Kreuth-Rieden, Germany--Two weeks after the European Championship of Quarter Horses the facility of Gut Matheshof in Kreuth, Germany, held another – yet more colorful – European Championship. The Euro-Paint is the largest APHA approved show outside North America and this years was its 15th year. Competitors from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, France and Italy hauled their horses all the way to be judged under the careful eyes of Jane Bagley, Laura Gilmer, Larry Hansch, Brad Kearns and Nancie Wright.
After the Paid Warm Ups in Trail, Western Pleasure, Hunter under Saddle and Reining on Sunday, Monday started off with the Halter classes. The 6-year-old mare, Its Easy Being Green took home the Gold medal in both the Open and the Amateur Aged Mares exhibited by Manuela Rädler. The Halter classes were followed by the Showmanship in the Novice divisions as well as the Yearling In-Hand-Trail and Green Trail.
Italy dominated the Halter Stallions on Tuesday morning: Susanna Marinelli won the title of European Champion in the 2-year-old Stallions with SM Impressive Romeo and the Aged Stallions with TD Celebri Te. For many years now, Italy is a strong nation at the Euro-Paint when it comes to Halter.
One of the largest classes on Tuesday was the Amateur Showmanship. Vera Bracher and Smart Freckle Playboy placed first in Show 2,3,4 and 5 and were the European Champions.
“When I realized I was European Champion, I couldn’t stop crying, because I would have never thought we would get that far. It definitely was our most successful show,” the Swiss equestrienne told us. Bracher also took home the titles in Amateur Hunter Hack and Amateur Western Riding.
For Austrian trainer Nina Leiner the Euro-Paint 2014 was a big success: She defended her titles in the Junior Trail and Junior Pleasure with Like Smokin Gun and won the Senior Trail with Lenas Amazing Grace. Both horses are owned by Franz Vorraber of Austria and took home several other medals and Top Ten placings with his daughter, Sarah Maria Vorraber in the Amateur division.
A wide range of events was provided on Wednesday: exhibitors competed in Longeline, Ranch Horse Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Reining, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Hack. Though, among all these tough classes, one highlight of the day featured not the top trainers of Europe, but four kids in the Youth Leadline 3-8 years-old. The youngest exhibitors from Germany, Italy and Austria all received a blue ribbon, a trophy and a gift.
Thursday is always a big day at the Euro-Paint: The program does not only feature the two most challenging trail courses of the Amateur and the Senior Trail, but also the Nations Cup. Held 2014 for the 10th year, the Nations Cup is the one event that brings extra fun besides the sometimes stressful factors at a big horse show like the Euro-Paint. Dressed up in funny costumes each nation’s team rode into the Ostbayernhalle, proudly waving their flag.
The competition was heralded by the voice of Helen Pfeifer, sister of Amateur exhibitor and 2014 multiple silver-medalist Laura Pfeifer, who sang the national anthem of the USA and Germany. Teams from Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands and France/Belgium gave their best in Trail, Hunter under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship and Reining. For the fourth year in a row– Team Austria: Nina Leiner, Sarah Vorraber, Heike Friess, Florian Larch, Brigitte Mayr and Christian Mantler among Team leader Franz Vorraber, showed outstanding performances and won with 94 points, closely followed by Team Germany with 92 points.
Afterwards, the annual Presidents Challenge took place in which the Presidents of the European Clubs as well as APHA President Mary Parrott were asked to ride a reining pattern – without a horse. Sophia Soffipropp Ulfstedt from Sweden won, and Mary Parrott took home silver.
The German Reining riders could celebrate on Friday. Nina Schneider and Steppin Jacson, Stephan Rohde and Lil Gun Fire and Jennifer Zeller and Gunner Be Slidin excelled in the Amateur, the SPB and the Senior Reining. The title in the Senior Western Pleasure went to Matteo Sala aboard Gimmie A Sensation – for the fourth year in a row!
The Euro-Paint always includes the German Futurity on the last day of the show. After classes like Amateur Hunter and Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation, the offspring of the European breeders had chance to shine. Mike Schuppener‘s colt FM Tribute To Ultimate was named Champion of Champions. Zips Satin Sensation by Zippos Sensation and Bianca Rädler won the Futurity Western Pleasure Class which is always one of the toughest classes at the Euro-Paint.
After seven days Germany led the medal count with 37 gold medals, Austria was second in the ranking, followed by the Czech Republic.
CLICK HERE to check out candids kindly taken by Leonie Kuethmann and sponsored by Prince Farm, LLC.
Detailed results can be found by clicking here.
