RIDERS AND AMERICAN QUARTER HORSES FROM AROUND THE WORLD CONVERGE ON OKLAHOMA CITY

The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 3, 2008 – Sixteen countries. Nineteen riders. One event.

The world returns to Oklahoma City this week for the 2008 FEI World Reining Masters. This $100,000-added event is set for Thursday, December 4, at the Oklahoma State Fair Park.

Rudi Kronsteiner of Austria will again ride Rosanne Sternberg’s American Quarter Horse stallion Smart Spook to defend his 2007 championship title, which was the first time someone outside the United States had won it. But also vying for the honor will be 18 other riders, all competing on American Quarter Horses from five countries.

“There is a tremendous cast of talent in terms of riders and horses,” says Frank Costantini, Chair of the FEI Reining Committee. “It will be a great night of competition in Oklahoma City and all riders should be proud of their accomplishments in making it to this point.”

This annual competition, which began in 2004, finds the best individual reiner in the world. According to a point system, the top rider in each National Federation qualifies to compete in the World Reining Masters.

The United States, Canada, Italy, Germany and Switzerland are allowed to send their top two riders to compete in the open division only. These five countries were finalists at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Other countries’ National Federations can send one rider, and these riders are eligible to compete in the open and restricted divisions.

This year’s World Reining Masters features some of the most elite reiners in the world.

Here is the order of how they will ride on December 4:

Rider……………………………….Country………………….Horse/Owner

1. Aleksander Jarmula………….Poland……………….KR Rowd Tee, Laurie Hauck

2. Rieky Young……………………..The Netherlands…..Gunners Pearl, David Silva

3. Rudi Kronsteiner …………………Austria………………….Smart Spook, Roseanne Sternberg

4. Renata Ricci………………………..Brazil…………………….Dun It At Dawn, Jennifer Kersey

5. Martin Larcombe………………….Australia……………….Tinsel Nic, Roseanne Sternberg

6. Sylvia Rzepka……………………..Germany……………….Doctor Zip Nic, Zip Nic Partners

7. Jeannette Kraehenbuehl…….Switzerland…………..Don Julio Whiz, Rosanne Sternberg

8. Pavel Orel……………………………Czech Republic……Cielo San Lewis, Roseanne Sternberg

9. Yves Fromont………………………France…………………..Dun It Smart,    Gene Minton

10. Nico Hoermann…………………Germany……………….Setting Off Sparks, Roseanne Sternberg

11.  Bernard Fonck…………………..Belgium…………………Night Deposit Chex, Hilldale Farm

12. Sanne Klindt………………………Denmark……………….Chics Voodoo, Alan Stewart Jr.

13. Craig Schmersal………………..United States…………Mr Dual Rey, Holly Casey

14. Fauntly Garrido………………….Dominican Rep……..Im Genuinely Smart, Kimberly Tillman

15. Francois Gauthier………………Canada…………………Snow Gun, Andre De Bellefeuille

16. Sarit Porat…………………………..Israel…………………….Ima Little Tangy, Susan Fiely

17. Evelyne Roethlisberger……..Switzerland…………..Ruffle Me Up, Greg Hill

18. Doug Allen…………………………Great Britain………….Yelena My Way, Francesca Sternberg

19. Jordan Larson……………………United States…………Lena Gallo, Lapke Quarter Horses

The best place to find updates, photos and coverage of the 2008 FEI Reining Masters is at www.aqha.com.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.