Team USA earned its third consecutive medal in reining competition on Sunday, September 26 at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY. Belgium won the team silver medal, while Italy claimed the bronze.

This is the third time that reining has been included in the World Games.

“The difference in quality of the overall exhibitors at this event has grown so much,” said Veteran U.S. rider Tim McQuay, who also won the individual silver medal in reining at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. “It’s just unbelievable how much better they’ve gotten.”

In the order of their runs, McQuay and Hollywoodstinseltown scored a 220.5; Craig Schmersal and Mister Montana Nic marked a 223.5; Tom McCutcheon and Gunners Special Nite scored a 224; and Shawn Flarida and RC Fancy Step marked a 207.5 (Flarida’s stirrup strap broke during his performance and rules mandated that he be penalized for touching the saddle).

For Belgium, which has a small but developing reining community, the silver medal was a significant achievement.

“We were hoping for third place, but getting silver is like a dream come true,” said Belgium chef d’equipe Susy Baeck, whose sister, Cira Baeck, is a team member. “Tomorrow morning when we wake up, we will realize, and we will have a headache for sure.”

For the Italians, international success is nothing new. They claimed bronze medals in each of the previous World Equestrian Games and in 2008, beat the U.S. team to claim the FEI World Reining Championships.

Countries competing in reining at the World Equestrian Games included: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, South America, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

A “second-chance” qualifying competition for the individual finals will be held Tuesday, in which the top five competitors advance to the finals, which are scheduled for Thursday and will also include the top-15 scoring horses and riders from the team competition.