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FEI Masters: Gold for Austria, Silver & Bronze for USA

Written by Pat Feuerstein

Rudi Kronsteiner

Representing Austria, Rudi Kronsteiner, 35, riding Smart Spook (Smart Chic Olena x Sugarplum Spook x Grays Starlight) owned by Rosanne Sternberg, Aubrey, Texas/Great Britain, successfully defended his 2007 title when he won both divisions of the $100,000-added FEI World Reining Masters competition at the 2008 NRHA Futurity and Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show in Oklahoma City on Dec. 4. Kronsteiner scored a 221 and earned a total of $26,750.

An NRHA Open World Champion, Kronsteiner has NRHA lifetime earnings of $476,153. Smart Spook, shown almost exclusively by Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio, has more than $300,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. The pair won the 2004 NRHA Futurity and, in 2005, topped the NRHA Derby and won the AQHA World Championship in Junior Reining.

Kronsteiner thanked Rosanne Sternberg for allowing him to once again show her 7-year-old Smart Spook, but admitted that he did feel a bit of pressure defending his title.

“All the people were expecting a great run,” he said. “The pressure was on.” Kronsteiner and Smart Spook lived up to everyone’s expectations.

Jordan and Taylor Larson

Jordan Larson and Craig Schmersal, representing the USA, earned the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Larson rode the 8-year-old stallion Lena Gallo (Gallo Del Cielo x Heavenly Doc x Doc O'Lena), owned by Lapke Quarter Horses. They scored a 218 and won $15,000. Schmersal scored a 216.5 on Mr Dual Rey (Mister Dual Pep x Robin Red Rae x Dry Doc Rey) and earned $9,750. Mr Dual Rey is an 8-year-old stallion owned by Holly Casey, Mansfield, Ga.

Craig Schmersal

Rieky Young, The Netherlands, earned a 216 to win the silver medal in the Restricted division on David Silva’s Gunners Pearl (PT) (Gunner x Pearl Handled x Gun Start). This was Young’s first medal placing. She earned $5,500, which put her NRHA lifetime earnings at more than $100,000.

Pavel Orel, at age 21 the youngest rider in the competition, earned the bronze medal for the Czech Republic. Orel rode Rosanne Sternberg’s Whizin Off Sparks (Topsail Whiz x Setting Off Sparks x Shining Spark) and scored a 213.5.

The FEI World Reining Masters is an annual, rider-based competition. Riders qualify to compete according to their National Federation requirements. Kronsteiner was very pleased the event was once again held in OKC.

“This is where the sport comes from,” he said. “It [the World Reining Masters] should be here. It should be held with the NRHA Futurity.”