The fourth FEI World Reining Masters held in Oklahoma City (USA) on 29 November 2007 wrote Reining history. For the first time a competitor from outside the United States was able to win the gold medal in the Open division. Austrian Rudi Kronsteiner rode Roseanne Sternberg’s American Quarter Horse stallion SMART SPOOK to win gold medals in both the open and restricted divisions.

It was not easy for Europe’s top NRHA money earner, however. After tying with U.S. riders Casey Hinton astride MR BOOMERJAC and Gabe Hutchins astride JUICED UP DOC scoring a 221, Rudi Kronsteiner had to go for a ride off. SMART SPOOK, a flashy 6-year-old sorrel stallion by SMART CHIC OLENA out of an own daughter of GRAYS STARLIGHT, turned in a brilliant performance with fast spins and dramatic stops scoring a 227. Casey Hinton and MR BOOMERJAC placed second scoring 222, Gabe Hutchins and JUICED UP DOC third scoring a 211.5.

It was a new milestone in the career both of Rudi Kronsteiner and of SMART SPOOK. With Shawn Flarida in the saddle, the stallion was 2004 NRHA Futurity Open Champion, 2005 NRHA Derby Open Champion and 2005 AQHA World Champion Junior Reining winning USD 272,455.—altogether until the World Reining Masters. For Rudi Kronsteiner it was the highlight of another fantastic show season. The 33-year-old Austrian, who has been training in Germany since 1997, won both Mallorca Open Bronze Trophies and the NRHA Breeders Futurity in Germany (with Futurity highscore) and is on his way to becoming NRHA World Champion for the second time. With more than USD 309 000 NRHA Lifetime Earnings and another EUR 200 000 NRHA Germany Lifetime Earnings, he is the European Leading Money Earner at the moment and one of the Top Ten Open Reiner worldwide. Rudi Kronsteiner was the only rider who competed in all four FEI World Reining Masters. Last year, he already won gold in the restricted division astride SETTING OFF SPARKS also owned by Roseanne Sternberg.

“It’s just incredible,” he said shortly after his win. “I’m really proud for my country. SMART SPOOK is just so honest and so cool – a great horse! Shawn Flarida helped me a lot. He was yelling with me and telling me what to do. But I also want to thank the owner Roseanne Sternberg for giving me the horse. It’s nice to have such a great group behind me.”

Altogether, seventeen riders from 15 nations competed in the fourth World Reining Masters event at the Oklahoma State Fair Park Coliseum in Oklahoma City. In the restricted division Gilson Vendrame (Brazil) and Ima Little Tangy won the silver medal scoring a 216. Belgian competitor Bernard Fonck and Don Quixote Escapes receive bronze scoring a 215.5.

RESULTS

2007 FEI WORLD REINING MASTERS OPEN DIVISION
1. Austria: Rudi Kronsteiner / Smart Spook. Score: 221/227
2. United States: Casey Hinton / Mr Boomerjac. Score: 221/222
3. United States: Gabe Hutchins / Juiced Up Doc. Score: 221/211.5
4. Italy: Dario Carmignani / Skeets Dun. Score: 217
5. Brazil: Gilson Vendrame / Ima Little Tangy. Score: 216

2007 FEI WORLD REINING MASTERS RESTRICTED DIVISION
1. Austria: Rudi Kronsteiner / Smart Spook. Score: 221/227
2. Brazil: Gilson Vendrame / Ima Little Tangy. Score: 216
3. Belgium: Bernard Fonck / Don Quixote Escapes. Score: 215.5
4. France: David Roux / Hes One Smart Chic. Score: 212
5. Great Britain: Mark How / Moon Stone Chex. Score: 210.5