Sponsorship Leads to Major Addition in Games Event Schedule
Oklahoma City, OK – September 11, 2009 – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and the World Games 2010 Foundation announced NRHA’s sponsorship of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
With its sponsorship, the National Reining Horse Association makes possible, for the first time in Games history, an exhibition freestyle event to the overall event schedule.
NRHA Executive Director Dan Wall commented today, “NRHA is proud to announce our official partnership with the Games and is thrilled to have this special opportunity to bring the excitement of Reining to competitors and spectators worldwide. We are committed to growing the discipline both here in the states and abroad, and no venue is better than the Games to showcase our sport and athletes.”
NRHA is a long-time proponent of the Games and the global expansion of Reining, even prior to Reining’s debut at the 2002 Games. NRHA provides support and input needed to create and enhance the Games’ Reining competition format. The newly improved format offers an augmented purse, deeper payouts for team and individuals, as well as increased days of competition.
The Reining Freestyle Exhibition will take place on September 30 after the final round of the Games world championship reining competition is complete. This freestyle competition will not be part of the world championship competition, but will be a separate ticketed event.
Tickets for the freestyle exhibition will be sold for $70 with the public on-sale beginning September 25, 2009, on www.alltechfeigames.com and on www.ticketmaster.com.
NRHA joins the Reining Horse Sports Foundation, NRHA’s supporting organization, and the American Quarter Horse Association as joint supporters of the Reining Competition, one of eight world championships that will be contested at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park, September 25-October 10, 2010.
“We are excited to announce this partnership with the National Reining Horse Association,” said Terry Johnson, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the 2010 Games. “The NRHA has always been a strong supporter of our event and this partnership will expose another aspect of Reining to our spectators, which we could not have done otherwise.”
Rick Weaver, NRHA President, said, “The grace, agility and power of the reining horse have launched the discipline onto a worldwide stage and we are excited to welcome international fans and riders to North America, the birthplace of the sport. We also look forward to highlighting the Reining competition on television with our supporting organization, the Reining Horse Sports Foundation.”
Reining was added to the FEI as a discipline in 2000 and was featured for the first time in 2002 at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. The reining competitions at the 2006 Games in Aachen, Germany, launched the discipline and its athletes into fame, with sold-out performances and loud, fanatical crowds. For more information about Reining at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, click here.
About NRHA
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 and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. To learn more about NRHA, programs like Entry Level “Green, Ride and Slide” Reining, or its family of corporate partners, visit nrha.com.
About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale. Her Royal Highness Princess Haya is the current president of the FEI. The Games are held every four years, and this will be the first occurrence in the United States. The Games run for 16 days in 2010, Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, October 10.
The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and other current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc. and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.
World Games 2010 Foundation Media Contact:
Amy Walker
859-255-2010 ext. 235
awalker@feigames2010.org
NRHA Media Contact:
Christa Morris
405-946-7400
cmorris@nrha.com
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