QHT - Czech Quarter Horse Association

QHTinternationalRHSF President TravelsRoad To Aachen With AQHAEmphasizing the spirit of cooperation that has existedbetween NRHA, AQHA, and the Federation EquestreInternationale (FEI), Frank Costantini, Presidentof the Reining Horse Sports Foundation, shared withthe AQHA membership during the AQHA Convention inSt. Louis, Missouri, his enthusiasm for the collaborativeeffort that is bringing Reining closer to becomingan Olympic discipline.Convention attendees were asked to take a drivedown the “Road to Aachen (Germany) and Beyond,” thesite for the 2006 World Equestrian Games. To reachthat destination, the FEI World Reining Masters FinalsPresented by NetJets was held during the 2004 NRHAFuturity & North American Affiliate ChampionshipShow in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Finals, Openand Restricted divisions, featured a combined purse of$100,000. The original goal was to have 15 countriescompete. “We exceeded that goal with 16 countriesentering 21 individuals in the competition,” Costantinisaid. “The event exceeded all of our expectations. Spectatorstraveled from all around the world to cheer ontheir representatives.”A $100,000 donation from the Classic S Ranch tothe International Development fund of the ReiningHorse Sports Foundation provided each of the 16 competitorswith $2,500 for expenses. The countriesrepresented included: Belgium, Great Britain, Canada,Switzerland, Dominican Republic, France, Germany,Israel, Austria, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, CzechRepublic, Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S.A.According to plan, the second FEI World ReiningMasters Finals Presented by NetJets will be held September22-25, 2005, in Manerbio, Italy.“The FEI World Reining Masters Series lays thefoundation for the 2006 WEG initiative,” Costantinisaid, “which is to have a minimum of 15 countries competein Reining at the 2006 WEG. Through its InternationalDevelopment Program, the Reining Horse SportsFoundation, through generous donors, will be able tofund the production of the event in any way deemednecessary.“Anyone wishing to impact bringing Reining to theOlympics has an opportunity to make history by supportingReining at the WEG through their charitablecontribution to the RHSF,” he said.It is only through the FEI World Reining MastersSeries that the dream of Reining becoming an Olympicequestrian discipline can become a reality. “Our effortsare moving forward thanks to the members of the FEIReining Committee,” said Costantini, the Committee’sChairman. It also takes the support of AQHA.“With American Quarter Horses being the foundationbreed in Reining competition, AQHA will gain greatexposure for its horses as Reining continues to gainrecognition worldwide. Hopefully, one day, we will seean American Quarter Horse carry a rider to an OlympicGold Medal,” Costantini told the AQHA members.12 QUARTER HORSE TODAY 14/05