers anyone could have; they’re always happy, whether one of their friends win it or not. It’s a big family event for us.”
Andrea Fappani rode Trash Talkin Spook (Gunnatrashya x I Spook) owned by Marilyn Overgaard to a 229 claiming the L4 Open Reserve Championship and a $60,000 paycheck.
Luca Fappani and Dream On Whiz take Level 3 and 2 Open Classic titles
The last-minute decision for Luca Fappani to show Dream On Whiz paid off in the NRBC Open Classic L3 and 2 Finals. The Magnum Chic Dream gelding out of Ms Sassy Whiz marked a 226.5 and the duo added a total of $60,000 combining money earned in both levels: $20,000 in L2 and $40,000 in L3. “It is Joetta Bell’s horse and she offered him to me to show right before the NRBC. I rode him five times before coming to Tulsa, and a couple times here, then went and showed,” Fappani said.
Fappani took a break from showing for a year, then after he completed high school went to work for Corey Cushing where he says he learned a lot about how a horse’s mind worked and the
way horses learn in general. The knowledge is something he carries over to how he trains and rides his show horses now at Casey Deary’s, who he has worked for since January 2023. “Since I graduated high school, I feel I have become a better rider with what I learned from Corey, my dad [Andrea Fappani] my whole life, and now from Casey,” he said. “I feel really confident in how my horses are starting to feel.”
While Fappani was worried about how the gelding would respond to the noise, pressure and crowd, he says he warmed up and showed the exact same as he did in the preliminaries. “He is a broke horse. His owner, Joetta, does a great job of riding him at home and she has had a lot of success with him,” he said. “I just hopped
on and I put in some little things I thought would help. He is such a talented horse; he is a great stopper, great circler, and he is just so simple. He does exactly what you tell him to do, he felt just right.”
Now competing in the Open, Fappani says the horses are at a higher level but the competition isn’t much different. There are so many good non pros that do a great job in training their horses, he said, but it is also special to have the opportunity to compete with the big names he has grown up with. “I want to thank the Bell’s, Casey Deary for mounting me, and my girlfriend, Payton, for keeping me going the entire show. She got my horses ready, helped me ride, band, tails, everything. She has done so much and the whole barn here is so supportive. Every single non pro client and assistant have been there for me through the whole show. It was long, with many horses; we put a lot of runs together, but it’s been great.”
Luca Fappani & Dream On Whiz
Photo by Jen Kasper Media
Photo courtesy of NRBC
Raphael Bourdeau and Voodo Thatyoudo claim Level 1 Open Classic
Since showing in local shows at the age of 10, Canadian native Raphael Bourdeau always dreamed of being in the United States to compete with the “big dogs.” Bourdeau has been training with Dany Tremblay since his start here in the U.S. eight years ago, saying he just wanted to learn a good training program. The horse Bourdeau piloted to the win, adding $7,500 to their lifetime earnings, is Voodo Thatyoudo by Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Always Gotyer Gunsup.
“This win feels good and is very special to me,” he said. “My dream has always been to compete in the U.S. at these events, so it is like a dream come true.” When asked about how the horse is in the show arena, he emphasized how big of a stopper and how great of a circler and turner the gelding is and the plan was to stay out of the penalty box. “It was good to show here; it is a very big arena, and he is a horse that can circle really hard, so he really showed off his circles,” he added. “I could run him real hard, and he is easy to prepare, he is pretty simple.” Plans for the 2018 gelding are now up to owner Christy Trautman, but he is sure to have some time off. Bordeaux thanked Dany and Fred Tremblay and all the team members and customers at Tremblay Performance Horses for their support.
Shawn Flarida and Alpha Jac Sparrow fly to the Prime Time Open Championship
NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida can add another title to the long, long list on his résumé: The NRBC L4 Prime Time Open Champion. He piloted Alpha Jac Sparrow (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chexanicki), bred by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, owned by Fritz Leeman, Sam Flarida, and Cody and Katsy Flarida, to a 227.5 for the win.
The big, bay horse is no stranger to Flarida’s show string. He’s ridden Alpha Jac Sparrow to an NRHA Futurity finals and won the $40,000 Tamarak Ranch Reiners Open 4- and 5-Year-Old Stakes. He also rode the stallion in The American Performance Horseman event. “I’ve been
Shawn Flarida & Alpha Jac Sparrow
Photo courtesy of NRBC
around him since he was a 2-yearold. Katsy rode him a lot and I then got him as a 3-year-old and made the NRHA Futurity Finals on him,” Flarida said. “He’s been a very good horse and really consistent so far.” The NRHA Hall of Fame rider pushed the stallion to a 228 in the prelims to make the L4 Finals, and the Prime Time Open Finals. “This horse is a fast mover and he’s such a big powerful horse that he does go faster than some other horses I’ve shown,” said Flarida. “When he makes a move, it is unique. Tonight was one of the first nights that I got him to run through the gate and get that first stop. Then, he circled good to the right and his circles to the left could have been better, and his big deal is that he can run and stop. The arena and the ground fit him, this was his night.”
For the Prime Time Open win, Flarida earned $1,950. The pair finished third in the L4, pocketing another $45,000.
For Fernando Salgado, it only took one run to take home a 2023 NRBC Champion title. Aboard Gunna Be The One (Gunnatrashya x Snip O Satellite), owned by Coma Ranch LLC, Fernando Salgado marked a 226.5 to win the Novice Horse division of the Open Classic.
The 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-yearolds brought the heat to Tulsa in the prelims. Andrea Fappani and All Bettss Are Off (Gunner x Wimpys Little Chic) owned by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, took the lead in the L4 preliminaries marking a whopping 230 and winning $17,306.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Gina Schumacher Pilots Gunnastepya to First NRBC Victory
For Gina Maria Schumacher, her ride in the NRBC Non Pro Classic L4 Finals aboard Gunnastepya was a lot of fun. For the judges, it was top of the class, and the 227.5 score reflected that feeling. Schumacher, from Germany with Gordonville, Texas, being home in the United States, is an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. Gunnastepya (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step) didn’t have quite as extensive of a résumé, but the stallion is continuing to build it, one event at a time.
“He comes to a horse show and just cruises. It doesn’t bother him to run hard,” Schumacher said. “I think this is the only horse that I say has no weak point. I’ve ridden a couple really nice ones, but he is by far the nicest I’ve ridden. He is good minded, has big turns, big stops and circles really nice.” After Schumacher’s XCS Ranch LLC purchased Gunnastepya, bred by Adh-Mor Ranch, following the NRHA Futurity, Schumacher had her hopes
for his 4-year-old year dashed when COVID restricted her from coming to the United States. Now, though, she and the 2016 stallion are clicking.
“We qualified for The Run For A Million at our first show together, but I never managed to put it all together [in a run],” she said. “He’s matured and now he is super chill, relaxed and does his job. Sometimes I get nervous, but he will do it. There is nothing I can pick on him with.”
Coming into the Non Pro Classic Final on Friday, Schumacher didn’t plan to run Gunnastepya to his maximum. “It all went as planned today, except he didn’t circle as well as he usually does because we weren’t going as hard as we were in the Cactus Reining Classic. The faster you go, the more tuned in he gets, but I didn’t want to run him super hard because we need to go to Vegas in August, and I wanted to save some horse. He can make points in the turns and stops. He just listens to
whatever I do and if he does anything wrong, it is because I screwed up.”
The young rider is now focused on getting better. “The industry is going crazy now, really good, and we breed and train our horses, and that is what I want to do at one point. That is what made me want to come here and do my best. My ultimate goal now is to train my own horses, push our breeding and the horses we raise, and promote our stallions. Triple threat, that is the dream!” she said. “I have a really good team,they work tirelessly and I am really lucky to have Duane Latimer by my side to help me be better at what I do as well as my boyfriend who pushes me, and my mom, Corinna, of course, who couldn’t be here but is behind all of this.”
For the L4 win, Schumacher won the use of a Twin Cities Trailer’s deluxe two-horse Sundowner bumper pull and a slew of other prizes, earning $50,000.
“My ultimate goal now is to train my own horses, push our breeding and the horses we raise, and promote our stallions. Triple threat, that is the dream!”
Jack Medows & Fire N Rein (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chicsdreamofdiamonds) owned by Amy Medeows, took the L4 Non Pro Reserve spot by riding to a 226.5 adding $25,000 to the duo’s lifetime earnings.
Level 3 and Level 2 Non Pro Classic Champions: Kelsey Price and In My Glory Days
Kelsey Price and In My Glory Days (SG Frozen Enterprize x Gunners Glory) won the Novice Horse in the Non Pro Classic Preliminary round and took the L2 and 3 Non Pro Championships scoring a 222. Her husband and trainer, Kole, thought her mare would be at peak for the finals. “She is a lot of horse, and I am eligible for a lot of levels so I could win a lot of money,” Price said. “I was just going to give it my all, I was going to go fast and that was my plan.”
Price noted the mare loves her turnout time so at the show, the plan was to continue to let her be a horse. For one of the mare’s two exercise sessions during the day, Price would take her in a hackamore on a relaxing walk at the Tulsa Expo Square. With the win in both levels, Price takes home $25,000. The Prices plan to turn the mare out at home and let her be a horse before getting her ready for the NRHA Derby.
Price thanks her husband, Kole, and their assistants and groom, who always make her looking amazing, she said. She also thanks her veterinarian and farrier. Without this team behind her she says she couldn’t have achieved this result.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Kelsey Price & In My Glory Days
Level 1 and Prime Time Non Pro Classic Champions
Paul Queen has a new goal: to win the L4 Non Pro Classic. He’s well on his way, locking down the L1 and Prime Time Championships with a 222.5 aboard Makendiamonds (Whizkey N Diamonds x Makeit In Tinseltown). “This is my first Finals and I made all four levels,” he said. “It was pretty damn cool. There were a lot of them [in the preliminaries] and to make the L4 pretty easy, was cool.”
The palomino mare nicknamed “Josie” is owned by Queen’s mother, Dorothy Queen. He rides with Jared Leclair, and the pair spent time getting Josie back to being a horse after her Futurity year. “Now, she loves to go show, and she’s getting a personality. She’ll dig a cookie
out of your pocket,” said Queen, of Whitesboro, Texas. “Sometimes you have to rehab their mind a little bit, and that is what we did with her. Now, she is doing really well. Jared and I both love her. I’m going to try and push her in the Derbies; My goal is to make her a $100,000 horse.”
His other goal is to keep climbing the Non Pro ladder. The preliminary round was tough, and while making the Finals in all divisions was not expected, Queen now aims to do it again. He knows, though, that competition is steep.” I know most of these people in here and we are not competing against one another but against ourselves to do better than the last time.”
Queen earned $2,000 for the Prime Time Non Pro Classic win, and added another $5,000 in the L1. He tied for reserve in the L2 adding another $5,000, and for the L3 adding $11,250. He and Makendiamonds placed ninth in the L4, earning another $5,750.
2022 Nominations & Leading Sires
2021 NRBC nominations: 2,674
2022 NRBC nominations: 2,914
( the highest number of enrollments since the program’s inception in 1997)
Leading sires of enrolled foals in 2022:
Spooks Gotta Whiz: 185
A Vintage Smoke: 124
Colonels Shining Gun:117
Inferno Sixty Six: 115
Spooks Gotta Spark: 108
Paul Queen & Makendiamonds
Brian Bell & Crystalized Whizkey
NRHA Futurity: The Most Eagerly Awaited Reining Event
The best horses and riders in the world vied for incredible prizes, impressive purses, and prestige at the National Reining Horse Association’s premier event, the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. The adrenaline-packed competition boasted a staggering payout that exceeded $2 million.
November 23 - December 2 Oklahoma City | USA
Brian Bell & Crystalized Whizkey Win 2023 NRHA Open Futurity Championship
The crowd was entertained by incredible runs during the 2023 NRHA Futurity MS Diamonds TX Level (L)4 Open Finals. Brian Bell and Crystalized Whizkey were leading with a 225.5, but the same score, Andrea Fappani had secured what could have been a co-championship riding Inferno Thirty Five (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x MadeOf Pure Spangled), a stallion owned by Steve
Archer, bred and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC. Bell, who had yet to win his first Level 4 Open Futurity Championship, was set on the run off: He ran in again scoring a 224.5 earning the coveted title.“I’ve been second twice, by half a point. I just couldn’t do it, I needed to know that I risked it all,” said Bell who rode Crystalized Whizkey, a mare by Whizkey N Diamonds out of Lonely At The Top, owned by Wallace
Photos by International Horse Press / NRHA Waltenberry by Simona Diale
Wood. This win earned the pair an incredible $350,000, with a portion of that, $17,500, going back to the nominator, Rhodes River Ranch. Heading into the NRHA Futurity, Bell was just shy of the money needed to be eligible to compete in The American Performance Horsemen presented by Teton Ridge in 2024.
Thirty Five took reserve honors after the run-off
Andrea Fappani riding Inferno
NRHA Open Level 3
– Kole Price & Shez Got Addy Tude
An impressive score of 223 solidified Kole Price and Shez Got Addy Tude as the L3 winners. “The cream always rises to the top,” Price said. “This mare… her runs just keep getting better and better.” The mare, owned by Capital Quarter Horses and nominated by Michell Anne Kimball, is by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Miss Lil Addy Tude.
NRHA Futurity Open Level 2 Co-Champions
Luca Fappani & Playing With Da Boys
A big score of 221 took Luca Fappani and Playing With Da Boys (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x My Berry Best Gun), a mare bred and nominated by Sergio Elia and owned by the Neiberger-Camp partnership. “It took a bit for her and I to click,” Fappani said. “The first go he marked a 23, and in the semis, she marked a 219.5. I took it a little slower, just trying to do a nice ride, and she showed incredible for me in these finals. She showed her heart out, I should have done a better job. She put everything out there for me.”
NRHA Futurity Open Level 2 Co-Champions
Gabriel Diano & SS Whatcha Gun Doo
Gabriel Diano rode Alpha Quarter Horses’ SS Whatcha Gun Doo (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Tinker With Guns x Xtra Black Magic), bred and nominated by Silver Spurs Equine and an NRHA Markel 2021 Elite Yearling Sale graduate to a 221 tying for the NRHA Futurity Open Level 2 Championship. “This horse is really easy to prepare,” Diano said. “He’s always trying to help and do whatever you ask, so getting him ready wasn’t a big deal. He was really there for me so I’m really happy.”
NRHA Futurity Open Level 1 Champions
Marcos Guimaraes & Shootin Wright
Marcos Guimaraes made dreams come true for himself and for owner Dustin Milhollen as he piloted Shootin Wright (Guns R For Shootin x Wrightintinseltown), a stallion bred and nominated by Debbie Hubbert, to a 219. “I bought this horse as a yearling for Dustin Milhollen. He was supposed to be a non pro horse, and he ended up being a really nice open horse. He’s great-minded, doesn’t doesn’t get crabby, anddoes what you want him to do. If you make a mistake, the next day, he forgives you.” Guimaraes said.
NRHA Futurity Open Prime Time Champions Craig Schmersal & Trythatnasmalltown
A 220.5 was good enough to push NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal to the Prime Time Championship. “The last stop, I missed it, or I would really have won (big). I think he’s going to be a really good 4and 5-year-old Derby horse,” Schmersal said about Trythatnasmalltown (NRHA 12 Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz x NRHA Million Dollar Dam Dun It For Chex), a 2020 stallion bred, owned, and nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center.
The Non Pro Futurity
Level 3 Non Pro Tie
Level 3 / Level 2 Non Pro Tie
Level 1 Non Pro
Latimer & Snap My Crush
Level 3 / Level 2 Non Pro Tie
Price & Let Err Rip
Allison Rae Thorson & Froze
Dani
Kelsey
Non Pro Prime Time
Non Pro Youth
Sandra Bentien & Gottabe Electrifying
Emma Vanlandingham & Plus Me Im Shiny
June 14-26, 2023 | Oklahoma City - USA
Level 4 Open
Casey Deary & Down Right Amazing
Photos by Waltenberry
Hopes and dreams were fulfilled at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. More than 100 of the world’s best non pro reiners teamed up with their horses to compete for their piece of glory and record-breaking purses across all levels of the Non Pro in Oklahoma City. They were led by Kim Muehlstaetter and Gina Schumacher who clinched the Level 4 Non Pro CoChampionship and the lion’s share of the purse. The pair of huge 227.5 scores each earned a pay check for $32,697.
Level 3 Non Pro-tie
Samantha Kapu & Chics Get The Chex
Level 1 Non Pro
Kalicia B Walters & Raisinthebar
Non Pro Prime Time Non Pro Masters Michael A Garnett & Thundrstruk
Lukasz Czechowicz & CSG Wisemanfear
In front of a full house in Cremona, Italy, Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz performed beautifully to a 227 score with CSG Wisemanfear between the reins seizing both the Euro 67.000-Added IRHA and Euro 67.000Added IRHBA Level (L)4 Open Championships. March 28 - April 1, 2023 | CremonaFiere - Italy
Photos by Bonaga Communication
By Simona Diale
Owned by Katarzyna Roleska, the elegant 5-year-old chestnut stallion by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun out of Tejana Chic (by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena) was bred by Brent Loseke. “He’s just an amazing horse, I’m so happy for him, for me, and for the owner. He’s always great with me! Ever since I started riding him, he was cool to train and now he’s cool to show. He's a phenomenally good-minded horse,” said Czechowicz. “He was really good the whole week and I was very quiet with him in the qualifier as I didn't know what to expect in this first show of the season; our last outing was the Italian Futurity in November. He was great there, but after that, I never showed him again so I am really happy.” The Polish Professional also took third place honors by performing to a 225.5
with Roleska’s CSG Kenzo, also by Colonels Shining Gun out of Shiner Brimolena.
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck rode to the L4 IRHA and IRHBA Reserve Championships posting a 226.5. “I’m really happy with him and he was super nice,” said Fonck about her mount, Colonels Whize Gun by Colonels Shining Gun out of Alicias Conquistador, a 7-year-old gelding owned by Anneliese & Hermann Meinert and bred by Roel van Dijk. “Managing to make it to the winner's circle is always great for us: It’s a 16hour drive to get here, you have to
do a good job in the qualifier, and for the finals, we all hope that everything comes together. We are super happy and so are the owners with how everything turned out.”
Ann Fonck & Colonels Whize Gun
Level 3
Francesco Barbagli and Steppin To Amarillo, a 5-year-old palomino stallion by Steppin On Sparks out of Frosted Wimped Cream owned by Riccardo Abati, clinched the Euro 12.000-Added IRHA and Euro 12.000-Added IRHBA L3 Championships. “I started riding him around the end of February and we immediately clicked. The horse is physically small but he’s all heart. I just tried to get us connected and give him the wake-up call since one
of his characteristics is that he is very calm. The beautiful story behind this victory is that I started reining with Riccardo [Abati] at
"The collaboration and joint effort between IRHA, IRHBA, and TFY resulted in an important purse that attracted a large number of European riders showing in the IRHA/IRHBA Open and Non Pro divisions," said Doardo. "The added money offered is bound to grow in the next two years along with the number of entries, which is the goal that we set. This also gives us the opportunity of offering a better service to the competitors, horses, owners, and the public with the intent of keeping the four major reining events held in the Old Continent - the European Futurity, European Derby, Italian Derby, and Italian Futurity - in the Top 10 world rankings as far as purses are concerned. On a side note, it was a pleasure to witness the appreciation of all those present during this event."
