Aussie rider wins 4-star reining in Europe

Larcombe, who is head trainer for Corinna Schumacher at CS Ranch near Geneva, Switzerland, rode RS Fondadores Olenaon to victory, in her first FEI competition.

Originally from Shepparton in Victoria, Larcombe needs one more FEI event in order to qualify for WEG 2010 where she hopes to represent Australia. She is the sister of Martin Larcombe who represented Australia at last year's World Reining Championships in Italy and also the World Reining Masters in Oklahoma City.

The only western discipline recognised by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), Reining today has its place in the circuits of French and international competition, proven by its entry in the International Jumping de Lyon. Ranked as a "four star", it was the third competition of this level on the world circuit.

After the elite world of Jumping and Dressage (Lyon stages World Cup events in both disciplines), the public of Lyon discovered the best of this spectacular sport which is dominated by the Italians (current world champions), the Americans and Germans.

"It is a new opening for Equita," said Sylvie Robert, Director of the event.

"We must therefore increase our exhibition space for the CRI **** which will attract new audiences and new exhibitors. We will have to make a special area as the arena used in dressage and jumping does not offer a suitable ground for the discipline, particularly for long slides of famous sliding stops."

Olympic Champion Dressage rider Anky van Grunsven competed in the event (finishing 13th of 13) and may consider trying to ride both disciplines at WEG.

Moreover, in France, the rider jumping Michel Robert, five times French National Jumping Champion and several-time medalist at the European championships and World and Olympic Games is also interested in reining and technical training of American reining horses.