The U.S. Equestrian Federation announced the reining team for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, Aug. 20-Sept. 3.

The four-member team and alternates are: Matt Mills, Scottsdale, Ariz., riding Easy Otie Whiz, owned by Out West Stallion Station and Bobbie Cook; Aaron Ralston, Silt, Colo., riding Smart Paul Olena, owned by Meg Griffith-Ralston; Tim McQuay, Tioga, Texas, riding Mister Nicadual, owned by Jerry Kimmel; Dell Hendricks, Tioga, Texas, riding Starbucks Sidekick, owned by Adair Reiners LLC.

The first alternate is Tom McCutcheon, Aubrey, Texas, riding Ruf Hearted Jac, owned by Sarah Willeman. The second alternate is Crystal McNutt, Scottsdale, Ariz., riding Dun With Caution, owned by RUR Performance Horses LLC.

The team was decided based on their rankings in the Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship, held June 24 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Chef d\’Equipe Jeff Petska is delighted with the horses and riders and looks forward to defending the team and individual gold medals the United States won at the 2002 WEG in Jerez, Spain.

“After being fortunate enough to win the gold and to stand in that arena and hear the national anthem being played—and knowing you had [a] role—it\’s an awesome feeling,” he said. “I think we\’ve got a strong enough group that we can take a good, hard run at it.”

The WEG reining competition will take place Sept. 1 and 3.