Cremona, May 20— “I was really lucky this event was postponed,” said a thrilled Gina Schumacher who at first didn’t think she would be able to show in the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Futurity held in Cremona, Italy, in conjunction with the 2020 Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) Futurity and Italian Championship Finals.
 
The young German rider not only made it to Italy, she performed to the highest score— a 223.5— in the qualifying go round, rode to top honors in the NRHA European Futurity Level (L)4 Non Pro Finals, all aboard One Mr JJ (Colonels Shining Gun x QHR Jamaica Express), where she also claimed reserve honors. “I showed ‘JJ,’ in the NRHA Non Pro Futurity in the U.S., where we made the finals, and then went on to show him in the U.S. He only arrived in Europe five days before this show, and that was a big gamble,” said Schumacher about the stallion owned and nominated by XCS Ranch LLC and bred by Brent Loseke. “I’m really happy it worked out and he was truly amazing here from day one. I have to thank Ann and Bernard Fonck for following up our training before coming here, and during the show. Now the plan is to go to some schooling shows and see what will come up for us.”