Kreuth, Germany - The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity hosted ancillary classes in the $15,000 added Open, $7,500 added Non Pro, $1,000 added Novice Horse Open Level 2 and $1,000 added Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 this week. The $15,000 added Open Champion is Volker Schmitt (GER) riding Chic Magnetic. The two scored a 228 earning both the NRHA Lawson trophy and $4,653 in prize money. Bernard Fonck (BEL) and Kitas Spark claimed the Reserve Champion title scoring a...

Kreuth, Germany – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity & NRHA Show welcomed ancillary competition today with the $500 added Limited Open, $3,500 added Intermediate Non Pro and $5,000 added Intermediate Open. In a field of 27 Limited Open riders, the winner came from Italy: Mirjam Giraudini riding her stallion ARC Doc Red Oak. They scored a 215.5 for the win. Giraudini has been a tremendously successful all around competitor for many years, earning multiple AQHA...

Nina Lill and GB Jacs Bond. (NRHA.) Kreuth, Germany – The Consolation for the $187,000 added National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Open Futurity offered plenty of fine reining for visitors today. It was FEI European Champion Nina Lill (GER) who rode to a top score of 220 astride GB Jacs Bond (owner Jan Gerbig). The gelding by GB Jac out of Dr Bonds Bessie was bred by Daniela Schurrer and earned the Western Event Snaffle Bit Level 2 Open Futurity Champion title last year. The duo...

Kreuth, Germany – The second section of the $187,000 added Open Futurity go round of the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity & NRHA Show did not witness changes on the leader board today. Finest Copyshot and Rudi Kronsteiner (AUT) are still leading. The mare by I Am Shotgunner, owned by Anja Deutzmann, scored a 222.5 yesterday. However, there was a change for second place in Level 4 Open go round. Time To Mark Big (Big Checks To Cash x Shes Markin Time, owner Manuel...

Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) had a very full and exciting week of competition during week 11. The FTI WEF hosts the best that the sports of show jumping, hunters, and equitation have to offer in 12 rings of competition. Laura Kraut and Cedric Capture $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center experienced one of its biggest crowds ever on Saturday night as more than 7,000 spectators filled the stands to watch...

Meredith Darst with Won Up and Mapleside Magic Dancer (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL - It is the last day of action for week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which means that numerous championships were awarded throughout the day. One place where there was a particularly large amount of awards being given out was Pony Land. Rings 11 and 12 were packed with children and their ponies and family members. Competition was fierce as they vied for some last minute points in their...

Mario Deslauriers and Cella. (Photo by Sportfot.) Wellington, FL Week 11 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with a victory for Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Cella in the $30,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale. Deslauriers and Cella, owned by Jane F. Clark, were the only pair to master the course with double clear rounds for the win. Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week and concluded the...

Ocala, FL - Joe Yoder driving Jack Wetzel’s pair of Gelderlanders won his first USEF National Pair Championship Sunday at the CAI Live Oak. After finishing second in dressage and winning the marathon, Yoder went into the final Cones phase with a 15-point lead over Katherin Dancer. Three balls down incurred 12 penalties for the young man who just recently relocated from Bozeman, Montana, to Aiken, SC, to drive for Wetzel. Yoder squeaked in just under the 3 minute time allowed to secure his win....

Rudi Kronsteiner and Finest Copyshot. (Photo courtesy NRHA.) Kreuth, Germany – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity & NRHA Show started in Kreuth, Germany today with the first section of the $187,000 added Open Futurity go round. A total of 81 four-year-old reining horses from all over Europe were shown in Ostbayernhalle to kick off the first day of the weeklong show. Austrian Rudi Kronsteiner, 2010 NRHA European Futurity Level 4 Open Champion, had the best run...

Laura Kraut and Cedric (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center experienced one of its biggest crowds ever on Saturday night as more than 7,000 spectators filled the stands to watch Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric race to victory in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* during week eleven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Kraut and Cedric won two grand prix classes in a row earlier in the circuit with victories in the $78,000...