For the first time in NRHA history, every horse listed in the current 2004 Open Top Ten standings is owned by a European Reining enthusiast. 

 

By virtue of his number one placing in Mooslargue, France, ARC Oak Enterprise, ridden by Martin Larcombe for Mario Erbetta’s Cisal Quarter Horses in Italy, moved to the top of the list. By NRHA Open World Champion Surprise Enterprise and out of NRHA 1986 Open Futurity Champion Sophie Oak, ARC Oak Enterprise is a seasoned competitor and perennial winner.  In 2002, Larcombe placed ARC Oak Enterprise third in the Open Top Ten standings, and in 2003, this extraordinarily talented duo finished the show season as the NRHA Open Reserve World Champions.

 

Germany’s Juergen Kalischinski’s As Smart As Charley, ridden by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida, earned second place and $19,165.68 in the World Trophy Reining 2004. Ridden by Rudi Kronsteiner, Daniel Schloemer and Olivier Van Den Berg, As Smart As Charley earned an additional $5,828.92 this show season.  By As Smart As The Fox and out of Charlys Tinky Chex, he stands second in the Open standings with a total of $24,994.60 earned in 2004.

 

Stefano Massignan riding RS Oregon N Jack for Claudio Risso, and Martin Larcombe riding Red Chic Peppy for Maria Bianca Bianchi have each earned $13,347.53, and are sitting in a tie for third in the Open Top Ten standings. Both owners are from Italy. To date, five countries are represented by the owners of the 2004 Open Top Ten horses.  The top four owners are from Italy and Germany.  Golden Mc Jac, owned by Austria’s Peter Prokes, is fifth in the standings.  Shine N Mister, owned by Yvette Saad of The Netherlands, is sixth. Uwe Gerbig of Germany owns seventh place Cal Bar Olena.  While Rosanne Sternberg, owner of the eighth place horse Big League Yankee, is officially listed as hailing from Texas, she divides her time between Texas and her native Great Britain.  Bars Jacson Bo, owned by Franco Rosso, and Skeets Dun, owned by Giancarmine Sabato, are tied for ninth place in the standings.  Rosso and Sabato are from Italy.

 

In 2000, the sport of Reining was accepted by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) for international competition.  It was a full medal event at the World Equestrian Games held in Jerez, Spain, in 2002.  For the past three years, the NRHA European Affiliate Championships have showcased and acknowledged the ability of Europe’s best competitors. The current NRHA Open Top Ten standings indicate not only the commitment of owners to the sport of Reining, but the talent and quality of reiners worldwide.