Lexington, KY--The nations’ best reiners will be coming to the heart of Kentucky in 2005, as a result of the combined efforts of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). The USEF Open Reining Championship will be the headliner class at Fiesta in the Park—a new show that offers reining and hunter-jumper events, side by side in the Kentucky Horse Park. The show, slated for August 23-28, will also serve as an FEI World Reining Masters Series qualifying competition, which means it will be a qualifier for the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Final, scheduled to take place in Europe next year. The show will also feature a new USEF Youth Reining Championship, a large selection of NRHA classes and a Non Pro Classic.
“This is going to be a marquis event for reining at several competitive levels and should go on the calendar as a not-to-be-missed show for both competitors and fans,” said John Long, Chief Executive Officer of the USEF. “The location at the Kentucky Horse Park is terrific because it gives all of the reining fans in this part of the country an opportunity to see their sport at its best. The addition of a new USEF Youth Championship helps us nurture new talent who can become the international stars of tomorrow.”
Finally, those attired in western hats and boots will mingle elbow to elbow with those in breeches and chokers as this major Reining Championship will be held concurrently with a major USEF sanctioned hunter-jumper show, the long-standing Kentucky Hunter/Jumper Association Show. Those preferring air-time and those loving spin-time will share the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. “This will be a great opportunity for horse lovers throughout the region to see such a collection of equine athletes, and we believe the hunter-jumper folks are really going to enjoy watching reining as they rarely have an opportunity to do so,” said Mr. Long. “I anticipate a lot of hunter-jumper riders will leave Kentucky wearing new cowboy hats and big silver belt buckles.”
“What strikes me most is the fact that with the inclusion of a full slate of NRHA approved classes during the show, every fan of the sport of reining and every member of the National Reining Horse Association can benefit from and enjoy the fantastic experience that only those who qualified for the Reining Championships in the past could appreciate,” added Kim Sloan, President of NRHA.
Fiesta in the Park will be a joint production of Cheryl Magoteaux and Hugh Kincannon. Kincannon, of Sharon Center, Ohio, is a renowned manager of such events as the Washington International Horse Show and the Legacy Cup. Magoteaux, of Byars, Oklahoma, owns Pro Management, Inc., which provides show management and staffing for such high-profile events as the National Reining Breeders Classic, the world’s largest added-money reining.
“This event will showcase not only the elite of the sport of reining, but encompass classes for all reiners. And what better place to have an event of this proportion than the Kentucky Horse Park,” said Bill Bradley, President Elect of NRHA. “Through the joint efforts of USEF, AQHA and NRHA, this event is sure to become one of the premier reining events in the world.”
For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager on (859) 225-6974 or via email at [email protected]. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.