Inaugural FEI World Reining Championships Set

Landmark Event Slated for September 12-14 in Italy

The American Quarter Horse Journal, July 31, 2008 — The newest addition to international reining, the first-ever Fédération Equestre Internationale World Reining Championships, is seeing a world of support with 20 countries from four continents expected in the September 12-14 competition in Manerbio, Italy.

The $70,000 team competition will be held on Friday, September 12, with the top 20 riders then competing in the $30,000 individual competition on Sunday, September 14.

Prior to this FEI event, a World Reining Championship only had been offered during the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), which are held every four years (two years prior to the Olympic Games). This year, international reiners have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious World Championship gold, silver and bronze FEI medals outside of the WEG, making this a unique and exciting event for international reining enthusiasts. Organizers anticipate 20,000 spectators for the FEI World Reining Championships.

The countries with FEI National Federations that are expected include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands and the United States.

Those countries in the process of having their riders qualified for competition are: Czech Republic, Norway, Santo Domingo, South Africa, Slovakia and Sweden.

The FEI is the international body governing equestrian sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee. It is the sole controlling authority for all international events in dressage, jumping, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting, reining and para-equestrian.

Reining has gained significant ground since being adopted by the FEI in 2000 as its first western discipline. Reining made its debut at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, where team and individual reining competitors were welcomed. By the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, more than 22 countries fielded teams for the reining competitions. The 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games come to the United States for the first time when they will be held in Lexington, Kentucky.

For further information on international reining, visit FEI at www.horsesport.org.  For more information on the 2008 FEI World Reining Championships visit http://feiworldreining.mdsmedia.it.

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