Manerbio, Italy – September 8, 2008 - With 17 nations from five Continents entered, the very first FEI World Reining Championship is getting ready to go in Manerbio, Italy. The prestigious event will be held concurrently with the Italian Reining Horse Association Maturity & Championship Show and over 450 horses are expected to arrive at the Palasturla Facility.
The world’s best reiners, 48 horse and rider combinations, are getting ready to show in the prestigious FEI event. For the first time in the history of the sport, FEI medals will be awarded outside the World Equestrian Games (WEG).
The very first reining demonstration at the WEG was held in Rome in 1998 with 11 countries represented. Reining was accepted as an FEI discipline two years later and the sport of Reining was officially included in the WEG in the 2002 edition held in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Major FEI-approved events such as the European Championships and the World Reining Masters Series, have been held as the sport of Reining has been gaining more and more popularity on a worldwide basis.
Riders representing Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, The Netherlands and U.S.A. will be riding for the $70,000 Team and $30,000 Individual competition at the 2008 FEI World Reining Championship. The Team Competition will be held on Friday 12th at 2 pm. The best twenty competitors, including ties for 20th place, will qualify for the Individual Competition which will be held on Sunday 14th.
For further information, visit:
FEI World Reining Championship
Italian Reining Horse Association
