Danielle Azaria had never competed at a major international reining event before, but when Danieshe guided The Forces Genuine into the arena at the 2026 NRHA European Futurity in Cremona, Italy, the young rider from Tel Aviv didn’t look like a newcomer—she looked like a champion in the making.
Competing in the Non-Pro division, Danielle posted a 212.5 aboard the 2022 bay overo gelding to claim the NRHA Euro Futurity Non-Pro Level 3 Chrome Cash title. She didn’t stop there. Adding more Chrome Cash payouts in Levels 1 and 2 as well, she rode away from her international debut with $2,072 in Chrome Cash earnings and a performance that turned heads across the competition pen.
A Star is Born
“I was really stressed,” confessed Danielle. “It was my first time showing at a major event, first time showing outside of Israel, so it was a big one for me. I didn’t expect anything. When I heard the score, I was really happy. [My horse] was really with me, and he gave me everything that he had. It was really incredible.”
The story of The Forces Genuine is nearly as compelling as the rider guiding him. Sired by Maytheforcebewhizyou and out of VL Genuinely Snapper (QH), “Obie” was bred by Fabiana Clavario of Vergato, Italy, and is owned by Danielle’s mother, Hadassah Azaria of Tel Aviv, Israel. After the disappointment of missing out on another horse for sale, Danielle teamed up with Obie just four months before the event.
“We really connected. He’s really playful—he’s a girl’s horse. And when I entered the classes, I wanted to enter every class I could. When I saw the Chrome Cash, I didn’t know what it was, so I looked it up and saw Maytheforcebewithyou’s offspring could register with APHA and enter, so we did,” the 15-year-old said.
“Danielle’s performance was a highlight of the entire event for me,” APHA’s Director of International Membership Irene Stamatelakys said. “To walk into your first major international competition and ride like that—it speaks to the talent of this young rider and the quality of the Paint Horse she’s competing on.”
Congratulations to our 2026 NRHA Euro Futurity Chrome Cash Champions
NRHA Euro Futurity Non-Pro Level 1 & 2 Chrome Cash Champions: SS Wimpyagain & Anna Palasova—$1,352 Chrome Cash (total)
Anna Palasova and SS Wimpyagain marked a 201.5 to sweep both the Level 1 and Level 2 Non-Pro Chrome Cash titles. The 2022 buckskin overo gelding, bred by Samantha Serafini of Bozzano, Italy, is by Gunner Dun It Again and out of Wimpystein (QH); he is owned by Petr Palas of Velke Pavlovice, Czech Republic.
NRHA Euro Futurity Non-Pro Level 3 Chrome Cash Champions: The Forces Genuine & Danielle Azaria—$2,072 Chrome Cash (total)
Marking a 212.5, Danielle Azaria and The Forces Genuine captured the Level 3 Non-Pro Chrome Cash title, and reserve in the Level 1 and Level 2 Chrome Cash races. All told, they pocketed $2,072.
NRHA Euro Futurity Non-Pro Level 4 Chrome Cash Champions: SS Tarzan & Anna-Maria Zehetbauer—$730 Chrome Cash
Austrian reiner Anna-Maria Zehetbauer rode SS Tarzan to a score of 217 for the Non-Pro Level 4 title. The 2022 palomino solid stallion by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Xtra Taris Voodoo (QH) is owned by Zeidelhof Reining Horses of Lilienfeld, Austria, and was bred by Silver Spurs Equine of Purcell, Oklahoma.
NRHA Euro Futurity Open Level 1 Chrome Cash Champions: KB Kiss Me Again & Danilo Ruscetta—$720 Chrome Cash
Danilo Ruscetta piloted KB Kiss Me Again to a 212.5 and the Open Level 1 Chrome Cash title—as well as the NRHA European Futurity Open Level 1 Co-Champion honors—for owner Lighthill Ranch GmbH of Hosenruck, Switzerland. The 2022 black solid stallion by Gunner Dun It Again and out of Smart Whizzin Jenny (QH) was bred by Koen Brutsaert of Zillebeke, Belgium.
NRHA Euro Futurity Open Level 2 Chrome Cash Champions & Open Level 3 Co-Champions: Voodoo Gotta Whiz & Matteo Cuniglio—$1,536 Chrome Cash (total)
Matteo Cuniglio and Voodoo Gotta Whiz earned a 219.5 to claim both the Level 2 title and a share of the Level 3 Co-Champion honors for owner Rosanne Sternberg of Aubrey, Texas. The 2022 bay solid mare by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Voodoo Sister (QH) was bred by Francesco Groppelli of Truccazzanno, Italy.
NRHA Euro Futurity Open Level 3 Chrome Cash Co-Champions & Open Level 4 Chrome Cash Champions: This Biz & Matyas Gobert — $1,536Chrome Cash (total)
Matyas Gobert delivered a crowd-pleasing 219.5 aboard This Biz to earn the Open Level 4 title and a share of the Level 3 Co-Champion honors for owner AT Reining Dream of Belgium. The solid buckskin stallion sired by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Diva Dual (QH) was bred by Diane Beckmann of Gainesville, Texas.
For complete results, visit showmanager.info.
Chrome Cash Continues
The 2026 NRHA European Futurity was only the opening chapter of what promises to be an exciting Chrome Cash season in Europe. As the first of three major events featuring APHA’s European Chrome Cash incentive program, it set a high standard—and there’s still time to get in on the action.
Up next: the NRHA European Affiliate Championship, offering $2,500 in Chrome Cash, followed by the NRHA European Derby with $8,000 on the line. If your Paint Horse isn’t APHA-registered yet, visit apha.com/chromecash to learn more and make your ride count.
Article by Irene Stamatelakys
Top photo by FlyPangolin Photography; all other photos by Bonaga Communication
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.