American Paint Horse wins Reining Test Event for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Darlins Not Painted, a sorrel Solid Paint-Bred mare, and Tom McCutcheon won the FEI World Equestrian Games’ Kentucky Cup Reining individual final with a score of 222.5.   Hirez JPEG (1.64 mb)

The reining competition kicked off the test event on July 21 as the first competition held in Kentucky Horse Park’s new $45 million indoor arena. The Kentucky Cup Reining is a CRIO 4* competition officially sanctioned by the FEI, which featured a total of 12 riders from Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Darlins Not Painted was piloted to the win by Team USA member Tom McCutcheon of Aubrey, Texas. The duo’s winning score of 222.5 followed Team USA’s victory in the team competition earlier that week.

Following behind McCutcheon in the finals standings, Canada’s Lisa Coulter secured the Silver Medal with a score of 219.5 aboard American Quarter Horse Hollywood Aces. A tie for third occurred between Dell Hendricks of Tioga, Texas, riding Starbucks Sidekick and Mexico’s Jose Vazquez showing Juiced Up Doc, who both marked 218s.

McCutcheon, who also was a member of the U.S. Gold Medal Team at the 2006 Games in Aachen, Germany, started riding the Paint mare just 10 days before the international competition. McCutcheon told event reporters he was in need of a horse for the event and acquired the idea of riding Darlins Not Painted, which arrived at his stables three weeks prior, from his wife, Mandy.

“She was a really great mare and super easy to show,” Tom said.

Before reaching the McCutcheons, both of who are National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Riders, Darlins Not Painted competed mainly in non-pro events with Andi Paul—wife of her previous owner, Million Dollar Rider Randy Paul of Scottsdale, Ariz. With Andi in the saddle, the pair earned back-to-back Intermediate Non Pro championships at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), the highest added-money reining event in the world, in 2007 and 2008.

Just days before the event, the Pauls sold Darlins Not Painted to one of Tom’s clients, Sarah Willeman from Massachusetts. Andi said it was very hard to see the mare go but is glad she went to someone who will really enjoy and take care of her.

Darlins Not Painted is sired by Paint stallion Smokin Chic Olena and out of Mi Hollywood Darlin AQHA. Smokin Chic Olena is a five-time APHA World Champion with additional titles in NRHA, NRBC, National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) and Unites States Equestrian Federation (USEF) events.

Both the mare’s sire and rider also attended the 2002 FEI World Games in Jerez, Spain—at which reining was featured for the first time. Smokin Chic Olena held the alternate position and McCutcheon claimed individual Silver and team Gold Medals.

Paint Horses well represented
The Kentucky Horse Park saw more than one Paint in its arenas throughout the week’s competition. Canadian team member Dave Young of Cochrane, Alberta, rode a 2003 sorrel solid gelding, Angels Mark, to help Team Canada earn the Silver Medal. After riding Angels Mark for the first time that week, Young also placed tenth in the individual finals.

Angels Mark is owned by Bob Thompson of Pilot Point, Texas. He is sired by Paint stallion Mark This Spot, winner of multiple APHA and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championships.

The Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) were held at the park in conjunction with the FEI test event. Will Letner of Harris, Mo., showed his 10-year-old overo gelding, A Genuine Diamond, to a fourth in the Welcome Competition and a tie for eighth in the individual competition. The pair’s team, USA - Southeast/South Central, secured a Silver Medal in the team competition.

A Genuine Diamond, sired by APHA stallion Like A Diamond, and Letner’s placings in Kentucky followed an equally impressive showing at the APHA Summer World Show. The two claimed the Reining 14-18 World Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, earlier this July.

In the NAJYRC English events, Moraya Cleary of Los Olivos, Calif., competed on Timely Jewel, a 2000 tobiano mare owned by her mother, Kathy. The pair helped the Area VI Team earn a Bronze Medal in eventing.

More about the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
According to the World Equestrian Games’ news Web site, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Reining was added as a discipline in 2000 and is the only Western discipline recognized by the federation.

Her Royal Highness Princess Haya is the current president of the FEI. The Games are held every four years, and this will be the first occurrence in the United States.

The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million on Kentucky. Current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc. and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

Further information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, including full results of Kentucky Cup Reining, is available on line at www.alltechfeigames.com.

More about the American Paint Horse Association
Since APHA was founded 47 years ago, it has registered nearly 1 million American Paint Horses at a rate of around 30,000 horses per year. The Association currently serves approximately 83,000 active members in 40 nations and territories. APHA works not only to record Paint Horse pedigrees, but also to preserve and promote the history, breeding, training, racing, showing, sales and enjoyment of American Paint Horses.

For more information about APHA and becoming a member, contact the Association at (817) 834-2742, or visit apha.com.