The Reining team competition and first individual qualifying round of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy took place today in the Parc des Expositions in Caen. Piet Metsdagh (BEL) riding RS Spat Man O War was first in the arena. The pair closed their run with a score of 216.5, which remained unbeaten until, 12 horses later, Andrea Fappani (USA) closed his pattern with a 224.

Riding Custom Cash Advance, an eight-year-old stallion quarter horse by Custom Crome and out of Cash In Roan owned by Silver Spurs Equine, Fappani thrilled the crowd and his score held until the end of the first part of the individual competition.

“This horse has been shown very successfully in the past by other professionals but I’ve only competed with him twice before coming to the Games and today I tried to do my best,” the native Italian, who now represents the USA, said. “I was careful in the spots I wasn’t confident about. I had tried to qualify for team US in 2010 and didn’t make it by one point. I was pretty disappointed at the time so I am thrilled to be here today,” he pointed out.

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