Czechowicz Leaves His Mark In the $212,000-Added IRHA/NRHA

4-Year-Old Open Futurity

Excitement ran high in Verona as the IRHA/NRHA 4-year-old Open Futurity finalists gave all they had to clinch the titles and paychecks up for grabs in the highest-paying 4-year-old Open Futurity ever offered in Europe.

Level of competition ran deep, scores rose, and so did the public’s cheers as some of Europe’s best horses and riders performed in the Veronafiere Arena. Half way through the second section, the loudest cheering was for Poland’s Lukasz Czechowicz and CSG Kenzo (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun x Shiner Brimolena) who thrilled the fans with his powerful yet smooth ride. From the first stop and back, through the fast and precise spins, to the speed transitions and imperceptible lead changes, Czechowicz’s mount stopped deep in the ground raising the dirt which resulted in the highest score of the evening—a 227.5—and the win in both the $ 144.390-Added Level L(4) Championship as well as the $ 38.654-Added L3 title.

“Both these horses are just amazing. CSG Kenzo is a little more laid back and lazier horse, while ‘Wiseman’ is more energetic, but they are both well-minded and ever so talented.”

Owned and bred by Katarzyna Roleska, CSG Kenzo was joined by CSG Wisemanfear—a stallion by Colonels Shining Gun out of Tejana Chic also owned by Roleska—to top honors with Czechowicz in the saddle tying for reserve spot in the L4 division and to the Reserve Championship in the L3 only a half-point behind.

“These are both great horses,” said an enthused Czechowicz. “CSG Kenzo was born at Roleski Ranch and I’ve had him in training him since he was a 2year-old. CSG Wisemanfear was born at Brent Loseke’s facility and came to Poland as a yearling, so I also started him. Both these horses are just amazing. CSG Kenzo is a little more laid back and lazier horse, while ‘Wiseman’ is more energetic, but they are both well-minded and ever so talented. Katarzyna is very happy with both of them today and I am too. We don’t have plans for them for next year, most likely we will take them to the derbies, but we’re not sure about which horse will go to which derby yet. I want to thank Katarzyna very much and of course my family - my wonderful wife and daughter - for always supporting me, and of course a thank you also goes to my sponsors.”

Tying for co-reserve honors in the L4 was Manuel Cortesi of Italy riding Letters To Juliet, (Master Snapper x San July Jo Magnetic), a mare owned by Giacomo Ronchi and Roberto Cuoghi, bred by Ronchi. Emotions ran high when Manuel was asked about his horse co-owned by Ronchi who prematurely passed away in October.

“Giacomo has always managed to create wonderful foals; he trained them beautifully, and they are all physically and mentally healthy.”

“I have been riding her for about a month,” said Cortesi. “I really didn’t do much with her after all, I just rode her. It’s just that she was so incredibly well trained by Giacomo who did an absolutely fantastic job with her. At first I did not want to ride her but then his parents asked me if I wanted to try her out and as soon as I did I immediately felt at ease with her. I just applied a bit of what my usual working method is and changed a few things around, but the horse was already prepared and ready for competition. I showed her in a few schooling classes but truly, the horse is a level higher than the others! Giacomo has always managed to create wonderful foals; he trained them beautifully, and they are all physically and mentally healthy. He cared greatly for them, they were part of his family, and being able to achieve this result in his honor gives us all joy. We certainly did not expect to ride to such a high score, as a matter of fact, she performed so well that I believe Giacomo helped us from above. I will not deny that it was very emotional and this win is dedicated to Giacomo. He worked so hard to train his horses and this was a way of bringing his work to the finishing line. Everything you saw belongs to him; I just showed her.”

Level 2

Opting to share the $19,330-Added L2 CoChampionship was Dutch Tiara van Dongen riding Orangeisthenublack, (NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook x NRHA Million Dollar Dam Ebony Shines), a mare owned by Gisela Haas and bred by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg, and Kaya Haissar of Israel aboard Sail On Chexx, (Chexolution x Sailor Whiz Ina), a stallion owned and bred by Eyal Carmon. Both scored a 219.5 for the win.

“My horse’s breeding speaks for itself. We already won the L3 and L2 at the NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity and finished reserve in L4. At this show, we had a little bit of bad luck in the go round, but we still made the L2 finals and here we are. She is a really fun mare with a great personality,” said van Dongen. “Most of the time she is lazy, but she can also be a little spicy when she wants, but once she’s on your side she is an amazing show horse. In the warm-up, I sometimes feel like nothing is going to work; as soon as we are in the show pen, she makes it work. Tonight wasn’t perfect, but I am very happy with her. I was not completely there in my mind, so everything that went wrong was on me, but I am happy anyway. This was the last show of the year and we have had an amazing season, so I’m really grateful. Next year we are going to flush an embryo out of her to pass on her great bloodlines and we plan to enter the derbies. Our hope is to keep doing what we are doing.”

Just as happy was Haissar. “This horse is very special to me,” he shared. “He was born at our ranch in Israel and I won the Israeli Derby on his sire and a year later on his dam. He is the best horse we have. He has a great personality and I believe he has a bright future ahead of him. We arrived in Italy only a week ago from Israel and he did most of the job today. He is going to stay in Europe after this show and will be shown at the derbies next year and hopefully make the L4 finals.”

