The Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) recognizes the importance of growing reining worldwide. That growth begins with great leaders. Great leaders begin with our youth, which is why the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) delegate elections and Youth Team Tournament Scholarship Reining are being held this year at the NRHA European Affiliate Championship in Deurne, The Netherlands.

“Having European representation among the officers of the NRHyA is truly a milestone in the history of our organization,” said Frank Costantini, President of the RHSF and NRHA Hall of Fame member. “We have five core programs that were designed specifically to develop and enhance the sport of reining worldwide. Fulfilling that mission involves stepping beyond the boundaries of the United States and into the regions of the world where reining is experiencing explosive growth. Europe certainly qualifies.”

On Saturday, July 9, the NRHyA will elect two delegates to represent the European affiliates at the officer elections. The actual NRHyA officer elections will be held in December at the 2005 NRHA Futurity and North American Affiliate Championship Show in Oklahoma City, OK, November 23–December 3. Delegates will vie for NRHyA President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sentinel positions.

Dave Young, organizer of the European Affiliate Championships, is coordinating the elections in Deurne. “The youth reiners in Europe feel that the time has come for them to work on an international level,” Young said, “especially considering the enormous growth that the sport of reining has experienced. They, too, see the need for contributing to our sport on a worldwide basis, and that doing so ensures they are the foundation that we are building the future of reining on.”

Elections will have already been held at the affiliate level prior to the NRHA European Affiliate Championship to determine one 13 & Under and one 14-18 representative from each affiliate to run for a delegate position.

Dedicated to developing and enhancing the sport of reining worldwide, the Reining Horse Sports Foundation provides financial support for the NRHyA. That support includes $3,600 in academic scholarship money, which will be awarded at the European Youth Team Tournament Scholarship Reining in Deurne. The Youth Team Tournament is held concurrent with the NRHA championship youth classes. Each team will have three members, at least one of which will meet the qualifications of Youth 13 & Under competition. The first place team will split $1,800 in scholarship money, second will divide $1,050, and third place $750. In all, the RHSF provides over $60,000 a year in support of NRHyA.

In April of each year, the NRHyA Officer Team attends an NRHA Board of Director’s meeting. The NRHyA Officer Team also has the opportunity to travel to Amarillo, TX, for the Youth Excellence Seminar (YES), a leadership and team building conference.~~~