Like any Reining competition, everything in Aachen has its own story. Sooner or later all stories about Aachen end with Charlemagne. It was the legend of Charlemagne’s horse pawing free a hot spring that established Aachen as spa rich with natural springs.
So, it was fitting that during the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) grand finale, Team Canada’s Individual Reining Gold Medalist Duane Latimer was asked to fill a carafe with spring water, which he presented to representatives of the 2010 event. For the first time in history, the WEG will be held outside of Europe. In 2010, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Lexington, Kentucky.
It was easier for Duane to fill and present the carafe with more than 50,000 spectators watching his every move than it was to win the Individual Reining competition held on Sunday morning. He had to win that class in a runoff with NRHA’s Leading Money Earning Rider and only Two Million Dollar Rider, Tim McQuay.
Since the class was seeded with the lowest scoring riders from the Team competition going first, McQuay drew 19, and Latimer was the last to perform as entry #21. The judges scored each rider a 230 in their first presentation. Officials allowed for a ten minute break so that the horses could relax and catch their breath.
“I didn’t do much,” said Tim McQuay. “I loped two circles and I was ready to go.” Latimer agreed. “I walked him around. That was it. Our horses are in excellent condition. They just needed air.”
The spectators remained glued to their seats. Tim was the first to enter the show pen. He rode Jerry Kimmel’s Mister Nicadual. Even with a slight bobble in the center of the pen during his large fast circles, Tim marked a 226.
Duane came in running, slid beautifully for his first stop and backed with speed to the center of the pen. It was obvious that Latimer and Manntana LLC’s Hang Ten Surprize were prepared to win themselves a reining. And win they did with a score of 228. Duane received a standing ovation for his ride – and with good reason. Both Tim McQuay and Duane Latimer had put together two fabulous rides in just 20 minutes!
Aaron Ralston, riding Smart Paul Olena for his wife Meg, earned the bronze medal with a score of 227. After the emotional medal presentation, all three riders did a victory lap around the show pen with spectators screaming and cheering. When Duane slid handily at one end of the arena, Tim and Aaron slid alongside him. All three riders then began to spin their horses – each enjoying the moment.
Frank Costantini, Chairman of the FEI Reining Committee, was extremely enthused about the wonderful reception the reiners and their reining horses received. He said, “The reaction of the crowd was amazing.”
Frank also praised the level of competition. The gap between the experienced North American riders and reiners around the world is closing rapidly. Since the next event will be held in 2010, reiners from six continents will have four years to raise their skill level and challenge the North American reiners to do better than their very best.
The 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen was a highly competitive, exciting event. It presented the sport of Reining at its very best.
Charlemagne’s horse would have been proud!
