Bernardelli & Shine Pop are the 2019 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champions

Bernardelli & Shine Pop are the 2019 IRHA/IRHBA/NRHA Non Pro Futurity Champions Photos by Bonaga Communication

Run in a qualifying go round and seeded finals, the 2019 edition of the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Futurity saw Italian Edoardo Bernardelli and his mount, Shine Pop, wear the 76.000 euro-added Level (L)4 and 37.000 euro-added L3 Non Pro Futurity crown.

Provided by Simona Diale, International Horse Press — By Shine Chic Shine and out of MM Lollipop, the sorrel stallion was purchased when he was one month old by Bernardelli and was broke and trained by the Italian rider. “There was something about him when I first saw him that made me want to take him home,” he said. “I love the way he’s bred and thought he was a great mover from the first time I set my eyes on him. Before coming here, I showed him twice at a Lombardy regional show and things did not go too well, I guess because we still needed to get to know each other. In coming here, I knew I could place my trust in him because he has such a big heart, and he proved me right. I would like to thank Guglielmo Fontana for helping me tonight during the finals and my parents for supporting me all the way.”


Gabriele Carrarini and CG Smart N Gold


Gabriele Carrarini and his home-bred CG Smart N Gold (Arc Surprising Smart x Arc Girl Chic N Gold) scored a 214 in the finals taking home the 16.000 euro-added L2 Non Pro Championship as well as the Reserve Championship in the L4 and L3. “This is a very special night for me,” he said. “Not only was he born at our place, we actually own both the sire and the dam. Chris Lucchina broke him and then he was in training with Cristina Fiscella for a few months. I took over the reins after that short period and have mainly trained him myself, even though I try to go and ride with Max Ruggeri who has been my mentor for the past ten years. It’s been a pretty special show season as I won the Austrian Futurity as well as the Lombardy regional futurity.”


Sharon De Groot and Tinsel Whizington


Sharon De Groot of the Netherlands and her own Tinsel Whizington (Tinsel Jac x Conquistador Sis) added another title to the string of success they’ve had in the show pen this year by winning the 11.000 euro-added L1 Non Pro division with a 210. The duo earned the Austrian Non Pro Futurity Reserve Championship, the NRHA Belgium L2 and L1 Non Pro Futurity Championship and the NRHA France L4 Non Pro Futurity.  “He’s really sweet and he does everything for me,” said the Dutch Rider. “He’s a funny horse, he loves to play around, but when you ride him he’s always ready to go. I’m really proud of him and I have to thank my trainer Quentin Galliere and his wife Kimmy Obenhaus for the work they did with him, and Dominik Reminder for helping me here since Quentin and Kimmy just had a baby and of course stayed home.”
 
Taking L1 reserve honors was Giuliano Mercuri aboard Doctor Dre (Doctor In Diamonds x JC Hollywoodspunette).
 
The Open Futurity finals will close the 35th edition of the IRHA Futurity & FISE Italian Championship Finals on Saturday, November 30.
 
 
Photos by Bonaga Communication
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