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Articles: Press Release
USET Announces Futures Reining Program
Contact:
Marty Bauman, (508)698-6810,uset1994@aol.com
Joanna Smith, (908)234-1251,jsmith@uset.org
Gladstone, New Jersey -August 30, 2000- The United States Equestrian Team
(USET) has announced the establishment of a Futures Reining program. The
program was created to aid the USET in identifying talented riders and
providing them with the needed national and international competitive
experiences. The Futures Reining program is one of many programs that the
USET has developed to assist riders in their quest for equestrian excellence.
In April 2000, Reining was adopted by the Federation Equestre Internationale
(FEI) at the Annual General Assembly in Germany as a newly-sanctioned
international discipline. As FEI recognized Reining competitions begin to be
held internationally, it is the focus of the USET Futures Reining program to
provide the needed grants and support to its US riders to compete and win
medals internationally.
A Futures rider is defined as a current USET member who is ranked #51-200 on
the NRHA money list as of January 1, 2001 (1997, 1998, 1999 NRHA category 1 &
2), as well as the 3rd - 10th placing riders in the breed World Championships
(AQHA, AMHA, APHA, IAHA, IBHA and PHBA) in 2000. Horses entered in Futures
classes must be 5 years of age or older.
Riders meeting the definition of Futures may nominate and ride another horse
in the Open Qualifying classes, if otherwise qualified. Rider/horse
combinations nominated for the Futures Program may not nominate and cross
enter in USET Open Reining Qualifying classes during the same qualifying
period/year.
There will be six $2,500 Futures qualifying classes held in 2001. The top 4
horse/rider combinations plus ties at 4th will qualify for the $25,000 USET
Futures Reining Final held during the 2001 Bayer/USET Festival of Champions
in June.
The qualifiers will be held at:
Florida Annual Classic, Ocala, FL - February 24;
Arizona Reining Horse Classic, Scottsdale, AZ - March 8 - 11;
Annual Gordyville Breeders Classic, Gifford, IL - March 17;
National Reining Breeders Classic, Houston, TX - April 18-22;
Carolina Classic, Raleigh, NC - April 27-30;
Hollywood Charity, Burbank, CA - April 27-30.
Since its acceptance of Reining as the Team's sixth discipline in 1998, the
USET has worked to promote Reining with the first classes premiering at the
1999 Bayer/USET Festival of Champions.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects,
trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to
represent our country in major international competition, including the
Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this the USET seeks
out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and
horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain
their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call
(908)234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.
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