Filippo Masi's facility. The last horse I rode owned by Riccardo was in 2003…that’s 20 years ago. After so many years, when he called me to ask me if I wanted to try the horse, I immediately accepted. The rest is history.”
The Open Derby Numbers: Added/Entries
Euro 42.000-Added IRHA L4 – 77
Euro 12.000-Added IRHA L3 – 92
Euro 7.500-Added IRHA L4 – 99
Euro 5.500-Added IRHA L1 – 54
Euro 42.000-Added IRHA/IRHBA L4 – 64
Euro 12.000-Added IRHA/IRHBA L3 – 60
Euro 7.500-Added IRHA/IRHBA L2 – 57
Francesco Barbagli & Steppin To Amarillo
Giancarlo Doardo, TFY Executive Director and Event Director
Level 2
Winning the Euro 7.500-Added IRHA and Euro 7.500-Added IRHBA L2 Open as well as claiming Reserve Honors in the L3 division was Italian Professional Max Ruggeri who rode Spook Sunburst (Great Sun Burst x All About Spook), owned by Silvia Garuti, to a 221. The 8-year-old gelding by multiple
succeeded and I'm really super excited for me, the horse, and of course the owners. The day before the show he needs to work a little more to be perfect the day after. I’ve been trying to find the right way to handle the pressure for a while now and this time I can say... mission accomplished!”
Level 1
NRHA Open and Non Pro World Champion Great Sun Burst was bred by Manuel Bonzano. “I am very happy with this result because he’s a very particular horse. He has already given a lot in his career and we came here following a few special events where we made the finals but then we weren't able to express ourselves. This time we
Taking home the Euro 5.500-Added IRHA L1 and Euro 5.500-Added IRHBA L1 Open Championships along with the L2 IRHA and IRHBA Reserve honors with a 218 score was Andrea Sanfelici of Italy riding Boomer Little Uno (Mister Little Uno x Make A Boom), a 6-year-old gelding owned by Cristian Gorni and bred by Francesca Zerbi. “Boomer has been at our barn for two years now and during this period I showed him in reined cow
Max Ruggeri & Spook Sunburst
WATCH THE RUN
horse events winning several shows in the Open classes. The current owner is Cristian Gorni, and the goal for this season is now for him to compete in the cow horse Novice Riders classes. Two months ago, Gorni suggested entering the horse in this Derby and I obviously
ELEMENTA Breeders Award
supported him because it was a new experience I really wanted to be involved in. The horse is solid in all the maneuvers and has a lot of energy; this for sure helped in managing the whole week of competition. In the last two months, we only worked with the Derby being our goal and I also schooled him once. From now on we will get back to work for the next cow horse event.”
The Reserve Championship in both the IRHA and IRHBA Derby with a 215.5 score was Italian Serena Bertelli riding Mini Cilindro PC (Doc Classic Sire x Senorita Custom), a 7year-old gelding owned and bred by Soc. Agr. Pietracavalla.
Andrea Sanfelici & Boomer Little Uno
Dance Wimpy Spook (ridden by Nico Sicuro) owned and bred by Quarter Dream
Honey First Gunny (ridden by Arnaud Girinon owned by Le Fattorie Di Matilde Srl) and breeder Vittorio Rabboni
The ELEMENTA Breeder's Award went to the highest scoring stallion in the IRHBA Derby Finals (Open and Non Pro all levels) bred in Italy. The Euro 5.000 paycheck went to Honey First Gunny (ridden by Arnaud Girinon and owned by Le Fattorie Di Matilde Srl) and breeder Vittorio Rabboni.
The award to the highest-scoring mare bred in Italy went to Dance Wimpy Spook (ridden by Nico Sicuro) owned and bred by Quarter Dream. The latter was awarded the ELEMENTA Italian Breeder's Euro 5.000 Award.
Vittorio De Iulio & Mr Magic Chex
2023 DeNiroBootsCo IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Non Pro Derby
De Iulio and Mr Magic Chex Work Their Magic To Claim the IRHA and IRHBA Non Pro Derby Titles
In a field of 52 horse-rider combinations across the four levels of the Non Pro Derby Finals, 23-year-old Vittorio De Iulio and Mr Magic Chex (ARC Magic Enterprise x Miss America Chex) closed their great performance with a 221.5 score taking home the Euro21.000-Added IRHA L4 and Euro 21.000-Added IRHBA L4. They also left Cremona with the Euro 6.000-Added IRHA L3, and Euro 6.000-Added IRHBA L3 titles under their belt.
“My horse was great tonight and I could not have asked anything more of him,” said the young rider from Naples about the talented 6-year-old stallion owned by his uncle Vittorio De Iulio and bred by Angelucci Quarter Horses. “We won the qualifier so were last in the draw. The wait was long and I
was a little nervous, especially after Sára [Karásova], who showed right before me, came out with a 220. At that point I told myself I had to concentrate; the run in and stop was really good and from there on he was with me all the way giving his best.”
Taking reserve honors in both the IRHA and IRHBA L4 Derby was 19year-old Sára Karásova of the Czech Republic with her 8-year-old gelding bred by Franz Lechner, KH Yankee Step (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Rowdy Yankee x Step A Little Closer) under the saddle. "I’m super grateful to be here. I was stressed and excited at the same time, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I’ve been riding my horse for four years now and we know each other well. I’m lucky to be able to ride him every day with the help of my trainer Jonáš Bujnoch and this year I'll show him this year as much as possible. If all goes well, next year we'll try to show him in some bronze trophies.”
Germany’s Stephanie Blessing and Smart Spook Surprise (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x ARC Honey Chick), a 6-year-old mare owned by Grey Stone Ranch Germany GMBH and bred by Società Agricola Le Fattorie Di Matilde, scored a 218.5 to earn the IRHA and IRHBA L3 Reserve Championship. “I didn’t realize we took the Championships until I heard the final results so I’m really happy! I won the Euro Futurity L4 Non Pro with her two years ago and since then I kept on showing her and she’s always done really well.
The Non Pro Derby Numbers: Added/Entries
Euro
Euro 21.000-Added IRHA/IRHBA L4 – 31
Euro 6.000-Added IRHA/IRHBA L3 – 40
Euro 3.500-Added IRHA/IRHBA L2 – 52
Euro 2.500-Added IRHA/IRHBA L1 – 36
Tonight I didn’t expect her to be lazy, and was waiting for her to ignite any minute, but she did good and brought home a nice paycheck. Next year she will join our brood mare string so I am going to enjoy her in the show pen until the end of the show season.”
Sára Karásova & KH Yankee Step
Stephanie Blessing & Smart Spook Surprise
Level 2
Tying to win the Euro 3.500-Added IRHA and Euro 3.500-Added IRHBA L2 Non Pro Championships with a 216 was Belgium’s Jody Fonck riding Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody), a 7-year-old gelding owned by J&J Comm. V bred by Jean Louis Coutrot, and Georgia Wilk of Germany riding her Pretty Whiz Chic (Winnie The Boo x Rey Nic Chic), a 6-year-old mare bred by Jessica Dros.
“I have an amazing horse! He was
super nice during the whole show. We have had him since November; he has an amazing mind and a heart of gold. I am so thankful to have him and to have the chance to show him. I ride him every day but since I went to the U.S. for two weeks with my dad [NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck] before coming here, during that time my mum [NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck] rode him, and I really want to thank her for what she did for us,” said Jody.
Wilk was just as pleased with her mou nt. "We purchased her as a 3year-old and sometimes she’s not so easy but I’m very happy with how she
Jody Fonck & Smart Spooky Joe
Georgia Wilk & Pretty Whiz Chic
WATCH THE RUN WATCH THE RUN
went today. My trainer, Johannes Heil, was great and was there for me day and night. My mare rode to her personal highest score in the qualifier and I was already overwhelmed with that. In the Finals, I turned my head off and ran in. I don’t know how it happened, but somehow it did!"
Level 1
Sara Galimberti of Italy and Georg Wiedenhofer of Germany also chose to share the Euro 2.500-Added
IRHA L1 Non Pro Championship after posting a 211. Galimberti rode her own Late Little Whiz (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla
Georg Wiedenhofer & Don Magnetic
WATCH THE RUN
WATCH THE RUN
Sara Galimberti & Late Little Whiz
Whiz x Late Little Jaba), a 7-year-old Silvia Sgaggio-bred stallion.
Wiedenhofer, who also clinched the IRHBA L1 Reserve Championship, showed Don Magnetic (Chic Magnetic x Donnola Chex), a 7-yearold gelding bred by Luigi Parise.
“My horse was amazing in the show pen!” Galimberti told. “He always makes me feel comfortable, and is always with me. He has a lot of talent and I’m not always able to bring it out, but we are improving. I've been riding him for about two years, and he definitely gave me the chance to grow with him. I ride with professional Silvia Venezia, whom I have to thank because she knows how to bring out the best from all the
horses and her non pros as well.”
For Wiedenofer, taking home two titles was a thrill. "I'm really happy with this result; we went well in the qualifier while in the Final I could have done better in the first stop but at the end of the day, I am really happy with this result. I have been riding this horse for three years now, with the help of my trainer Grischa [Ludwig], and this year I'll be showing him in all the derbies."
Rebecca Sudati and her Gun Spark Hollywood (One Gun x Duna Smoke), a 7-year-old American Paint Horse mare bred by Manuel Balzani, scored a 214.5 to win the
Euro 1.500-added IRHBA L1 Non Pro Championship.
“I'm really happy because in the qualifier I wasn't able to do very well, and I only managed to make it to the IRHBA Derby Finals. I've had my mare for three years and I showed her in the Euro Futurity where we were Level 1 Co-Champions. I didn’t show her for a while and since we still have this year and next year to compete in the Derby we hope to come back stronger. I would really like to thank my trainer Angelo Benedusi and all his team, my vet Christian Corradini, and my farrier Carlo Vercesi. Without them we would not have been able to achieve this result.”
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Rebecca Sudati & Gun Spark Hollywood
WATCH THE RUN
“The win was even more special as today would have been Giacomo’s birthday and all I can say is that I felt he was riding with me both times.”
- Manuel Cortesi
Cortesi and July Joe Snap Strike Another Success
T he €483.567-Added National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity held in Cremona, Italy, closed today with the Open Finals in the CremonaFiere reining arena. 48 horse-rider combinations across the four levels made the prestigious Finals following Wednesday’s qualifier with one run that stood out from the others. Italian Manuel Cortesi and July Joe Snap stormed into the arena and performed a breathtaking NRHA pattern #12 paid back by the judges with the highest score of the event, a 232.
No stranger to the winner’s circle, 2022 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA
Futurity Champion Cortesi piloted the 4-year-old stallion by Master Snapper and out of San July Jo Magnetic, coowned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi and Eleuterio Arcese and nominated by Roberto Cuoghi, to the highest spot earning the €186.558-Added Level (L)4 Open Championship.
“I felt the horse was with me the whole time today, he was absolutely fantastic!” said the emotional Champion. “With a horse like this anyone can achieve great goals. I had seen him in action as a 3-year-old with his breeder, my friend Giacomo [Ronchi], who broke and trained him. Unfortunately, Giacomo passed away prematurely a month before the IRHA Futurity. I knew he could have won the Futurity with this one, the reins passed on to me and we claimed the Open Futurity title. The win was even more special as today would have been Giacomo’s birthday and all I can say is that I felt he was riding with me both times.”
Nico Sicuro rode West Coast Step (Sugar Little Step x Westcoast Mizzen) for owner and North American Option nominator Quarter Dream to a score of 224 to earn Reserve honors. The gelding was bred and European
Nico Sicuro rode West Coast Step (Sugar Little Step x Westcoast Mizzen) owned by Quarter Dream to Reserve honors.
Francesco Pedretti and Carol Joe Cash, owned by Giorgio Romanotto, wore the €84.799,44-Added L3 Open Champion’s crown
nominated by José Gutierrez. Sicuro was pleased with his run. “Today is a win for me! Considering Manuel’s performance, which was great, I can say that I am super satisfied with our run and the score. My horse was super and we did the best we could. I am really happy for the owner Pietro [Marseglia] also because the horse is by Sugar Little Step — who stands stud at Quarter Dream — and I would really like him to have a successful career as a sire.”
Francesco Pedretti and Carol Joe Cash opened the Finals by setting the bar high by scoring a 220.5. The score held until the end and the duo wore the €84.799,44-Added L3 Open Champion’s crown. Pedretti rode a fancy chestnut mare by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash and out of Mobster
www.internationalhorsepress.com
By Simona Diale
Chex, owned by Giorgio Romanotto and nominated by Nicola Sola. Pedretti didn’t hide the fact that the win was a surprise to him. “It was totally unexpected but I am really happy! The owner gave me the opportunity to ride the mare for the past two or three weeks. I must say she is incredible and has a huge heart. Showing her has been really easy. All I had to do was to keep her calm and relaxed. This is my second year working at Luga Quarter Horses and we couldn’t have hoped for anything better. We haven’t made any future plans for her yet; right now, I think I am just going to enjoy this win.”
Massimiliano Ruggeri scored 218.5 aboard AC Einsteins In Like (In Like Flinn x Einsteins Delight) to win both the L3 Reserve Championship and the €40.703,73-Added L2 Open Championship. The stallion is
Massimiliano Ruggeri and AC Einsteins In Like (In Like Flinn x Einsteins Delight) owned by Alessandro Marrapese won the L3 Reserve Championship and the €40.703,73-Added L2 Open Championship
Photos by Bonaga Communication
#EuroFuturityMoments
Stefano Ladetto and Be The Bees Knees (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Dual Spirit), owned by Emma Villa, won the €27.135,82-Added L1 Championship
owned by Alessandro Marrapese and was nominated by Alessandro Cazzaniga. Ruggeri was really happy about his win as he mentioned his horse was quite particular. “I haven’t had him for a long time, but I had a feeling that he was talented and this evening he showed his true potential. I know that he can get even better as he has a huge
heart, it’s just a matter of time and hard work. It’s a very emotional night for me as this week a dear friend of mine passed away after fighting cancer for seven years and I felt him close to me the whole show,” said Ruggeri.
Two riders shared the L2 Reserve Championship with a 217: French Jeremy Ropert and Emmabeastar (ARC Gunnabeabigstar x Lil Juice) owned by Anna Ciechanska and nominated by Katarzyna Roleska, and Italian Stefano Angelucci riding Frozen Gerda Tari (Frozen Sailor x Jessie Oak Tari) for owner and nominator Angelucci QH.
Stefano Ladetto and Be The Bees Knees (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Dual Spirit), owned and nominated by Emma Villa, slid to a 216 score in the first section of the Finals, which earned them the €27.135,82-Added L1 Championship. “I am really happy! He was extremely good and I would like to thank the owners for their help and support,” said Ladetto. “In the qualifier, he did not meet my expectations, but today I must say he was really good. I started riding him a week before the IRHA Derby and he behaved discreetly well. After that, we came here to show. The week started a little up-hill, we got a few penalties, which kept us qualified for L1 Finals only, but each day he got better and better.”
With a 212.5 score, L1 Reserve honors went to Maurizio Ferraris and Elektra Step (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Electric Code x Chica Little Step), owned and nominated by Emanuele Varale.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Chrome Cash Incentive
Simone Schiavo with VD Snarling Miracle (BB One Miracled Gun x San River Clara Cay). A mare owned by Andrea Pedrotti and nominated by Mario Corteletti. The duo scored a 211 for the win.
“VD Snarling Miracle has been in our barn since the beginning of February. I had the possibility to show her at two regional shows before we came here and we tried to do the best we could. In the qualifier, she went really well and in the Finals tonight, she gave me all she had. There were some minor bobbles, but overall I’m happy.” Schiavo mentioned that it has been an intense week for him and the mare. “In the go round, I was a bit tense, but she was really good at helping me relax in the run.”
The 15th edition of the NRHA Euro Futurity closed in front of a full house with a very high level of competition offered by riders from 10 nations: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Israel, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Cortesi’s run is now one of the highest scores recorded in Europe, the highest being that of NRHA Million Dollar Rider Rudi Kronsteiner who piloted at the time Pavel Orel’s Star Spangled Whiz to a 236 score.
Winning the €1.635,51-Added APHA Open L4 Chrome Cash Incentive was
Capello and Shya Shine Non Pro Futurity Champions
“I am extremely happy! I never imagined I could achieve these results.”
- Matteo Capello
Topping the field of 32 horserider combinations across the 4 levels was Matteo Capello of Italy riding Shya Shine. The duo had already left their mark by winning the Non Pro qualifier with a 220 score. They came back
with a strong performance worth a 218.5 in the second section of the Finals, enough to win the €79.953,76-Added Level (L)4 Non Pro Championship. Capello was thrilled with his win aboard the sorrel mare by NRHA Million Dollar
Sire Shine Chic Shine and out of Shyawhiz, owned by Matteo’s father Alberto Capello and nominated by Piergiuseppe Guidetti. “I am extremely happy! I never imagined I could achieve these results when we purchased her,” he said. “Last
Anthony De Lorenzis topped the €36.342,62-Added L3 division riding his own AC Joe Spooks (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x RH Vanilla Spooks)
year, we won the go round at the IRHA 3-year-old Futurity and closed with the Non Pro L4 and L3 Championships. Winning here was a goal I hadn’t reached yet, so I am very satisfied. I must admit that for the Finals here I was a little anxious. I wanted to win, I wanted to prove that my mare and I were strong. Once we were in the pen, she performed great. I could feel that she was a little tired and it’s hot so that didn’t help at all, but I am proud of her as I was after the qualifier.” Capello was quick to appreciate all the people who helped him accomplish this phenomenal result. “I must thank my family for always supporting me, my girlfriend Aurora for standing by my side, the whole Cortesi team, and in particular, Manuel Cortesi for training my horse impeccably, improving my riding, and helping me deal with some of my emotional issues.”
Claiming the L4 Non Pro Reserve Championship was Anthony De Lorenzis, who also topped the €36.342,62-Added L3 division. Riding his own AC Joe Spooks (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x RH Vanilla Spooks), a stallion nominate d by Alessandro Cazzaniga, they scored a 216.5 for the win. “My horse was fantastic, he was with me all the way. He was ready, wanted to give it all, and he let me know that today was the day!” said an enthused De Lorenzis. “I purchased this horse thanks to my friend Ricky Nicolazzi, who is based in the U.S. He insisted I buy the stallion and he was
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Dries Verschueren riding GP Sparkin N Muffin (Smart N Sparkin x Cp Surprise), owned and nominated by Golden Paint Ranch, won the €17.444,46-Added L2 division
right. He has a great heart and proves it each and every day.”
With a 216 score, Carlo Ambrosini took the Reserve honors in the L3 riding Bliss Bobette San (In Like Flinn x Docs Steady San), a mare owned by Ambrosini QH and nominated by Elisa Bregoli.
First to enter in the first section was Dries Verschueren who was happy to have fresh ground for his run. Riding GP Sparkin N Muffin (Smart N Sparkin x Cp Surprise), owned and nominated by Golden Paint Ranch, he scored a 215.5 which held to win the €17.444,46-Added L2 division. “I am so happy I could cry!” said the winner, who felt the horse was prepared the night before
during his practice session. “I had to go in first, which is not everyone’s favorite, but it was a plus for me, I had a clean arena. His half-brother, out of the same dam, won the European Futurity with Bernard [Fonck] last year and I showed his father, Smart N Sparkin, a few years ago, so I am familiar with this horse’s traits. He is very similar in the way he thinks to his father. You could say he is a younger version of him,” continued Verschueren, who plans a little break for the stallion after the show. “He will be in the pasture together with my other 4year-olds and then we will prepare for the Belgium and Italian Futurity.”
