Introducing Accustomed To Shine, Sue Painter’s awesome reining mare by Custom Crome. Having had a long period off as a brood mare, we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to show her and are very excited about what she has achieved so far!

In just a few outings she has carded some spectacular scores resulting in a several wins at the British Reining Spring and East Coast Circuit Spring shows. The score to beat? 142.5!

Smart Rebel Girl (Baileys) has been awarded some of the highest accolades possible from the AQHA. We already reported on her Register of Merit but to add to this she has scooped the 2013 International High Point Performance plaque for the UK affiliate, the 2013 AQHA Senior Reining High Point award and the AQHA UK Reining All Ages High Point.

The 2005 mare (Smart Starbuck X Country Rebel Girl) was started and trained by Michael here in the UK.

What a wonderful surprise. Today Smart Rebel Girl received her AQHA Register of Merit for outstanding performance in AQHA events. She has earned 10 points in Reining and Ranch Horse Pleasure with Michael and continues to perform consistently at the top level.

Known as Baileys, this 2005 mare by Smart Starbuck was trained and produced by Michael from a two year old.

2013 British Reining Champions

What a way to end the season with a Championship title and a Reserve at the 2013 British Reining Championships at the Bodiam International Arena, East Sussex.

Riding Sue Painter’s This Ones Cutting It, Michael was awarded the Championship in the Rookie Professional among strong competition. This mare came to ML Training in June straight from field having spent most of her life as a brood mare. ‘I knew she was bred to do the job but I really didn’t have any particular expectations for this season,’ said Sue. ‘She was bought as a brood mare and as far as I am aware she has never been shown. I couldn’t be more delighted with the results Michael has managed to achieve, especially in such a short period of time. This Championship win really is the icing on the cake.’

Michael then went on to ride a cracking 141.5 in the Intermediate Open on his own home produced mare Smart Rebel Girl. The pair ran the high score of the show before being pipped to the post by just a half point by Josh Collins, fresh back from the FEI European Championships. The class was hotly contested and Michael finished above another Team GB rider Lee Rutter on three horses.

This Ones Cuttin It owned by Sue Painter

What an incredible Garden of England International Show. ML Training racked up a fantastic set of results across the board at the UK’s premier western event under judges Rick and Maj-Britt Lemay, and Carl and Karen McCuiston.

Michael placed 1^st and 2^nd in the FEI CRI 2*, took the $500 added NRHA Pewter for the Limited Open, the $250 NRHA Novice Horse and $250 Rookie Professional as well as being crowned the AQHA Gold medallist in the Reining Hi Point!

See below for the highlights…

Michael on Smart Rebel Girl (Baileys – owned by Michael)

• 1^st FEI CRI 2*
• 1^st $500 NRHA Limited Open Pewter Trophy
• 1^st $250 NRHA Rookie Professional
• 1^st $250 NRHA Novice Horse Level 2
• 1^st AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 3
• Gold Medal AQHA Reining Hi Point Award
• 2^nd $250 NRHA Novice Horse Level 2
• 2^nd $250 NRHA Novice Horse Level 2
• 2^nd AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 1
• 2^nd AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 2
• 2^nd AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 4
• 2^nd BR Intermediate Open
• 3^rd $500 NRHA Limited Open

Michael on This Ones Cuttin It (Lucky – owned by Sue Painter)

• 1^st BR Rookie Professional
• 1^st AQHA Ranch Horse Pleasure

Michael on A Winnin Tradition (Flint – owned by Jackie Langford)

• 2^nd FEI CRI 2*

Emma Collyer on A Winnin Tradition (Flint – owned by Jackie Langford)

• 2^nd BR Green as Grass Level 2
• 3^rd AQHA Novice Amateur Reining
• Bronze Medal Novice Amateur Rookie Circuit Award

Mary Stephens on Aprils Little Lloyd (Lloyd – owned by Mary Stephens)

• 2^nd BR Intermediate Non Pro
• 4^th NRHA Rookie