-For Immediate
Release-
-September 2, 2006-
-National Reining
Horse Association (NRHA)-
2006
FEI World Equestrian Games
After the fact…
Reining is the
ultimate partnership between horse and rider. Often
compared to Dressage, competitors must indeed
perform specific maneuvers. However, reiners
perform their maneuvers at various speeds, most
quite fast and all with one hand.
Each maneuver is
scored separately and penalties are assigned if the
maneuver is not executed perfectly. Reining is
serious business. But for Reining enthusiasts, the
sport is more than serious business. It’s fun.
Nowhere was that more evident than after the medals
presentation at the 2006 FEI
World Equestrian Games (WEG) in
Aachen,
Germany.
After Team
USA was recognized
as the Gold Medal Champion, after the playing of
their national anthem, riders from Team
Canada
(Silver) and Team
Italy (Bronze) were
asked to join Team
USA in a victory lap
around the arena for the packed stands of
appreciative spectators.
With grins from
ear-to-ear, Team
USA took the lead at
a dignified lope. Then, NRHA’s only Two Million
Dollar Rider and
USA’s oldest
competitor at age 52, Tim McQuay decided to pick up
the pace. He asked his horse, Jerry Kimmel’s Mister
Nicadual, to move on. In fact, he put pedal to the
metal and breezed past each of his teammates.
Tim’s enthusiasm was
contagious. Riders waved their hats at the
screaming crowd, asked their horses to perform
Reining’s signature maneuver, the sliding stop, and
finished with all four members of Team USA spinning
in unison at one end of the arena. The crowd went
crazy – Reining is fun for everyone.
The “Reining as
serious fun” theme carried over to the press
conference when journalists from around the world
asked officials and Reining medalists their thoughts
on the sport as well as the competition.
Frank Costantini, a
long time NRHA Non Pro competitor, owner and breeder
of reining horses from
Ohio,
USA, is the Chairman
of the FEI Reining
Committee. Frank thanked the FEI
organizers for a fabulous event and expressed his
pleasure at the 70% increase in participation since
Reining’s debut as a medal competition at the 2002
World Equestrian Games in
Jerez,
Spain. He was especially
excited about the participation of the
Czech
Republic,
Hungary and
Slovakia and is
looking forward to
Japan and
Australia joining
the competition.
When Team Canada’s
Lance Griffin, was asked how it felt to be the only
Non Pro on the podium, he replied, “There was no
difference between Open and Non Pro riders here. I
learned a lot from my fellow competitors and I have
a great horse. He carried me through the
competition, so you might want to ask him that
question.”
When riders were asked
if they had anything to do with cows,
USA’s Aaron Ralston
explained that he grew up on a ranch in
Colorado where his parents did indeed
have a cow/calf breeding operation. He still works
his fabulous reining horse, Smart Paul Olena, owned
by his wife Meg, on cattle and bison for diversity
and relaxation.
However, Matt Mills,
USA’s youngest
competitor at age 27, pointed out, “When you’re
trying to be the best at one discipline, it’s hard
to train for another.”
When Team
Italy was asked why
they wanted to be cowboys, their Chef d’Equipe,
Antonio Mastrangelo explained, “Reining is part of
the ‘cowboy life.’ It’s a way of thinking, a
lifestyle. It’s also a way of finding friends all
over the world who feel the same way. This is what
we find in the sport of Reining.”
Team
Canada’s Duane
Latimer logged the high score of the day in the Team
competition, a 225.5 on Manntana LLC’s Hang Ten
Surprize. “I knew I had to mark a 227.5 to overtake
Team USA’s
lead,” said Duane. “But I was thrilled with my
horse and happy for us to place second. But I don’t
like to lose.”
Duane will have
another opportunity to win on Sunday afternoon in
the Individual competition. The top 20 scoring
riders from the Team competition will once again
perform. It is back to “serious business,” but
everyone - spectators, fans, family, friends and
each and every competitor can count on having a lot
of fun!
Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse
Association is the governing body of the sport of
Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters
in Oklahoma City,
is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining
and working to ensure the highest standards of
competition. NRHA receives corporate support from
Cinch, Rockies and Cruel Girl; Markel Insurance;
Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Kiser
Arena Specialists; Houston Ranch Embryo Transfer
Center; Classic Equine; John Vance Auto Group;
LaQuinta Inns & Suites; The Rider’s Edge; Land O’
Lakes / Purina Mills LLC (Official
United States Feed Sponsor of the NRHA);
Anderson Bean Boot Co.; Elite Trailer Mfg.; Platinum
Performance; MD Barns; Adequan® (Official
Joint Therapy of the NRHA); CR Morrison
Specialties; Pard’s Western Shop, Smith Brothers and
Big Ass Fans. The NRHA continues to educate its
members and the public about Reining. For more
information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining,
please visit www.nrha.com or call 405-946-7400.
NRHA
Media
Contact:
Carol Trimmer
3000 NW 10th Street
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
73107-5302
www.nrha.com
E-mail: media@nrha.com
Phone: 405.946.7400, ext. 117