#EuroFuturityMoments
€27.135,82-Added L1 Championship
Last to go in Section 1, Elia Kompatscher and his father Alois Kompatscher’s Spookly Spark (Spark N Whiz x PL Spooks Dunit Whiz) performed a thrilling run worth a 214.5, to lead the L3 and L1 into Section 2. Their score clinched the €27.135,82Added L1 Championship as well as the L2 Reserve Championship. “My horse was very good and behaved really well in this run,” said the young rider. “In the go round, I scored a 213 and the horse was really great. Today, in the finals, he was even better considering the fact that I have been riding him for only four or five months. My father
Elia Kompatscher andAlois Kompatscher’s Spookly Spark (Spark N Whiz x PL Spooks Dunit Whiz) clinched the
and I had been looking for a horse for me since we had sold my previous one and he is definitely the right horse for me. We are happy with the results and we’ll see what the future will bring.” The Kompatschers purchased the stallion, nominated by Edoardo Bernardelli, from Giuseppe Bruno.
The Reserve Championship in the L1 went to Gioele Antonio Foti and his own Lampo Is Comin (SDP Justice Is Comin x A Coletta Pep). Foti scored a 213 with the stallion who was nominated by Adriano Pedretti between the reins.
Chrome Cash Incentive
Winning the EUR 1.635,51-Added APHA Chrome Cash Incentive with a 213 was Jurgen Pritz riding Little Perfect Face (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Wimpys Little Bonita) nominated by Doris Hoeflacher. “My run was really nice,” said Pritz. “My horse was smooth and I felt that he was with me all the way. My favorite part was the run-in and stop.” After the show, Pritz plans to hand over the reins to his wife who will show the gelding at the Austrian Futurity.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
By Simona Diale | Photos by Bonaga Communication
World Youth Reining Cup: Brazil’s Annas Rides To Top Honors
With a week filled with activity, the spirit that filled the air was camaraderie, joy and pride in being part of the international competition, and much love for the horses they paired up with. Once it was time to hit the arena vying for the top spots, the riders gave it all they had with the enthusiastic public and family members cheering them on. Once the last combination left the arena, Brazil’s Astrid Annas riding Jerry Show Step, owned and volunteered by Ambrosini Quarter Horses, clinched the World title after performing to a 215 score. “I liked the show a lot and it was so nice to meet people from so many different countries,” she said hot off her win. “I really like the diversity here. So many different styles of riding — which is a good learning opportunity — and also lots of different vendors around.” Annas went on to credit her horse AKA “Jerry.” “I really like him, he is a great stopper and a good mover, and so enjoyed riding him.”
An amazing group of youth riders from around the world representing 23 countries made their way to Cremona, Italy, to show for their nation’s flag in the NRHA/RHF/IRHA World Youth Reining Cup. The event, held during the NRHA European Futurity, took center stage on Saturday morning in CremonaFiere and the great team spirit between the young riders from five continents shined through.
With a 213 score, second place honors went to Italy’s Rebecca Folcia who rode Andrea Ghizzoni’s Shine Chic Bonita. Folcia has represented her country multiple times in FEI Team and Individual competition and also made her way to Brazil last year to compete in the WYRC where she also took reserve honors. “I love showing in international competition and riding for my country,” said the young rider. “I enjoy meeting riders who share my same passion and discovering different cultures. This event was great and I am so thankful to all those that put it together and to the owners that donated their horses. My horse was fantastic and she truly gave me her heart. A special thank you goes to my parents for always supporting me and to my trainer, Angelo Benedusi.”
NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Eleuterio Arcese has always paid particular attention to youth riders. Lily Gungl of Slovenia and Natakamon Baibua Sonamai of Thailand, the youngest riders, both 10 years old, were given the opportunity to show in the Short Stirrup division but decided they wanted to show one-handed with everyone else! Mr. Arcese let them know how proud of them he was.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Rebecca Folcia & Shine Chic Bonita
Third place belonged to yet another continent: Africa. Representing the Republic of South Africa, Burlyn Breedt rode Matese Ranch’s Shine Whiz Shine Mr to a 210 score. “She is such an incredible little mare and I fell in love with her immediately. We formed a beautiful partnership and it was so hard to say goodbye,” said Breedt about Little Shine. “This has been a wonderful experience and a huge thank you to all that made this possible both at home and here.” Breedt’s next stop will be the AQHA Youth World Cup followed by the Oceania Affiliate Championship.
Bringing the world together
The idea of bringing worldwide youth together first came to life in 2019 when NRHA and RHF Board Member Joao Marcos, a strong supporter of globalization and youth promotion, envisioned the Global Youth Reining Cup, an event that became reality thanks to the support of NRHA, RHF and IRHA, and was held in Cremona. Last year Marcos, in collaboration with ANCR Brazil, offered the successful World Youth Reining Cup in Avaré, Brazil. The novelty was that all riders would draw horses generously loaned by owners, thus putting all the competitors on the same playing field. The same happened in Italy where 32 horses were volunteered and over $50,000 was raised to fund the event from sponsors around the world.
“This has been an event that I envisioned and am thrilled it has become a reality. It’s been a wonderful experience since the beginning and it is a great honor to be part of it,” said Marcos. “It has truly been a joint effort with NRHA, IRHA, and RHF and I cannot thank the riders, parents, horse owners, and International Horse Press enough for putting this together. We now look forward to bringing the event back to Brazil next year.” Just as proud and enthused was Eleuterio Arcese, IRHA president. “It is an honor to have been able to host this amazing competition in Italy,” he said. “I would like to thank all those involved and I am extremely proud of these young riders who proved to be great ambassadors for our sport.”
Burlyn Breedt & Shine Whiz Shine MR
2023 NRHA/RHF/IRHA WORLD YOUTH REINING CUP
FINAL STANDINGS
RIDER
ASTRID ANNAS
REBECCA FOLCIA
BURLYN BREEDT
LENA ROTHMANNER
SOPHIA STAUB
OSKAR KROG JENSEN
NOGA KNAANI
OLIVER SVENSSON
CHRISTIN BEISEL
LYDIA CAPKOVA
EEMIL REINO ARTTURI POROLA
LOUISE HOPQUIN
ERICA DAVIES
LYLY GUNGL
HALEY TURNER
ALLY LORRAINE BOGIE
DIEGO MARQUEZ
LUNA SERENA FAVERAIS ALVARADO
SZONJA PANKOTAI
ANTONINA ZARNAWSKA
THEA KARASOVA
NATAKAMON BAIBUA SONAMAI
ADRIAN PINACHO ESCOLANO
BRAZIL
ITALY
SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND
CZECH REPUBLIC
JERRY SHOW STEP
SHINE CHIC BONITA
SHINE WHIZ SHINE MR
GINGER ROOSTER
BAILEY BREATHLESS
MD SALVATUS WHIZ
CALL ME MISS LITTLE UNO
ZAN PARR SIMPLY
RM SECRET GUN ROOSTER
DARG CAPITAN CALZ
DANCE LITTLE EINSTEEIN
GUNNER DUNNIT
PL TRASHYA SUNRISE
WHIZ ME PEP
HH GENUINE OSCAR
CUSTOM ANGELINA
STARLIGHTS REVY BB
SPARKLING MIKE CHEX
RS CUBA LIBRA JAC
AM KILL JOY
SPARK N COLONETTE
HOWDY ENTERPRISE
DUN LIVET SURPRISE
AMBROSINI QH
ANDREA GHIZZONI
MATESE RANCH
MONSERENO HORSES
BRUNO MARTINZ
DINO MICHELETTO
MISEL GUNGL
DAVID ZDRAHAL
LAURA QUAGLIA
STEPHANIE BLESSING
LENKA LUKACKOVA
ALICE MARINONI
MASSIMO SOLBIATI
JANA MOCKOVÁ
SOC.AGR.PIETRACAVALLA
FRANCESCO SICILIANO
HORSE Ginger Rooster
HORSE OWNER Monsereno Horses
HORSE Sparkling Mike Chex
HORSE OWNER Lenka Lukackova
Faverais Alvarado
Lena Rothmanner
HORSE Custom Angelina
HORSE OWNER Laura Quaglia
HORSE
Thea Karasova
HORSE MD Salvatus Whiz
HORSE OWNER
Dino Micheletto
HORSE Gunner Dunnit
HORSE OWNER
Fabio Cerantola
Louise Hopquin
Oskar Krog Jensen
HORSE Spark N Colonette
HORSE OWNER Jana Mokovà
HORSE Dance Little Einsteein
HORSE
Christin Beisel
HORSE PL Trashya Sunrise
HORSE OWNER
Soc. Agr. Pietracavalla
HORSE Call Me Miss Little Uno
HORSE OWNER Matteo David
Noga Knaani
Erica Davies
HORSE RM Secrert Gun Rooster
HORSE OWNER Grey Stone Ranch
HORSE RS Cuba Libra Jac
HORSE OWNER Alice Marinoni
Rebecca Folcia
HORSE Starlights Revy BB
HORSE OWNER Stephanie Blessing
HORSE Darg Capitain Calz
HORSE OWNER
Silvia Biancalani Lydia Capkova
Diego Marquez
HORSE Shine Chic Bonita
HORSE Shine Whiz Shine MR
HORSE OWNER Matese Ranch
HORSE Zan Parr Simply
HORSE OWNER
Franco Battaglia
Oliver Svensson
HORSE Whiz Me Pep
HORSE OWNER
Misel Gungl
HORSE Dun Livet Surprise
HORSE OWNER
Francesco Siciliano
HORSE Howdy Enterprise
HORSE OWNER
Soc. Agr. Pietracavalla
Natakamon Baibua Sonamai
HORSE Bailey Breathless
HORSE OWNER
Bruno Martinz
HORSE
The NRHA European Affiliate Championships Come Back Strong in Switzerland
July 10-15, 2023 | CS Ranch - Switzerland
After a week of intense competition featuring the inaugural and highly successful World Reining Championships, the state-of-the-art CS Ranch, owned by Corinna Schumacher and located in the beautiful area of Givrins, on Lake Léman, hosted the SVAG CS Classic and NRHA European Affiliate Championships along with a full slate of NRHA approved classes which included the $8,500-Added NRHA Non Pro and $12,000-Added NRHA Open.
With qualified riders representing 14 countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland) the 2023 edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championships wrote another important chapter of reining in the Old Continent.
$18.000-Added EAC Open
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck of Belgium rode Colonels Whize Gun (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Alicias Conquistador), a 7-year-old gelding owned by Hermann and Lisa Miltrup-Meinert, to a score of 226 to win the EA Open Championship. “He never left me alone, and always tried to do his best. He was simply super nice! I just love him, he's
a super good-minded horse, and is just as honest as the first time I showed him. I trust him and I know he can mark a good score but I thought the others could beat us," Fonck said.
Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz and CSG Piggiemove (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Roosters Hot Piq) marked a 224.5 to earn the Reserve Championship for owner Katarzyna Roleska.
NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck of Belgium claimed third place by scoring a 223.5 with his two mounts: Mello Yello Jersey (Yellow Jersey x Smart Okie Lena), owned by Kay Schroeder, and ND Pop Gun Trash (NRHA Ten Million Dollar Sire Nine Gunnatrashya x Pop Tart) owned by Nathalie Derua.
By Simona Diale
$5.000-Added EAC Intermediate Open and $2.000Added EAC Limited Open
French Professional Quentin Galliere piloted Tinsel Whizington (Tinsel Jac x Conquistador Sis) to a score of 217.5 to win both the EA Intermediate Open and Limited Open Championships. The 7-year-old stallion, who has been under Galliere’s guidance his whole career, is owned by Sharon De Groot. “I treat him as my own, and he definitely has a special place in my heart,” said Galliere. “It is a long show; we’ve been here for two weeks as we also showed at the World Reining Championship last week and he was good for me all the way. He deserves a vacation now, but we will be back in the pen at the AMERICANA and the NRHA European
Derby." Quentin added that it’s always a challenge to keep show horses happy and healthy when shows are long but that the CS Ranch facility and the staff makes it easier to do so. “I also want to thank my team because with being away for so long, you have to have people that will take care of everything at home and they do just that, so I really appreciate their hard work and dedication to their job,” he added.
Dutch rider Anne Grether rode Tr Voodoo Doll (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wallawhizagun) to a score of 217 taking second place in both classes. The 5-year-old mare is owned RS Reininghorses BV.
Photos by Tom Hautmann
Ann Fock & Colonels Whize Gun
The third step of the podium in the Limited Open belonged to Peter Ljungberg of Sweden riding SG Whizing For Guns (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shesa Ladygun) for owner Jens Jelgard. The duo also tied with France’s Axel Pesek aboard his own Reloaded Gun (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy) in the Intermediate Open after scoring a 215.5.
$1.500-Added
EAC Rookie Professional
Three riders tied for the lead after scoring a 212 in the EA Rookie Professional and opted to run off for the title. Once Lynn Thill of Luxembourg aboard her own DS Little Ottaviogun (GFC Quixote Gun x Little Pie Di Cuori) closed her second run with a 214, the highest step of the podium was hers. “It was a super exciting run!” smiled the thrilled
Champion who won the first EAC title for her country. “I was nervous coming in but I knew I could count on my horse. I’ve had him for a year now and he is a once-in-a-lifetime horse.” Thill was was quick to thank French NRHA Professional Clémence Neveux for getting the stallion ready.
Sharing reserve honors after the run-off was French Margaux Legrand riding Axel Pesek’s Reloaded Gun (NRHA Fourteen Million Gunner x Shes Berry Flashy), who scored 213.5 for her second run, and Maria Astikainen of Finland aboard Gun Secorima (Hollywood Gun Dunnit x Miss Secorima) owned by herself and Nora Hortling, who scored 207.5.
$15.000-Added
EAC Non Pro
Last in the draw, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gina Maria Schumacher of Germany — based in the U.S. — performed to a great run worth a 223 score aboard CS Wallawallaboom (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Cheeky Boom). “This experience at home was really nice and my horse was great! He was relaxed and didn't take anything away from me, letting me guide him through the run. Since I haven't ridden him for a year now, I didn't want to push him so last week I rode him a little and he felt really good and really didn't mind coming back to work. Since I ride my horses by myself, it was pretty difficult to leave a horse for one year and then come back to ride him, but he was in great shape and he knows his job and it’s great to be back home.”
Swiss Adrienne Speidel rode her two horses Wimpysshortstride BB (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Short Rooster) and CDC Cromed Resolve (Custom Del Cielo x Kaysolve) to a score of 217.5 to share the Reserve Championship on her two mounts together with Francesca Sternberg of United Kingdom and Red Dirt Paleface (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Lost In Tinseltown).
$4.000-Added EAC Intermediate Non Pro
French rider Laura Pouzol rode Michel Pouzol’s 7-year-old stallion Tricky Vobinda Whiz (CJ Whiz x RS Cayenne Jack) to a 213.5 to take home the EA Intermediate Non Pro Championship. “It was a fantastic run for me today but it was really emotional because I knew the level of
Quentin Galliere & Tinsel Whizington
Lynn Thill & DS Little Ottaviogun
the competition would be very high,” said Pouzol who bred the stallion. “I made a few mistakes in the run but they were all my fault so I can’t say anything bad about my horse. It was basically both because he listened to me too well, so we got some penalties. I am on cloud nine!”
Reserve Champion Peter Arnet of Switzerland scored a 213 aboard his 5-year-old stallion Whizkers (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Watch Me Purr) for the title.
Third place saw two riders scoring 211.5: Siebe Van Bekhoven of Belgium riding his own 8-year-old gelding WS Check My Pedigree (Wimpys Smoking Gun x Footworks Finetiming)
and Pia Andreassen of Norway with her 7-year-old gelding Gunna Spook (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x West Coast Sandy).
$2.000-Added
EAC Limited Non Pro
Lou Covarel of France, who rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Clemence Neveaux, rode Severine Hallay’s 13-year-old gelding Big Chex Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash x Mistis Olena) to a score of 214.5 which earned her the top slot in the EA Limited Non Pro Championship. “It was a really fun run and the circles in particular were really good. I have been riding him for four years and I love him. He is such a good stopper,” said Covarel.
Gina Maria Schumacher & CS Wallawallaboom
Laura Pouzol and Tricky Vobinda Whiz took reserve honors followed by Czech Martina Zelená, who rode her 8-year-old gelding Whensungoesdown (Kiowas Smokingun x Look At The Sunrise) to a score of 212.5.
$200-Added EAC Rookie
Taking the EA Rookie Championship was Swiss Patricia Kunzli riding Shiners Dreamer, a 5-year-old gelding by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Jessies Lil Dreamer. The flashy palomino gelding, owned by Investpath AG, rode Kuenzli to the win with a 211 score.
“I’m so happy,” she said hot off her win. “We came here without a trainer just to give it a try in the EAC and have fun. [NRHA Professional] Fabien Boiron kindly stepped in, helped us tremendously, and we had a really good run. I would like to thank him for all his help at this show as I never expected to win. I’ve had my horse for two years now and since he is only 5 years old, I plan to show him at the AMERICANA and then hopefully in the NRHA European Derby. We will take it step by step.”
Reserve honors went to Emma Louise Eggen of Norway and her mother’s [Pia Andreassen] 7-year-old gelding Gunna Spook (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x West Coast Sandy), who scored a 210.5.
Laura Pouzol & Tricky Vobinda Whiz
Lou Covarel & Bix Chex Olena
Patricia Kunzli & Shiners Dreame
starring GENNARO LENDI
I-SLIDE è un mangime complemetare per cavalli da Reining, Cutting e Working Cow, migliora le prestazioni atletiche e la struttura fisica del cavallo, favorisce il suo corretto sviluppo e il consolidamento dell’apparato muscolo-scheletrico. I-Slide aiuta inoltre il mantenimento della concentrazione durante le performance, aumentando la potenza.
Two riders tied for third place, both scoring a 210: Belgium’s Marie Verschueren, who rode her and her husband's [Dries Verschueren] SG Gunnerspecialwhiz (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Nics Whiz) and Manuela Ernst of Germany riding her own Just Docs Hollywood (ML Doc Hollywood x Just Burnt Spur).
$100-Added EAC Youth 14-18
In the EA Youth 14-18 Championship, Czech youth riders didn’t hold anything back and when the class was over, it was Vladimír Čejka who slid to the top of the podium after scoring 218.5 aboard his 9-year-old gelding Remy Rooster SG (Remin Whiz x Tea Rooster).
“I’m very happy about this run because it is my last year as a youth and I really enjoyed it. I think I will remember it as being the best show of my whole youth career. My horse truly exceeded my expectations. He is always so goodminded and simply a good show horse. We will give him a break now and focus on the young horses and the futurity season,” said Č ejka who rides under the supervision of NRHA Professional Pavel Orel.
Reserve honors also went to the Czech Republic with Sára Karasová riding her mare Wimpy N Mercedes (Mercedes Rooster x Pretty Little Steps) to a score of 213.
One point behind were two riders who shared the lowest step of the podium: Belgian Jody Fonck riding Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody), owned by J&J Comm V, and Lou Covarel of France riding Severine Hallay’s Big Chex Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Big Chex To Cash x Mistis Olena).
