$100,000 FEI REINING MASTERS RETURNS TO OKLAHOMA CITY

The American Quarter Horse Journal, November 26, 2007 – Fifteen countries. Twenty riders. One event.

The world arrives in Oklahoma City this week for the 2007 FEI World Reining Masters. This $100,000-added event is set for Thursday, November 29, during the 2007 NRHA Futurity at the Oklahoma State Fair Park.

This annual competition, which began in 2004, finds the best individual reiner in the world. According to a point system, the top rider in each National Federation qualifies to compete in the World Reining Masters.

The United States, Canada, Italy, Germany and Switzerland are allowed to send their top two riders to compete in the open division only. These five countries were finalists at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Other countries’ National Federations can send one rider, and these riders are eligible to compete in the open and restricted divisions.

This year’s World Reining Masters features some of the most elite reiners in the world:

• Austria – Rudi Kronsteiner
• Belgium – Bernard Fonck
• Brazil – Gilson Vendrame
• Canada – Dany Tremblay and Gregg Lauder
• Czech Republic – Karel Barotek
• Dominican Republic – Jose Brouwer
• France – David Roux
• Germany – Nico Hoermann and Grischa Ludwig
• Great Britain – Mark How
• Israel – Ashir Kol
• Italy – Dario Carmignani and Martin Gamper
• Mexico – Gretel Valdes
• The Netherlands – Hubertus Heule
• Switzerland – Alex Kubli and Carmen Schultheiss
• United States – Casey Hinton and Gabe Hutchins

NRHA and Oklahoma City were the hosts of the inaugural FEI World Reining Masters in 2004. The best reiners from 16 countries traveled to the Oklahoma State Fair Park to compete for a purse of $100,000 and gold, silver and bronze medals in two divisions, open and restricted. That year, USA’s Todd Crawford and Matt Dillon Dun It marked a 220.5 to be the first World Reining Masters champions.

In 2005, the World Reining Masters moved to Manerbio, Italy, where 19 countries competed for the coveted title. Winning again was the United States with Craig Schmersal and Tidal Wave Jack posting a 231.5.

In 2006, the competition returned to the United States and came to Denver. There, 18 riders from 16 countries competed for the gold with the United States on top again when Shawn Flarida marked a 223.5 on Tinsel Nic.

Reining is the only western discipline to be recognized by the FEI. The FEI has 135 affiliated National Federations around the world.

Visit www.aqha.com for more information and updates on this year’s FEI Reining Masters.

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