Claudio Ferrami wins first Qualifier in Italy, Markus Schopfer places second

Press Release | Western – The ERCHA Team Nations Cup 2017 will be part of AMERICANA in Augsburg this year, and the first qualifier is over already. In Travagliato (BS, Italy) the first four Italian reined cow horse riders qualified for the prestigious event.

In a field of ten exhibitors, Claudio Ferrami and his chestnut AQHA mare Snapplicious (Mr Snapple X Miss Hickory Chip) took the lead with a total score of 146. The two who were multiple Non Pro Bridle Champions last year, achieved a 72 for their reined work and a 74 for their brilliant performance in the fence work. With a total score of 145.5, Markus Schopfer and Jeanette Krahenbuhl’s 8-year-old Spat Sailor Lena (Spat Olena x Heidi Sailor) followed on second place. Markus had the best run in the reined work (72.5) and got a 73 on his fence work. He also managed to ride his Peptos Lil Bingo (Peptoboonsmal x Conchita Gay Bingo) to third place scoring a 145. Giovanno Campanaro and Giovanni Lagaren’s mare Smart Speedy (Smart Easy Deal x OT Boompeep) placed fourth scoring a 143.5.

ERCHA Nations Team Cup final is highlight of Thursday evening show
The ERCHA Nations Team Cup final is scheduled for Thursday night at AMERICANA (September 7, 2017). Europe’s best teams will meet at 7.30 p.m. in the big arena. Tickets are available for only € 17.50.

Feel the Fascination of Reined Cow Horse at AMERICANA
Since the beginning, cattle classes have been among the main attractions of AMERICANA, and each time, about 5,000 spectators watch the finals in the Cutting and Reined Cow Horse shows at Europe’s premier western event. There is hardly another reined cow horse event where this beautiful discipline presents itself at such a high level and with so many great horses and riders.

Reined Cow Horse is one of the most difficult disciplines of western riding as it requires top performance in three categories: Reining, Cutting and Fencework. “It is a real challenge finding a horse that can do it all at top level,” says ERCHA president Markus Schopfer. “And it is the combination of the three categories which makes reined cow horse so fascinating to me.“ Markus is a multiple ERCHA Futurity Champion and claimed Team Gold with Italy at the first ERCHA Team Nations Cup last year. He is also a first class reiner (e.g. NRHA World Champion Int. Open 2015) and Cutter (e.g. AMERICANA European Champion Open 2011).

$ 37,000-added in the ERCHA classes

Visitors can get the feeling of ‚Fascination Reined Cow Horse‘ in Augsburg. With a total purse of $ 37,000-added, AMERICANA 2017 offers more money in the  ERCHA classes than ever before. “I am very happy that we have such an excellent platform for our sport here,“ says Markus Schopfer. “AMERICANA has supported us in every way since the beginning. Here, we had our first ERCHA Futurity – only six months after the foundation of our association. Since then, it has been a part of AMERICANA each time.“

Entry details will be online shortly. Tickets for visitors: www.americana.de

Source: Press Release