Lexington, Ky. - Ready to compete in the 2017 SVAG FEI World Reining Championships for Junior and Young Riders August 9-12, this group of up-and-coming junior riders is prepared to impress as they spin, slide, and rollback into Givrins, Switzerland. Gain an insider perspective and learn more about the members of the Platinum Performance U.S. Junior Team: 

Sam Flarida (Springfield, Ohio) is an accomplished 14-year-old who started riding and showing with his dad when he was nine years old. In his short career, Flarida is already a three-time All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion and has placed in both ancillary and aged horse National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) events. Flarida is proud to ride Footwork Revolution, a 2010 Quarter Horse Stallion owned by his lifelong friend Katsy Leeman. "Footwork" has won over $100,000 in both Open and Non Pro NRHA events. In their first time competing together, Flarida and Footwork qualified by winning the Syracuse, New York qualifier. When Flarida is not riding, he loves to play baseball and swim with his sister and friends. He also spends a lot of time with his two dogs, Milo and Deeks, and enjoys his family (Dad, Shawn; Mom, Michele; brother, Cody; and sister, Courtney) and horse farm. Flarida is also a high honors student at Clark Shawnee Middle School.

Emma Lane (Gates, N.C.) is 14 years old and will be entering the tenth grade in the fall of 2017. Lane has been riding since she was big enough to sit in the saddle and showed her first reiner when she was just eight years old. In 2016, she became the NRHA Youth 13 and Under World Champion. At the FEI World Reining Championships, Lane will be riding Buddy Lane’s Gunner Gump, a 2008 Quarter Horse gelding. Lane not only rides her own horses at home, but also plays varsity basketball and soccer, and is on the yearbook staff at her school. In the future, Lane hopes to participate on a college equestrian team and study to become a neonatal intensive care physician assistant or registered nurse.

Emilia Reutimann (Sherrills Ford, N.C.) is 15 years old and attends Statesville Christian School, where she served as the National Junior Society President for the 2016/2017 school year. In her numerous years as an equestrian athlete, Reutimann has gathered a variety of equine accolades, including the 2016 Congress Champion in the National Youth Activity Team Tournament Reining and Reserve Champion in 13 and under reining. She was the 2016 Level 1 Buckeye Reining Series Champion, as well as the 2017 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Youth 14-18 winner and Youth Challenge Champion. Additionally, Reutimann was the 2017 NRBC scholarship winner and currently serves on the Board of Directions for the North Carolina Quarter Horse Youth Association. Reutimann will ride Black Hails Gold, Lisa Reutimann’s 2010 Quarter Horse gelding at the FEI World Reining Championships in August.