Austria sends great riders and superb horses to the 2006 World Equestrian Games. First, there is Rudi Kronsteiner. The 33-year-old trainer has been working in Germany since 1997 now. He competed in the European CRIO as well as in the World Equestrian Games 2002. Kronsteiner represented Austria during the World Reining Masters Finals 2004 in Oklahoma City and during the World Reining Masters 2005 in Manerbio. Altogether, he was 16 times European Champion, twice NRHA Breeders Derby Champion, several times Breeders Futurity Res. Champion and won 33 Bronze Trophies so far. Last year he rode Chex Enterprise (owner Heidi Wallner, GER) to the NRHA World Champion title 2005.

The only lady reiner and also non pro is Tina Kuenstner-Mantl. The 37-year-old entrepreneur from Leermoos, Tirol, breeds American Quarter Horses since 1996 and shows them successfully. She won several Non Pro Bronze Trophies, became NRHA Breeders Futurity Reserve Champion, Italian Derby Champion and Maturity Res. Champion and NRHA “All American Reining Classic” Derby Finalist, Las Vegas/USA. Tina won the team silver medal at the World Nations Cup and Bronze (Team and Individual ) at the FEI European Championship 2005. Also, she competed for Austria in the CRIO in Oklahoma and in the last World Equestrian Games. 

Markus Morawitz is a 28-year-old trainer from Eisenstadt. He trains at Weikersdorf/Stfld aqt the Berghofer facility. Morawitz won several Bronze Trophies, was five times Austrian Reining Champion, third at the NRHA European Affiliate Championship 2004 in Ltd. Open and NRHA Derby Finalist 2006. Also he was part of the bronze medal team at the FEI European Championship 2005.

The fourth team member is Dennis Schulz. The 38-year-old trainer operates a large western riding facility in Wiener Neustadt that hosted the NRHA European Affiliate Championship 2006. He’s been showing for 18 years now and won eight Bronze Trophies. Dennis was IRC-USA Reining Open Champion 1992, WRC World Reining Champion Lim. Open 1996 and seventh in the NRHA Top Ten 1997 as well as several times Austrian Champion.

Die Österreicher sind zudem stark beritten. Bislang haben sie acht Pferde gemeldet, wer tatsächlich mit nach Aachen geht und wer welches Pferd reitet, wird aber erst Ende August feststehen.

The horses

Chex Enterprise

16-year-old bay stallion by Be Aech Enterprise out of Poco Sweet Chex , owner Heidi Wallner (GER), twice German Champion, European Champion and ten times NRHA Champion. Won 26 Bronze Trophies altogether and three times the World Reining Cup. He w0061s CRIO Champion 2001 and placed seventh with Volker Schmitt during the WEG 2002. With Rudi Kronsteiner, he was World Reining Trophy Res. Champion 2005, NRHA World Champion 2005.

Jacs On Top

1992 red dun stallion by Hollywood Jac 86 out of Caramel Coded (by Topsail Cody), owner. Franz Geiger, GER. Jacs on Top won several Bronze Trophies and was a finalist of the World Equestrian Games 2002. Also, he was Southwest Futurity Champion USA and European Champion Senior Reining.

Lil Dry Peppy

1993 sorrel Quarter Horse stallion by Peppy San Badger out of Dry Senorita by Dry Doc; owner Andrea Richter. He was Congress Futurity Finalist and NRHA Futurity Finalist, Carolina Classic Derby Reserve Champion, NRHA Derby Finalist, European Champion, won several Bronze Trophies and competed in the 2002 WEG. With Rudi Kronsteiner, he became NRHA European Affiliate Co-Champion Open this year, tying with Jurgen Pouls and Tabasco Tari.

Spaceship Commander

Bay Quarter Horse stallion by Grays Starlight out of Commandas Wilson (by Doc Wilson); owner Braam Quarter Horses (NED). He was 23 ClassicRes. Champion and World Reining Trophy Finalist 2005. With Rudi Kronsteiner, he won the Italian Derby 2006 and was third in the NRHA European Affiliate Championship Open 2006.

Heza Sure Whiz

2000 bay Quarter Horse stallion by Topsail Whiz out of Im Not Blonde (by Catalyst Too); owner Jac Point Quarter Horses (AUT). He was NRHA Futurity Finalist, NRHA Illinois Snaffle Bit Champion, Minnesota Futurity Int. Open & Open Champion, Illinois Futurity Int. Open & Open Champion, NRBC Int. Open Finalist, IRHA Derby Champion Lim. Non Pro, IRHA Italy Derby Reserve Champion Non Pro and NRHA Breeders Derby Reserve Champion Non Pro (score 224).

Gee Ronnie Mo

2000 Quarter Horse stallion by Smart Chic Olena out of Remedys Peppy San (by Doc´s  Remedy); owner Jac Point Quarter Horses (AUT). He was 2003 NRHA Futurity Int. Open Finalist, 2003 Southwest Futurity Finalist and 2005 NRHA Derby Open Finalist

Ninjajac Hollywood

1998 Quarter Horse stallion by Jac O Rima out of Commands Evita (by Sir Halston Command), owner Thomas Blechinger (AUT). Ninjajac was NRHA Breeders Futurity Open Finalist, ARHA Top Reiner of the Year – Snaffle Bit Open, 2003 Austrian Champion, NRHA European Championship Finalist Bozen/I and won several Bronze Trophies.

Overlook Me Jac

1999 Quarter Horse Gelding by Jac O Rima out of Commands Evita (by Sir Halston Command), owner Jac Point Quarter Horses (AUT). The gelding won team bronze during the FEI European Championship 2005, was third in the NRHA Breeders Derby Non Pro and Open Finalist.

The 2006 World Equestrian Games at Aachen will include reining for the second time now. The purse has been raised to EUR 100,000.—now, with EUR 65,000.—in the team competition. Thus, reining offers the second best purse now in team competition.

Reining is scheduled for September 1 and 3, 2006 with team competition on Friday, September 1 (starting at 10 a.m. until 12.30, then lunch break, competition starts again at 1.30 p.m.) and the individual competition on September 3, starting at 11.15 a.m.

So far, 81 reining competitors are expected in Aachen with teams coming from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Italy and Japan. South Africa, Poland, Norway and Hungary will send individual riders.