Le Pin, July 17 – A sunny day welcomed the riders in the second day of competition at the 2025 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Affiliate Championships (EAC) held at Le Petit Far West in Le Pin, on the outskirts of Paris, France. The morning started with the youngest riders entering the show pen, followed by the largest classes of the show – the $8,500-Added NRHA Open and $4,450-Added Non Pro.
NRHA Professional Kim Obenhaus of Belgium and Koen Brutsaert’s KB The Joker (NRHA $4 Million Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Pumpkin Rooster) had a strong run during the $8,500-Added NRHA Open, scoring a 219, which held on to the top of the leaderboard throughout the class to earn the pair a well-deserved win. “This horse is super special for me. My very good friend Bo Brutsaert bred him, and I picked him out early in his 2-year-old year and took him in my program. Together we accomplished a lot: We won the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity, were in the Top 5 at the NRHA European Futurity, won the Belgian Futurity, all in the first year of his show career as a 3-year-old. Now he’s on to a successful derby and ancillary Open show horse carrier,” smiled Obenhaus after her run hugging her horse. She also complimented the event itself for being a great environment for both riders and horses. “We love to come here. Everybody is so friendly, and the management tries hard to prepare the best conditions and accommodate everyone’s needs. It is a truly great show to attend.”
When the Open class concluded, non pro riders took the stage, and didn’t miss their opportunity to perform. In the $4,450-Added Non Pro, Siebe van Bekhoven rode his Ws Check My Pedigree (Wimpys Smoking Gun x Footworks Finetiming) to the highest score of 218, taking top honors. The Belgian rider was pleased with his horse. “He has been shown since he was a 3-year-old, so he has some miles on him, but he gets better every year. We improve together. When we started, neither of us were very good, and now here we are. We call him ‘Jackpot’, because that’s what he is to me. He is my once in a lifetime horse. He has a heart of gold and a mind of steel, always gives his best and is there for me,” said van Bekhoven. “This show is always fun and especially with the good weather we had this week at a facility as nice as this one. The EAC was our first big show together few years ago in Denmark, and since then I always make sure to go, because the atmosphere is so nice, the organization is great, and the whole atmosphere is amazing.”
The $2,250-Added Intermediate Non Pro saw Danish rider Cecilie Ranthe Lyndrup and her mount Voodoo Majestic Gun (NRHA $5 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Gunna Be Majestic) scoring a 214.5 for the win. “We had a really good run today. He was with me the whole time and felt great, so I am happy about our performance. I especially liked his spins,” said the winner. The duo will be back tomorrow for the EAC Rookie and EAC Limited Non Pro.
Lotte De Boever of Belgium rode Great Sun Of A Gun (Great Sun Burst x GVR Gunalicious) to the win in the $350-Added Limited Non Pro scoring a 216. “I am happy about our run today; we were preparing for tomorrow’s EAC runs, so today we had a chill ride to get ready and I feel really good about it,” said the young rider who will be showing in multiple EAC classes this week including the EAC Rookie, Limited Non Pro, and on Saturday the Youth 14-18, where she will be a part of Team ‘Muffin at the Oscar’. “My horse always tries his best in the arena when it counts. He is also very sweet at home: He likes to cuddle, loves to eat, and is overall a very sweet horse.”
12 youth competitors strengthened their skills in the NRHA Youth classes held bright and early in the morning. French rider Marylou Drapier piloted Ruff N Tuff Juicy (NRHA $2 Million Sire Not Ruf At All x Juicy Nic), owned by Cindy Drapier, to a 206 to win the Youth 14-18. “This mare is very good for me as a youth; she is patient and talented. Our plan for this week is to focus on the circles and get stronger in that maneuver so we can do even better in the EAC Youth 14-18 on Saturday,” said Marylou. “I really like the atmosphere here, it’s a nice show to compete at and I would like to thank my trainer, NRHA Professional Gregory Legrand, who is always there for me and my horse.”
Emanuel Gebert of Germany and Wimpys Wanna Dance (NRHA $13 Million Sire Wimpys Little Step x Dance Little Spook), owned by Birgitt Wagner, scored 214.5 and topped the NRHA Youth 13&Under. “My horse was really good today and we especially mastered the spins,” he said. The duo is enjoying the show and is looking forward to returning to the show pen in multiple EAC classes including the Youth 13&Under, where Emanuel will be a part of team competing in the NRHA Youth Team Tournament ‘No Trash In My Team.’
The NRHA Youth Team Tournament will take place on Saturday, 19, during the Youth EAC classes with teams composed of two 13&Under and two 14-18 riders. The team with the three highest scores posted in the NRHA EAC Youth classes (the lowest score will be dropped) on Saturday morning will take home the NRHA buckles, and all teams will be awarded with NRHA medals. 12 duos from five countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, The Netherlands) are currently entered in the competition.
The first NRHA EAC Finals will start tomorrow with a total of 167 combinations set to compete vying for the titles at this year’s edition. Riders can still enter the Saturday’s classes they qualified for until 2 p.m. on Friday.
The 23rd edition of the EA Championship classes, will feature the:
- $10,000-Added NRHA Open
- $4,500-Added NRHA Intermediate Open
- $500-Added NRHA Limited Open
- $500-Added NRHA Rookie Professional
- $5,000-Added NRHA Non Pro
- $3,500-Added NRHA Intermediate Non Pro
- $500-Added NRHA Limited Non Pro
- $200-Added NRHA Rookie
- $100-Added NRHA Youth 13 & Under
- $100-Added Youth 14–18
American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Incentive
This year at the NRHA EAC Chrome Cash Incentive payouts of $500 will be awarded in the following EAC classes: Youth 13 & Under/Youth 14–18, Intermediate Open/Rookie Pro, Open/Limited Open, Non Pro/Limited Non Pro, Rookie Level 1
Don’t miss your chance to earn bonus cash just for riding a Paint! The only requirement? Your horse must be APHA-registered! Chrome Cash is a “class in class” — easy to enter and extra rewarding.
Reach out to APHA International Director Irene Stamatelakys at the show:
WhatsApp: +33 (0)6 85 23 11 50
Email: irene@apha.com
Riders Spotlight
Ava Smedley, the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) International Liasion, travelled across the ocean to attend the NRHA EAC. “This is my first time in Europe and I absolutely love it! I enjoy getting to know everybody and making some new connections, it is a great opportunity,” she said. “This facility is amazing. I walked in and I was just in awe. The whole area is nice and I am so happy to be here in the peaceful atmosphere I really enjoy. Everyone seems really happy and friendly, so I think it’s a very good environment for a horse show.” Smedley described her role at NRHyA: “I go to different horse shows where I help to get the youth participants connected and offer various activities for them to get to know each other. I also make sure that the next generation of reiners knows what is going on around the association [NRHA].”
For further information: NRHAEAC.com
Live score: https://www.showmanager.info/Eventliste.aspx?turnierID=1640
Livestream (FREE): https://chevaltv.fr/programs/nrha-european-affiliates-paris-2025
Photo by John Photography
NRHA EAC Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
internationalhorsepress@gmail.com
