Cremona, November 7—The prestigious $700.000-Added IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Futurity is back with a bang. The iconic oval arena of CremonaFiere in Cremona, Italy, will host ten extraordinary days of sport on November 7–16, promising ten extraordinary days of sport, passion, and fun.
IRHA/IRHBA $84.865-Added 4-Year-Old Futurity
The $84.865-Added 4-year-old Futurity qualifier officially opened the arena gates on Friday, November 7, with 103 combinations vying for the Championship across the four levels.
Topping the leaderboard in the Level (L)4 Open division was Belgium’s NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck. The pair scored a 221 riding Gunna B A Doctor (NRHA $5 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Gunna B A Rockstar), a mare owned and bred by Eyal Carmon.
In the L3 and L2 divisions, with a 219 score, Italy’s Vittorio De Iulio captured the spotlight with MPH Mister Mike (Mister Uno x Lam Lady Miky) between the reins. The sorrel stallion is owned by De Iulio–Zanelli and was bred by Francesca Busnardo.
Leading the L1 was Gabriele Costantini of Italy aboard Mega Surprise Chic (NRHA Million Dollar Sire PS Mega Shine Chic x SGA Hot Surprise), a mare owned and bred by Mario Spada.
With a score of 214.5, the 4-Year-Old Prime Time Open Go Round closed with a tie at the top:
Dario Carmignani riding his owned and bred stallion Spatatoo (Spatatino x Miss Dunnit Tari); along with Alois Kompatscher aboard SG Lopez Spook (NRHA $12 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Frozen Spark), a mare owned by Diana Metrangolo, and bred by Andrea Bianchini.
The Finals will be held on Friday, November 14.
The Champions’ Stage
Reflecting the sport’s growing prestige, this year’s event will offer a show within the show design, immersive lighting, dynamic music, and meticulous organization aimed at celebrating every moment of competition and entertainment. Elite sport, emotion, and performance, always with full respect for the horses, their well-being, and the calm required for them to perform at their best will be offered.
The 2024 highly successful format combined the IRHA/IRHBA Reining Futurity with the NCHA European Cutting Futurity. Together, they created a unique showcase for Europe’s most promising young horses, offering fans the opportunity to experience two of the western world’s most prestigious disciplines side by side. This format will be repeated this year.
The Program
On top of the two main futurities, Cremona will host a variety of top-level competitions. The Open, Non Pro, and Youth FISE–IRHA Italian National Championships Finals return run class-in-class with the NRHA Ancillary class Finals.
A major highlight will also be the FISE Para Reining Final presented by Elementa. Reining para equestrian sector continues to rise in numbers and skill thanks to the dedication of riders, families, and technical director Alessandro Pavoni. This year, it gains even greater visibility with a prime slot immediately before the Saturday night Open Final.
The NCHA European Cutting Futurity once again offers over $50,000 in added money, confirming its position as one of Europe’s premier events. The successful 2024 format returns, featuring all European Circuit divisions plus two must-see highlights:
• Bridleless Cutting on Saturday, November 15 with riders performing entirely without bridle or bit, guiding their horses with only a rope around the neck.
• Reiners in Cutting, on Friday, November 14, where reining professionals will take on the challenge of working cattle — a fan-favorite crossover event.
The Finals
The Open and Non Pro Finals, held on Saturday and Friday respectively, will once again capture the crowd. Under the direction of event director Giancarlo Doardo, synchronized lighting, sound, and visual effects accompanying each phase of competition, every top score, and even arena maintenance breaks, will fill the show.
“We dedicated an entirely new creative direction to the show’s scenography this year,” explains Doardo. “A sophisticated lighting and sound system will transform the Quarter Dream Arena into a glamorous, immersive environment, highlighting every key moment. We’re also bringing back the large overhead scoreboard that was so well received last year — it truly adds an American feel.”
Eleonora Filipponi, a young and gifted lyrical mezzo-soprano from Cremona, will perform a cappella rendition of the U.S. national anthem at the start of the Open Final and a moving version of the “Run for the Roses” — the iconic country anthem dedicated to the Champion’s victory lap.
With world-class competition, artistry, and production, the 2025 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA/FISE Futurity is set to deliver an unforgettable celebration of western performance—a true European showcase that stands proudly on the global stage.
Photos by Bonaga Communication
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For further info: www.futurity.it – www.irha.it
Media Contact:
Simona Diale/International Horse Press
