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2020 NRHA European Non Pro Futurity and IRHA 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity Finalists are Determined

May 15, 2021

Cremona, May 15—European reiners finally made their way to the show arena in Cremona, Italy, where the first day of competition of the first major event of the year offered the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) European Non Pro Futurity and Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA) 4-year-old Non Pro Futurity go round run concurrently.

Topping the Level (L)4 Non Pro division with a 218.5 score was Gina Schumacher riding One Mr JJ (Colonels Shining Gun x QHR Jamaica Express), owned and nominated by XCS Ranch LLC. Fresh off her Non Pro Derby win at the 2021 Cactus Reining Classic —as well as qualifying for the 2021 The Run For A Million Open—with Gunnastepya between the reins, the young German rider slid her way to the highest spot with One Mr JJ, a 5-year-old American Quarter Horse Stallion bred by Brent Loseke who she had also shown at the West World of Scottsdale event. Thrilled with having qualified her three horses for the finals, Schumacher was quick to thank NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Ann Fonck for all their help in Cremona.

With a 213.5, Roberta Gianformaggio of Italy rode her own One Shot One Nic (Rooster Nic x Smart Jacalope) to lead the L3 Non Pro division. The stallion, bred and nominated by Gianformaggio, was shown by his owner in the 2019 German and IRHA Futurity.

Jessica Sternberg and Andrea Iannetta tied to lead the L2 division with a 213 score. Sternberg of Great Britain rode A Ruff Spookin Gal, a mare by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook out of A Ruf Gal bred, owned and nominated by Rosanne Sternberg; Italy’s Iannetta rode his own Hollywood Gun Bodo (Hollywood Gun Dunnit x Doc Snapper Bar), a mare nominated by Alessandro Bodei. Piero Priori of Italy rode Lil Joe Gun 246, a stallion by NRHA Lil Joe Cash out of Gunna Sing, bred and nominated by Priori, to top the L1 division.

On Tuesday, May 18, Consolation eligible riders will make their way back to the show arena for a chance to earn a ticket to the NRHA Euro Futurity Non Pro Finals which will be held on Thursday, May 20.

Stephanie Blessing of Germany and Dance Gotta Gun (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun x Dance Little Spook), owned by Grey Stone Ranch GMBH and bred by Quarter Dream, topped the IRHA 4-year-old Level 4 Non Pro Futurity qualifier with a 216. Sternberg with A Ruff Spookin Gal and Iannetta with Hollywood Gun Bodo, tied to top the L2 division.

The first section of the NRHA European Open Futurity closed the day with Manuel Cortesi and AR Vintage Dream (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage x Sweet Candy Dream), posting a 222—the highest score of the day— to lead the L4 Open division as well as the IRHA 4-year-old L4 Open Futurity. The sorrel stallion, owned by Azienda Agricola Cortesi Piero, was bred by Luigi Parise and nominated by Elisabetta Raviola. The second section will start the day on Sunday, May 16 and will be followed by the 2020 Quarter Dream IRHA/IRHBA Non Pro Futurity.

The event is held behind closed doors following COVID and EHV-1 protocols.