New Developments for the World Equestrian Games

Amarillo, Texas - July 25, 2002 - Increasing prize money and qualifying top teams for the first-ever Reining World Championships makes the reining competition's top spot at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) the newest and most sought-after title.

Reining became the seventh approved discipline of the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) in 2000. As a result, WEG organizers have given reining supporters the opportunity to participate as a discipline in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain on September 18, 2002 during the WEG. The international reining community led by National Reining Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association agreed to manage and underwrite the reining competition.

To give the reining competition similar prestige to the other disciplines, Classic S Ranch of Reichling, Germany agreed to become the presenting sponsor of reining at WEG and recently increased the prize money to 75,000 Euros. Now reining has the second greatest purse in the WEG next to the oldest of the disciplines, jumping.

A breeding and training facility specializing in western performance horses and featuring several proven American Quarter Horse stallions, Classic S Ranch is committed to reining and showcasing the sport on the international equestrian stage. Owned by the Englehorn family, Classic S Ranch's sponsorship ensures reining's stature among the other disciplines.

Supporting sponsors of reining also include Nutrena-Empower and MBNA España.

Teams and individuals began qualifying for the WEG this summer in Gladstone, New Jersey and Reggio Emilio, Italy. The 10 teams that qualified include Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, and United States. The six individual qualifying spaces went to two riders each from France and Mexico as well as one rider from the Czech Republic and one from the Netherlands.

The competing riders and horses will be announced August 12, 2002.