Oklahoma City, OK – December 3, 2009 – The world of Reining converged in Oklahoma City on Thursday, December 3 at the FEI World Reining Masters where 20 top riders from 18 nations competed on 20 world class reining horses for one night of high caliber competition! From the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland to the rain forests of Brazil, riders from across the globe came on a quest for International glory. The excitement was intense as the 20 riders hit the arena in the 2009 $100,000 added FEI World Reining Masters Final. The event was held during the 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma thanks to the efforts of the National Reining Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Austria’s Rudi Kronsteiner and Smart Spook, 2007 and 2008 FEI World Reining Masters open and restricted open division champions, marked an impressive 224 to repeat their winning ways. Owner Rosanne Sternberg graciously supplied the 2001 stallion for the event, plus three more horses. The duo took home a total of $26,750 for their efforts.
Team Belgium’s Bernard Fonck and De Bruin, Gattuso & Vandorp’s Great Sun Burst marked a 221 for second in the open and restricted open divisions for $19,000. Kaitlin Townsend’s Whizs Bronze Star and Team USA’s Pete Kyle took home $9,750 for their third place showing in the open division. The Netherland’s Rieky Young piloted Jim Babcock’s Cowboy Smarts to a 216.5 for third in the restricted open division and $4,750.

Fans also saw reiners from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

The World Reining Masters Final is a thrilling competition involving the best individual reiners in the world. All have qualified, according to a point system, in their National Federations. Once qualified, the riders advance to the Masters to compete for $100,000 in prize money in two divisions along with the honor of representing their country. The two divisions of competition include the $75,000-added open and $25,000-added restricted open. The five countries that were finalists in the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, are allowed to send their top two riders to compete in the open division only. These countries are the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Other countries can send one rider, and are eligible to compete in the open and restricted divisions. A complete list of entries is shown below.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) is the international body governing equestrian sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee. It is the sole controlling authority for all international events in Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, Reining and Para-Equestrian. FEI-approved Reining competitions started in 2001 making the Sport the only western discipline approved by the organization. For the first time ever in the history of equestrian sports, the FEI welcomed Team and Individual Reining Competition to the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games.

NAAC Limited Non Pro Champion
The Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show announced one more champion today – in the Limited Non Pro. Kathy Barker had a solid showing on Dream It Magnum. The duo marked a 214.5 for owner Larry Barker of Whitesboro, Texas. Jon Gilbert and Cielo San Lewis took the reserve championship honors with a 213.5. Barker and Gilbert represent the South Central and Southwest regions respectively.

Watch the live webcast, videos of the top five runs each day, keep tabs on the leaders and find out the latest news at nrhafuturity.com, facebook.com/nrhareining or twitter.com/nrha.

The 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show runs through December 5 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan®; Arenus, Cimarron Trailers; Classic Equine; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Purina Mills; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Company; SmartPak and Wimpys Little Step.

Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit www.nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.

FEI Open Division Results
Place / BackNo / Rider / Horse / ScoreTot / Owner / Location
1 / 1401 / Kronsteiner, R / Smart Spook / 224 / Sternberg, R / England / $18,750 – Austria
2 / 1402 / Fonck, B / Great Sun Burst / 221 / De Bruin Gattuso And Vandorp / Aubrey TX / $13,500 – Belgium
3 / 1418 / Kyle, P / Whizs Bronze Star / 219 / Townsend, K / Argyle TX / $9,750 – USA

FEI Restricted Open Division Results
Place / BackNo / Rider / Horse / ScoreTot / Owner / Location
1 / 1401 / Kronsteiner, R / Smart Spook / 224 / Sternberg, R / England / $8,000 – Austria
2 / 1402 / Fonck, B / Great Sun Burst / 221 / De Bruin, Gattuso And Vandorp / Aubrey TX / $5,500 – Belgium
3 / 1415 / Young, R / Cowboy Smarts / 216.5 / Babcock, J / Valley View TX / $4,750 – NED

NAAC Limited Non Pro
Place / BackNo / Rider / Horse / ScoreTot / Owner / Location / Money / Region
1 / 1049 / Barker, K / Dream It Magnum / 214.5 / Barker, L / Whitesboro TX / $92.50 / South Central
2 / 1242 / Gilbert, J / Cielo San Lewis / 213.5 / Gilbert, J / Dewey AZ / $67.69 / Southwest
3 / 1107 / Widener, P / Great King Pine / 213 / Widener, K / Columbia Falls MT / $40.97 / Southeast
3 / 1250 / Rominski, D / Pequeno Conquistador /. 213 / Rominski, D / $40.97 / St Marys Point MN / North Central

Limited Non Pro
Place / BackNo / Rider / Horse / ScoreTot / Owner / Location / Money / Region
1 / 1209 / Ordner III, F / Dunitinbrightlight / 214.5 / Silva, Sr., F / Tolland CT / $268.87 / South Central
2 / 1049 / Barker, K / Dream It Magnum / 214.5 / Barker, L / Whitesboro TX / $163.66 / South Central
3 / 1242 / Gilbert, J / Cielo San Lewis / 213.5 / Gilbert, J / Dewey AZ / $122.75 / Southwest

NRHA / Markel Insurance Breeders Showcase Select Sale
Consignor / Horse / Buyer / Location / Price
Lorenzo Lotti, agent for Fausto Mattioli / FM Master Spook (Smart Spook x Colonel Mistress by Great Master Wake – half brother to Master Snapper LTE $69,050) / Tish Fappani / San Marcos CA / $41,000

Sale Total – $765,000