Six Paint Horses Prepare to Take Over Normandy, France For 2014 WEG
Showing spirit for the home team!
PHJ press release by: Jessica Hein
Flashy and fast, six registered American Paint Horses are among the elite equine athletes expected to slide and spin for top honors in the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games reining competition. One of the world’s premier equestrian events, the World Equestrian Games takes place August 23–September 7 in Normandy, France.
PHJ brought you the stories behind Team USA representatives Spooks Gotta Whiz and Gunns On The River, who is competing under the name HF Mobster, in the July 2014 issue and online.
A 2007 bay overo stallion by Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes (QH), Spooks Gotta Whiz won the Kentucky Reining Cup—Team USA’s WEG qualifier—with rider and WEG veteran Shawn Flarida. “Baby” was bred by Clint Haverty and is owned by Michell Anne Kimball of Encinitas, California.
Gunns On The River—aka HF Mobster—is a 2008 buckskin solid stallion by Colonels Smokingun and out of Dun Its Black Gold. Bred by Rodes River Ranch, he is owned by Heritage Farms LLC of Ogden, Utah, and will be piloted by Jordan Larson.
WEG organizers released the list of definite reining entries on August 15—click here for the complete list. Other registered Paints making teams include:
- Colonels Shining Gun, ridden by Cira Baeck for Belgium—a 2007 sorrel overo stallion by Colonels Smokingun and out of Shining LIttle Peach (QH)
- Jujuzz Gunslinger, ridden by Josiane Gauthier for Canada—a 2004 sorrel overo stallion by Colonels Lil Gun and out of Pamela Jujos Joy (QH)
- Final Smoking Gun, ridden by Bogdan Czarnik of Poland—a 2007 bay tobiano stallion by The Big Gun and out of Jesters Final Chex
- Gunners Litl Hotshot, ridden by Conny Nilsson of Sweden—a 2004 sorrel overo mare by Colonels Smokingun and out of Docs Litl Kicker
WEG reining competition kicks off August 25 and 26, each of which features two go-rounds of team competition. A second round of individual qualifying takes place August 28. The top 15 horse-and-rider pairs from the team competition plus the Top Five individual qualifiers return August 30 for the individual finals.
Team USA is the reigning champions in WEG reining competition, having won the 2002 title in Jerez, Spain, the 2006 title in Aachen, Germany, and the 2010 title in Lexington, Kentucky. Four of Team USA’s riders are ranked in the Top 10 of FEI’s Reining Athletes World Ranking: Andrea Fappani, No. 1; Shawn Flarida, No. 5; Jordan Larson, No. 7; and Troy Heikes, No. 9.
PHJ will be bringing you the latest news about WEG’s Paint reiners on apha.com—visit often for the most up-to-date information. To learn more about the 2014 World Equestrian Games, visit normandy2014.com.
