by Fran Jurga | 2 February 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Plenty of prize money and international prestige were at stake at this weekend’s Exquis World Dressage Masters Weekend series in Wellington, Florida. Congratulations to winners Stefan Peters, Anky van Grunsven, and Michael Barisone, winners of the Grand Prix, Freestyle, and Grand Prix Special, respectively.

But if it was a dressage show, why is that everyone is talking about Anky’s exhibition of western riding?

That’s right! The Olympic gold medalist came from Europe to compete in dressage but wowed the American crowd with an exhibition of her new skills in reining.

Rumor has it that Anky may try to make the Dutch reining team for the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky in 2010.

The video from Dutch television gives you an idea of what Anky’s demo may have been like. This demo was at Jumping Amsterdam in Holland recently. Anky is riding her American Quarter horse, Hilda’s Smart Chic.

Anky rode Hilda’s Smart Chic in a demo at Jumping Amsterdam recently.

Still photo courtesy of Anky van Grunsven.