Vladimír Čejka & Remy Rooster SG
Anna Palasová & Dr Who
NRHA #Youth Team Tournament
Of all of the European Championship youth entries in this year’s edition, teams of four youth riders were formed to include at least one Youth 13&Under and one Youth 14-18 by random selection in which the scores from their Championship classes would be added together with the lowest score dropped. Taking the win was team “Orange Juice” thanks to the performances of Czech Vladimír Čejka and Remy Rooster SG; Belgian Lotte de Boever riding Spook N Ruff; French Victoire Molla Guisset with Whizkey Coated Kiss, and German Lisa Marie Wiechers aboard Spinderellstory.
Many memories were made not only during the Youth Team Tournament but also throughout the whole event. The future of reining in Europe proudly represented their home country!
$100-Added EAC Youth 13&Under
Anna Palasová of the Czech Republic repeated her success from earlier during the week where she tied to win the Rookie Level 1 ancillary class. Riding Petr Palas’ Dr Who (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Peppergun), the duo scored a 212 for the EA Youth 13&Under Championship. “It’s amazing to be here and represent my country at such a big show. To win this title has been my dream for many years, so I am really happy. My horse was great; he is always nice and feels like ‘let’s go’ in the show pen, so I enjoyed our run. It has been a long show and we are now both ready to go home, but I am so happy to bring home the championship,” she said.
Three riders scored a 211.5 to tie for second place honors: Emma Louise Eggen of Norway riding Gunna Spook (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x West Coast Sandy), Belgian Lotte De Boever aboard Spook N
Ruff (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x Shine On Ruff), and French Victoire Molla Guisset riding Whizkey Coated Kiss (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds x Einsteinshersheykiss).
Open to European-qualified riders in ten classes, the EAC celebrated its 22nd edition in Givrins. The very first edition was held in 2002 in Bolzano, Italy, and has been held in most European countries (for two consecutive years at each location) Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Germany, France, and Poland, and was previously also held in Switzerland in Givrins.
The 2024 NRHA European Affiliate Championships will be held on July 15–21, 2024 at Le Petit Far West in Le Pin, France
$8,500-Added NRHA Non Pro
Claiming top honors with a 220.5 score and opting to share the spot in the high-paying NRHA Non Pro ancillary class was Switzerland’s Adrienne Speidel aboard her own CDC
www.internationalhorsepress.com
$12,000-Added NRHA Open
In the prestigious Open it was all about Katarzyna Roleska’s CSG Piggiemove who closed his powerful run worth 225.5 with Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz in the saddle.
Second place honors went to Belgium’s NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck who rode Mello Yello Jersey (Yellow Jersey x Smart Okie Lena) owned by Kay Schroeder to a 223.5.
Cromed Resolve, a 7-year-old stallion by Custom Del Cielo out of Kaysolve, and Nikolai Stiller of Germany aboard his own Hollywood Gunrunner (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dun It For Missy).
Lukasz Czechowicz & CSG Piggiemove
Adrienne Speidel & CDC Cromed Resolve
Nikolai Stiller & Hollywood Gunrunner
#Moments
World Reining Championship 2023
The need for international team and individual competition was much felt by the reining community worldwide at all levels. A group of passionate enthusiasts got together and formed World Reining hoping to satisfy this need. NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Corinna Schumacher and her CS Ranch team gave their availability to host and organize the inaugural NRHA-approved World Reining Championship event with Euro 150.000 offered in prize money and the response was huge. July 3-8, 2023
On Top of the World!
When winners of the World Reining Championship Open Senior Riders
Nico Sicuro and Colonels Dancing Gun entered the arena, the score to beat was Belgium's NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck's 225.5 he had posted riding Nathalie Derua's ND Pop Gun Trash. The two settled for the silver medal adding yet another great placing to their incredible show record.
Entering in the last set of the World Reining Championship Open Senior Riders, Poland's renowned Lukasz Czechowicz set the bar high riding Katarzyna Roleska's CSG Wisemanfear. With a beautifully performed ride the pair closed with a 223 and the bronze medal!
Open Senior Riders
The Open Senior Riders closed the World Reining Championship 2023 with a bang! With an explosive 228.5 and leaving the best for last, Nico Sicuro and Colonels Dancing Gun, owned by Pietro and Helena Marseglia of Quarter Dream, brought home the fourth gold medal for Italy bringing the total number of medals won by the Italians to 11! The incredibly talented combination took the gold medal and the amazing CS Ranch World Reining Trophy!
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Nico Sicuro & Colonels Dancing Gun
Senior Riders
With an amazing ride, the pair made up of Carlo Ambrosini and BMS Walla Getcha Gun, owned by Kerstin Müller, laid down a strong and precise performance worth a 223 and the World Reining Championship Amateur Senior Riders crown! The duo added a gold medal to those collected by Italy at CS Ranch where the amazing inaugural event is taking place!
It was a silver podium for France in the World Reining Championship Individual Senior Amateur Riders division after Alexandre Giarratano and The Electric Bandit set the public on fire and the dirt flying. The pair closed with a splendid 222 score.
Italy closed the podium with yet another tricolor horse-rider combination: MR Magic Chex and Vittorio De Iulio who performed to a 220 score thanks to their powerful run. With the two medals won in the Amateur, and prior to the Open Senior, Italy has collected 10 medals: 4 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze.
Amateur
Keeping the level of competition high in the World Reining World Reining Championship held at CS Ranch were the Individual Young Riders where the Czech Republic once more left their mark by riding to the silver medal with Vladimir Cejka riding Remy Rooster. The pair scored a 219.5, two points behind the gold medalists.
With her flashy long-maned palomino, Italy's Rebecca Folcia performed to a 218.5 score earning the Individual Young Riders bronze medal in the World Reining World Reining Championship held in Givrins at CS Ranch. The future of reining is without a double between the reins of great young riders!
Young Riders
As the weather warmed up in CS Ranch where the World Reining World Reining Championship is being held, the competition in the beautiful CS Arena raised the heat as the Individual Young Riders gave it their all to earn the World title and a place on the podium. It was a huge victory for little Belgium with Jody Fonck riding Mello Yello Jersey thanks to a wonderful performance paid back by the judges with a 221.5!
www.internationalhorsepress.com
It took a run-off to determine who was going to wear the silver and bronze medals in the World Reining Individual Junior Rider Championship after Elia Kompatscher of Italy riding Whizdom Shines and Matt Legrand of France riding Rooster Nic both scored a 216. Once the duos made their way back to the arena in order to determine the final placings, Kompatscher rode to a 218 taking second-place honors and Legrand took the third place honors with 216 score.
Junior Riders
Junior Individual riders vying for the World Reining World Reining Championship podium brought on the heat this morning at CS RANCH! Taking first place honors with a 217.5 was Thea Maschalani of Germany riding A Sparkling Glo.
Para Reining
Once again the World Para Reining athletes — horses and riders — filled the CS Ranch arena during the World Reining Championships with joy, bravery, talent, and great horsemanship. When the last rider left the show pen in a field of eight, the top step of the podium was all about Italy with Martina Panizza and her Smoking Custom Lena taking the World Para Reining Individual Gold Medal with a 213.5 score.
The 14-year-old has been riding horses all her life and started with reiners in 2018. She has only had her 5-year-old mare since the beginning of this year and has not shown her much but the two have definitely ‘clicked.’
The individual silver medal in the World Para Reining held during the World Reining Championship went to Great Britain's Michael Wayne Lightbown, a grade 4 athlete, after riding to a 209.5 aboard his own Legendary Chucka. The Isle of Wight equestrian sportsman, an avid reining enthusiast, started
successfully showing in para reining competition in 2018 after successfully showing in para-dressage.
Nicola Tustain, a retired Welsh Paralympic dressage rider who boasts 12 para-dressage medals at the World Championships and Paralympic Games, was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2010. She just
turned to reining after five years of not riding at all. She loves the reining horses' gentle attitude and is thrilled with both the World Para Reining Team gold medal, won during the World Reining Championship yesterday in team with Lightbown, and the Individual bronze won today with a 208.5 riding Rosanne Sternberg's Spook N Sparkle.
Open Senior Team
So much emotion in the World Reining Open Senior Rider Championship where Team Belgium took the Gold with 665 points, Team Italy the Silver a point behind (664), and Team Germany the Bronze with 650 points.
NRHA Belgium - National Reining Horse Association Belgium
Here are the horse rider combinations:
TEAM
BELGIUM:
NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and ND Pop
Gun Trash owned by Nathalie Derua - score 223.5
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck A Spook In Town owned by Golden Paint Ranch - score 223
Quentin Galliere and Tinsel Whizington owned by Sharon De Groot - score 218.5
Quentin Galliere
Matyas Gobert and Days RM owned by Benjamin El Hichri / Julie Douillet - score 215.5
TEAM ITALY
Nico Sicuro and Colonels Dancing Gun owned by Quarter Dream - score 224.5
Sebastiano Valtorta and Four Season Whiz owned by Luca Mari - score 222.5
Giovanni Masi De Vargas and Chex Aristocrat Mr owned by Seahorse Srl - score 217
Stefano Cerutti and FB Topsail Shine owned by Domenico Giannitti - score 216
TEAM GERMANY
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gina Schumacher and All Right
Magnum owned by CS Ranch Management - score 224
Lars Suechting and Smart Cal Bar owned by Maike Weierscore 213.5
Oliver Stein and Shine Lil Whiz owned by Silke Stein - score 212.5
Jasmin Andersdotter and Gunna Shine owned by Alexandra Baush - score 207
Amateur Senior Team
The innovative Amateur Senior Riders, a division for nonprofessionals over 18 years of age, brought 36 horse and rider combinations representing nine nations in both team and individual (Switzerland, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium, and Czech Republic) to CS Ranch. Providing an exciting show until the very end, the Amateur riders kept the public glued to their chairs until the very end when Team Italy took the World Reining Championship gold medal with an impressive total score of 644.5.
Sliding, spinning, and circling to the highest step of the podium for the tricolor team was Fabio De Iulio riding RS Cronos Jac (score 216.5); Carlo Ambrosini and BMS Walla Getcha Gun (215.5); Vittorio De Iulio aboard MR Magic Chex (212.5), and Elena Kompatscher with Walla Golden Arrow (205.5). Reining is often referred to as ‘family’: the Italian team also saw family blood ties with uncle and
www.internationalhorsepress.com
nephew Fabio and Vittorio showing for the same flag!
Team Belgium wore the silver medal after closing with a total of 634 with Bert Coeckelberghs performing to a 216.5 on Gunna Be Delicious, Amber Heidbuchel and Prof Voodoo scoring a 211.5, Tanja Faes riding to a 206 on KB Silverlining Whiz, and Catharina Smetsers unfortunately posting a zero with Wimpy Special Gun.
With a final score of 633 — only one point behind, proving how exciting the show was — Team Germany slid to the third step of the podium with past NRHA Non Pro World Champion Nikolai Stiller scoring a 213.5 on his JJ Spooking Voodoo. The second highest score was a 211 earned by Karin Kamphuis and her QT Gun followed by Clemens Bellemann and MJ Einsteins Blanca closing with a 208.5. The dropped score was a 207 for Lilli Prayon and Dancing Whizard.
Young Riders Team
With an incredible total score of 650, Team Italy took home the Young Riders Team gold medal following the great scores earned by Filippo Milani and PL What A Woman (217.5); Ludovica Zambelli and OT Dont Miss To Wish (216.5); Rebecca Folcia with LS Dun Blue Berry (216); Lucio Marcello Lavezzari and As Just In Time (208.5). “I am incredibly proud of the Junior and Young Riders Team,” said Italy's Team Coach Alessandro Meconi. “After three years of international competition being off the scene, coming back with the new generation bringing home these medals is incredible.” With much emotion, Meconi gave credit to Italy's longtime past Team Coach Filippo Masi who prematurely passed away, and to the Young Riders team captain Matteo Bonzano who also left us way too soon. “They were here with us all the way,” added an emotional Meconi.
Team Belgium claimed the second step of the podium with a 644.5 total score with Jody Fonck and Mello Yello Jersey performing to the highest score for her team, a 217.5; Alexandre Vanderstappen and Doc O Banjo (214); Siebe Van Bekhoven with WS Check My Pedigree (213); Silke Hendrix and AM Lil Birdy Gun (211).
Making history yet again was the Czech Republic who stepped on the third step of the podium in the World Reining Championship Young Riders division. Their 639-total score earned them the bronze medal with Vladimir Cejka riding Remy Rooster SG to a 215.5, the much successful duo KH Yankee Step and Sara Karasova performing to a 212, her sister Thea Karasova with Wimpy N Mercedes scoring a 211.5, and Lucie Dofková riding Stardust In My Eyes closing with a 206.5.
Junior Riders Team
Junior Riders lit up the CS arena fighting for the medals but sealing friendships outside the pen. With a 640-total score, France clinched the gold withMatt Legrand riding Rooster Nic (219); Sarah Rovina and Wimpys Best Stop (213.5); Jules Blandin and Piccola Snappy Dude (207.5); Joana Sequeira and Fury Sweetlove Dream (206.5). “It’s the first time that France wins a gold medal in international competition and it’s ‘magnifique,’” said Team Coach Jean Jaques Borreil. “It’s a great result for all the riders that showed and a great experience for them since they are our future. France is trying hard to move up the ranks and this was a wonderful start. NRHA France took care of the selection, and it was great since we have 21 riders here putting us in second place behind Italy in terms of number of athletes. There is a real interest in international reining and this is wonderful for our future.”
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Team Germany, one point behind the winners, took the silver medal. The four riders that made this happen were Thea Maschalani with A Sparkling Glo (216); Ayleen Schmid with Custom Knick Nic (211.5); Charlotte Henkelmann and Skittels (211.5); Christin Beisel with Spark Little Dun (197.5).
The Italian team rode to the bronze medal with a total score of 638, two points behind the leading team France and one behind Team Germany. The riders that made it happen were: Elia Kompatscher aboard Whizdom Shines (216); Camilla Orlandini riding Sparkwest (213.5); Giulia Travagli with KN Skeets Blasterdun (208.5); Lorenzo Ranucci and Broadlysnapper (204.5).
Para Reining Team
Team Great Britain British Reining took home the gold medal in the World Para Reining Championship held during the World Reining Championship at CS RANCH!
Team components Nicola Tustain riding Spook N Sparkle, AKA 'Charlie,' owned by Rosanne Sternberg scored a 207; Michael Wayne Lightbown performed to a 207.5 aboard his own Legendary Chuka.
Team Italy was silver medalists in the World Reining World Para Reining Championship. The IRHA Italian Reining Horse Association / Federazione Italiana Sport
Equestri tricolour team Martina Panizza riding Smoking Custom Lena (score 210), Paolo Pettena riding Energy For Me (204), and Sara Borgonovo riding Ginger Rooster (189.5)
What an amazing competition the para reiners offered today in the World Para Reining Championships 2023 held during the World Reining Championship where the combined French and German team took home the bronze medal with Ophelie De Favitski and Splash Me Hickory SFS representing France and Elinor N Switzer riding Tari Electric Spark representing Germany.
The $58,500-added 3-year-old Open Futurity
With a big 224 score, Ł ukasz Czechowicz won the $50,000-added Level (L)4 Open Futurity Championship with Coded N Maryjane between the reins. The flashy American Quarter Horse mare sired by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Electric Code out of Ruffed Up Spook, is owned by Sabina Pavlova.
“She’s a great mare, especially considering her age,” said Czechowicz, head trainer at Roleski Ranch.
“Katarzyna [Roleska] bought her as a yearling at the [Markel] NRHA Futurity Sale and she was then sold
By Chiara Milani
The 2023 NRHA Roleski 4 Spins Futurity
The $74,800-added Roleski 4 Spins Futurity kicked off on October 19 at the beautiful Roleski Ranch, owned by reining enthusiast and breeder Katarzyna Roleska who also owns Poland’s first NRHA Million Dollar Sire, Colonels Shining Gun.
The Roleski 4 Spins Circuit officially closed the show season and year-end Champions were also determined.
October 19-22 Stare Zukowice | Poland
to a customer this year. This was her second time in the show pen as the first time was at the Austrian Futurity where we were Reserve Champions. I could not be happier with the result and I’m very excited to ride her at the upcoming IRHA Futurity.”
Rafal Dolata rode Whoos My Daddy to a 220.5 score to win the $5,000-added L3 and the $2,500added L2 Open Futurity Championships. The talented American Quarter Horse palomino mare, sired by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Miss Marilyn Morikas, is owned by Sebastian Bajer.
Photos by 8PhotoAgency
The pair also conquered the $50,000-added L4 Open Reserve Championship. “She was simply fantastic; I’m so happy for her since I've been riding her from the start and she’s always been calm and fun
to ride. I’m very thankful to the owner for the trust he put in my program. Our next stop will be the Italian Reining Horse Association Futurity in Cremona… I just can’t wait,” said the Polish professional.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Rafal Dolata & Whoos My Daddys
Half point behind, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Rudi Kronsteiner took reserve honors in the L3 aboard the American Quarter Horse stallion Spook N Design (NRHA Eight Million Dollar sire Smart Spook x Designed With Shine), owned by Jenny Kronsteiner-Nixdorf.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Winning the $1,000-added L1 Open Futurity Championship was Matus Kuzma riding his own American Quarter Horse mare Gloria Gunnit Again (Gunner Dun It Again x Gay Barnic Chic). The duo scored a 212.5 to claim the $2,500-added L2 Open Reserve Championship as well.
“I’ve been riding this amazing mare since she was a 2-year-old,” shared the Slovakian rider. “She’s great, very calm
in the show pen, and tonight we had good circles and good stops. This is our last show for this year, then the goal is to show her in next year’s 4-year-old futurities and derbies.”
Reserve honors in the L1 with a 209.5 score went to Angelika Dobesova and What A Smart Crome (What A Wave x Custom Olena Chic), owned by Zuzana Dobesova.
Matus Kuzma & Gloria Gunnit Again
The $8,500-added 3&4-year-old Non Pro Futurity
Irena Grygiel of Poland and her own American Quarter Horse mare CSG Exsallypress (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Lil Juice) were crowned 3&4-year-old $5,000-added L4, $2,000-added L3 and $1,000-added L2 Non Pro Futurity Champions with a 215.5.
“We just came back from the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity. I purchased my mare at the beginning of the year, had four days off and today I rode her for the second time after the last show, so I’m really happy about today’s result. Now heading to Cremona for the IRHA Futurity and then I hope for a great Derby season next year. Rafal Dolata is my trainer,
and I want to thank him, my parents, my whole team and everyone who’s helping me,” she said.
The L4 Reserve Championship with a 213 score went to Anna-Maria Zehetbauer of Austria and SS Pretty Nifty (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Nifty Nic), owned by Zeidelhof Reining Horses.
Irena Grygiel & CSG Exsallypress
Posting a 212.5 score, Michaela Mališová of the Czech Republic and her own American Quarter Horse gelding Maximus Dream Hero (NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Shiney Tinseltown), won the 3&4-yearold $500-added L1 Non Pro Futurity title as well as the L3 and L2 Reserve Championships. “This is our last show for this year; he’s 4years-old so this is also our last futurity season. I’m really enjoying
this event, my horse was great and I want to thank my trainer Jonáš Bujnoch for his work. We’ll now take a break but we’re thinking about showing at the European Derby and the Italian Derby next year.”
