It’s something one might not expect at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam. This year, the English discipline competition is taking on a Western flair! While the best English equestrians in the United States are competing in the cross-country event, tens of thousands of spectators will be treated to the excitement of Reining. A Reining demonstration filled with sliding stops that end in a cloud of dust and lighting fast 360 degree spins is expected to wow the crowd!
The Rolex Three-Day Event will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. From April 26-29, the top equestrians will be competing in the U. S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Selection Trial for the 2008 Olympic Games. The Rolex Three-Day Event is comprised of three phases of competition in dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) member and Kentucky Horse Park Commissioner Becky Jordan was asked to organize the Reining demonstration. As one of only two Western fans on the Kentucky Horse Park Commission, Jordan says she’s excited by the opportunity to expose thousands of English riders to the only western discipline they’ll see during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 in Kentucky. The World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010. This is the first time the WEG is being held outside of Europe and it’s the largest equestrian sporting event ever held in the United States.
2006 Intermediate Open NRHA Futurity Reserve Champion Matt Flarida, of Midway, KY, and multiple NRHA World Champion Lyndsey Jordan, of Georgetown, KY, will provide the demonstration of the action packed sport of Reining on Saturday, April 28 during the cross-country portion of the competition.
Lyndsey, the 2005 Limited Non Pro NRHA Derby Reserve Champion and 2005 USEF Youth Champion, is an accomplished reiner and was recently awarded Auburn University’s first full Reining scholarship. She currently rides reiners for the school’s Western team. She is enthusiastic about the demonstration. “It’s really exciting to be able to bring Reining to more of the English world. Matt and I will be the only people there with a western saddle. It is really good to be able to show the sport of Reining especially with the World Games coming up at the Horse Park.”
