With nearly 500 runs in a packed
program, Reining Australia
welcomed a record number of
horses and riders to our 2016
Gold Buckle Futurity and National
Championships held at AELEC in
Tamworth from the 20th to the
24th of September. With five days
of showing due to start on Tuesday,
inductions to the Hall of Fame and a
Fundraising Auction were scheduled
for Monday evening. The annual
Nationals get-together livened up the
serious stuff. This year, the theme of
the Calliope Sliders party was Pirates
and a host of Jack Sparrows and
buxom wenches joined in the fun.
More than 60 competitors signed
up for the Green Rider classes on
Day 1 and faced judge Ann Salmon
Anderman from the USA. The Green
Rider program is designed as an
introduction to reining competition.
Riders are permitted to use two
hands and can substitute optional
simple lead changes for the flying
changes in the NRHA patterns.
Congratulations to Mackinley Glover
riding, Leos Little Beaver, winner of
the Green Rider Level 1 on a score
of 70½, and to Lillian Johnson on
Oaks Colonel Hollywood, winner of
the Green Rider Level 2 on a score of
69½. Reining Australia acknowledges
Errol and Gita Thomas from Thomas
Arena Products for their generosity
and dedication to the grass roots of
Reining and the support they give to
the Green Rider program.
It was raining outside on this
Tamworth Wednesday, but the
Reining kept us warm. Judge Fillipo
Masi (Italy) took the chair to decide
the winners of the opening classes
on a very big second day. The Marsh
Carney Saddlery Novice Horse
competition covered four categories:
Novice Horse Open Level 1 and Level
2, and Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1
and Level 2.
More than 70 horse and rider
combinations lined up across these
classes. Yves Cousinard and the
great mare Spicy Little Step won
the Novice Horse Open Level 2 with
their score of 70½. Oliver Reinhardt
aboard Miss Acres Olena (69½)
took out 2nd place in this class and
secured the Champion’s buckle in the
Novice Horse Open Level 1, with the
run.
Hannah Lloyd and Whizzel Me
Lucky continue to grow together
as a combination. Today they
were the deserving winners of the
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 class
with a score of 69½. The last of the
contested classes in the Marsh
Carney Saddlery Novice Horse event
was decided after a three-way run-
off. Gita Thomas and Nu Lil Spark,
Greg Smith and Whiz Charm and
Pam Spokes aboard Mustang Lil, all
on 68½, went head-to-head for the
champion’s title and buckle in the
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1.
All three combinations again
completed Pattern 6 to the best of
their ability, and the crowd was
LOUD! Gotta love a Reining crowd!
Run-off scores are not announced
at the completion of the runs, so
the competitors and the crowd had
no idea who would be the victor. In
the end there was just ½ a point in
it. Greg Smith was the winner with
Pam Spokes and Gita Thomas tied for
reserve.
The Humpty Dumpty Open/Non
Pro Ladies’ Event on Wednesday
afternoon was organised by the
Peters family as a fundraiser for
the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.
The Foundation raises money to
buy life-saving medical equipment
for paediatric wards, neonatal
units, maternity and emergency
departments in over 250 hospitals
Australia-wide. A handicap system
made the competition even for
entrants at all levels. The winner was
Stephanie Cooper riding the stallion
Cromed By Custom. Thank you to all
our competitors for supporting this
event and to the Peters Family for
putting the event together.
Thursday’s program started the
show in a more serious atmosphere,
although plenty of bling was still
on display. Both judges settled in
to their chairs for the duration
and more than 40 riders set out
to win buckles in the Xtreme
Genes Intermediate Non Pro and
Intermediate Open classes and the
Rick Meredith Rookie Professional
class. Another run-off with two
riders on 137½ decided the
Intermediate Open. Shelley Peters
and Tell Me A Story emerged as the
winner with Lana Kelderman on OP
Im A Smokey Whizz in second place.
Greg Smith and Whizzel Charm
(138) picked up their second buckle
of the show in the Intermediate
Non Pro, while Matt Charles and
Winderadeen Bejewelled (136) were
Rookie Professional Champions.
The Horsemans Trading Post Prime
Time Non Pro followed. There was
no shortage of riders in their prime
to contest this class with the buckle
eventually going to Pam Spokes and
Mustang Lil (139½) in a popular win.
You have to love Freestyle Reining
competitions - they bring out some
of the most creative runs! The horse
and rider teams incorporate Reining
movements into their four-minute
musical routines making for some
great entertainment! This year's
Champion thrilled the crowd with
Amelia Baker Freestyle
Stephanie Cooper and Cromed By
Custom Humpty Dumpty
Cameron Halliwell Int Open Futurity
Amelia Baker Youth 13 and under
Carolyn Gorrill Level 1 Open Futurity
Ben Ditzel with Tania Powell Gibson
and his wife plus saddle
January • • February
February • • 2017
2017 • • The
The Australian
Australian Quarter
Quarter Horse
Horse Magazine
Magazine • • Page
Page 41
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January