Second place honors in L1 after scoring a 207 went to Czech Jana Flokova and her own Let You Love Me (Mercedes Rooster x Pretty Little Steps).
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Michaela Mališová & Maximus Dream Hero
WATCH THE RUN
Dominik Reminder & PL Yankee Littlewhiz
The 2023 NRHA European Derby
November 1-5 | Equita Lyon, France
Dominik Reminder and PL Yankee Littlewhiz claimed the NRHA European Derby Open Level 4 Championship and the Run For A Million Qualifier
Photos by Wanted Photo By Simona Diale
The $300,595-added NRHA European Derby concluded on Saturday night in Lyon, France, with the Open Finals set in the Oklahoma Arena of Equita Lyon. A full house rewarded German Professional Dominik Reminder with a great applause after his thrilling run aboard PL Yankee Littlewhiz. The duo was awarded an impressive 230 score by the judges to claim the NRHA European Derby Open Level (L)4 Championship.
Reminder was emotional about his special win tonight and very proud of his mount. “I have no words; he is unbelievable. He has a heart of gold and gave me everything tonight. I didn’t expect to do so well at the beginning of the week, our go round didn’t go as planned, but tonight he was incredible.” The 6-year-old talented stallion by Yankee Gun out of Little Dolly Whiz is owned by Simone Zen and was nominated by Luigi Parise. Belgian Professional and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck performed another stellar run of the night earning a 227.5 and capturing Reserve honors in the L4 as well as earning the Gunna Sparkle Novice Horse Derby Open Championship open to horses who have won less than $5,000 in lifetime earnings. Fonck praised her 8-year-old stallion Spook Unchained (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x Shine Jo Lena), for his performance. “He is just a cool show horse. Every time he enters the arena, he wants to be good. He is by far one of the best minded and coolest show horses I have ever had in training.”
The flashy buckskin is owned by Anna Reinhart and was nominated by Sabine Schmid. Fonck mentioned that the
Fonck and Spook
stallion didn’t have a substantial show record when she took over the reins.
“Several riders showed him over the years, but he never really marked well. He had less than $1.000 Lifetime
Earnings when I got him then, at the beginning of this season, the owner called me to see if I could show him during his last derby year. We first went to a schooling show in March and did
Ann
Unchained took Reserve Honors in the L4 and earned the Gunna Sparkle Novice Horse Derby Open Championship
The Run For A Million Qualifier
Earning the top score of the day was also Reminder’s pass for the 2024 The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Million Dollar Competition. The Lyon qualifier will go down in history as being the first held outside the U.S. Reminder will join the riders next year in Vegas competing for $1,000,000 in prize money.
In a field of 23 horse-rider combinations, Reminder rose to top the leaderboard thanks to his phenomenal run. “It was the first opportunity for us here in Europe and I made it. I am looking forward to this so much,” he said about this special win. The Run For A Million producer, Amanda Brumley of Brumley Management Group, was excited to welcome Reminder among the 2024 TRFAM qualified riders. “Dominik was absolutely incredible tonight. He and his horse were flawless and deserved that 230 score. It was just perfect. I really want to congratulate him and welcome him to come to America to show in Vegas.”
not do well at all,” shared Fonck with a laugh. After that, her husband [NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck] suggested the pair give it one more try and that was a turning point for this dynamic duo. They stepped on the podium at the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby, AMERICANA, and at the European Derby. “He really is the coolest,” closed Fonck.
The Reserve Championship in the Gunna Sparkle Novice Horse Derby Open went to Markus Gebert of Germany who also claimed the Derby Open L3 Co-Championship as well as the L2 Championship with a 224 score. Gebert rode his homebred stallion Spooksgottacoolstep (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Charly Step N Cool) owned and nominated by Gebert’s wife Angelika.
The 5-year-old stallion is a familyfavorite and Gebert was very pleased with his performance tonight. “He was just awesome. He has a big heart and showed it tonight. I really liked his circles, he stopped big, and I felt
really comfortable in the circles. He has a big future and we will definitely keep him in the family. We are not sure who will show him next year, in fact we might have a little family fight over him,” laughed Gebert mentioning that
either himself, his wife, or their son Emanuel will show the stallion next season. “It is a family business,” closed Gebert and thanked his wife Angelika for always helping him with their horse business.
Markus Gebert and Spooksgottacoolstep claimed the Open Level 3 Co-Championship as well as the Level 2 Championship
Andrea Costa aboard TR Reinman took home the Level 3 Co-Championship
Taking the L3 Co-Championship was Italian Professional Andrea Costa aboard TR Reinman (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shine Chic Shine x Kr Ima Gunner). The duo already took the lead in the L3 qualifier and Costa was thrilled to repeat the success in the Finals. “I am really happy with my horse. He showed even better than I expected. I am proud of him and happy for the owners as well because now they see what horse power they have. He is a special kind of horse; he can be a little shy at times, especially in a busy warm up arena, and sometimes overreacts. I think that’s because he never wants to make mistakes. He is a very pleasing horse and has a huge heart. Tonight, he gave me everything and I am very happy with him,” said Costa. The 7-year-old gelding is owned by Christian-Peter Zinsli and was nominated by Tamarack
Ranch LLC. After this season, Costa plans to return the reins to his non pro and TR Reinman’s main rider, Nina Zinsli, who will show the gelding in the derbies next year.
Emanuel Ernst of Germany rode Wimpysdreamcometrue (NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Sheza Smart Wimpy) to a score of 222 to earn the L2 Reserve Championship. The 6-year-old stallion is owned and nominated by Celina Stuiber.
After the first section of the Open Finals, the Derby Open L1 CoChampions were determined. Earlier in the draw, Jody Fonck rode Sabrina Adam’s owned and nominated 6year-old stallion Arnels Spat Olena (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spat
Jody Fonck rode Arnels Spat Olena to win the Level 1 Co-Championship
Barbara Bayer aboard CSG Shining Gold won the Level 1 Co-Championship
Olena x RS Arnels Feo Jac). The youth rider of Belgium walked out of the pen with a 218.5 score. “This horse has an amazing mind. He is sweet and very talented,” said Fonck after her run. “I started riding him halfway through this season and we
Arnaud Girinon of France rode Honey First Gunny (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x ARC Honey Chick) to top the $1,750-added American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Derby Open Level 4 Championship scoring a 219.5 for the win. The 8-year-old stallion is owned by Società Agricola Le Fattorie Di Matilde and was nominated by Vittorio Rabboni.
Johannes Heil and SL Gunnabeyournite (NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x SL Helluvas Minnie), owned and nominated by Sandra LinnigFoehl, took the APHA Chrome Cash Derby Open Level 4 Reserve honors scoring 215.5.
really clicked from the very beginning. He was always so nice to me.” The 18year-old, who also won the L4, 3, 2 and Youth Euro Derby Non Pro Championships the night before, said she couldn’t believe she won the L1 Open Championship as well. “I feel amazing. I cannot think of anything better at this moment and am really happy!”
Fonck’s score held till the end of section 1 when Barbara Bayer of Austria walked in the arena aboard CSG Shining Gold (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Golden Flashy Whiz), an 8-year-old mare owned by Alessandra Zotter-Gagony and nominated by Katarzyna Roleska. The duo matched the 218.5 score and the two riders opted for the Co-Championship.
Bayer was pleased with her run aboard the mare. “I was really nervous before going in today. The run in was good and, even though she normally isn’t a strong spinner, she turned really well for me. Her thing is definitely the circles and she showed it off in the slow down, so that felt really good.” The Austrian Professional has had the mare in training since she was a 2 year old. “The owner bought her from her breeder Katarzyna Roleska and I have had her since then. Unfortunately, due to an injury, she wasn’t able to show much, but I am very happy to have her ready now as I have only been riding her constantly for the last two years. She is so nice to ride and really sweet to be around; she is one of my favorites in the barn.” Bayer wasn’t sure about the
future plans for the mare. “We have to talk about it with the owner. I may show her again next year but she may also get bred. If I can, I would like to get a foal out of her in the future because she is a really special horse.”
Leading the Level (L) 4 Open division and closing with a great ride paid back by the judges with a 221.5 score was NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck of Belgium riding ND Pop Gun Trash. The talented stallion by NRHA Ten Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Pop Tart was bred and nominated by owner Nathalie Derua. “I was pretty happy with my run even though I was not too happy with my run downs,” said Fonck. “The judges all gave me +1 for the spins and the circles were good; even though I didn’t go as hard as I wanted to. Bottom line is I would like to keep some gas for Saturday!”
Jody Fonck Takes The ELEMENTA Non Pro Level 4 Championship In an All-Girls Night
The $300,595-added NRHA European Derby closed the third day of reining competition with the Non Pro Derby Finals. It was ladies night in the Oklahoma Arena where a very high level of competition was showcased. Storming into the arena as draw four in the second section of the ELEMENTA European Derby Non Pro Finals, Belgium’s Jody Fonck with Smart Spooky Joe under the saddle set the bar high by performing to a 223. Their score held until the end and the pair pocketed the Level 4, 3 and 2 Championships as well as the Youth Non Pro Championship.
The flashy 7-year-old gelding by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash out of Spookody is owned by J&J Comm V and nominated by Jean Louis Coutrot. “I am so happy and grateful to have the possibility to ride such an amazing horse. We have been together for the whole show season and he is just so incredibly good minded. He is nice to me every single time I ride him. Today he was with me 100%. He gave me all he had…maybe even more,” said the young rider about her mount. “At home, sometimes he’s a little silly as he just cannot stand still, yet is always super nice to ride.”
Jody Fonck & Smart Spooky Joe
Seven riders competed in the $1,750- added APHA Chrome Cash Incentive L4 Non Pro Derby qualifier. The highest score was marked by Francesca Sternberg of Great Britain and her own 7-yearold gelding Red Dirt Paleface (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Lost In Tinseltown). The duo went on to win the Championship on Friday after closing their run with a 215. “We love Paint Horses and I’m proud to ride a Paint,” said Sternberg who owns and nominated her horse.
Georgia Wilk and Pretty Whiz Chic won the L4, 3 and 2 Reserve Non Pro Championships and the LL Tecnologie Novice Horse Derby Non Pro titles
The L4, 3 and 2 Reserve Non Pro Championships went to Germany’s Georgia Wilk who performed a breathtaking run aboard her own 6-yearold mare Pretty Whiz Chic (Winnie the Boo x Rey Nic Chic), nominated by Jessica Dros. The duo scored a 221.5 to also take home the win in the LL Tecnologie Novice Horse Derby Non Pro open to horses with less than $5,000 Lifetime Earnings. “I am super happy and didn’t expect all this; in fact, I just rode her and wanted to stay on pattern,”
she said. “I’ve had her since she was a 3year-old and everyone thought she was a ‘limited’ horse. I wanted to show everyone that she is great and I have no words for what she did for me today. Credit goes to my trainer Johannes Heil who stepped up my game this year and gave me so much confidence in the show pen. I could not be any happier.”
The Derby Youth Reserve Championship went to Nanina Staub of Switzerland who performed yet another stellar
Chrome Cash Incentive
run aboard Oak Smoking Face (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit x Genuine Benito). Their 220 score also earned them fourth place honors in the L4 and L3 divisions. The 8-year-old gelding is owned by Staub’s mother Sabine Schmid and was nominated by Giulia Amolaro.
Laura Kraft and her own Incredible Spook (Best Spook x Good Lookin Dun It), a 6-year-old gelding nominated by Katerina Lill, posted a 215 to clinch the L1 Championship. “He truly is an incredible horse! We bought him at the [NRHA Germany] Breeders Derby this year so we’re a new team and get on really well. Coming to this show wasn’t in the plans but my trainer convinced me two weeks ago,” she said. “He is the
sweetest horse and I really wasn’t expecting to win this title and was so happy we made all levels of the Finals here. It’s my first major win and considering that this is a really big show with a high level of competition, I am thrilled. The plans are now to take a winter break, and then go from there!”
Kraft also tied for Reserve honors in the LL Tecnologie Novice Horse Derby Non Pro along with Nikolai Stiller and JJ Spooking Voodoo (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Spool Pop Chex), a 5-year-old mare nominated by NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck. Taking the L1 Reserve Championship was Belgium’s Erik Verschueren and HR Spooks Revolution (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Revolutions Diamond), an 8-year-old gelding owned and nominated by Golden Paint Ranch.
The ELEMENTA NRHA European Derby Non Pro counted two NRHA MARKEL Sale Graduates in the finals: – Step Stones (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Twelve Sire Wimpys Little Step x Moonstone Mega) owned, nominated, and ridden by Sabine Schmid. – Angel On Fire (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x Lena Dun It) owned and nominated by Luga QH LLC and ridden by Giovanni Lugara.
Taking the lead in the Level (L)4, 3, and 2 was Belgian Dries Verschueren who rode GP A Spook In Town to a 218 score. The talented 7-year-old palomino stallion, sired by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown out of Spook N Perla, is owned by Golden Paint Ranch and was nominated by Verschueren.
Laura Kraft and Incredible Spook clinch the Level 1 Championship
The Run For A Million Qualifier
The Run For A Million European Non Pro and Youth qualifiers determined
Sunday at the $305,595-added NRHA European Derby held during the 20th edition of Equita Lyon, hosted the Non Pro and Youth 2024 The Run For A Million (TRFAM) qualifiers. On home turf, Alexandre Giarratano claimed the only available Non Pro spot in the European qualifier for the competition in Las Vegas next year. Giarratano rode his The Electric Bandit (Dont Miss My Guns x Electra Stop Ruff) to a 218 score.
“My horse was awesome today. I tried to prepare him for this show because this is a big event, and it worked out,” said Giarratano who rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Jeffrey Touroute-Thomas. “I have my horse at home now, but Jeff trained him and still coaches us at shows. The main goal for us was to compete in the European Non Pro Derby. We made the L4, 3, and 2 Finals and finished in the Top 10 in all three levels.”
Success did not stop there: Giarratano entered the 5-year-old stallion in the Roleski Ranch Non Pro and TRFAM qualifier and the team is now set to compete in Las Vegas. “I am going to go for sure,” said Giarratano. “We will see if NRHA France can step in and assist with some of the costs to take my horse there, which I would really like, because he is so talented and capable of doing well in this event. Considering the costs, I may have to end up borrowing a horse in the U.S.”
Lavinia Padrini stepped in the pen aboard her mare Discoinferno 66 (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x ARC Joy Surprise). The duo performed a steady run awarded a 214 by the judges to win the Youth spot in the TRFAM Youth Championship 2024 qualifier.
“I’ve had this mare since she was 2 years old and she’s been with me for three years now. In the beginning it wasn’t easy, but today in the arena she was with me the whole time, listened to me, was fantastic and we were finally able to show off her potential,” said the Italian youth rider. “We entered the European Non Pro Derby but unfortunately didn’t make the Finals so we decided to opt for a last minute entry today and I would say it was a great choice. I’m also very happy about the TRFAM qualifier win and I really can’t wait to go to Vegas!”
Alexandre Giarratano & The Electric Bandit
Lavinia Padrini & Discoinferno 66
The IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 3&4-Year-Old Futurity
The 38th edition of the $600.000-added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity, presented by DeNiroBootCo., closed with the $254.660-added Open Futurity Finals presented by Arcese in front of a full — and loud — house in Cremona, Italy. Sicuro and Gunner Be Step stepped up to top the leaderboard.
Nico Sicuro & Gunner Be Step
November 8-18, 2023 | CremonaFiere
The $254.660-added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Open Futurity Finals presented by Arcese: Sicuro and Gunner Be Step conquer the Open Championship
Last in the draw of the $170.622-added Level (L)4, the earners of the highest composite score following the second go — Nico Sicuro and Gunner Be Step — claimed the Open Championship with a powerful ride paid back by the judges with a 226 score. The stallion by Sugar Little Step out of Gunna Be Majestic, bred by Quarter Dream, also earned his owners and his dam the International Reining Horse Breeder Association (IRHBA) incentive program Best Mare Award.
Sicuro was thrilled with his first L4 Open Futurity Championship, and so was his long list of fans. “This is a really emotional moment and although I was hoping to win after the go rounds, I knew I had some pretty good horses and riders out there to beat, especially in the last set,” he said. “I tried to stay focused, making the most of my horse’s strong points, and after the first three maneuvers and first lead change, I just went for it and my horse was with me until the very end. What makes this win very special is the fact that he is home-bred, and even though he’s always been very talented, it took me a little while to find the right buttons which is what I did here. I am really happy for his sire: This is his second crop of
The IRHBA Best Mare Award went to Quarter Dream owner Pietro Marseglia — who has always believed in the Sugar Little Step and Gunna Be Majestic cross — shared: “I’m very happy to have received this coveted award as a breeder because Gunna Be Majestic is an amazing mare who earned very high scores in the show pen and has now shown that her babies have inherited her talent.”
Photos by Bonaga Communication By Simona Diale
futurity horses so winning the Open Futurity aboard one of his offspring is super special. I would like to thank my whole team, my girlfriend Sofia, and, last but not least, Pietro Marseglia for always believing in me and my program.”
Claiming the Reserve Championship with a 224.5 score was Manuel Cortesi riding Frozen Sven, a stallion by SG Frozen Enterprize x Ladymaster, owned by Eleuterio Arcese and Roberto Cuoghi, and bred by the latter.
Level 3
“My horse is truly made of gold, with a heart bigger than he is.”
It took a run-off between Andrea Costa and Alessandro Frassá, riding Rush N Trashya PC and GH Donna Whiz respectively, to determine who would take home the $48.385-added L3 title. Once the two combinations had gone back to the show arena, the Championship was for Costa who rode his mount by NRHA Ten Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Electric Rush to a 221.5. “It’s been a very long show for both the riders and the horses, but my horse is truly made of gold and his heart is bigger than he is! His first go was very good, but unfortunately we had some penalties. In the second go we managed to execute the same quality of maneuvers which allowed us to qualify for the final,” he said about his mount who was purchased by owner Alex Kubli as a yearling and was bred by Massimo Sartori.
“His owner fell in love with him immediately and since then this horse has always been under my
guidance. A special thank you goes to him for always believing in me and my program!”
Level 2
"I broke and trained her, and that’s really a big reward!"
Frassá and the Giuliano Gallizia owned mare GH Donna Whiz (Star Spangled Whiz x Nu Chex Donna), bred by Guida Quarter Horses, settled for the L3 Reserve Championship and also won the $22.919-added L2 with a 220.5 score. “I’m so happy! She is a mare that we purchased as a yearling; I broke her and trained her, and that’s really a big reward! She is a very goodminded horse and during this event she also showed us how serious she is. I would like to thank my entire team, my wife, and all the people who helped me get this far.”
Manuel Cortesi & Frozen Sven
Andrea Costa & Rush N Trashya
Level 1
“I had a lot of fun today! This horse captured my heart.”
Once the first section of the finals was over, Shane Mark Bass and Superwalla (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Ah Lady Oscar), a stallion owned and bred by Alberto Sabbadin, had claimed the $12.733-added L1 Championship with a 215.5 score. The duo had already ridden to the
highest score in the first go and to the top composite score rankings following the second go round. “I had a lot of fun today! This horse captured my heart and today I managed to put my hand down and execute a good pattern,” he said. “I broke and trained him so he’s been in my program the whole time. I would like to thank the owner who not only is his breeder but is also his farrier. I’ve always believed in this horse and have always tried to convince him not to sell him.”
