Jerez de la Frontera – September 22, 2002 – Twenty five horses advanced to the clean slate finals of the Reining Championships held at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. Five teams - representing Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada and the United States – were in the running for the Gold team medals. Individual medals were at stake for the 20 team members as well as the top five individual riders of teams that did not qualify.

The competition began at 9:00 a.m – a bit early for Spaniards on a Sunday morning, but by 11 a.m. there was standing room only and a very enthusiastic crowd including HRH Spain’s Queen Sofia and HRH La Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbon.

In team competition, the low score is dropped and the three remaining scores are added for the final score. Team USA earned the winning composite of 657.5 and the Gold by virtue of Craig Schmersal’s 217 on Tidal Wave Jack owned by the B.S. Syndicate, a 219 earned by Tom McCutcheon aboard Conquistador Whiz for George Shifrin, and Shawn Flarida’s 221.5 ride on Mike Harper’s San Jo Freckles.

According to McCutcheon, “We wanted to be as solid as we could be and show 100% because in the past we’ve seen Team Canada and Team Italy compete. We knew they were capable of marking a big score and didn’t take anything for granted.”

Team Canada won the the Silver Medal with a composite of 650 earned by Shawna Sapergia’s 219 on her stallion Pretty Much Eagle, Patrice St-Onge’s 217 on Slip Me Another Kiss owned by Veronica St-Onge and Jason Grimshaw’s 214 on Listo Pollito Lena owned by Robert Thompson.

Team Italy logged a 646 for the Bronze medal. Dario Carmignani riding Frozen Sailor for Angelucci Quarter Horses earned a 217. Nic Cordioli rode RS Little Red Jaba for Giampiero Isasca and earned a 215.5 and Adriano Meacci, riding Jodie Tamara for Maurizio Silvestri, added 213.5 to the composite.

Shawn Flarida’s 221.5 on San Jo Freckles, a 6-year-old American Quarter Horse Association sorrel stallion, earned the Individual Gold. “The competition was good,” said Shawn, “I was really pleased with my horse. I pushed him hard because I knew how strong Tom’s horse was. It was fun to be out there.”

Shawna Sapergia and Tom McCutcheon had to run off the for Silver and Bronze. Tom and Conquistador Whiz earned a 219 for the Silver, Shawna logged a 216.5 for the Bronze. Shawna was the only woman in the top three teams and when asked how running off for second and third place felt like, she answered that “it feels the same for whatever place you run off for. It is a new situation for us but we knew that if there was a medal place to go for, it just had to be done.”

The World Equestrian Games marked the first time reining was included as a medal event in an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) event of this magnitude. The World Equestrian Games are held every four years opposite the Olympics. Michael Stone, Assistant Secretary General of the FEI, has been a keen supporter of reining, helping the sport to gain acceptance in the FEI. “I watched the entire reining,” said Stone, “from beginning to end – and now my seven year old daughter Ellen wants to become a reiner!¨

The enthusiasm was contagious and for many there was a sort of awe at being part of such a historic event. Tom McCutcheon believes inclusion in the World Equestrian Games “gives us unbelievable access to a whole new group of people giving the sport we reiners all know and love the credibility it deserves.”

Team Italy’s Adriano Meacci thanked the FEI for “allowing reining to be part of the World Equestrian Games” acknowledging that this will ensure the future of reining on the international scene. “Being behind our ‘mentors’, the Americans and the Canadians, is a victory in itself," added Meacci.

NRHA President Brian Dygert said that “Being approved by the FEI gives our sport the structure, the organization, the opportunity for true medal competition, but even more important brings all horse sports together.”

The breathtaking awards presentation saw HRH La Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbon presenting the Gold Medals to the winners and the Special Plaques to the grooms. She was assisted in the presentation by Antonio Ortiz, Director of Jerez 2002. The reining competition held during the WEG was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Classic S Ranch, Germany, and was managed by the National Reining Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.

The National Reining Horse Association is the worldwide governing body of reining, responsible for promoting the sport, working to insure the highest standards of competition. With corporate support from Cinch, Sundowner Trailers, Saddlesmith, Profile Nutrition, Horse & Rider magazine, Markel Insurance, Pfizer Animal Health, Quarter Horse News, Kiser Arena Specialists, State Line Tack, nrha.reiningnet.com and Classic Equine the NRHA continues to educate its members and the public about reining. For information on the NRHA visit the web site at www.nrha.com