Level 1

Italian Giovanni Zucchi and CS Mr Wonderful (Dun Gotta Gun x Bingo Juicy), a gelding owned and bred by XCS Ranch LLC, rode to a 220.5 score and the $9,095-Added L1 Open Championship.

“We purchased this horse in February from Gina Schumacher, at CS Ranch,” said Zucchi.

“Unfortunately we did not make the L2 Finals but this evening he proved to be a wonderful horse with a lot of potential and I hope that in future he will get even better. He is a really good horse with ample possibilities to grow. He was a little ‘green’ at the beginning of this year but with a few shows and schooling classes he improved a lot. Here he was great right from the start, except maybe for the first day when the ground was a little slick for him, but in the following days it improved and this evening he was perfect!”

Mattia Camisi of Italy and PL Gunspooky (NRHA Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner x Spook Reyns), a stallion owned and bred by Luigi Parise, scored a 218.5 to claim the L1 Open Reserve Championship

From Eleuterio Arcese, IRHA President

The history of the sport of reining is an extraordinary one which, among obstacles and incredible successes, has been by my side all my life. Thanks to the trust and esteem on behalf of all IRHA partners and, in particular, that of the newly elected Board, last year I was elected President of the Association. A privilege, an honor, but at the same time a wonderful challenge that I accepted with the intent of giving—as is in my nature— the utmost support so as to make this discipline that unites us grow further. I would like to personally thank you all—riders, owners, breeders, sponsors, and reining enthusiasts— for the commitment and passion you have for the sport of reining which has helped us achieve new and important goals. This year we lived a special event together: The 2022 Italian Reining Horse Association Futurity & FISE/IRHA/ELEMENTA Italian Championship Finals. Together with the IRHA board, we invested our resources and energy. Thanks to the collaboration with IRHBA, FISE, Fiera di Verona, and NRHA, we made a dream become reality. Verona, the center of the equestrian world, staged the sport of reining by hosting this Italian event with the highest added money ever offered: $800.000,000. Together we produced an unprecedented IRHA reining show in Europe and we sincerely appreciate your contribution in writing this new chapter of our story

$101,185-Added IRHA/NRHA 4-Year-Old Non Pro Futurity: Egenter and Eyes Of Whiz Dominate

It was truly a special event for Lucie-Lena Egenter of Germany who showed off her horse’s talent as well as hers. Her part-time trainer, NRHA Professional Grischa Ludwig, praised the 18-year-old for her professionalism.

“Lucie does it all by herself; here and there I help her a little bit but ever since we’ve known each other, she thinks like a professional which makes it easy for me,” said Ludwig. “She knows what she is doing, she always has a plan, and for her age it’s amazing.” The young rider performed to a 218.5 in the qualifier, leading all the levels, and rode to the same score in the finals claiming the $53,435-Added Level (L)4, $28,420-Added L3, $11,370Added L2 and $7,960-Added L1.

Eyes Of Whiz (One Gun x Luga Whiz) is owned by her mother Bettina Egenter, who runs their small-scale home barn. The Egenters purchased the talented gelding last year in April from Italian Carlo Sara, who bred him. “It’s crazy, I can’t believe we won Level 4! We’ve been trying all year but somehow something always went wrong, probably because we still had to get to know each other. Tonight, I am more than happy! He was wonderful and I think we finally found each other’s ‘right buttons.’” Prior to making their way to Verona, the two made the finals in the 2021 NRHA Germany Breeders Futurity and 2022 NRHA European Futurity. They then went on to win the ARHA Non Pro Futurity L1 and 2 as well as reserve honors in L3 and 4.

Andreu Nogue Puig and his mare Simple The Best 66 (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six x ARC Yellow N Lime), scored a 216.5 for reserve honors. “My mare was great and has a heart of gold,” said the Spanish rider about his mare who he won the IRHA Non Pro Futurity with last year.

“Tonight she wasn’t there for me all the way, probably since it’s been a tiring week. Her run-in, circles, and spins were great, but her stops weren’t up to her usual standard. That’s a shame because it’s her best maneuver. In any case, I am happy with her and look forward to our future together.”

Claiming reserve honors with a 216 score in both the L3 and 2 Non Pro divisions was Austrian Alexander Nestelberger riding his Doctor Cop (NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr x Finest Copyshot), owned by Schlager & Nestelberger Partnership. “This horse always saves my life! He is always there to help me when I make mistakes and I am so happy with him,” said Nestelberger about his flashy home-bred palomino stallion. “We’ve had a good year and now we will rest as we look forward to next year.”

Young Camilla Orlandini of Italy and Sparkwest (Spark N Whiz x West Coast Oak), a gelding owned by her mother Alice Orlandini, performed a great ride paid back by the judges with a 215.5 early in the draw. Their score held to take home the L1 Reserve Championship. “I can’t hold the tears back; this is the best day of my life,” said the young rider who trains under the guidance of her father, NRHA Professional Paolo Orlandini. “I’ve been riding since I was tiny and I started showing when I was seven. Winning this prestigious title is a dream come true and I cannot thank my horse enough.”