Despite the storm that hit the Western Training Center H&D Schultz in Wiener Neustadt the previous day, riders came together on Friday morning bright and early to start the 3-year-old and 4-year-old Level (L)2 and L1 Futurity Finals.

Two riders dominated the 4-year-old Open Futurity Finals in the $3.000-added L2 and $2.000-added L1, both scoring 217.5 to top the class. First coming in the pen was Tim Tuscher aboard Yvonne Tuscher’s mare Dr Voodoo Shiney (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Mrs King Doc Lena).

“The mare was unbelievable; I am very happy with her. I never thought that we could get this score together,” said the excited Co-Champion. “My mom bred the mare and her dam is actually my youth show horse, so she is special to us. We will take her to the Germany Breeders Futurity and a couple more German shows, so I hope we can repeat the success we had here today.”

As Tuscher had been leading for most of the class, another trainer reached the 217.5 score to tie for the lead. It was Italian Gabriele Landi riding Smoking Surprise (Smoking Whiz x Sweet Chic Surprise) for FC American Horses Fabio Cerantola. The riders decided not to run off and share the L2 and L1 Open Co-Championship.

Landi was pleased with his horse as well. “I am very proud of this mare. I have always believed in her and she proved me right today. She was with me the whole run. I showed her before at BO Ranch and at a few regional shows, and she was always good, I really like her style. I am hoping to take her to the Germany Breeders Futurity and really looking forward to her improving even more in the future.”

Last year’s ARHA 4-year-old Open L2 Futurity Champion Pavel Orel repeated his victory, this year claiming the $5.000-added 3-year-old L2 Championship scoring 218.5 aboard Jana Flokova’s mare Let You Love Me (Mercedes Rooster x Pretty Little Steps).

Orel, who’s had the mare in training since she turned two, was thrilled about his run. “It is very exciting to win the go round as well as the finals. We went in last, which I didn’t mind, because at least we had an idea about the previous runs and scores, and it went great. I was actually surprised how the mare ran; I did not expect her to perform so well. The main goal for us with her was this futurity, so now we have to decide if we want to take her to more shows.”

Two riders split the L2 Reserve Championship with a score of 218: Julia Schumacher riding Simone Lehner’s Whizkeymadeinitaly (Dun It For Whizkey x MTK Cloerima) and Marco Moriello with Denise Eichinger’s Girlslookatthatbody (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Miss Dizzy Whiz).

Marco Moriello and Girlslookatthatbody also claimed the $3.000-added Open L1 Championship.

“There were a lot of good scores before me, so I tried to really focus on my run and do the best I could,” he said. “Our best maneuvers were definitely the stops at the end, but even then, I still wasn’t sure about the score. I knew we had a good run but didn’t expect it to be scored that high. I just tried to focus on every step of the run and kept going until we heard the score that was very exciting.” Moriello praised the good mind of his mount, calling him “the type of horse you wish to have for a futurity”.

Gabriela Wendlinger rode Fabulousfrozenwhiz (NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x Walla Whiz A Chic) to the L1 Reserve Championship scoring 214.5 for owners Silvia and Gernot Kulmer.

In the 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity Finals, Lucie Lina Egenter and Eyes Of Whiz (One Gun x Luga Whiz) claimed both the $1.500-added L2 and $1.000-added L1 Championships scoring a 219.

Egenter, who rides with NRHA Professional Grisha Ludwig, enjoyed her ride in the Finals. “Our run today was perfect. My horse is a strong stopper, so I think it is the best maneuver he can do. I love his character. He is very honest and has a big heart.” The pair will continue to show in the 4-year-old futurities this season.

Alexander Nestelberger showed Doctor Cop (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Finest Copyshot) to a score of 217.5 to earn the L2 Reserve Championship.

The L1 Reserve Championship went to Arianna Redditi riding Smart Like Bandit (Dont Miss My Guns x Peppy Lil Joke) scoring a 215.5 for the title.

The day started with the 3-year-old Non Pro Futurity Finals and it was Anna-Maria Zehetbauer, who took the lead in the $1.500-added L2 aboard her homebred gelding Sailin Gun Dee (Mr Gun Dee x Fancy My Sail) scoring 215.

Zehetbauer, who started and trained the horse herself, was very pleased with her gelding. “He stayed focused and was listening to me the whole time, so I am really happy. He stopped pretty deep, so I believe we plussed those maneuvers. This was our first futurity this year, but I plan to show again at the Germany Breeders Futurity and maybe go to Italy [to the IRHA Futurity],” said the young rider, who also highlighted her horse’s willingness to perform, which she really appreciated.

Kim-Leonie Kiechle riding Im A Ice Ice Baby (NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize x SL Palladiolena) took the Reserve Championship in the L2 and also claimed the $1.000-added L1 Championship with a score of 211.

“I am so happy about my run, it was amazing. This is my very first futurity and my mare’s first futurity, so I am really excited. She is such a sweet mare. I can do anything with her, go outside trail riding, and she doesn’t mind,” said Kiechle, who rides under the guidance of NRHA Professional Markus Gebert. The duo also qualified for the L3 and L4 Futurity Finals, so they will be showing again tomorrow.
 
Michaela Mališová and Maximus Dream Hero (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Shiney Tinseltown) finished Reserve Champions in the L1 scoring a 210.5.

The show day that started early and concluded late was extended by several ancillary classes that were rescheduled from the previous day due to the weather. The storm that broke material things apart, also brought people together. The level of willingness to help and the cohesion among reiners yesterday was overwhelming, as show manager Helmut Schultz reported: “Everyone pitched in, dragged poles, tarpaulins… cleared out their tack box to make room for other horses. I want to thank each and every one of them! Within four hours, everything was set up again, including two new stall tents. Reiners really are friends!“

No horses or people were seriously harmed by the storm. Only mild scratches were treated, and a veterinarian came to examine all horses that required medical attention. The show continues to run smoothly at the Western Training Center H&D Schultz and will offer the 4-year-old and 3-year-old L4 and L3 Non Pro and Open Futurity Finals tomorrow starting at 8.00.

Photos by Tom Hautmann

By International Horse Press Press Release