Friday night’s competition was filled with national and international competition when the USEF and CRI classes were showcased. The riders dazzled the crowd with big stops, fast spins and smooth moves. Both the professionals and the young guns of the sport had the opportunity to show off their skills.
Matt Mills rode Wimps Cool Breeze to the USEF Open gold medal with a score of 221.5 for owner Janice Dickson.
Wimps Cool Breeze is by Wimpys Little Step and out of QHR Jamaica Express and is a 7-year-old buckskin stallion Mills has grown to appreciate for both his style and heart in the arena.
“I love that horse,” Mills said. “He is exactly what you want when you talk about a horse with heart and guts. He never quits. Really he’s what I call a gamer. He’s always up to it, whether I have two horses to get him ready or a month to prepare it doesn’t matter when I walk through the gate that horse is going to be at the bare minimum where he was tonight.”
Friday Mills used his relationship with Wimps Cool Breeze to prepare him properly before the run as well as show him just right in the show pen.
“I thought the entire run was solid. We’ve definitely scored a whole lot higher before, but at this particular run we didn’t need to be spectacular we needed to be real good,” Mill said of he strategy for the run. “We have plans to qualify for the WEG next year, so it’s always trying to be careful not to do too much, but yet you always want to be coming out on top when the dust settles.”
Casey Deary claimed the silver medal riding Reeboks Rerun to a score of 219.5 for owner Owen Deary. Deary also took the bronze medal riding Who Dat Hot Chic with a score of 218.5 for owner Neiberger Performance.
Matt Mills claimed the gold medal in the USEF.