The Numbers
Winning the IRHBA Best Stallion Award was NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun owned by Katarzyna Roleska. Receiving the award on behalf of Roleska was Roleski Ranch’s head trainer Lukasz Czechowicz. “Colonels Shining Gun offspring are great horses, he produces so many talented horses which are so athletic and great in each and every maneuver. He’s simply an amazing sire!” he stated.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Shane Mark Bass & Superwalla
Alessandro Frassà & GH Donna Whiz
IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 3 & 4-Year-Old Futurity
The GD Performance Horses $199.840-Added Non Pro Futurity
After topping the $63,665-added L4 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Non Pro 3-year-old qualifier, Anna-Maria Zehetbauer riding SS Pretty Nifty owned by Zeidelhof Reining Horses captured the spotlight by scoring a 217 to win the Championship.
Last in the draw, and with a 214 to beat in order to lead the L4 division, the Austrian rider laid down a 217 for the win. “I purchased my horse as a yearling in the U.S.
from Silver Spurs Equine,” she said about her mare by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage out of Custom Nifty Nic bred by Silver Spurs Equine. “I started her and trained her on my own with help from Brett Stone in the U.S., and then went on to show her in the ARHA Austrian Futurity and in the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity where we won the L4 Non Pro titles in both events. I’m super happy that she took the win here; I like her so much as she is so nice to show and look forward to our future together. Since May this year our show horses are stationed at Roleski Ranch under the guidance of Lukacz Czechowitz and the rest are at home in Austria at our facility.”
Anna-Maria Zehetbauer & SS Pretty Nifty
Level 3
“This is a win that I was waiting for for a long time.”
Winning the $32,768-added L3 title as well as the L4 Reserve Championship with a 214 score was Italy’s Carlo Ambrosini and Spookstep (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Spooks O Lena), a stallion owned and bred by Ambrosini Quarter Horses. “Another win, a win that I was waiting for for a long time, especially since the Futurity is one of the events that I have never managed to win. I’m very happy because today I rode a horse that we were not sure whether or not to take to this show, but in the end, we decided to risk it and he proved to be a great horse. He’s home-bred so double satisfaction here! I would like to thank [NRHA Professionals] Giuseppe Prevosti and Cristian Dalla Pozza, and all the fantastic team behind me that I am lucky enough to have thanks to my family.”
Vittorio De Iulio and EP Roostyation (Spatatino x Peppy Little Jackie), a stallion owned by Fabio De Iulio and bred by Emanuele Pagano, scored a 209.5 for the L3 reserve honors.
Level 2 & Level 1
“A futurity title was on my bucket list and it’s a dream come true!”
Taking both the $14,044-added L2 and $ 9,362-added L1 Championships was Italian Alberto Baroni riding his own Millenium Monwhoa who was thrilled with the results and titles earned in his very first major event. “He is a truly amazing horse, has an incredible heart
www.internationalhorsepress.com
and I am mainly happy for him because he deserves these titles,” said Baroni about his gelding by Mifillenium out of Marilyn Monwhoa bred by Vittorio Rabboni. “I have been riding under the guidance of Arnaud [Girinon] at Rabboni Performance Horses since I purchased him in August and I would like to thank him for how infinitely patient he has always been with me, and I thank all his special team with whom I got along very well with from the beginning as well as the Rabboni family. A futurity title was on my bucket list and it’s a dream come true!”
17-year-old Elia Kompatscher of Italy and X Da Vinci Code (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Electric Code x Spanish Eita), owned by Alois Kompatscher and bred by Viktoria Pardeller, scored a 209 to win both the Level 2 and Level 1 Reserve Championships.
Carlo Ambrosini & Spookstep
Alberto Baroni & Millenium Monwhoa
IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 3 & 4-Year-Old Futurity
IRHA/NRHA Open 4-Year-Old Futurity
Cortesi and July Joe Snap win their fourth major event as they take home the Quarter Dream IRHA/NRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity
The Quarter Dream $109.140added IRHA/NRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity closed the penultimate day of the $600.000-added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity. Taking their fourth major win after claiming the 2022 IRHA/IRHBA Open Futurity, the 2023 NRHA European Open Futurity,
and the NRHA Germany Breeders 4year-old Open Futurity Championships, Cortesi and the Arcese-Cuoghi owned stallion by Master Snapper out of San July Jo Magnetic left the best for last by besting the 222.5 score posted by Arnaud Girinon and Flexing Guns N Town by half a point.
Level 4
“Winning once again with him is a dream come true.”
“My horse was fantastic as usual, even though we had a little problem finding the ground to stop since we were last in the
Manuel Cortesi & July Joe Snap
draw,” said an enthused Cortesi hot off his $73.124-added L4 Open win. “Winning once again with him is a dream come true: He needs no introduction, we all know what he’s achieved so far, and is simply fantastic. He will now take a long well-deserved break.”
French Professional Girinon and Anna Maria Scheilfinger’s stallion by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown out of Shesa Fashion Gun bred b y Peter Morgan, settled for Reserve honors. “I’m very happy with how my horse performed,” said the Rabboni Performance Horses head trainer. “Before coming here I only schooled him at a couple of shows and he performed very well. He was in training with Gennaro [Lendi] and then in May the reins passed on to me. I really can’t say anything other than that he is truly a special horse.”
Level 3 & Level 2
“What an amazing night! He’s a super horse.”
With a 219.5 score, Massimiliano Ruggeri and AC Einsteins In Like (In Like Flinn x Einsteins Delight), a stallion owned by Alessandro Marrapese and bred by Alessandro Cazzaniga, claimed both the $20.736-added L3 and the $9.823-added L2 divisions. “I’m very happy; tonight was an amazing night! He’s a super horse — I couldn’t describe him in any other way — and I’ve had
him in training for about a year. He did really well at the NRHA European Futurity, as he did tonight, and I think there is still room for improvement, so fingers crossed for the future.”
A point behind, Stefano Angelucci and GH Walla Walla Donna (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x Nu Chex Donna), a mare owned by Angelucci Quarter Horses and bred by Guida Quarter Horses USA, took the L3 and L2 Open Reserve Championships.
Level 1
“I've been riding him since the beginning of the year and we've been pretty good together since day one.”
17-year-old Jody Fonck of Belgium tonight added yet another title to the string of wins she has collected this year: The $5.457-added Level 1 Open Championship with Jaqueline Seger’s Iam Voodoo Dr (NRHA Three Million
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Massimiliano Ruggeri & AC Einsteins In Like
IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA 3 & 4-Year-Old Futurity
Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Show Tennic), a stallion bred by Erwin Mueller. “He’s just an amazing horse and one of the best-minded I’ve ever known!” said the non pro rider who closed her run with a 216 score. “He’s incredible and is always there to help me out. I’ve been riding him since the beginning of the year and we’ve been pretty good together since day one. I’m so very grateful that his owner has always believed in both of us!”
The L1 Reserve Championship with a 214.5 was for Jasmin Andersdotter of Germany riding Sparkling And Spooky (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Ebony Spook), a gelding owned by Alina Sira Herzlinger, bred by Rosanne Sternberg.
Jody Fonck & Iam Voodoo Dr
$51.360 Rabboni Performance Horse
IRHA/NRHA 4-Year-Old Non Pro Futurity
Sweeping the $27.285-added L4, $14.044-added L3, and $6.019-added L2 Championships was Jody Fonck of Belgium riding MT Okies Sweetness (NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x Okies Eldorado) owned by J&J Comm V. The duo performed to an impressive score of 220.5.
“I’
m just amazed by tonight’s results! I’m so happy for me and my horse! We bought her two weeks before the Belgium Futurity where I first showed her. She’s always super super nice, is a great-minded mare, and I really like to ride her at home at the shows,” said Fonck who rode to an early birthday present: The 17-year-old Belgian rider in fact turned 18 the following day.
Riding to reserve honors in the L4 and L3 divisions with a 218.5 score was Carlo Ambrosini and Bliss Bobette San (In Like Flinn x Docs Steady San x Steadys Dude) owned by Ambrosini Quarter Horses.
In the L2 division, Irena Grygiel of Poland and her own CSG Exsallypress (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Lil Juice) scored a 215 to clinch the Reserve Championship.
Level 1
“I'm so happy, I didn't expect to be able to win tonight!”
With a 213 score, Alessia Concetti of Italy and her own Magnum Arc Pi (NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Arc Martha Surprise) took home the $4.012-added L1 Non Pro Championship.
“I’m so happy since I didn’t expect to be able to win tonight! I’ve been riding him since last year and we worked a lot to get this far. We showed in the 3-yearold IRHA/IRHBA Futurity, which unfortunately didn’t go very well, but this year I was finally able to express her potential. I want to thank Christian Baldelli and my parents for their continuous support!”
A half point behind, young Elias Kompatscher and his own Spookly Spark (Spark N Whiz x PL Spooks Dunit Whiz) rode to the L1 Reserve Championship.
RUN
Alessia Concetti & Magnum Arc Pi
Photos by Bonaga Communication
IRHA/NRHA#highlightsMaturity
September 11-16, 2023 | Castelnuovo Belbo - Italy
Go Round leaders, Nico Sicuro and QUARTER DREAM’s Sugar Little Step (NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step x Ah Sugar Sugar) scored a 225.5 in the finals to win the €20.560added IRHA/NRHA Maturity Level 4 Open Championship.
Riding Seahorse’s Chex Aristocrat MR (Tassas Aristocrat x Imasmartfullofchex) to a 225 score, Giovanni Dido Masi took the €14.018-added IRHA/NRHA Maturity Level 3 Open Championship.
Winning the €7.476-added IRHA/NRHA Maturity Level 2 Open Championship was Angelo Benedusi riding Infernal Melody (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno 66 x Melodys Boots), owned by Susanna Sodi. The duo scored a 218 to bring home the title!
Carlo Ambrosini rode Sugar Chic Babe (Sugar Little Step x Chic Olena Shine) owned by Ambrosini Quarter Horses to a 222 score to win the €9.345-added IRHA/NRHA Maturity Non Pro Level (L)4 and the €5.140-added L3 Championships!
Gabriele Costantini and Whizkey Princess won the €3.738-added IRHA/NRHA Maturity Level 1 Open Championship with a 216 score. Whizkey Princess, sired by Dun It For Whizkey and out of Watch My Guns, is owned by Loris Raffagnato.
Alice Leoni and her own Tonystrip (Elvis Peppys Taco x Dark Blue River) scored a 217 in the finals to claim the €1.869-added IRHA/NRHA Maturity Non Pro Level 1 as well as the €3.271-added Level 2 Championships.
Photos by Bonaga Communication
Sliding Before Christmas
December 13-17, 2023 | Casale Sul Sile - Italy
$30,000-added Open
Winning the $30,000.00-added Open with a 228.5, were Nico Sicuro and Colonels Dancing Gun (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dance Little Spook), owned by Quarter Dream
$500-added Limited Open
$20,000-added Intermediate Open
Winning the $500-added Limited Open and the $20,000added Intermediate Open with a 220.5 score is Max Ruggeri aboard AC Einsteins In Like (In Like Flinn x Einsteins Delight) owned by Alessandro Marrapese.
$25,000-added Non Pro
Fabio de Iulio scored a 219 to win the $25,000.00added Non Pro aboard his own RS Chronos Jac (RS Great Jac Feona x RS Shadow Olena).
$5,000-added Novice Horse Open
Winning the $5,000-added Novice Horse Open is Francesco Pedretti, who rode 6-year-old American Quarter Horse stallion Voodoo Majestic Gun (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Gunna Be Majestic), owned by Gianni Bastianello, to a 146.5 score.
$500-added Limited Non Pro and $15,000-added Intermediate Non Pro
Winning the $500-added Limited Non Pro and $15,000.00-added Intermediate Non Pro with a 218.5 score, was Jody Fonck riding Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody) owned by J&J Comm V.
$2,800-added Novice Horse Non Pro
Tying to win the $2,800-added Novice Horse Non Pro are Jody Fonck riding Smart Spooky Joe (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x Spookody), owned by J&J Comm V; along with Anthony De Lorenzis and his own AC Joe Spooks (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash x RH Vanilla Spooks). Both duos scored a 141.5.
June 16-18, 2023 | ELEMENTA - Italy
It was a win for Ricky Bordignon at Elementa Goes West in the Euro 7.000 Sleipnir World by MS Diamonds TX Ranch Riding All Ages with his own 4-year-old gelding, Colonelgunashine, who he won the Ranch Riding L1 on Saturday. “I’ve held a lot of ranch riding clinics but haven’t really shown much, and today’s win was a surprise as I counting on [Maria Cecilia Fiorucci’s] A Smart Doctor,” said Bordignon, resident trainer at Elementa who also took reserve honors on Imnotthatkindagirl, a 3-year-old full sibling to his winning horse. “Even though these two horses belong to me, here at Elementa we are a team, that’s what counts and I am thrilled with this win. We didn’t expect so many entries and look further to this event growing.” According to Bordignon, the ranch riding classes are great for both younger and older horses, in particular, for reining horses.
Bordignon also won both the AQHA and APHA Ranch Riding Open Level 1 aboard the double-registered ColonelGunaShine.
ELEMENTA Goes West
Taking the Euro 4000 AQHA Ranch Trail Open and Ranch Trail Amateur was Nadia Scheider riding RM Spooksgottastar ( Spooks Gotta Whiz x Starmax Rm) owned by Az. Agr. Zu Ziug. “I still don’t believe we won and my horse was simply great and was so smooth in executing the pattern,” said an enthused Nadia. “I’ve been showing him in reining events since 2021 and we won the NRHA Germany Breeders Non Pro Futurity all levels together as well as a finalist in the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby levels 4 and 3. This year, thanks to professional Paola Donarini Masi, I decided to also show him in these disciplines and I love it and so does my horse. He especially loves the ranch trail, he’s really careful and it’s something totally different to what he’s used to doing and I feel it’s really refreshing for him. I love working with Paola, she’s an incredible horsewoman and is lovely to have as a coach. I would also like to thank my husband, [NRHA Professional Max Ruggeri] for riding him this past week before coming here, and Cecilia Fiorucci for putting this show together for us.”
Austrian Professional Christina Gruber topped the €7.000 AQHA Trail Horse Open Class riding Shes All The Candy, owned by Elisa Frischbier.
Ona Lazy Cowboy (owned by Irena Tanko) and Mark Shaffer winning the €7.000 AQHA Open Western Pleasure and the €4.000 AQHA Open Western Riding at the 2023 Elementa Goes West.
AMERICANA 2023
Reining #highlights
More than 400 horses, 600 cows, almost 1.000 entries in the offered classes, 288 exhibitors and a total of 47,200 visitors - these are the numbers of the 2023 AMERICANA, held for the first time at Messe Friedrichshafen.
September 3-10, 2023 | Messe Friedrichshafen - Germany
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Łukasz Czechowicz & CSG Piggiemove
Among the many offered classes was the $50,000-Added NRHA Bronze Trophy Open and the $15,000-Added NRHA Bronze Trophy Non Pro.
NRHA Bronze Trophy Open: Ł ukasz Czechowicz and CSG
Piggiemove take the win
Polish Professional Łukasz Czechowicz, head trainer at Roleski Ranch, scored a huge 225 to win the coveted €50.000added NRHA Bronze Trophy Open aboard the 9-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding CSG Piggiemove (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Roosters Hot Piq) owned by Katarzyna Roleska. “The pressure in the finals was on but my horse was great,” said Czechowicz. “Piggiemove is really special to me. I've known and trained him from the very beginning. I have many great memories with him — among these when we were crowned Level 3 Open Champions at the 2018 NRHA European Futurity.” Go round leaders and past AMERICANA Champions Nico Sicuro and Colonels Dancing Gun (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dance Little Spook), owned by Quarter Dream, took the Reserve Championship with a 224 score.
In the €8.000-added Intermediate Open, two duos scored a 214.5: Steve Ouellet riding Walla Whiz A Dun It (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Walla Walla Whiz x The Bud Is Dun) owned by Katja Zrimsek and Martin Schemuth aboard his own 13-year-old American Paint Horse Association gelding MR Chesmu Peppy Boon (Jacs Royal Boonsmal x Ls Deltas Bright Star). Following the run off, the latter took home the win with a 213.5 score.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Nico SIcuro & Colonels Dancing Gun
Martin Schemuth & MR Chesmu Peppy Boon
Photos by 8PhotoAgency
By Chiara Milani
2023 Spotlight
NRHA Bronze Trophy Non Pro: Nikolai Stiller and Hollywood Gunrunner at the top again
After winning the go round, past NRHA Non Pro World Champions Nikolai Stiller of Germany and his own Hollywood Gunrunner (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Dun It For Missy) scored a 218 in the Finals to win the €15.000-added NRHA Bronze Trophy Non Pro Championship.
Half point behind, Dries Verschueren placed second aboard SG Gunnerspecialwhiz (NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Nics Whiz), co-owned by himself and his wife Marie Verschueren. The Belgian rider guided Golden Paint Ranch’s PL Miss Gotta Whiz (NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Nu Chex Donna) to a 213.5 score to win
the €8.000-added NRHA Bronze Trophy Intermediate Non-Pro Championship. A half point behind, he clinched reserve honors with SG Gunnerspecialwhiz
Nikolai Stiller & Hollywood Gunrunner
Dries Verschueren & PL Miss Gotta Whiz
5&Up Open Maturity
Winning the €5.000-added Quarter Dream/NRHA
Maturity 5&Up Open with a 221 score was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Grischa Ludwig of Germany aboard West Coast Trash (NRHA Ten Million Dollar Sire
Gunnatrashya x Miss Cody Whiz It), owned by Margot van Doorne. Second place honors went to French professional Arnaud Girinon, who rode Honey First Gunny (NRHA Fourteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x ARC Honey Chic) to a 219.5 score for owner Soc. Agr. Le Fattorie di Matilde.
5&Up Non Pro Maturity
The NRHA 5&Up Non Pro Maturity saw German MariaTheresa Ottillinger take the win riding Carolin Ottillinger’s Gunnermakemyday (NRHA Eleven Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x Whiz Roosters Maita) with a 214.5 score.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
One point behind, George Sternberg Allen of Great Britain and Colonel Chic Dream (NRHA Ten Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Princess Colonel), owned by Francesca Sternberg, placed second.
Grischa Ludwig & West Coast Trash
Maria-Theresa Ottillinger & Gunnermakemyday
2021 Spotlight
Ranch Riding Bound!
The fastest-growing and most-popular class, Ranch Riding, counted 46 horserider combinations entered in the Open division and 21 in the Non Pro. Winning the €10.000-added Ariat Ranch Riding Open Championship in a field of 14 finalists was Jasmin Andersdotter who posted a 154.5 riding Alexandra Bausch’s 8-year-old American Paint Horse The Gun Maker (One Gun x Mare Made). With a 153 score, second place went to Henrike Lindenblatt and BCR Ruf N Sparkling (Best Spook x BB Ruf And Awesome).
Vivien Leisner and KH Great Investment topped the €5.000added Ranch Riding Non Pro finals with a 150.5 to take the win. With a 145.5 score, Leonie Alisa Maurer took second place riding GK Dun To Impress.
Mark Your Calendar The next AMERICANA edition is scheduled for September 3-7, 2025 at the Friedrichshafen Fairground.
