Europe’s Premier Western Event- AMERICANA 2017- Kicks Off in Germany

AMERICANA 2017: Europe’s premier Western Event starts with first Cutting classes.

The AMERICANA 2017 in Augsburg, Germany has begun – at least for participants. Visitors will have to wait until Wednesday, September 6th. The event started with a brilliant Masters Cutting as well as the Go round of the $4,000-added World Cup Trail Open All Ages.

The Masters Cutting Open ended with a tie on first place between Pietro Valeri aboard  CD Crystal Lena and multiple AMERICANA Cutting Champion Gianluca Munarini aboard Tymezone, who scored a 147 each. The two riders decided against a run off and became Co-Champions. Gaia Salvatori aboard Marco Salvatori‘s Metallic Savannah placed third (146.5)

Pietro Valeri who comes from Modena, has been a highly successful professional for almost 20 years now. His achievements include the NCHA European Cutting Championship Open 2016. He has been among the top ten in AMERICANA Cutting for years. The 11-year-old mare CD Crystal Lena (CD Olena x HR Dual Crystal) was bred by Marco Sacchetti and is owned by Marco Salvatori.

With Gianluca Munarini in the saddle, 9-year-old Tymezone (One Time Pepto x Stylabee, owner Silverstone Ranch) has been highly successful during the last years. His achievements include: NCHA Ltd $5,000 NH Champion at the Silverstone Western Cup 2016, RBC Spectacular NCHA Open All Ages, NCHA of Italy Challenge Futurity $5000 Novice Horse Open All Ages Res. Champion, and NCHA of Italy Summer Classic Open All Ages Reserve Champion 2017. Munarini also rode two horses to fourth place honours for owner Jan Willem Bemborn  scoring a 146: Dualin Boss  and Catty Gucci Girl. Last AMERICANA’s World Cup Cutting Open Champion Denis Pini placed fourth as well aboard Elisa Artioli’s Cattamoola.

The best German rider was Ute Holm, who scored a 144.5 with Miss Little Pepto (owner Yvonne Bonda) placing seventh. “I was the first rider and so a little bit cautious as I didn’t know the cattle,” Ute says. “My horse did a really good job for me. AMERICANA is such an event again: the cattle are fine, as is the footing. But competition is tough of course, especially with the Italians and their fine, new horses.”

Top Score 149 for Marco Salvatori in Masters Cutting Non Pro

It was Marco Salvatori‘s day: The Italian had three horses among the top 10 in the Masters Cutting Open, and then he became Masters Cutting Non Pro Champion aboard Cat Rey Lou scoring a brilliant 149. The 7-year-old sorrel mare is by High Brow Cat out of Farrarey, and her LTE in Cutting already exceed $ 110,000. She was NCHA Open All Ages Futurity Champion 2016 and placed fourth in the Non Pro.

Two riders tied for second place honors scoring a 146.5 each: Rosana Bembom from The Netherlands aboard Catty Gucci Girl and Elisa Artioli aboard Cattamoola.

Martina Tresoldi wins Masters Cutting Youth

With a score of 139, young Italian Martina Tresoldi and her Love A Cat Fight claimed the Masters Cutting Youth Championship. The two had been Amateur L1 Champions in Italy. Sina Fröhlich and  Peppys Lil Fran placed second scoring a 136 with Jette Jürgensen and Inagaddavida following on third place.

Carolin Lenz and Cathrin Dostal leading after World Cup Trail Open Ages Go Round

In the go round of the World Cup Trail Open Ages, two riders took the lead scoring a 156 each: multiple AMERICANA Trail Champion Carolin Lenz aboard her proven Lil Freckled Playboy and Cathrin Dostal aboard Smart Cayenne Pepper (Smart Buck x Gray Blaze Bar). Terezana Ranna and Rin placed third scoring a 152.

Carolin Lenz and her Lil Freckled Playboy (Lil Dry Peppy x Smart Appeal) have been a winning combination for years. Their achievements include multiple FEQHA European Championship titles as well the AMERICANA World Cup Trail three times. Cathrin Dostal is a multiple AMERICANA Champion in Superhorse (2013 and 2015). Aboard her 16-year-old stallion Smart Cayenne Pepper she was German Reserve Champion Senior Ranch Riding at the 2016 German Open.

Lena Bögl aboard her Bar Sunset Didit and Carolinz Lenz aboard Skeets Heartbreaker tied for fourth place scoring a 150.5. Altogether 10 horse-rider-combinations made it to the final, which is scheduled for Sunday, September 10th. Besides the ones mentioned above, these are: Manuela Zillober aboard Ornelia Zak, Diana Royer aboard Best Of A Good Stuf, Karin Prevedel aboard A Good Invite, Julia Fritzsche aboard Hollys Gunsmoke Lisa and Dieter Wilczinski aboard Caramel 19.