From Canada to Israel and Denmark to Brazil, horses from 20 nations on four continents are set to compete for the world cup of reining during the Western International reining festival. The Western International runs October 17-22 at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO.
Each country can nominate up to two riders to compete in the FEI World Reining Masters Finals. Riders must possess the highest cumulative score from qualification rounds throughout the year and place in the top five at the national championships to be nominated.
A renowned international competition, organizers anticipate 500 horses from 28 countries to compete for more than $250,000 in prize money during the Western International. The event is expected to draw up to 60,000 attendees, including as many as 3,000 international guests. The six-day event includes the FEI World Reining Masters Finals, National Reining Horse Association Mountain Region Affiliate Championship Finals, the $10,000 Mile-High Derby, the $50,000 Stallion Select Futurity and the $10,000 Challenger’s Cup Freestyle Reining, as well as a western trade show and historical exhibit.
Denver was chosen as the site of the 2006 FEI Masters Finals, which alternates between North America and Europe annually, because of its central location, highly active and educated base of reining enthusiasts and the superior facilities and amenities Colorado has to offer.
Slated to become the first western Olympic equestrian discipline, organizers are hopeful that reining will debut at the 2012 Olympics in London. The Western International is an inaugural event with the purpose of showing the world that the sport of reining is ready to take that Olympic step.
Order your tickets at www.WesternInternational.us. Choose “Tickets and Travel Deals,” then select the performances you are interested in attending. Tickets will sell fast for this exciting event.
For those interested in an enhanced level of participation in this historic western event, a limited number of opportunities for patrons, founders club and sponsors are still available. For more information on these programs, contact [email protected]. Patron, Founder’s Club or Sponsor status is a high-exposure way to include your business or group in this outstanding experience with exceptional benefit.
For Western International schedules and sponsorship information, visit www.WesternInternational.us or call (877) 713-6127.
National Western and Phillips Run, a California-based production company with active interest in equine sports, have partnered to manage and produce the 2006 World Masters event.
~~~