RUDI KRONSTEINER AND SMART SPOOK WIN FEI WORLD REINING MASTERS FOR SECOND YEAR

The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 5, 2008 – Austrian Rudi Kronsteiner and American Quarter Horse Smart Spook returned to Oklahoma City for the 2008 FEI World Reining Masters to defend the title they won last year. On December 4, Kronsteiner was among 19 riders, representing 15 nations, who competed for the championship title.

The 2007 win was the first time a non-American had won the event, and Kronsteiner and “Spook,” owned by Rosanne Sternberg of the United Kingdom, had to do it in a three-way runoff with Casey Hinton and Gabe Hutchins, marking a 227 before the Austrian and the stallion won both the open and restricted gold medal.

In this year’s competition, Kronsteiner and Spook entered the Oklahoma State Fair Park coliseum arena third in the draw. The pair marked an impressive 221, and for the next 16 riders, it would hold up. Only Americans Jordan Larson and Lena Gallo, owned by Lapke Quarter Horses, got close to the score with a 218.

Kronsteiner defended his title, being named the 2008 FEI World Reining Masters Gold Medalist, with Larson claiming the silver and Craig Schmersal, another Team USA participant, taking home the bronze. Schmersal rode Mr Dual Rey, owned by Holly Casey, and had a 216.5 score.

This annual competition, which began in 2004, features some of the most elite reiners 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 were 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.

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