Lausanne, Switzerland - The FEI has announced today that Bökeberg, near Malmö (SWE), will host the inaugural FEI World Reining Finals in May 2011. Qualified riders will compete for the title of World Reining Champion at the Finals in Malmö, where $100,000 in prize money will be on offer.

The FEI World Reining Finals, which are a reworking of the FEI World Reining Masters, will be held on 22 May 2011 at the well-known equestrian facility at Bökeberg, just outside Malmö. This is the first time that the annual individual final has been held outside North America since 2005.

Bökeberg has hosted major FEI championships in the past, including the 2009 European Vaulting Championships. It has also hosted the Swedish National Reining Championship.

“We are pleased and proud to be the host venue for the 2011 World Reining Finals and look forward to welcoming the world to Bökeberg”, said Christer Andersson, owner and operator of the Bökeberg facility.

“The FEI looks forward to continued growth for the sport of Reining within the FEI structure”, said Bob Thompson, chairman-elect of the FEI Reining Committee. “Following a very successful Reining Championships at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, ‘Malmö 2011’ will be a terrific opportunity to bring elite-class Reining to a world audience once again. We look forward to this new tradition and the opportunity to develop the sport globally as part of the FEI family.”

The qualification system previously used for the FEI World Reining Masters will remain in place for the 2011 Finals. Riders can start a maximum of three horses at each CRI to earn points, with the leading points winning rider from each competing National Federation qualifying for the Finals. In the event of equality of points, the relevant National Federation has the right to decide which rider will go to the Finals.

ENDS