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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2008

Manerbio, Italy - It was a close finish but with a total of 667.5 points Team Italy took the gold medal in the very first FEI World Reining Championship on Friday, September 12. Team USA took the silver medal with 663.5 points closely followed by Team Germany which finished only a point behind the United States.

Sixteen countries were represented in the World Reining Championship and in order to determine who would step on the podium for the bronze medal, reining enthusiasts had to wait for the last German horse and rider combination, Daniel Klein and Dealin Gin owned by the Dealin Gin Syndicate, to show - three horses before the end of the competition.

Team Italy coach, Mario Sbrana, was quick to praise the Italian team members Davide Brighenti, Dario Carmignani, Martin Gamper and Gennaro Lendi for their win.

"Getting on the first step of the podium was fantastic", said Mario. "This is a great group of horses and riders and the work they have been doing from the beginning of the year towards this world championship has paid off. They gave all they had and they truly deserved the win".

Brighenti was riding Dualin For Me owned by Mancone QH and scored a 224; Dario Carmignani was seen riding Arc Magic Entprise owned by Pietro DeAngelis and scored a 222; Marin Gamper riding Claudio Risso's RS Oregon N Jac scored a 221.5 and Gennaro Lendi riding his Playing It Out scored a 220.5.

Team U.S.A was represented by Pete Kyle riding A Bueno Poco Dunit owned by Sandra Holt (222); Craig Schmersal riding Mr Dual Rey owned by Casey Holly (221); Jordan Larson riding Lena Gallo (220.5) and Tom McCutcheon riding Ruf Hearted Jac owned by Sarah Willeman (219).

Craig Schmersal is impressed by the first FEI World Reining Championship.

"We love it here," said Schmersal. "My goal was to make the team to compete here I love the team competition, it is different from what we normally do."

"We are very honored to have been able to represent our Country", said Jeff Petska, U.S. Chef d'Equipe. "We had a strong group of horses and great riders for U.S.A. and are hats go off to the Italians, they did a great job".

It was German Sylvia Rzepka aboard Doctor Zip Nic owned by the Zip Nic Partners who marked the highest score of the day, a 227.5, for her Team. Daniel Klein riding Dealin Gin owned by the Dealin Gin Syndicate scored a 219.5, Emanuel Ernst riding Legends Diamond Do owned by Paul Kratschmer scored a 215.5 and Oliver Stein riding Smart Little Lenic scored a 209.

Competitors had to score a 216 or higher to make the Individual Competition which all four Americans did. The Individual Competition will be held on Sunday September 14th at 2pm where 20 horse and rider combinations will be vying for the FEI medals.

The very first FEI World Reining Championship is organized by the Italian Reining Horse Association and is supported by the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE).

2008 FEI WORLD REINING CHAMPIONSHIP - TEAM COMPETITION

Team Scores:

ITALY 224+222+221.5 (drop 220,5) 667.5

UNITED STATES 222+221+220.5 (drop 219) 663.5

GERMANY 227,5+219,5+215.5 (drop 209) 662,5

GREAT BRITAIN 223+217+217 (drop 216) 657

BELGIUM 218.5+218+217 (drop 0) 653.5

CANADA 218+214.5+211.5 (drop 205) 644

NETHERLANDS 222+210.5+209.5 (drop 207) 642

FRANCE 215+213.5+213.5 (drop 208.5) 642

SWITZERLAND 219+212.5+209.5 (drop 208) 641

CZECH REPUBLIC 210.5+206.5+204 (drop 0) 621

ENDS

For media requests please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org.

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.