Two Canadian athletes achieved qualifying scores for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) at the Reining Alberta Spring Classic, held June 7-10, 2018, in Red Deer, AB.
Sean McBurney, who resides in Arlington, WA, took the top prize in the CRI 3* competition on June 8, which was organized by the Canadian Quarter Horse Association and Marie Whitmarsh. He rode Gaylene Sawchuk’s top breeding stallion, 12-year-old American Quarter Horse, Chics Loaded Gun (Gunner x Smart Chic Olena) to an outstanding score of 75.00.
“Chics Loaded Gun was great for me,” said McBurney. “We need to work on a couple things before WEG in September, but I was very happy with him. He just went out and wanted to be good!”
Right behind McBurney on the leaderboard was Austin Seelhof of Cochrane, AB. He placed second on a score of 73.00 with Marie Whitmarsh’s 10-year-old American Quarter Horse mare, Lipstick Jungle (Big Chex to Chash x Lenas Wright On).
Seelhof and Lipstick Jungle returned on June 9 for the second CRI 3* go, this time earning first place with a score of 69.5.
“I was really happy with Lipstick Jungle’s performance,” said Seelhof. “She was 100% attentive and tried her guts out for me. I am very confident in getting the two of us prepared for WEG in September.”
For full results from the Reining Alberta Spring Classic, click here.
More from Horse Sport:
