2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Announces AQHA as the Official Reining Breed Sponsor

July 24, 2009 Off By Roberta Johnston

American Quarter Horse Association

For Immediate Release:

The American Quarter Horse Journal, July 23, 2009 – The World Games 2010 Foundation Inc. today announced the American Quarter Horse Association as the Official Reining Breed Sponsor. Reining will be one of eight world championships contested at the Games, which will be held at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park on September 25-October 10, 2010.

As the Official Reining Breed Sponsor, AQHA will assist with the promotion and coverage of reining during the 2010 Games, and will be featured in the Equine Village. In addition, on the opening weekend of the Games, reining will be the main competitive feature element of NBC’s opening 90-minute broadcast coverage.

“As the world’s largest single-breed equine organization, we are excited for AQHA to be the first breed organization to be a part of the Games on a sponsorship level,” said Terry Johnson, vice president of sales for the 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.

As the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games come to Kentucky, the sport of reining is sure to enjoy a sort of “homecoming” in the United States as the only western discipline recognized by the FEI. Plans are under way to feature reining in new and exciting ways in 2010, including a newly approved schedule format – allowing for more public sessions of the discipline.

“AQHA is so proud to sponsor this prestigious event, and we are excited it is being held for the first time in the United States,” said AQHA President Jim Helzer. “Although AQHA is an international organization with members and horses around the world, the majority of our membership and horses reside here in the U.S.A. Having the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky gives our members a great opportunity to participate and see this event firsthand.

“I also want to recognize our partners at the Reining Horse Sports Foundation who teamed with us on the expanded television coverage. Now more people across the globe will be seeing the discipline of reining and the horse that does it best.”

The American Quarter Horse Association is the world’s largest single-breed equine registry and membership organization, with more than 5 million American Quarter Horses registered worldwide and AQHA membership numbering more than 330,000. AQHA’s mission is to record and preserve the pedigrees of the American Quarter Horse while maintaining the integrity of the breed and to provide beneficial services for its members which enhance and encourage American Quarter Horse ownership and participation.

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 will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and 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 http://list.aqha.net/t/26217/1858829/1145/0/ www.alltechfeigames.com.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit http://list.aqha.net/t/26217/1858829/69/0/ www.aqha.com/magazines.