Jasmin Andersdotter & The Gun Maker
Vivien Leisner & KH Great Investment
2023 Spotlight Reined Cow Horse On the Big Stage
Once again, at AMERICANA, European riders battled for a top spot in the Reined Cow Horse classes offered in the prestigious arena.
4&5-year-old Open Snaffle Bit Classic
Winning the €10.000-added L&B Ranch/ERCHA 4&5-year-old Snaffle Bit Classic Open was Pietro Tuberga of Italy with Katrina Hope Olena (Oaks Lone Pepto x Haida Oleana), owned by Domenico Sapino, between the reins. The duo scored a 217.5 in the
Finals, closing with a 862.5 total composite. Reserve honors were for Giovanni Campanaro who rode Alessia Campi’s Stilysh Sparkle (More Than Stylish x Sailing Sparkle) to a 861 composite score.
Winning the €2.000-added Level 1 Open with a 847.5 composite score was Tomas Barta aboard Karl Simon’s American Quarter Horse mare CR Tuff Calie Rey (Woody Be Tuff x Calie Del Rey). Riding
Pietro Tuberga & Katrina Hope Olena
to second place was France's William Coulomb with Marie Mura’s WR Shining Remedy (WR This Cats Smart x Shining Smart Remedy) and an 818 composite score.
4&5-Year-Old Non Pro Snaffle Bit Classic
Lorenzo Colombo and Henry Royal Rey take it all
The Italian rider won both the €3.000-added ERCHA 4&5year-old Snaffle Bit Classic Non Pro as well as the
www.internationalhorsepress.com
€500-added Level 1 Non Pro with a 849 composite score. Colombo and his mount, Henry Royal Rey (Roany Rey x Mariah Pep), also won the ERCHA 4,5,6-year-old Snaffle Bit Classic Non Pro Boxing with a 842.5 composite score.
Winning the Non Pro and taking second place in the Level 1 Non Pro was Giorgia Girardello and her Girl Of Spark (Spark N Whiz x One More Whiz Girl). Composite score 835.
Second place honors in the Non Pro Boxing division with a 834.5 composite score was for Alice Bruscaini and her own DG Pep Rey (Roany Rey x Mariah Pep).
Nations Cup
Italy wins the €10.000-added AMERICANA ERCHA Nations Cup.
Making it happen were:
• Giovanni Campanaro & Bet Command Rey, owned by Green Mountain Quarter Horses
• Markus Schopfer & Master N Smoke, owned by Davide Maria Becchio
• Gabriele Poli Barberis & Highbrowfletch, owned by Matteo Magni/Samisa Ranch
• Samuele Poli & Cats Got Freckles, owned by Luca Terzi
Riding to the second step of the podium was Team Germany, followed by Team Switzerland.
Tomas Barta & CR Tuff Calie Rey
Lorenzo Colombo & Henry Royal Rey
2023 Spotlight
Individual Nations Cup
Scoring the highest in the Fence Work, Gabriele Poli Barberis and Highbrow Fletch won the €3.000-added ERCHA Individual Nations Cup Championship, the €4.000-added Open and the €500added Limited Open Bridle Spectacular with a 654 composite score (Rein Work 220.5; Herd Work 212; Fence Work 221.5).
Highbrow Fletch is a 2009 American Quarter Horse sorrel stallion sired by Royal Fletch and out of Lil Sally Cat, co-owned by Matteo Magni and Samisa Ranch.
With a 644.5 composite score (Rein Work 216; Herd Work 215; Fence Work 213.5), Italian professional Giovanni Campanaro GC Performance horses and Green Mountain Quarter Horses’ Bet Command Rey (2014 American Quarter Horse sorrel stallion sired by Dual On Command and out of Docs My Bet) placed second in the Individual Nations Cup and in the Open Bridle Spectacular.
Best Of Cow Horse
Samuele Poli Barberis and Cats Got Freckles won the 2023 AMERICANA/ ERCHA Best of Cow Horse 148 score: “Showing at AMERICANA is always special, even more so in the Top 5 Cow Horse Challenge. Cats Got Freckles ‘Gatto’ never quits showing me how talented he is, and when I ride him down the fence I always feel like a fearless kid!” he claimed.
Samuele Poli Barberis & Cats Got Freckles
Gabriele Poli Barberis & Highbrow Fletch
AMERICANA/NCHA European Championships
Winning the coveted €18.000-added NCHA European Open Championship with a 149 score were past Champions Pietro Valeri and Cat Rey Lou (High Brow Cat x Farra Rey) for owner NCHA of Italy President Marco Salvatori.
With a 145 score, second place went to the go round leaders, Italian professional Gianluca Munarini and Silvia Viaggi's Trendzetter (Once in a Blu Boon x Misplaced Cat).
Sasha Schwind and her own The Big Spoon won the 2023 €9.000-added AMERICANA/NCHA European Non Pro Championship.
www.internationalhorsepress.com €18.000-Added
The talented 14-year-old gelding with the German rider in the saddle took the win with a 146 score. The Reserve Championship went to Greta Salvatori of Italy who rode Marco Salvatori’s Cat Rey Lou (High Brow Cat x Farra Rey) to a 143 score.
Sasha Schwind & The Big Spoon
Pietro Valeri & Cat Rey Lou
AMERICANA Bridleless Cutting
Rosana Bembom and the 2013 American Quarter Horse Smoking Spook (Spooks Smokin Cat x Sweet Huntress), owned by Willem Bembom, scored a 148 to take the win.
One point behind was Rosy o' Grady's Cutting Horse’s co-head trainer Martina Annovazzi riding Stevie Reyvenge. The 4year-old American Quarter Horse stallion sired by Stevie Rey Von and out of Pettys Dual Pep is owned by Marco Salvatori.
. Rosana Bembom & Smoking Spook
2023 Western Bloodstock | High Brow Cat | Hashtags
World’s Greatest Horseman
Magical Win for Phillip Ralls and
Call Me Mitch
This year’s edition of the Western Bloodstock | High Brow Cat | Hashtags World’s Greatest Horseman was a pretty special one for NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Phillip Ralls and the incredibly talented stallion Call Me Mitch. The duo closed with a final composite score of 902 (H:224/S:226/R:224.5/C:227), the highest ever marked at this event. They took home the Championship and a prize of $150,000 making Call Me Mitch the highest money-earning horse in NRCHA history with earnings exceeding $425,000.
February 10-20, 2023 | Fort Worth - USA
Ralls and “Mitch” go back a long way: the Paso Robles horseman purchased the stallion as a yearling at the Western Bloodstock Sale for his client, Estelle Roitblat. Prior to passing, Roitblat set up the trust to ensure Call Me Mitch had all the opportunities that he possibly could with Ralls who has shown him his whole career. The duo has won numerous accolades including the World's Richest Stock Horse Championship four times — once on Call Me Mitch — and the Magnificent Seven All Around Stock Horse Championship at the Western States Horse Expo, also on Mitch. The duo also claimed Reserve honors at the World’s Greatest Horseman twice: This year they had a plan!
Phillip Ralls & Call Me Mitch
By Simona Diale
Ralls’ facility in Paso Robles, California, was flooded for seven weeks following the torrential rainfalls and they were only able to practice in the arena two weeks prior to the World’s Greatest Horseman, but that didn’t stop Ralls from keeping hopes high. “He’s always been absolutely incredible. He was a great futurity horse, a really good derby horse, and an even better bridle horse; I don’t need to teach him anything so keeping him fit was what we did in those five weeks,” says Ralls.
Head in the game
Once the games began, the explosive stallion once again showed his worth and the pair came in with the secondhighest composite going into the finals. "My Dad’s advice to me leading up to the finals was to stick to my game plan, let it roll, and have fun. All too often we let the outside influence get to us and that's where your mistakes and bobbles are going to come from. Stick to what you have, you know what you need to do, and go for it," shared Ralls who has been training open horses for the past 23 years learning from his dad, Ron Ralls, an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, twotime World's Greatest Horseman Champion and a Hall of Fame Inductee.
“This is a testament to his consistency, his heart, his try. He’s such a unique individual. He's truly a blessing.”
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Photos by Martina Tonello Photography
Ralls kept his head in the game and once again Mitch did not disappoint. They closed the herd work with a 224, the steer stopping with a 226, and the reining with a 224.5. And then it was time for the last test: The fence work.
“The fence work was where I really wanted to show who he is; his heart, his soul, his determination,” he said. “We had a really good strong cow, one that you could win on, and this gave me a good opportunity to get the run set up. Once that first turn happened, the second turn was really good and the cow was set up in the right spot. It was then that I knew we had a really good shot at getting it down the fence and Mitch finished super strong.”
The family circle
At the end of their performance, a 227 appeared on the scoreboard and the dream came true closing the family circle. In fact, his father Ron has won the World’s Greatest Horseman title twice, and his father’s wife, Patty Ralls, won the World’s Greatest Horsewoman held at Art of the Cowgirl in 2020.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to have an opportunity to show at this level. We’ve been so close twice and Mitch has just been absolutely incredible. He’s been so consistent, and such a big-time, big-game horse. It’s all come full circle—it was a dream of Estelle’s to have a horse like this, and a dream of mine to ride and compete on one like him.”
THE TOP THREE
1- Call Me Mitch
(Metallic Cat X Miss Hickory Hill) shown by Phillip Ralls Owner Estelle Roitblat TTE
2 - Reyzinette
(Dual Rey X Sheza Shinette) shown by Chris Dawson Owned by Holy Cow Perf. Horses TX LLC
3 - Bet Hesa Boon
(Bet Hesa Cat X Flo N Blu Boon) shown by Tyler Merrill Owned by Beverly Servi
3 - Smartly Starstruck
(Very Smart Remedy X Katie Starlight) shown by Todd Bergen Owned by McSpyder Ranch
Liv Trus
Phillip Ralls & Call Me Mitch
Tyler Merrill & Bet Hesa Boon
Chris Dawson & Reyzinette
Todd Bergen & Smartly Starstruck
July 7-9, 2023 | Sarzana, Italy
The SR NRCHA/ERCHA SR Four Crown Spectacular, presented by International Horse Press, was held for the second year in a row at Samisa Ranch, Sarzana, Italy, on July 7-9. The rider to earn the Open title of 'Europe's Greatest' was Italian Gabriele Poli Barberis riding Highbrow Fletch.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Photos by 8 Photo Agency
By Chiara Milani
Gabriele Poli Barberis & Highbrow Fletch
Gabriele Poli Barberis rode the 2009 American Quarter Horse stallion Highbrow Fletch (Royal Fletch x Lil Sally Cat) owned by Samisa Ranch/Matteo Magni, to a 293.5 composite score (Rein Work 74.5, Herd Work 71, Steer Stopping 74, Fence Work 74) to win the 2023 $2,140-Added Four Crown Spectacular Open Championship presented by Ar-Nav. The duo also took the $535-Added Okami Ranch/NRCHA/ERCHA Open Bridle title. “This was a special win since the horse I won with today is the one I won the Non Pro Championship with last year! It was a great show like last year!”
With a 291.5 composite score (Rein Work 73.5 - Herd Work 73 - Steer Stopping 74 - Fence Work 71), Giovanni Campanaro and Hot As Wasabi (Little Dulces Rey x Whirl A Cat) took the Open Reserve Championship. The talented 2014 American Quarter Horse mare owned by Sarah Destefanis and the italian professional, who were last year’s Open Champions, also took Reserve honors in the Open Bridle Spectacular with a 217.5 composite.
"This was a special win since the horse I won with today is the one I won the Non Pro Championship with last year! It was a great show like last year!"
– Gabriele Poli Barberis
Giovanni Campanaro & Hot As Wasabi
Marie Mura of France and Woody Choco Pepto Win The $535-Added Stemacar NRCHA/ERCHA
Marie Mura rode her own 2016 American Quarter Horse gelding Woody Choco Pepto (Styling Dual x Mamas Little Pepto) to a 270.5 composite score (Rein Work 70.5, Herd Work 70, Steer Stopping 66, Fence Work 64) to win the Crown!
"This win is very special to me, this event is my favorite, because there's the Steer Stopping, and I love to rope! It's been a great weekend like last year, and I can't wait for next year’s edition!"
The talented French rider also won the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular title presented by DeniroBootCo.
• •
Marie Mura & Woody Choco Pepto
The Non Pro podium was all about the girls. Taking reserve honors with a 140.5 composite score, was Swiss Shirley Schalcher riding her own DG Little Rey Merada.
One point behind, third place was for Austrian Andrea Popp who rode Sugar Smartest Lena.
Shirley Schalcher rode her own 2011 American Quarter Horse stallion Big And Sweet BB (Big Chex To Cash x Sweet Lil Diamond BB) to a 212 composite score and brought home the gold medal in the NRCHA/ERCHA Non Pro Bridle class presented by DeNiroBootCo .
"This was my first First Four Crown Show and I really enjoyed the weekend. I showed my three horses and they were all great during the whole weekend."
www.internationalhorsepress.com
William Coulomb & Smart Bobby Time
Arno Gorgassen & Black Cat In Town
Matteo Mandonico & Wendy
Tomas Barta & One Smart Sultan
Giovanni Campanaro & Hot As Wasabi
Marie Mura & Woody Choco Pepto Gabriele Poli Barberis & Highbrow Fletch Samuele Poli Barberis & Cats Got Freckles
4&5-Year-Old Open Snaffle Bit
Winning the $1,070-Added 4&5-year-old Open Snaffle Bit Class presented by Selleria Lossi/La Villa was Samuele Poli Barberis riding Hottish Desire (Hottish x Desires Kitty Cat) owned by VA Quarter Horse.
The Italian professional and the 2019 American Quarter Horse Stallion topped the ranking with a 208 composite score (Rein Work 70, Her Work 64, Fence Work 74). “I’m very happy for me of course, but especially for the horse who deserves this win, and for the owners. Talking about the show, it is obviously hard to host the event at home and at the same time stay concentrated in the show pen, but at the end of the weekend I can say that I’m very proud this show had contestants from six different European countries in a very friendly atmosphere.”
One point behind, taking home the reserve honors was Tomas Barta aboard Karl Simon’s CR Tuff Callie Rey (Woody Be Tuff x Calie Del Rey).
Tomas Barta & CR Tuff Callie Rey
Samuele Poli Barberis & Hottish Desires
Aboard his own Sperck Aristocrat MR, a 2018 American Quarter Horse mare sired by Tassas Aristocrat out of A Vintage Chic, Edoardo Ferro won the $3,210-Added 4&5-year-old Non Pro Snaffle Bit class presented by VA Quarter Horse with a 214 composite score (Rein Work 72.5, Her Work 71, Fence Work 70.5). “ I started to show in Reined Cow Horse events just one year ago, and this win is for sure a great satisfaction! I enjoyed the show and the atmosphere of this event. I really want to thank my family, always ready to support me, and Giovanni [Campanaro] who I ride with.”
Giorgia Girardello and Girl Of Spark (Spark N Whiz x One More Whiz Girl) took the Reserve Honors in the VA Special 4&5-year-old Non Pro Snaffle Bit with a 213.5 composite score (Rein Work 70.5, Herd Work 69, Fence Work 74).
Giorgia Girardello & Girl Of Spark
Edoardo Ferro & Sperck Aristocrat MR
#TheJudge
NRCHA Judge Lee Deacon flew to Italy to judge the Europe's Greatest, The NRCHA/ ERCHA SR Four Crown Spectacular presented by International Horse Press.
“Italy is just amazing and the show was awesome! I liked the fact that it was an outdoor event, since we don’t show that much outside in the U.S.
The cattle were great and I’m very impressed with the level of horsemanship and showmanship across the board.
The atmosphere was great, Open riders and Non Pro riders competed in a very family friendly way, a really refreshing mood to be involved in.
I honestly didn’t expect the level of competition I found, even the Non Pros had some great runs down the fence, and since there’s a heavy influence in reining here in Italy, most of the riders know how to train properly.
The only suggestion I have is to just keep doing what you’re doing, stay true to what you guys have going on and I’m sure this event will grow very fast!”
#Fact
In the 2022 NRCHA (National Reined Cow Horse Association) Snaffle Bit Futurity®, Lee Deacon and Tornado Jonez were crowned Open Champions in Fort Worth, Texas, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The Championship was the first for both the Australian-born rider and the bay gelding’s owner, Brandy Ragland.
NCHA of Italy/NCHA
2023 NCHA of Italy
The Show Season Kicks Off in Renewed CremonaFiere Setting
NCHA of Italy's show season fired off in a renewed CremonaFiere setting with the first NCHA-approved show of the year held on February 24-26. Giancarlo Doardo’s TFY welcomed the 2023 Cutting Championship Show counting 70 horses and over 200 entries in the full-slate of approved classes offered.
February 24-26, 2023 | CremonaFiere - Italy
Fanti and Valeri lead the Open All Ages divisions
Federico Fanti and Never Too Suen, owned by Hansruedi Baumann, scored a 75 to top the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Open All Ages First Show. With the same score Pietro Valeri rode Marco Salvatori’s Denvers Purdy to top the Open All Ages Second Show.
It was all about the girls in the Non Pro divisions with Bembom and Tresoldi in the lead Rosana Bembom aboard Back Street Cat owned by Willem Bembom took the lead of the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Non Pro All Ages First Show, while Martina Tresoldi rode Genuine Alley Cat owned by
"NCHA of Italy opened the show season in the renewed CremonaFiere layout and our collaboration will continue all year," says TFY Executive Director Giancarlo Doardo. "For us, it is a great honor to host the cutting association, not only for the long-time friendship between us but also for the sport itself. Competitors come to show from all over Europe and really like the location. We will work alongside the association to further improve the facility, and we aim to face this season with a location that is not only functional but also beautiful. Cutting is growing, with constant incremental rates, and I think that by the end of the year we’ll be able to close the season with a 15% overall increase. This is a ‘marriage’ that works very well and we will do our best, aware that the path we've taken is the right one for everyone."
Federico Fanti & Never Too Suen
Pietro Valeri & Denvers Purdy
Davide Tresoldi to win the Non Pro All Ages Second Show. Both scored a big 75.
The NCHA of Italy 4-year-old Open Class was dominated by Denis Pini who scored a 73 to top the rankings aboard the American Quarter Horse mare Puddy Tags owned by Andrea Parolini.
Youth rider Riccardo Pini piloted his own Merada Dreamcatcher to a 72 score to top the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Youth Class
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Photos by Bonaga Communication
By Chiara Milani
From the NCHA of Italy President
"We got off to a great start, and that's the most important thing. A high number of horses entered this first show, definitely more than we expected so early in the season," said Marco Salvatori, NCHA of Italy President. "We expect an intense season here at CremonaFiere with its new format, as well as one-day jackpot classics. We already have beautiful events planned and, as always, we are very happy that many European riders continue to join us at our shows."
Partner in life and in the cutting world, Salvatori's wife Rosanna added: "We are very happy with this first show's turnout, and we are already working on the upcoming event, the Challenge Futurity, which will take place March 16-19 here in the great Cremona venue."
Rosana Bembom & Back Street Cat
Martina Tresoldi & Genuine Alley Cat
Denis Pini & Puddy Tags
Riccardo Pini & Merada Dreamcatcher
NCHA Of Italy/NCHA Challenge Futurity
Once again the renewed CremonaFiere opened its doors to European cutters competing for the prestigious NCHA of Italy/NCHA Challenge Futurity titles. Open riders had the chance to show the best 4-year-old horses in Europe while the Non Pro division was open to 5-year-olds.
