Cremona, Italy, unites youth from around the world!
Cremona, May 17 — Provided by Simona Diale, International Horse Press —“Globalization” is certainly one of the most used words by Joao Marcos, owner of Cardinal Ranch in Texas and owner of NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Dun It For Chex. After two successful events held in Brazil where the youth were in the limelight, Joao Marcos turned his attention to Europe in collaboration with IRHA and European Council president, Roberto Cuoghi. The idea of reuniting young riders from all over the world is about to become reality; the international competition is open to riders age 12-18 [run under NRHA Category 11] and each country is represented by one rider selected by their national affiliate. An amazing 19 countries will be represented in the inaugural National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)/Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA)/Reining Horse Foundation (RHF) Global Youth Reining Cup: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Spain, Thailand, Uruguay, and USA. Each country will be represented by one youth rider holding an NRHyA membership and competitors from outside Europe will ride horses generously made available by owners based in Italy.
“I am thrilled to see this dream come true for so many young riders around the world,” said Joao Marcos. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our sport and we look forward to hosting youth representing 19 countries. I would like to thank Roberto Cuoghi for his collaboration, NRHA, RHF, IRHA staff and International Horse Press for their support and hard work.”
Italy has been host to many an international competition organized by IRHA and, for Cuoghi, the Global Youth Reining Cup is yet another event that will make history. “It is an honor to be able to host the Global Youth Reining Cup in Italy and I look forward to welcoming youth from around the world to Cremona,” he said. “I have always believed in helping our youth grow and I would like to thank our sponsors, the owners that graciously provided the horses, and all those that contributed to the making of this event. I wish all the riders from around the globe the very best and, make sure you enjoy the ride. A special thank you goes to the parents of the youth riders: They are our Main Sponsors!”
The first edition of the NRHA/IRHA/RHF Global Youth World Cup will be held on May 25 at 9 a.m. in Cremona during the Salone del Cavallo Americano prior to the IRHA Open Derby Finals take place.
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Draw # 1 Jade Marie Whitmarsh from Cochrane, Alberta, is a 16-year-old who rides with Austin Seelhoff. She grew up around horses at her mom’s riding arena and boarding facility called Willow Acres. She also enjoys figure skating and basketball. She has been reining for about three years and used to barrel race and do other events, but she likes the reining because, “I like the community and family around it…the togetherness. It’s like a little family of support. And I like the thrill of it!”
Draw #2 Nancy Brugato is a prime-timer who with her husband owns a wholesale produce company in Tigard, OR, just outside of Portland. She often rides with Matt McDowell and bought her cow-horse bred black nine-year-old gelding, Mister Black Magic from Robert Chown. She spent time in Texas last year with Billy Williams and was a Rookie Shootout Finalist at the 2018 NRBC. She says that she began doing reining because her daughter was taking lessons.
Draw #3 Kathleen Cooney, another prime-timer, sells technology software and is from Portland, OR. She rides with Kyle Kellmer Performance Horses in Battleground, WA. She began riding about 10 years ago, doing breed shows, but after a break from it, came back and decided to do reining only. It is the challenge that she likes best about reining. “It’s unpredictable. When you’re in the pen, you correct something, and then there’s something else you need to work on. You don’t usually come out and say, ‘I did everything right!’ It just doesn’t happen.”
Draw # 4 Samantha Etsell is a 27-year-old from Arlington, WA, where she works in sales for Barn Pros. She has been riding since age 12 and started reining while at Kansas State. She shows her big black five-year-old gelding, Devils Cut Whizkey in the Rookie classes and is showing him in the non pro derby, so this is a real bonus for her. “We have been trying to get him show-broke and we’ve been growing as a team.”
Draw #5 is the youngest of the finalists, 14-year-old Madison Wigen of Plain City, UT. She enjoys basketball and track when not riding. She has a new partner, Gee Whiz Ima Dunit, a six-year-old buckskin mare that has never been shown until this year. Lucky for Wigen, her dad is a reining trainer (Travis WIgen)! The mare, purchased last year, came with the nickname “Phoenix” because she was stuck and frozen in a water trough and managed to survive.
Draw #6 is Kitrina Makin from Wallowa, OR, where she and her husband run an RV rental and diesel mechanic shop. Now that her daughter has gone off to college, she has decided it is her turn. She enjoyed watching her daughter rein and wants to give it a try. She rides her gelding KR Sweet Shine, who came from Darren Stancik’s barn, with help from her trainer Matt McDowell.
Draw # 7 is Rochelle Zimmerman, a single business woman from Medford, OR. She began reining several years ago after western pleasure wasn’t fun anymore. She purchased her now six-year-old chestnut gelding Olenas Little Step (Wimpy) a few years ago through Todd Bergen where he stays in training and gets help from Bergen’s assistant Titus Covington.
Draw #8 is Erick Sorenson, a 62-year-old full-time veterinarian from Townsend, MT. Sorenson rides his 12-year-old sorrel gelding, Wimpys Ritzy Bud, that he has had for two years. He started showing reining horses about 20 years ago, but only a few times; then he got too busy. He began again about five years ago, but never got to more than a couple of shows a year. He spent last year trying to figure out his horse. This is the first time he has ever gone to a show for so long. He says it has been fun to spend a week with his wife Jackie at a horse show. She is a successful non pro and according to Erick, his favorite thing about reining is to spend time with Jackie.
Draw #9 is Claudia J (CJ) Green from Idaho Falls, ID. She started riding at age 53 when she met her husband. She calls him her “horse enabler” because he supports her so fully. She found a good reiner at Jackson Porath’s when she was looking for “just a good horse to ride” and had no intentions of reining. But, when Porath “dared” her to show, she did and got hooked. The next year she bought Slj Custom Style, a 10-year-old chestnut gelding that she affectionately calls “a goofball.”
Draw #10 is Sydney Weaver of Sandy, UT. She rides with her brother-in-law Mack Weaver and is married to Mack’s identical twin, Randy. She and her husband have a high-end custom car business and show cars from coast to coast. Although she has ridden her entire life and shown all-around and English horses, she is new to the reining. “Because I come from the all-around world, which is slow precision, this is a change of pace for me. Mack has to make me go faster than what I’m used to.”
Draw #11 is the final contestant, Heather Priddy of Deer Park, WA, riding her eight-year-old gelding, Gunnin For Wimps. This 40-year-old stay-at-home mom has ridden since she was little, but finally got back into it with an interest in reining last year. She was able to compete and make the top five at the 2018 Rookie of the Year competition. Priddy rides with Matt McDowell and purchased her horse from him as well. “His patience and positive words helped me keep at it when things were tough. He’s a great trainer and coach!”
Reining fans and participants around the world are aware of the Run for a Million Invitational, its magnitude, and the unique platform it brings to reining. The National Reining Horse Association Board of Directors understands and appreciates the opinions of all members and how they feel lifetime earnings should be recorded. The board of directors and executive committee took part in many discussions with members, and, as a decision-making body, fulfilled its responsibility to make a decision with the best interests of the organization in mind. The steps are outlined below.
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