With big slides and equally big scores, reining’s best showed the world they meant business at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy. Thanks to their superb runs in the first two days of competition August 25-26, the top 15 competitors have already secured their spot in the individual reining medal finals on August 30. The field includes three Paints: high-scoring Spooks Gotta Whiz and Shawn Flarida, who laid down a smoking 229.5 on Tuesday, along with Belgium’s Colonels Shining Gun and Cira Baeck and the United State’s HF Mobster (Gunns On The River) and Jordan Larson, who are currently tied at sixth with a 221.
On Thursday, 23 additional horse-and-rider teams will bring their best to the reining arena for the individual consolidation go-round—open to exhibitors placing 16th to 35th in the first two days of competition, the top five scorers from the consolidation round advance to the finals on Saturday. Several Paints are among those vying for the coveted spots:
- Ju Juzz Gunslinger—A 2004 sorrel overo mare ridden by Josiane Gauthier for Team Canada, the duo will try to improve on their 214.5 score from Day 1. They’re currently tied for 23rd overall.
- Lil Gun Dunit—Team USA’s Troy Heikes piloted the 2006 sorrel solid gelding to a 214 on the first day of competition; they’re currently tied for 27th overall.
Tune in to feitv.org to watch the competition live from Caen, France. The consolidation round starts at 2 p.m. on August 28 (local time; that’s 7 a.m. CST in the United States); the finals take place August 30 from 8-10 p.m. (again, local time; tune in 1 p.m. CST to catch the action).
Here are a few of our favorite moments from Day 2 of the Games.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |