A Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Promotional Meeting was held during the NRHA European Affiliate Championship Show held in Deurne, The Netherlands. The objective of the meeting was to provide the international reining community with information regarding the upcoming FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by NetJets, the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters, and the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG).The 2004 FEI World Reining Masters Finals
With regards to the 2004 FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by NetJets, a fractional jet ownership company with offices worldwide, the $100,000 (US) prize money was confirmed. $75,000 will be added in the Open Division, open to all qualified riders, and $25,000 will go to the Restricted Division (a division for competitors from those countries not among the five finalists at the 2002 World Equestrian Games: U.S., Canada, Italy, Germany, and Great Britain). For both divisions, FEI medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) will be awarded.
The World Reining Masters Finals competition, which is scheduled for Thursday, December 2, 2004, at 7.30 p.m., a prime time performance hour, will be held at the State Fair Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in conjunction with the NRHA Reining Futurity & Championship Show. The competition will comply with all FEI rules and have no elimination or qualifying go-round.
To this date, 15 countries have planned to organize one or more qualifying CRI events. Teams that made the Finals at the 2002 WEG may submit two entries and all others may submit one. At the World Reining Masters Finals, entrants do not need to compete on horses with which they qualified, and no ownership restrictions will apply. All entries are to be submitted to the NRHA office by November 15, 2004. An entry form will be sent to each National Federation, which is to be completed and returned to the NRHA office.
Each finalist will be provided with a seven night room accommodation in a four star hotel, $50 per day meal allowance for seven days, and $1,500 for travel expenses to and from Oklahoma City where shuttle service will be made available from the hotel to the event site at specified times. Classic S Ranch, Reichling, Germany, generously makes these funds available.
The Organizing Committee will attempt to coordinate travel arrangements from a central point in Europe to either New York or Miami before going on to Oklahoma City. Those interested in shipping horses from Europe to this event will be able to stay in the U.S. on a Performance Carnet. In addition, on and off site quarantine facilities will be available. The FEI World Reining Masters Finals will be televised by Americas Horse TV. The FEI is working on a venue for TV broadcasting in Europe.
The 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Series
Frank Costantini, Chairman of the FEI Reining Committee, announced that the time limit for submitting bids to host the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Finals has been extended to August 15th and that organizing committee’s from Bremen, Kreuth, Stockholm, and Milan are planning to submit their nominations. The location, which proves to be the most beneficial to the promotion of the sport of Reining, will be chosen. The substantial purse will not be lowered. Costantini was pleased to note that interest in hosting the prestigious Finals proved to be higher than expected and took the opportunity to thank all those involved in helping promote the FEI World Reining Master Series. It was reported that Trigg Rentfro was appointed FEI Reining and Development Officer, and that Ramona Billing and Simona Diale will be the Media Contacts for the FEI Reining and Development Department.
2006 World Equestrian Games - Aachen, Germany
Don Treadway, AQHA Executive Director of Marketing, announced that Reining will be a full FEI discipline at the 2006 WEG in Aachen, Germany, which signifies that it will join the six FEI disciplines in terms of expenses and prize money provided by the Organizing Committee. The purse will be the same, or higher, than that offered in Spain at the 2002 WEG. “Our long term goal is the Olympics, and there is a good chance for our sport in the future,” said Treadway. “Even though we have accomplished much in such a short period, it is however imperative that we do have more FEI competitions with more countries competing.” Also hosting the meeting were Trigg Rentfro, FEI Reining and Development Officer, and Dan Wall, NRHA Executive Director.
