Inaugural Kentucky Reining Cup at Rolex

As the dressage phase of the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event got underway at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the competitors of the first Kentucky Reining Cup, being held concurrently with the four-star three-day event, were inspected outside the Alltech Arena for tomorrow evening’s competition. All 20 horses passed, including country music legend Lyle Lovett’s Smart and Shiney, a beautiful palomino presented by co-owner Tim McQuay. A member of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games gold medal-winning reining team, McQuay is competing on another palomino named Rudy Dun It. Fellow WEG teammates Shawn Flarida, Tom McCutcheon and Craig Schmersal are also competing. Schmersal has three entries, including his silver medal-winning WEG mount, Mister Montana Nic.

Jogging alongside their equine partners, who were all groomed to a high-gloss, the riders were vying for a pair of Dubarry boots and the title of best dressed male or female. Tom McCutcheon and Lisa Coulter earned the honor.

The CRI5* Kentucky Reining Cup, sponsored by Ariat, will be held in the Alltech Arena from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It represents the highest level of reining competition and is the only five-star event in the western hemisphere this year. The reining freestyle, which will crown its first-ever world champion, takes place on Saturday evening in the Alltech Arena. For more information, go to www.kentuckyreining.com.