The much awaited for second $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation saw a full house and was truly a tribute to the sport of Reining.

Craig Schmersal, riding Tidal Wave Jac, received a standing ovation from the super enthusiastic crowd who, on Saturday night in Manerbio, Italy, at the beautiful Palasturla Facility, had a chance of assisting to one of the most exciting runs in the history of the sport.

Schmersal performed NRHA pattern number five to perfection and the score posted was a 231.5 which put him and the powerful nine-year-old bay stallion by Hollywood Macho Jac and out of Tidal Mist Cody on the highest step of the podium in the $75,000 Open Division.  “The pressure was on and the crowd was incredible but Tidal Wave Jac just gave all he had and this is better than anything I had ever hoped for!”, said Schmersal following the competition.  The horse and rider combination were part of  gold medal winning Team USA at the 2002 World Equestrian Games held in Jerez de La Frontera, Spain and until the qualifier held during the Fiesta In The Park, Lexington, KY, had not been shown as he was in the breeding barn at Mike McEntire’s Reining Horses.  “Mike did a great job in getting him ready”, added Schmersal.

TIDAL WAVE JACK WINS $75 000 ADDED OPEN REINING CHAMPIONSHIP

 Craig Schmersal Takes it All on Tidal Wave Jack at 2005 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship

Craig Schmersal & Tidal Wave Jack Win USEF Open Reining Championship Secure an Invitation to Italy

Twenty three of the greatest reining horses in the United States traveled to Lexington to compete for the $75,000-added Adequan®/United States Equestrian Federation Open Reining Championship. Craig Schmersal accompanied three of those horses and earned the 2005 USEF title with Tidal Wave Jack.

Craig, Menifee, California, and his 9-year-old power-house stallion entered the arena as the sixth draw. The pair made a picture-perfect run and earned the high score of 226 along with a championship check for $20,645.

“About halfway through my second set of circles when I slowed down I knew he was hooked,” Craig recalled of his run with Tidal Wave. “I got chills up my spine and held on to the rest of it. Once I got through my figure eight I knew if I could run and stop with no penalties that I’d be home free.”

Craig’s win in Lexington bumped him to the top of the qualifying standings for the FEI World Reining Masters and he’s ready to make the trip to Manerbio, Italy, this September.

“All the big names are here and everybody was trying for it,” Craig said of the prestigious Championship. “It’s a big honor for me to best the rest of these guys. For me that’s a major feat.”

Tidal Wave Jack, by Hollywood Macho Jac and out of Tidal Mist Cody, is an NRBC Open Reserve Champion and has lifetime earnings exceeding $100,000. Craig and the horse traveled to Jerez, Spain, in 2002 for a Team gold medal finish at the World Equestrian Games. The stallion spent the breeding season at Mike McEntire’s in North Carolina and Mike started showing him last spring. Craig saw how well he was doing and decided to bring him to Kentucky for the USEF.

“I didn’t ride him until Monday when I got here,” Craig noted. “My hat’s off to Mike; he did a great job preparing him.”

Craig also credited his wife, Ginger, along with Pierre-Luc Phaneuf and Liam MacNeill for helping him throughout the show with his three horses. Craig also showed his stallion Mister Montana Nic, by Reminic and out of Mollie Montana, and placed in the top 10 with Vintage Boom, by Mr Boomerjac and out of Taris Little Vintage, owned by Doug Porcello.