Great Britain dominated the second individual qualifying round at the FEI World Reining Championship presented by John Deere, held Tuesday at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The top qualifying score of 217.5 went to Great Britain’s Lee Rutter riding Setting Off Sparks, while his countryman Doug Allen with Don Julio Whiz had the second highest score of 216.5.
Twenty horses had been given this second chance at qualifying for Thursday’s individual finals. Sixteen horse and rider teams had already qualified by posting high marks during the team reining competition.
Other riders qualifying Tuesday included Frederik Thomsson of Sweden, marking the first time his country has ever sent a rider to the individual finals. Australia’s Warren Backhouse and the Netherlands’ Hubertus Heule rounded out the qualifiers.
Anneli Silverstope, the Swedish chef d’equipe, was thrilled about the historic qualification. “I was sitting up there (in the stands) and was so nervous for Fred, counting the riders and (thinking) oh, ‘I hope, I hope,’ and I did make a text just to make it clear, he is in the finals. When we knew he was, I just texted away, and I hope it’s all over Sweden now,” she said.
Riders who qualified for the individual finals during the team reining competition are:
? Shawn Flarida, USA, riding RC Fancy Step (Wimpys Little Step-Sonita Wilson by Doc Wilson)
? Stefano Massignan, Italy, riding Yellow Jersey (Wimpys Little Step-Ms Clara Melody by Mr Melody Jac)
? Tom McCutcheon, USA, riding Gunners Special Nite (Colonels Smoking Gun-Mifs Doll by Mifillena)
? Bernard Fonck, Belgium, riding BA Reckless Chick (Hollywood Reckless-High Brows Chick by High Brow Hickory)
? Craig Schmersal, USA, riding Mister Montana Nic (Reminic-Mollie Montana by Montana Doc)
? Duane Latimer, Canada, riding Dun Playin Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex-Brennas Dunit Fancy by Hollywood Dun It)
? Sylvia Rzepka, Germany, riding Doctor Zip Nic (Reminic-Sugar Jodie Doll by Mr Gay Sugar Bar)
? Rudolf Kronsteiner, Austria, riding Einsteins Revolution (Great Resolve-Fly Flashy Jac by Boggies Flashy Jac)
? Grischa Ludwig, Germany, riding Hot Smokin Chex (Nu Chex To Cash-Snip O Gun by One Gun)
? Tim McQuay, USA, riding Hollywoodstinseltown (Hollywood Dun It-Miss Tinseltown by Great Red Pine)
? Martin Mühlstätter, Austria, riding Wimpys Little Buddy (Wimpys Little Step-All Thats Dun by Hollywood Dun It)
? Ann Poels, Belgium, riding Whizdom Shines (Topsail Whiz-Setting Off Sparks by Shining Spark)
? Rieky Young-Van Osch, the Netherlands, riding Burnt Starlight (Gallo Del Cielo-NU Playgirl by Freckles Playboy)
? Shawna Sapergia, Canada, riding This Chics On Top (Smart Chic Olena-This Chex On Top by Topsail Whiz)
? Wellington Jesus Teixeira, Brazil, riding SJ Rodopio (Brazilian Criollo)
? Martin Larcombe, Australia, riding Top Prize Prince (Freckles Top Prize-Miss Dot Brennas by Torijac Kid)
Here’s some immediately-after-their run comments from the riders who qualified during Tuesday’s round:
? “It was do or die today. He was awesome out there. If I wanted to get into the finals, I just had to go hard today and try and get there.” – Australian Warren Backhouse on Whizs Bronze Star (West Coast Whiz-The Bronze Star by Rollin With The Flow)
? “We had to go for it, and we went, and she followed, and it was good. That’s what you’ve got to do at a show like this I guess. We had nothing to lose. There are only five spots for that finals, and I for sure wanted to be in it.” – Dutch rider Hubertus Heule on Crome Shiner (Custom Crome-Shining Dancer by Shining Spark)
? “He’s a very nice horse to be around. I’m privileged that the owners let me ride him here. I’m also very thankful for all the people who worked so hard to make reining a part of these games, and all the efforts that have gone in, both from the NRHA and the AQHA and to all the sponsors and all the volunteers who make it possible for us to be here today.” – Sweden’s Frederik Thomsson on Gallos Stylish Star (Gallo Del Cielo-A Stylish Queen by Docs Stylish Oak)
? “I had a couple of penalities the other day, and the main goal was just to clean those up and keep the manuevers that were strong strong and then try to build on the ones that were weaker. And everything went according to plan.” – Great Britain’s Doug Allen on Don Julio Whiz (Topsail Whiz-Ms Maggie Jac by Hollywood Jac 86)
? “Never once did she ever think about doing anything other than what I asked, which is a perfect reining horse, really. Just awesome, an awesome ride, awesome mare. I give credit to the horse, because she’s a good horse. I had a good draw, coming in 18th, so I could see all the other scores that went, but also knew then I had some work to do. I couldn’t go cruise around. I had to go put a score in. That was the plan, really.” – British rider Lee Rutter on Setting Off Sparks (Shining Spark-Buco Little Bit by Bucolena)
Look for more great coverage here on Thursday, when the individual medalists are named. We’ll keep you updated on Facebook, as well as on Twitter at @AQHA and @americashorse.