March 16-19, 2023 | CremonaFiere - Italy
Double win for Fanti
Winning the Open Championship was Federico Fanti, who rode to a 143 composite score with both his mounts: One To Three (Third Cutting x Oneta Faye) owned by Damiano Avigni, and ZM Adrian Sannlena (Sannman x Bonita Pistolenas) owned by Massimo Zoppelletto.
“I’m of course very happy; sharing the CoChampionship with both my horses is something to be proud of. The herd was tough and drawing first wasn't an easy task. My second horse [ZM Adrian Sannlena] surprised me a lot. I didn't expect to win with him since he doesn't have much experience in the show pen, but with time he is proving to be more and more solid. Obviously, a special thank you goes to the owners, my team, and the turnbacks that helped in the arena.”
Federico Fanti & One To Three
Federico Fanti & ZM Adrian Sannlena
By Chiara Milani
Traverso claims the Non Pro Championship
With a 146 composite score, Ilaria Traverso and Rosepetalsinthasand (Sannman x Kitty Can Dual) owned by Sergio Traverso won the Non Pro title. “I am at a loss for words to describe this feeling. We bought this mare last year, basically because of her bloodline. She’s a bit difficult, but I had so much fun with her during this show. A big thank you goes to Federico Fanti who trained her all last year, and to Alessandro Fulceri, currently head trainer at our Ongaresca Horses. He’s been riding her for less than two months now but it looks like she fits his training program perfectly.”
Winning the Challenge Futurity Limited Non Pro as well as the Non Pro Reserve Championships with a 145 composite score was Katona Imre of Hungary aboard his own Another Bullet (Once in a Blu Boon x Smooth As A Twist).
With a 141 composite, Asia Boni and her own Dont Even Talk (Quixotes Pep Talk x Shesa Little Cat) were crowned Limited Non Pro Reserve Champions.
Ilaria Traverso & Rosepetalsinthasand
Katona Imre & Another Bullet
Asia Boni & Dont Even Talk
Photos by Bonaga Communication
NCHA of Italy/NCHA Open All Ages First Show
Federico Fanti and Tassa Mia Cat 012 (Cats Quixotes Jack x Uno Tassa Mia) owned by Elisa Artioli. Score 73.
NCHA of Italy/NCHA Open All Ages Second Show
Denis Pini and Genuine Alley Cat (Metallic Cat x Gabreyella) owned by Davide Tresoldi. Score 73.
NCHA of Italy/NCHA Non Pro All Ages First Show
Sara Antonini and Metal Mania (Metallic Cat x Getta Mister) owned by Silvia Viaggi. Score 74.
NCHA of Italy/NCHA Non Pro All Ages Second Show
Gaia Salvatori and Metallic Savanah (Metallic Cat x Savanah Holli) owned by Marco Salvatori. Score 75.
2023 NCHA of Italy Returns to CremonaFiere for Another Great Event
With six nations represented (Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Italy, Principality of Monaco, Switzerland) yet another great cutting show took place in Cremona.
March 20-23,
Valeri and Salvatori win the Open All Ages divisions
Pietro Valeri and Vino Cappuccino scored a 74 to lead the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Open All Ages First Show. With the same score, Gaia Salvatori and Twisted Red Faye topped the Open All Ages Second Show. Both horses are owned by Marco Salvatori.
Girl power hits in the Non Pro divisions with Antonini and Salvatori topping the rankings. Two big 75 scores for Vittoria Antonini aboard Silvia Viaggi’s Trendzetter in the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Non Pro All Ages First Show and Greta Salvatori with Cat Rey Lou, owned by Marco Salvatori, to win the Non Pro All Ages Second Show.
Judge’s Talk
Let’s hear it from NCHA Three Million Dollar Rider and NCHA Riders Hall of Fame Inductee Faron Hightower, who judged the NCHA of Italy Championship.
“I was in Travagliato about 10 years ago and this is my second time over here," shared Hightower. "I found a huge improvement since then, and the riders are doing a really good job. I think many could easily go to the U.S. and be competitive as their level is basically what I see back home. I was impressed by the number of cowgirls and kids here that ride really well. The biggest difference between here and America lies simply in the number: more riders, more horses, and above all more cattle.”
Pietro Valeri & Vino Cappuccino
Gaia Salvatori & Twisted Red Faye
By Chiara Milani
The NCHA of Italy 4-year-old Open Class was dominated by Gianluca Munarini who won with a 73 riding Nosey Man for owner Rosana Bembom. “I bred this horse, and later Rosana [Bembom] purchased him,” Munarini said. “He is a good horse, sometimes a little spooky, but once he starts working the cows he’s perfect. He reads every kind of cow very well, especially the tough ones.”
The NCHA of Italy 5-year-old Non Pro Class was dominated by Ilaria Traverso who scored a 72 to top the leaderboard riding Rosepetalinthesann, a mare owned by Sergio Traverso.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
USA #Spotlight
Salvatori rides to the 2023 NCHA NRR Cat King Cole Super Stakes Amateur Semi Finals.
Marco Salvatori flew back to the U.S., this time to show his Paydey (Stevie Rey Von x Zen And Tonic) in the 2023 NCHA NRR Cat King Cole Super Stakes presented by Beechfork Ranch.
The pair made the Amateur Semi Finals, a success in itself, in particular considering his talented gelding resides in the Staes. “After the wonderful experience at the NCHA Futurity, we tried to compete in the Super Stakes. I'm really happy as it was a great experience; the show went quite well and we made the Semi-Finals. Unfortunately, we missed the Finals by just a few points, but it was my mistake in managing the third cow I cut. The level of competition there is very high, with a lot of entries, and most importantly excellent horses and riders. Having the opportunity to show there also helps one grow and I believe it’s important to be judged there as t is fundamental to really manage the run, even in the smallest details. My horse is a greatminded gelding who is maturing and I love him. At the moment we plan on him staying in the United States with the idea, work permitting, of going back to show soon.”
Vittoria Antonini & Trendzetter
Greta Salvatori & Cat Rey Lou
Gianluca Munarini & Nosey Man
Ilaria Traverso & Rosepetalinthesann
Photos by Bonaga Communication
Photo courtesy of Rosy o’ Grady’s Cutting Horses by Video West Production
The NCHA of Italy/NCHA Derby & Spring Show
The Italian Derby, held during the Salone del Cavallo in Cremona, attracted riders from all over Europe. The cutters also competetd for the Spring Show titles.
May 25-28, 2023 | CremonaFiere - Italy
Annovazzi and Rosy o' Grady's Cutting Horse’s stallion Stevie Reyvenge won the Open Derby Championship. Traverso claimed the the Non Pro Championship aboard Spook A Boon.
Martina Annovazzi & Stevie Reyvenge
Martina
ilaria Traverso & Spook A Boon
Annovazzi and Stevie Reyvenge claim the Open Derby Championship
Winning the 2023 NCHA of Italy/NCHA Open Derby Championship was Italian Professional Martina Annovazzi who rode Stevie Reyvenge (Stevie Rey Von x Pettys Dual Pep) owned by Marco Salvatori to a 145 composite score. One point behind Denis Pini took Reserve honors aboard Andrea Parolini’s Puddy Tags (Hashtag x GS Puddys Boonsmal).
Non Pro Derby
Taking the Non Pro Derby win with a 147 composite score, were Ilaria Traverso and Spook A Boon (Boogie Boon x Spook A Taz) owned by Sergio Traverso. The Italian rider and her second mount Rosepetalsinthesann (Sannman x Kitty Can Dual) also shared the reserve championships with a 143 composite score, along with Asia Boni and her own Dont Even Talk (Quixotes Pep Talk x Shesa Little Cat). The latter also took the Limited Non Pro Derby Championship.
THE SPRING SHOW
Scoring a big 75 in the finals, Denis Pini and Stop Ur Hot (Spots Hot x Tummys Little Cat) owned by Michal
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Denis Pini & Stop Ur Hot
Asia Boni & Dont Even Talk
Photos by Bonaga Communication
By Chiara Milani
Popov won the coveted Spring Show Open Championship.
Pietro Valeri and Marco Salvatori’s Cat Rey Lou (High Brow Cat x Farra Rey) took Reserve.
Winning the $25.000 Limited Open Championship with a 144 composite score on two rounds was Florence Harache of France riding MK Mickey Mouse (Dual Rey x Mk Little Miss Trona). Sara Giudici placed second aboard her own Shining Boonstar (Lenas Starfish x Classic Boonshine).
It took a 74 score in the final, set by Gaia Salvatori and Metallic Savanah (Metallic Cat x Savanah Holli) owned by Marco Salvatori, to claim the Spring Show Non Pro Championship. Sergio Traverso rode his own ML Woodys Belle (Nitas Wood x Kadee Lena Belle) to a 73.5 score to bring home reserve honors.
Harache of France & MK MIckey Mouse
Greta Salvatori & Metallic Savanah
The Top score of the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Derby & Spring Show was a big 76 set by youth rider Riccardo Pini and his own Merada Dreamcatcher in the $15.000 Amateur second show.
The Top Score of the Show
The 2023 NCHA of Italy/NCHA Maturity & Pre Futurity
It was a full week of cutting in CremonaFiere where the 2023 NCHA of Italy/NCHA Maturity & Pre Futurity took place. Gianluca Munarini took the Open Maturity Championship riding Back Street Cat, while Denis Pini rode RP Dreaming Time to top the Open Pre Futurity ranking.
October 5-8, 2022 | CremonaFiere - Italy
Open Maturity
In a field of 16 combinations, Italian Professional Gianluca Munarini rode to a 147 composite score for the Open Maturity win aboard Willem Bembom's Back Street Cat (Metallic Cat x Reyey Cowgirl).
A half point behind, Reserve honors were claimed by Rosana Bembom and Smolding Spook (Spook Smoldin Cat x Sweet Huntress).
Gianluca Munarini & Back Street Cat
Non Pro Maturity
Winning the Non Pro Maturity Championship was Marco Savatori aboard his own mount Highbrow Time (High Brow CD x One Time Soon). The duo won with a 147.5 composite score. Second place honors went to Rosana Bembom, who rode Back Street Cat (Metallic Cat x Reycy Cowgirl), owned by Willem Bembom to a 146 composite score.
$5,000 Novice Horse Maturity
Winning the $5,000 Novice Horse Maturity Championship was Denis Pini aboard Another Bullet (Once in a Blu Boon x Smooth as a Twist) owned by Imre Katona. The duo topped the leaderboard with a 149 composite score.
Tying for the Reserve Championship with a 144 composite was Alessandro Fulceri riding Sergio Traverso's Rosepetalsinthesann (Sannman x Kitty Can Dual), along with Martina Annovazzi aboard Stevie Reyvenge (Stevie Rey Von x Pettys Dual Pep) owned by Marco Salvatori.
MATURITY CHAMPIONS
Winning the $50.000 Amateur Maturity Championship was Vincenzo Fontanili and Bearly A CD Light (CD Lights x Bearlyaboonsmal). Composite score 147.5.
Tying to win the $25.000 Limit Rider
Maturity Co-Championship with a 144 composite score were Vittoria Antonini and Sofies Choice Cat (High Brow Cat x Sofie Rey) along with Anna Koukal and Smart Green Acres (Peppy of Acres x Smart Rey Gal).
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Marco Salvatori & Highbrow Time
Denis Pini & Another Bullet
Photos by Bonaga Communication By Chiara Milani
Riccardo Pini and Merada Dreamcatcher (Spooks Smokin Cat x Ride N Merada) won the $15.000 Amateur Maturity Championship with a 151 composite score .
Posting a 144 composite score to earn the $1.000 Amateur Maturity Championship were Sergio Chiusa and Wild Rey Sunset (Smart Rey Pepto x Duallys Wild).
Asia Boni and Dont Even Talk (Quixotes Pep Talk x Shesa Little Cat) topped the $2.000 Limit Rider Maturity ranking with a 144 composite score.
Cecilia Busi and Pedaltothemedal (Metallic Cat x Fairlea Magnolia Gal) took the win in the the Novice Riders Maturity Championship with a 142 composite score.
#PREFUTURITY
Winnin the 3-year-old Open Pre Futurity Championship with a 73 score is Denis Pini aboard RP Dreaming Time (Woodys Time x Merada Dreamcatcher), owned by his son Riccardo.
One point behind, Martina Annovazzi and Scott To Thrill ( Quixotes Pep Talk x Uno Scootin Dera), owned by Marco Salvatori took the Reserve Championship.
Winning the 4-year-old Non Pro Pre Futurity Championship with a 74 score is Rosana Bembom aboard her own Nosey Man (Sannman x Dualapeno).
One point behind, reserve honors went to Marco Salvatori and his own Pocket Coffish (Hottish x Vino Cappuccino).
Nicola Simone & Tassa Cash MR
Denis Pini & RP Dreaming Time
Rosana Bembom & Nosey Man
Alle Colombare Cutting Trophy
Alle Colombare Once Again Welcomed European Cutters To the Annual NCHA and NCHA of Italy Approved Jackpot
June 24, 2023 | Alle Colombare - Italy
Denis Pini was once again very pleased to host the annual Jackpot at Alle Colombare, where a high number of european cutters enjoyed the facility.
The Champions
Tim Van Ewyk rode Caroline Spickermann's Tinstar (Metallic Cat x Playingun Star) to a 73 score winning the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Open All Ages.
Topping the $25.000 Limit Rider was Matteo Chinaglia aboard his own Pep Lavender (Smart Rey Pepto x Pettys Dual Pep). The duo scored a 72.
Tim Van Ewyk & Tinstar
Matteo Chinaglia & Pep Lavender
www.internationalhorsepress.com
It was a 73 score for Martina Annovazzi and Stevie Reyvenge (Stevie Rey Von x Pettys Dual Pep) owned by Marco Salvatori. The pair topped the NCHA of Italy/NCHA $5,000 Novice Horse Class.
Greta Salvatori scored a big 73 aboard Marco Salvatori’s B Nimble (Dual Smart Rey x Dennys Treasured Freckle) to win the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Non Pro All Ages.
Rosana Bembom and Back Street Cat (Metallic Cat x Reycy Cowgirl) rode to the NCHA of Italy/NCHA $50,000 Amateur win.
Martina Annovazzi & Stevie Reyvenge
Greta Salvatori & B Ninmble
Riccardo Pini & Merada Dreamcatcher
Clelia Maria Viazzani & Little Sann Cat
Rosana Bembom & Back Street Cat
Photos by Bonaga Communication By Chiara Milani
Riccardo Pini and Merada Dreamcatcher (Spooks Smokin Cat x Ride N Merada) scored a big 74 to win the NCHA of Italy/NCHA $15,000 Amateur Class.
Clelia Maria Viazzani and Little Sann Cat (Sannman x SDP Choose The Right) owned by Marilyn Luceri, won the NCHA of Italy/NCHA $2.000 Limit Rider/Any Horse Class with a 72 score.
Topping the NCHA of Italy Novice Riders class was Paola Longoni aboard Maria Zucconi’s Pedaltothemedal (Metallic Cat x Fairlea Magnolia Gal).
The NCHA of Italy/NCHA Youth Champions were Nikki Vossen and Doc Stylish (More Than Stylish x Hickory Sanote) owned by Brigitte Vossen. The duo scored a 72.
The NCHA of Italy/NCHA $1,000 Amateur Class saw Marco Bindelli aboard his own CD Skipper (CD Super Dually x Smart Like A Hickory) take the win.
Nikki Vossen & Doc Stylish
Marco Bindelli & CD Skipper
Paola Longoni & Pedaltothemedal
The 2023 NCHA of Italy/NCHA Futurity
Closing the European Cutting Show Season Was the NCHA of Italy/NCHA Futurity and European Championship Held In CremonaFiere
October 31 - November 4, 2023 | CremonaFiere - Italy
The Open Futurity
Conquering the 2023 Lg Invest/NCHA Futurity Open Championship were Denis Pini and RP Dreaming Time (Woodys Time x Merada Dreamcatcher) owned by Riccardo Pini. The pair marked a 292 composite (first go 147; second go 145) to take the win. Winning the Open Futurity Reserve Championship as
well as the Limited Open Championship with a 286 score was Danilo Lanari riding LM Mayweather (Holly Bob Time x Skeet My Bro), owned by La Masseria dei Cavalieri.
Limited Open Reserve Champions was Daniele Gardelli who rode SF Top Cat (Bamacat x Especialyta Bar), owned by Giuseppe Papetti, to a 247 composite score.
www.internationalhorsepress.com
The Non Pro Futurity
Sharing the Lg Invest/NCHA Futurity Non Pro Co-Championship were Gaia Salvatori and Stevie Reyvenge (Stevie Rey Von x Pettys Dual Pep), owned by Marco Salvatori, along with Rosana Bembom and her own Nosey Man
(Sannman x Dualapeno). Both duos scored a 289.5
The Limited Non Pro Championship went to Andrea Parolini, who rode his own Puddy Tags (Hashtags x Gs Puddys Boonsmal) to a 285 score to bring home the title.
Reserve honors went to Milan Klimcik and his own My Blue Spirit (Sannman x Sealy Blue).
www.internationalhorsepress.com
Gaia Salvatori & Stevie Reyvenge
Rosana Bembom & Nosey Man
Danilo Lanari & LM Mayweather
Photos by Bonaga Communication By Chiara Milani
Andrea Parolini & Puddy Tags
European Championship #highlights
Winning the NCHA European Open Championship were Pietro Valeri and Vino Cappuccino (Peptoboonsmal x Mocha Cappuccino) owned by Matteo Chinaglia. The Italian professional rode his mount to a 148 score.
Valeri & Vino Cappuccino
Topping the NCHA European Non Pro Championship was Gaia Salvatori riding Metallic Savanah (Metallic Cat x Savanah Holli) owned by Marco Salvatori.
Pietro
Gaia Salvatori & Metallic Savanah
Greta Salvatori and Cat Rey Lou (High Brow Cat x Farra Rey), F/F European Bridleless Challenge Champions with a 150 score.
In Loving Memory of Federico Fanti
On October 2, 2023, the European Western horse world stopped due to the premature passing of one of the most active trainers in the European Cutting and Reined Cow Horse associations.
Federico Fanti, was born 35 years ago in a family that has always owned horses and which without hesitation has always supported his and his sister's passion. In the beginning, Federico's interest in the equestrian world was more about trail riding on the beautiful hills where he grew up, but his desire for knowledge, and his curiosity, led him to meet Beppe Tassara, a horseman with whom he shared a path aimed at breaking colts and roping.
Fascinated by the world of cutting horses, he then decided to specialize in cow horses, first with Professionals Gianluca Munarini and then with Denis Pini, with whom he worked alongside for years and who he has always described as his mentor in the arena. In 2016 he started his career as a professional and his tenacity helped him to quickly claim countless titles, including the prestigious NCHA European Triple Crown. He is the only rider from the old continent to have achieved this result when, riding Spook A Boon, the young trainer won the NCHA of Italy Futurity, Challenge Futurity and Derby. His desire to grow was unstoppable, so he also started to compete in reined cow horse events, quickly managing to also reap victories in this discipline new to him.
He was a highly respected horseman in the industry, who actively served the Western horse industry in many ways, always making himself available without hesitation and without ever giving up. For Federico, everything related to horses was not an effort; it was a joy! He shared his knowledge, his intuitions, and his techniques with anyone who wanted to learn, looking at every new day as a chance to learn and grow.
The western world that he loved so much will deeply miss him in and out of the arena.
