The National Reining Horse Association is excited to announce a new annual event on NRHA’s calendar of events. Debuting September 22-24, 2006, the Mallorca Western Festival will showcase Reining at its best to supporters and fans of the sport from all over Europe. A new 125 x 250 arena is under construction where two Open Reining competitions will take place during the peak of tourist season in Mallorca, Spain. (Mallorca’s population swells from 100,000 to more than a million people due to the tourists and vacationers.) In addition to a $150,000 added Open - one go elimination round (Friday) and a finals (Saturday), there will be a $50,000 added Open on Sunday, which will include the Mallorca Reining Trophy, a “North America Against the Rest of the World” Ryder Cup style competition.
Produced by Event Consulting International, an event production company with an enviable eight-year history of producing first-class sporting events, the Mallorca Western Festival will be a venue for Western-Lifestyle aficionados to gather and be entertained in an unprecedented fashion. With Reining as the showcase equestrian discipline, attendees will also be treated to cutting, Dressage and classical Spanish horsemanship demonstrations with concerts featuring world renowned musical entertainment to finish Friday and Saturday’s activities.
Event Consulting International is a partnership between Managing Director Frank Lichte and the Nixdorf family. The pride they take as they commit to producing the largest added money Category 1 Reining event in NRHA history is evident. The reason behind it is humbly explained by Lichte, “Simply put we want to see Reining in the Olympics and we’re willing to support the effort through the production of this event. And, to guarantee its success, we’re committed to promoting this event in an unparalleled fashion. Events like this will only further the cause and bring the sport of Reining to the attention of the many equestrian and sporting fans in Europe. The Nixdorf family is a great supporter of the Western horse and is thrilled to become part of the NRHA family.”
“When Frank made his proposal, the excitement around the room was palpable. Everyone in the room was taking stock of the horses in their barn and whether they would measure up and merit the trip to Spain. You can bet that those riders that don’t have a horse in their barn worthy of the trip will be out searching for a top-of-the-line reining horse. This is a great opportunity for Reining to be the center of attention to all of Europe. I can’t say enough about how pleased we are to have a company of Event Consulting International’s stature so enthused about their event and the development of a long-term relationship with the sport and NRHA, remarked President Dell Hendricks after the NRHA Board of Directors approved the Mallorca Western Festival.
US riders are already making plans to compete. To date the list of riders committed to compete includes NRHA Million Dollar Riders Shawn Flarida and Dell Hendricks and Top 20 NRHA Professionals Tom McCutcheon and Bryant Pace.
Be sure and check out the Mallorca Western Festival website at www.mallorca-western-festival.com.
