For the 29th time, the Austrian Reining Futurity & National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Show in Wiener Neustadt guaranteed high-class reining sport in an extraordinary atmosphere. This time, prize money of 112,000 dollars was up for grabs, of which 100,000 dollars went to the Futurity classes alone. There were 489 entries in total, not including the finals.
“The facility here is simply great for the horses,” says professional trainer Fabi Cestari. “Everything runs stress-free and the participants feel completely at ease. The team is always warm and extremely helpful.”
“The show was once again superbly organized. Every year Helmut brings all the participants together with the Welcome Party and the Draw Party and creates a great atmosphere. That sets the Austrian Futurity apart from all the others,” says non-pro Birgit Schäfer.
Level 4, Intermediate and Restricted Non-Pro Champion
Whatta Gal – the name of this 3-year-old mare says it all. With Thea Karasova in the saddle, the daughter of What A Wave out of Galo Del Blanco (by Gallo Del Cielo) became Austrian Futurity Champion Non Pro in Level 4, the Intermediate and the Confined Open.
“We got her as a foal,” says Sara Karasova, who trains her sister Thea and also trained the mare. “The fact that we managed everything with her all by ourselves makes this fantastic success even more special. Galla is our special princess. She has a gigantic heart and she proved that again this week.”
Thea Karasova is already a Euro Derby Non Pro finalist and has won numerous national NRHA classes and aged events such as the Czech Non Pro Derby 2023 Level 2 & 4.
Reserve Champion of Level 4 Futurity and Intermediate Non Pro was Tina Künstner-Mantl with JP Sailor Moon (Colonels Shining Gun x Sparkling Hollywood x Jac O Rima) with a score of 209.5. Andrea Momesso took third place in Level 4 and Intermediate Non Pro on Magnum Shining Dream (Colonels Shining Gun x GP Magnificent Dream x Magnum Chic Dream) – the score was 208. Reserve Champion of Level Confined Non Pro was Domenico Di Biase on GH Sixty Shine (Inferno Sixty Six x Chic Olena Shine x Clever Chic Olena) with a score of 206.5.
Level 1 Non-Pro Champion: Lydia Capkova and LVR – the icing on the cake
Futurity Non Pro Level 1 Champion and third in the Confined Open was Lydia Capkova with LVR Icing Onthe Cake (SG Frozen Enterprize x Heirloome x Colonels Smoking Gun “Gunner”), who scored a 206. Reserve Level 1 Futurity Champion was Magdalena Kolmer on Frozen Pizza (SG Frozen Enterprize x Sheezasunnywhiz BB x Topsail Whiz) with a 205, followed by Theresia Eiglsperger and OA Tinseldunflygirl (Tinseltown Fly Guy x Ricochet Dun x Ricochet Rooster), who scored a 203.
Level 4 and Intermediate Non Pro Stakes Champions
Vladimir Cejka and Whoos My Daddy (Shiners Voodoo DR x Miss Marilyn Morikas) won the Austrian Futurity Non Pro L4 and Intermediate Non Pro for 4-year-old horses with a score of 214.5. The pair were already in third place after the go round. Vladimir Cejka was 2023 Austrian Maturity Champion Non Pro L4 and 2022 Austrian Maturity Co-Reserve Champion L4 here in Wiener Neustadt – both times with Remy Rooster SG. He was second at the World Reining Championship Adolescent Riders 2023 and NRHA European Affiliate Champion at his last Youth in Givrins 2023. He was also third at the IRHA Derby in Non Pro L4
The Reserve Champion title L4 and Intermediate Non Pro went to Jennifer Kronsteiner-Nixdorf on Spoon N Design (Clever Spook x Designed With Shine), who scored a 213. In third place was Christine Wilinski with a 212.5 on Tinkers Chic Gun (Tinker With Guns x Rufs Little Holly). The pair were co-reserve champions in the L1 Non Pro the day before.
Restricted and Level 1 Non-Pro Champion
With a score of 217.5, Birgit Schäfer and her ND Step N Crome (Walla Whiz Crome x Dun Step N Out) won the Austrian Reining Futurity Championship Confined Non Pro and L1 for 4-year-olds. Her striking palomino mare, bred by Nathalie Derua and acquired by Birgit Schäfer as a two-year-old, became NRHA European Futurity Open L1 Champion 2024 under Kevin Paquet. “I am still completely overwhelmed by this success,” said Birgit Schäfer. “ND Step N Crome is an incredibly sweet mare who always gives her all in the show. The 2024 show year went very well for me overall, but the Futurity is definitely my greatest success so far.”
Reserve Futurity Champion Confined Non Pro with 212.5 went to Kristyna Kleiblova on Gunners In Like (In Like Flinn x GT Special Crystal) ahead of Francesca Ferrarol and Wimpysnapcromedolly (Wimpy Margarita x MH Starlite Snapper, 211.5).
In the L1 Non Pro, three riders shared the title of Co-Reserve Champion – each with a 211: Christine Wilinski on Tinkers Chic Gun (Tinker With Guns x Rufs Little Holly), Nadine Zuercher on Shiners Great Witch (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Great With Cash) and Saverio Parrotta on Tari Baby Wood (AT Ale Wood x Tari Baby Dun It).
Additional Non-Pro Champion
Michael Schöpfer won the Non Pro on Markus Schöpfer's Jokin Whiz (Who Whiz It x Jokin Peppy). The 16-year-old stallion was bred by Cecilia Frediani. Under Markus Schöpfer, the stallion already won the Open in 2016 – with a show high score.
Antonina Zarnawska on Hollywhizzybroncogun (Lean With Hollywood x CSG Flashy Boom) was reserve winner with 210.5. Third place was shared by Tina Kuenstner-Mantl on Inferagoodtime and Barbara Nestelberger on Gota Lotta Love – both with 209.5.
