Ranch Riding and Cow Horse at their best

Ranch Riding and Cow Horse at their best

Susanne Schnell & Dunits Finest Stop leading after Fenoglio Boot Ranch Riding Open Go-Round

Forty-three horse-rider combinations competed in the go-round for the FENOGLIO BOOT Ranch Riding Open. The very attractive course for the pattern was designed and sponsored by Sasha Ludwig. Susanne Schnell took the lead on Dunits Finest Stop, owned by Wolfgang Neudendorff, coming out of the arena with an outstanding score of 160.5. The 15-year-old stallion by Footworks Finest out of Smart Katy Rio has been impressing with his versatility for many years. After a successful reining career, during which he was NRHA European Futurity Champion L1 and L2, among other titles, he is now proving his talent with Susanne Schnell in the ranch classes. This year, he already won the Ranch Trail at the LQH Masters.

In second place with a score of 157 was Anna Palasova (CZE) on Docs Gotta Spook (Spooks Gotta Gun x Jag On Doc), owned by Peter Palas. The pair won the Crome Cash Ranch Riding at the Euro Paint in 2024.

Third place went to multiple AMERICANA Ranch Riding Champion Open Joschka Werdermann with Celine Beisel's ND Platinum Card, just half a point behind. Joschka won the Ranch Riding Open at the LQH Masters 2025 with the 7-year-old stallion by Platinum Vintage, bred by Nathalie Derua.

ERCHA Derby Open Go round:
Giovanni Campanaro and Markus Schöpfer extend their lead in Open and Ltd. Open

The ERCHA Derby Open and Non Pro continued with herd work in the go-round. In the Open, Giovanni Campanaro (ITA) extended his lead with Over The Topish S8 (Dual Reyish x Look One), owned by Francesco Baiocco. Campanaro had already put in an impressive reined work performance with the 5-year-old stallion bred by Gary Miller, which was rewarded with a score of 219. He also achieved the second-best score of 222 in the herd work, giving him a total of 441. Overall, the Italian now has four horses in the top spots in the interim standings: NR Ruby Time Cat, owned by Giuseppe Sgalambro, in second place (herd work 220 / composite score 436.5), Rey Smart Tuff, owned by Carlo Mulatero, in third place (herd work 214.5 / Composite Score 433) and Top Tuff Rey, owned by Carlo Mulatero, in 4th place (Herd Work 222.5 / Composite Score 432).

The top positions remained unchanged in the Ltd. Open Go Round after the herd work as well. Markus Schöpfer (ITA) scored 214.5 in the herd work with Oh Cay Eastercat, owned by Sandro Peretto, which, together with 217.5 in the reined work, gave him a total score of 431.5 and the lead. With the 5-year-old stallion by Oh Cay Mc out of Snapper Victoria, bred by Sandro Peretto and Markus Schöpfer, Markus was already 2024 Ercha/Nrcha Derby Open Reserve Champion and Limited Open Champion. Markus also rode Ohcay Jokin Chic to a total score of 426.5 with a 214.5 in the Herd Work for Petro Pennacchio, which now puts him in second place. In third place with a total of 423.5 is Samuele Poli Barberis (ITA) with SR Fletch In Black for Samisa Ranch. The pair achieved the best score in the Herd Work in the Ltd. Open: 215.5.

Stefanie Steidle takes lead in Level 1 Open go round after Herd Work 

In the L1 Open, Andrea Favaretto (ITA) impressed on Silvia Viaggi's SDP Bowser with outstanding herd work, which was rewarded with a score of 218. This put the pair in second place in the interim standings with a total score of 417.5. Stefanie Steidle and Anne Hillers' SER Metallic Rose (Metallic Rooster DR X HS Valentinesurprise) scored 210, giving them a total of 418 and the current lead in the L1 Open. The pair won FEQHA European Championship bronze in Junior Working Cowhorse Open this year. In third place with a score of 416 is Tomas Barta (CZE) on GR Miss Corona Dual, owned by Adam Szewczyk.

Elena Ferrari continues to lead after herd work in the Derby Non Pro & L1 Non Pro Go Round

Elena Ferrari (ITA) and her Spiderman Of Time (Woody Time x Spiderman By Night) already had the top score of 214.5 in the reined work. The 20-year-old Italian was also unbeatable in the herd work. The judges awarded her 210 points, bringing her total score to 424.5. This means that the pair remain in the lead in the interim rankings.  In second place in the Non Pro with a total score of 417 are Alessandro Tugnoli and Banger Boom Smart, followed by Eliane Seiler and Cromed Magnum (410) in third place. In the L1 Non Pro, Jan Luca Waitzenegger and Elta Buccaneer remain in second place (408.5), followed by Elenora Terzi on Thaz A Candy Gun (402.5).

Niggi Vlach takes the lead in the ERCHA Derby Non Pro Boxing Go Round after Herd Work

In the interim standings in the ERCHA Derby Non Pro Boxing 4+5+6y Go Round, Niggi Vlach (SUI) took the lead on Chex your Fancy Guns (Chex Your Guns x Whiz Dunit Fancy). The pair achieved a top score of 210. Claudio Agosti (ITA) came second with Smart Du So Good (409), ahead of René Driever and Olena Shines (390).

Sasha Schwind & Counting Cats win Masters Cutting Non Pro

The Masters Cutting Championship Non Pro was won by Sasha Schwind and her 15-year-old Counting Cats (Im Counting Checks x Catrina Starlight) in a strong field of 27 competitors. The pair received a score of 152, relegating Rosana Bembom with Smoking Spook (Smart Spook x Sweet Huntress) to second place (150).

Sasha was NCHA European Champion Non Pro at AMERICANA in 2023 with The Big Spoon. Her further achievements include: Int. Reserve Champion Non Pro NCHAoG and Int. Champion Youth NCHAoG 2020, Amateur Highpoint Champion NCHAoG and Equitana Cup Reserve Champion 2022. 

Rosana Bembom and her 12-year-old gelding have been a successful team for many years and were, among other things, NCHA European Co-Champion Limited Non Pro. 

Third place went to Vittoria Antonini on Trendzetter (Once in a Blu Boon × Misplaced Cat) who scored a  149. Trendzetter had already won the Masters Cutting Open the day before with Andrea Favaretto in the saddle.

Further information: www.americana.de

About AMERICANA:

AMERICANA is Europe's largest western riding exhibition and transforms the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen into a paradise for horse enthusiasts every two years. With over 400 horses, 700 cattle and almost 1,000 entries in around 50 classes, it is the highlight of the western riding scene. From clothing and accessories to stable construction, fans of equestrian sports and the Western lifestyle will find what they are looking for among the international exhibitors. After the fair closes, the Western atmosphere of AMERICANA invites visitors to linger and join in the excitement, for example at the evening shows or during a visit to the saloon.