Oklahoma City, OK – August 14, 2008 – Earlier this year, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announced the development of the very first NRHA European Futurity to be held in 2009. The international explosion in the number of approved shows and members set the stage for the addition of this historic event. Conditions for the futurity were approved last weekend by the NRHA Board of Directors. The conditions are available on www.nrha.com.

The NRHA European Futurity is “Open to the World,” and is scheduled to be held March 9-14, 2009, in Manerbio, Italy. The event showcases four-year-old reining horses and riders competing for close to half a million dollars in prize money. The show is NRHA-approved and run under NRHA rules.

The event is made possible through a generous contribution from NRHA Hall of Fame member, Mr. Eleuterio Arcese, of Verona, Italy.  Mr. Arcese has promised backing for 4 years to the NRHA European Futurity. Frank Costantini, NRHA Executive Board member said, “Mr. Arcese’s desire was to include the whole world and not just the continent of Europe.  To do that, we devised a plan so it would not impede any other futurities, especially the NRHA Futurity.”  Riders can show their three-year-olds in other futurities and then they can compete in the NRHA European Futurity in early spring of the following year when they are four year olds. 

The futurity will include:

OPEN - $160,000 Added Open Futurity, $50,000 Added Intermediate Open, $15,000 Added Limited Open, $5,000 Added Level 1 Open, $5,000 Added Open Consolation, $7,000 Added Open/Intermediate Open Gelding Incentive and $3,000 Added Limited Open/Level 1 Open Gelding Incentive

NON PRO - $75,000 Added Non Pro Futurity, $25,000 Added Intermediate Non Pro, $10,000 Added Limited Non Pro, $2,500 Added Level 1 Non Pro, $5,000 Added Non Pro Consolation, $7,000 Added Non Pro/Intermediate Non Pro Gelding Incentive and $3,000 Added Limited Non Pro/Level 1 Non Pro Gelding Incentive