As the second day of NRHA Ancillary Action took place at CS RANCH in the NRHA (National Reining Horse Association) European Affiliate Championships, held during the SVAG CS Classic 2023, opening the competition were the NRHA Youth 13&Under and 14-18 youth classes.
Youth 14-18
It was a great day for Jody Fonck of Belgium and Sparkling And Spooky (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Ebony Spook), owned by J&J comm v J&J comm, who scored a 212.5 for the win in the NRHA Youth 14-18 class. The talented rider bragged about her mount after their run. “My horse was super nice. He is a 4-year-old gelding and he is just amazing, talented, and sweet-minded. He is so stylish and his stops were really nice today. I don’t know if I will show him some more this week — the plan is not set yet — but I am showing my other horse Smart Spooky Joe in the EAC Non Pro.”
Youth 13&Under
Czech Republic’s Nicolas Pavel rode his 9-year-old mare SK Cash To Gun (SK Gunshiner x Sheza Ninos Chex) to a 211.5 score to top the NRHA Youth 13&Under class in a field of six riders. Nicolas was pleased with his run. “It was really good. I’m super happy how we managed to change leads because that can be a challenge for us sometimes, but today it was good. We have had this mare since she was a baby and I have been riding her for the last three years. This show has been quite a success for us, so I really like it here. Next, we will show in the EAC Youth 13&Under and EAC Rookie,” shared Nicolas about his future plans.
Nicolas Pavel & SK Cash To Gun
$4,000-Added Intermediate Open and $500-Added Limited Open
The pressure was on until the last run in the NRHA $4,000-Added Intermediate Open and $500-Added Limited Open classes. Anne Grether of France walked in last aboard the 5-year-old mare Tr Voodoo Doll (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wallawhizagun) owned by RS Reininghorses BV and the duo had a beautiful run awarded a 218.5 by the judges which brought them a win in both classes. “It all worked out,” said Grether after her run. “This is our third show together with this mare. I have had her in training since last November and we only showed twice before coming here. She was very good in the show pen so I told myself ‘I’m going to try to beat the boys’ [Co-reserve Champions Rafal Dolata and Anders Josefsson] and it worked out, so I am happy with how we did!”
Anne Grether & Tr Voodoo Doll
$3,000-Added NRHA Intermediate Non Pro
French rider Laura Pouzol rode Michel Pouzol’s 7-year-old stallion Tricky Vobinda Whiz (CJ Whiz x RS Cayenne Jack) to a score of 215.5 to capture the win in the $3,000-Added NRHA Intermediate Non Pro. “My horse was exceptional today, we had a fabulous run and he tried very hard for me,” said the excited French rider. “We bred the stallion, so I have had him his whole life and this is a huge accomplishment for both of us.”
Laura Pouzol & Tricky Vobinda Whiz
$500-Added NRHA Limited Non Pro
The $500-Added NRHA Limited Non Pro class was filled with 40 horse-rider combinations and it was Thomas Schneiter of Switzerland riding his wife Sabrina Schneiter’s 12-year-old gelding Magnum It (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream x Dun It The Hard Way) to the highest score of the class, a 213. “We had a great run today,” shared Schneiter. “I especially enjoyed the stops. My horse has had a successful career in open classes previously. We have had him now for the last three years and he is a really cool horse.” The Swiss Non Pro, who rides with NRHA Professional Morey Fisk, says he really enjoys his program and is thrilled to show in this event. “We qualified for the Swiss Reining Challenge Non Pro Championship, so I am excited to show in this class on Saturday and I also tomorrow in the EAC Limited Non Pro. This is for sure the greatest show in Switzerland. It is amazing to have a show of this format in this country and a treat for the Swiss riders. ”
Thomas Schneiter & Magnum It
Schneiter also topped the Swiss Reining Challenge Non Pro Qualifier that took place concurrently with the ancillary Non Pro class. Eighteen Non Pro Swiss riders competed for the ten spots in the Finals that will run concurrently with the EAC Non Pro class on Saturday offering 2000 CHF added money.
Riders Spotlight
When passion beats distance!
The youngest competitor in the NRHA European Affiliate Championship, 10-year-old Emma Louise Eggen, came to Switzerland to compete in the Youth 13&Under classes. Driving with her parents Tor Erik Eggen and Pia Andreassen for three days all the way from Norway, Emma was happy to compete aboard her horse Gunna Spook, a 7-year-old gelding by the NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of West Coast Sandy, AKA “Buddy.” Riding all her life, as her father says, the first saddle she sat in was his when she was about two years old. Today, Emma and “Buddy” placed second in the NRHA 13&Under scoring a 210 and they are getting ready to compete in the EAC Youth 13&Under and Youth Team Tournament on Saturday. “Today, our stops were the best,” mentioned Emma. When asked about her hobbies besides riding horses, Emma’s dad laughs: “All she does is ride!” One day, Emma would like to be a horse trainer like her dad. After all, reining is a family affair for the Eggens: They brought four horses to Switzerland and next will move onto a show in Sweden!
About CS Ranch
CS Ranch is the biggest and most modern private reining facility in Switzerland. Owner Corinna Schumacher, with careful attention to detail, is constantly striving for CS Ranch to remain the best environment for reining horses. Since 2006, the state-of-the-art facility has been host to prestigious reining competitions including the Swiss Slide and, since 2009, the renowned SVAG CS Classic. Show manager Eric Obrecht and his ambitious CS Ranch team are always making a huge effort to comfortably accommodate riders, horses, officials, and spectators at the CS shows.
Photos by Tom Hautmann
If you make it to Givrins, admission is free. If not, follow the webcast and live score here: nrhaeac.com/live
For further information regarding the SVAG CS Classic ’23 held at CS Ranch, host of many a prestigious World and European competition CS-CLASSIC.com. For more information on the NRHA European Affiliate Championships NRHAEAC.com
Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
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