Aldo Lorenzoni, riding OT Taris Melody for owner Monica Fassardi, won the CRI - category b - held during the Italian Reining Horse Maturity held in Caluso, Italy, on Saturday 31^st July.  Lorenzoni topped the class with a 220.5 and was closely followed by Dario Carmignani who claimed reserve honours with a score of 220 aboard Doctor In Diamonds owned by Fabrizio Marcucci.

 

The first Italian qualifier was held in Reggio Emilia during the Italian Reining Horse Derby and was won by Marco Ricotta riding Mifillenium.  Ricotta now lies in third place.

 

Lorenzoni and Carmignani will represent Italy at the FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by NetJets, which will be held in Oklahoma City during the 2004 NRHA Futurity & Championship Show.  “Owners of both the horses are excited and keen to ship them to Oklahoma City, and the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA), who will be closely following the transportation of the horses and the riders, has given them time until the 10^th of August to make their decision final,” said the President of the IRHA, Adelchi Pontisso.  “This is a great opportunity for the sport of Reining worldwide, and I am certain that it will be a great success.  We are happy to be a part of it.”

 

For Aldo Lorenzoni the win and qualification came as a surprise:  “I am so honoured and still can’t believe that this is happening,” he said after the show.  “OT Taris Melody is a great horse and deserves to have earned a spot in Oklahoma City!”

 

For Dario Carmignani, who was on the Italian Team - winner of the bronze medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games - qualification for the FEI World Reining Masters Finals was yet another plus.  Just as excited was the owner of Doctor In Diamonds, a full brother to Shining Spark, Fabrizio Marcucci.  “We bought him last year from Eleuterio Arcese and have always believed in him.  He is a great horse and Dario did a great job in bringing him back to the show pen.  We are very honoured and excited to be part of this very first FEI Reining project,” he commented.

 

The FEI World Reining Masters Series is organized for the first time this year. The presenting sponsor behind this remarkable Reining project is NetJets, the world’s leading provider of fractional aircraft ownership.  NetJets fractional aircraft ownership allows individuals and companies to buy part of a private jet at a fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership, and guarantees availability 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In 2003, the NetJets Europe Fleet and the NetJets US Fleet together flew more than 250,000 flights to more than 145 countries. 

 

Along with NetJets as the presenting sponsor, AQHA, NRHA, RHSF, and Classic S Ranch has generously donated funds to make the FEI World Reining Masters Finals a premier event in December.  Through these donations, we are able to offer $100,000 in prize money for the event.