The number of countries represented in the Reining competition at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany, doubled from Reining’s inaugural debut at the 2002 WEG held in Jerez, Spain.
Reiners from around the world, including the Eastern European countries of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, rode for a total purse of $65,000 EURO under the watchful eyes of five international judges: Ralf Hesselschwerdt (GER), Sylvia Katschker (AUT), Jan Boogaerts (BEL), Patti Carter (CAN) and Allen Mitchels (USA).
All teams consisted of four riders with the exception of Germany who only had three. However, the low score is dropped and the remaining three are tallied. Since Germany did not have the luxury of a dropped scored, each German contestant had to do his best. Undoubtedly encouraged by the “home field” advantage and the thundering applause from the standing-room-only crowd of spectators, Germany failed to medal by just a half point!
With a combined score of 665, Team U.S.A. won the Gold Medal, edging out the Silver medalists, Team Canada, by just one point. Team Italy earned the Bronze with a combined score of 656. Team Germany placed fourth with a score of 655.5 and Team Switzerland, comprised of four women, earned a total of 651.5 points to finish in the top five!
Team U.S.A. had two “old pros,” NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Tim McQuay and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks. In addition to their Million Dollar Rider status, both McQuay and Hendricks have won the prestigious NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK.
Team U.S.A. also had two riders who were enjoying their very first international competition: Aaron Ralston and Matt Mills. Each contributed to the win and all will advance to the Individual Competition (consisting of the top 20 scoring riders) slated for Sunday afternoon.
Dell Hendricks rode Starbucks Sidekick by Smart Starbuck and owned by Adair Reiners, LLC; Aaron Ralston, who logged U.S.A.’s highest score of 223.5, rode his wife Meg’s Smart Paul Olena by Smart Chic Olena. Tim McQuay wowed the crowd on Jerry Kimmel’s Mister Nicadual by Mister Dual Pep and Matt Mills rode Easy Otie Whiz by Topsail Whiz and owned by Outwest Stallion Station/Bobbie Cook.
Team Canada was well represented by Lance Griffin, a Non Pro competitor, riding his own Whiz N Tag Chex by Topsail Whiz. Luke Gagnon rode Lil Santana by Lil Ruf Peppy and Francois Gauthier rode Snow Gun by NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Gunner (AQHA Colonels Smoking Gun). Both horses are owned by Andre de Bellefeuille. The high score of the competition, a 225.5, was earned by Team Canada’s NRHA Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer riding Manntana LLC’s Hang Ten Surprize.
Team Italy’s riders included Marco Ricotta riding Peppy Secolo (Peppyseco) for AM Syndicate, Christian Perez, riding Dualin For Me (Dual Peppy) owned by Mancone QH, Dario Carmignani aboard Andrea Castrucci’s Skeets Dun (Hesa Sonofa Dun) and Adriano Meacci riding Docs Tivio Hancock (Little Pie Jac) for Lorenzo De Simone.
Team Germany’s three riders included Grischa Ludwig riding Jutta Weckmuller’s BV Smart Innuendo (Puro Chic), Nico Hoermann riding Lil Ruf Cody (Lil Ruf Peppy) for Rolf Reinschmidt and Sylvia Rzepka riding Peter Prokes’ Golden Mc Jac (Jac O Rima).
Team Switzerland consisted of two sisters, Selina and Carmen Schultheiss, Jeannette Kraehenbuehl and Evelyne Rothlisberger who logged the team’s highest score (220) on Daniel Straumann’s Gallo Pequeno by Gallo Del Cielo. Selina rode Dunit Sugar Quixote by Hollywood Dun It for Willem J. Langendoen. Carmen rode Flites Enterprise (Chex Enterprise) owned by Carmen Schultheiss and Jeannette rode her 2004 NRHA Non Pro Reserve World Champion, ARC Golden Boy (Surprise Enterprise).
With the exception of Canada’s Snow Gun, all horses on the top five teams were American Quarter Horses.
The FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, was on hand for the last several competitors. She joyfully watched Duane Latimer and Hang Ten Surprize earn the day’s highest score and, showing her appreciation for the event, affectionately patted each horse as the awards were presented.
The Reining competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games was a resounding success. The reining horse once again proved its tremendous appeal to people who love a good horse. It seems that “whoa” is understood in any language and the admiration for the exciting sport of Reining is worldwide!
