American Quarter Horses Dominate Reining Championships at World Equestrian Games

Jerez de la Frontera, Spain - September 24, 2002 - The American Quarter Horse reigned over the World Equestrian Games and dominated the reining competition during the first-ever reining world championships held in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The debut of reining at the World Equestrian Games brought standing-room only crowds and numerous dignitaries including Her Royal Highness (HRH) Spain's Queen Sofia and HRH La Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbon.

During the medals presentation on Sunday, September 22, Team USA was presented the Gold medals after claiming the world championship with a total score of 657.5. Presentations were made by HRH La Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbon assisted by Antonio Ortiz, Director of Jerez 2002.

Team USA, Tom McCutcheon, Shawn Flarida, Scott McCutcheon, Craig Schmersal and Craig Johnson, was heavily favored throughout, and swept both rounds of competition. The Silver Medal went to Team Canada with a total score of 650. Rounding out the Medal winners was Team Italy, scoring 646.

Team USA earned the winning composite and the Gold by virtue of Craig Schmersal's 217 on Tidal Wave Jack owned by the B.S. Syndicate, a 219 earned by Tom McCutcheon aboard Conquistador Whiz for George Shifrin, and Shawn Flarida's 221.5 ride on Mike Harper's San Jo Freckles. According to McCutcheon, "We wanted to be as solid as we could and show 100 percent because in the past we've seen Team Canada and Team Italy compete. We knew they were capable of marking a big score and didn't take anything for granted."

Team Canada won the the Silver Medal with a composite of 650 earned by Shawna Sapergia's 219 on her stallion Pretty Much Eagle, Patrice St-Onge's 217 on Slip Me Another Kiss owned by Veronica St-Onge and Jason Grimshaw's 214 on Listo Pollito Lena owned by Robert Thompson. Team Italy logged a 646 for the Bronze medal. Dario Carmignani riding Frozen Sailor for Angelucci Quarter Horses earned a 217. Nic Cordioli rode RS Little Red Jaba for Giampiero Isasca and earned a 215.5, and Adriano Meacci, riding Jodie Tamara for Maurizio Silvestri, added 213.5 to the composite.

Individual Standings~~

Shawn Flarida rode San Jo Freckles, a 6-year-old American Quarter Horse Association sorrel stallion owned by Mike Harper to score 221.5, the top marking of the event, earning the individual Gold Medal.

It took a run-off to determine the Silver and Bronze individual medal winners. Tom McCutcheon rode George Shifrin's Conquistador Whiz to a score of 219 to tie with Team Canada's Shawna Sapergia on Pretty Much Eagle. In the run-off, McCutcheon repeated his 219 and took home the individual Silver Medal. Sapergia scored a 216 and earned the Bronze.

The World Equestrian Games marked the first time reining was included as a medal event in an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) event of this magnitude. The World Equestrian Games are held every four years opposite the Olympics. The reining competition held during the WEG was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Classic S Ranch, Germany, and was managed by the National Reining Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.