FEI World Equestrian Games Update: Reining

With 74 competitors from 22 countries, reining made its spectacular appearance on the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games scene. The cowboys were proud to show themselves to the world and the world was happy to see them. In front of some 8,000 excited spectators, team USA (Dell Hendricks / Starbucks Sidekick; Tim McQuay / Mister Nicadual; Matt Mills / Easy Otie Whiz; Aaron Ralston / Smart Paul Olena) became the 2006 World Team Reining Champions with a total score of 665.0. Canada (Luke Gagnon / Lil Santana; François Gautier / Snow Gun ; Lance Griffin / Whiz N Tag Chex ; Duane Latimer / Hang Ten Surprise) take the silver (664.0) and Italy ( Dario Carmignani / Skeets Dun; Adriano Meacci / Docs Tivio Hancock; Christian Perez / Dualin For Me; Marco Ricotta / Peppy Secolo) are in bronze (656.0).

Reining became an FEI discipline in 2001 and made its big international debut at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games at Jerez. The number of international competitions has grown from 3 in 2001 to 43 in 2005 and the discipline is consistently expanding. Competitors from the Czech Republic, Poland, Israel or South Africa were part of today’s competition.

The secret behind the USA’s victory are the four team members, all of whom are very strong competitors. They helped each other to be good ensuring an overall consistency which earned them the team gold.

Apart from having captured the silver, team Canada are fortunate to have Duane Latimer, the best rider of the day (225.5) on their team.

Some have difficulties associating the image of Italy with that of cowboys. But Reining is an open sport where there is room for passion, new sensations and Italian cowboys.

Quite unusually for horsesport, all of today’s champions were men. The girls are very much part of the show though with Switzerland and its all-girls team in fifth place.

Reining and its small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360 degree spins done in place, back ups and the exciting sliding stops provided for a great show but more is yet to come with the Individual final which will take place on Sunday, the final WEG day.