Gladstone, New Jersey—May 23, 2002—Bryant Pace of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ and Gunner, owned by Debra Sloan of Newfoundland, NJ, won the 2002 Intervet/U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Semi-Finals for the USET Reining Championship presented by Bayer. The Semi-Finals were held during the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby.

The quintessential show horse, Gunner was “on” for an appreciative Oklahoma State Fairgrounds crowd. To the cheers of the crowd, the distinctive American Paint Horse stallion exhibited his trademark stops and spins and marked a 225.5 to win the event and $6,080.

Gunner was the 1996 NRHA Futurity Reserve Champion, the 1998 National Reining Breeders Classic Reserve Champion and the 2001 USET Reining Champion. With over $165,000 in winnings, he is the second highest money earner in NRHA history. He was selected by the USET as the 2002 USET Breyer model horse.

According to Pace, the popular stallion was brought back from an intended retirement in order to compete in the qualifying events and a chance to ride on the USET World Championship squad at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. The Reserve Championship of the Intervet Semi-Finals ended in a tie between Pete Kyle on Chexys Doctor Pepper, owned by Art and Carol Hurt and Darren Stancik on Chocolate Chic Olena owned by Carter Smith. Both scored 224.5 to win $4,864. The top twenty riders in the Intervet Semi-Finals advance to the $75,000 added USET Reining Championship, Presented by Bayer at the 2002 Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, presented by State Line Tack, June 20-23, in Gladstone, NJ.

1. Gunner 225.5 $ 6,080.00
   (colonelfourfreckle/katie gun)
   Bryant L Pace
   Debra Sloan
   New Foundland, NJ
   Newfoundland, NJ

2. 3 Chexys Doctor Pepper 224.5 $ 4,864.00
   (tejons peppy doc/boogie woogie lady)
   Pete L Kyle (8183)
   Art & Carol Hurt
   Whitesboro, TX
   Agoura, CA

   2/3 Chocolate Chic Olena 224.5 $ 4,864.00
   (smart chic olena/jae bar felcia)
   Darren C Stancik
   Carter M Smith
   Salem, OR
   Walnut Creek, CA

3. Custom Red Berry 223.5 $ 3,648.00
   (custom crome/otter run terri)
   Brent J Wright
   Leanne Bovet Roberts
   Ottawa, KS
   Atherton, CA

4. Lethal Lena 223.0 $ 3,040.00
   (smart little lena/hot little lady)
   Dell J Hendricks
   Cutting Edge Quarter Horses
   Pilot Point, TX
   Tioga, TX

5. Sunrise Enterprise 222.5 $ 2,280.00
   (be aech enterprise/looks like mom)
   Casey Hinton
   Bob Mc Cloy
   Whitesboro, TX
   Norman, OK
   Curtice Mc Cloy
   Norman, OK
   

   7/10 Twice As Shiney 221.5 $ 1,406.00
   (shining spark/shine a mite)
   Dell J Hendricks
   James E Waldron
   Pilot Point, TX
   Sherman, TX

   7/10 San Jo Freckles 221.5 $ 1,406.00
   (san jo lena/colonel lil pistol)
   Shawn W Flarida
   Michael G Harper
   Springfield, OH
   Morrow, OH

   7/10 Smart Starbuck 221.5 $ 1,406.00
   (grays starlight/smart marlena)
   Tom Mc Cutcheon
   Furniss Quarter Horses, Inc
   Pilot Point, TX
   Newnan, GA
   Ed & Nancy Pickett
   Aubrey, TX
   

   7/10 Mr Boomerjac 221.5 $ 1,406.00
   (boomernic/boggies last jac)
   Randy Paul
   Pat F Warren
   Scottsdale, AZ
   Scottsdale, AZ

   11/12 Smokin Chic Olena 221.0 $ 500.00
   (smart chic olena/smokin wildfire)
   Craig L Johnson
   Mary Susan Mason
   Gainesville, TX
   Fairmont, WV

   11/12 ARC Sparkle Surprise 221.0 $ 500.00
   (surprise enterprise/diamonds ms topsail)
   Tim Mc Quay
   Mc Quay/Arrighi
   Tioga, TX
   Tioga, TX

   13 Conquistador Whiz 220.0 $ 500.00
   (topsail whiz/sugarita chex)
   Tom Mc Cutcheon
   George Shifrin
   Pilot Point, TX
   Aspen, CO

   14 Inwhizable 219.0 $ 500.00
   (topsail whiz/angels rosie)
   Scott E Mc Cutcheon
   Inwhizable Partners
   Whitesboro, TX
   Marietta, OK

   15 Smart Shiner 218.5 $ 500.00
   (shining spark/smart hickory)
   Tim Mc Quay
   Carol A Rose
   Tioga, TX
   Gainesville, TX

   16/17 Tidal Wave Jack 217.5 $ 500.00
   (hollywood macho jac/tidal mist cody)
   Craig C Schmersal
   B S Syndicate
   Menifee, CA
   Menifee, CA

   16/17 1362 Duncans Dun It 217.5 $ 500.00
   (hollywood dun it/topsails sweet glo)
   Guy H Vernon (13285)
   Sarah Clymer
   Kiowa, CO
   Pueblo, CO

   18/19 1373 Roosters Wrangler 217.0 $ 500.00
   (gallo del cielo/hustlers sugar)
   Clint L Haverty
   Falcon Seaboard Diversified
   Krum, TX
   Fredericks, TX
   

   18/19 Smart Anna Lena 217.0 $ 500.00
   (little lena doc/omega smoke)
   John S Slack
   A. Jo Young
   Cave Creek, AZ
   Kalispell, MT

   20 Doc Chics Scoot 216.0 $ 500.00
   (smart chic olena/scoots remedy)
   Todd Sommers
   Kim L. Dooley
   Whitesboro, TX
   Scottsdale, AZ

   The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to represent our country in major international competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.