The National Reining Horse Association will once again host the $100,000 added 2009 FEI World Reining Masters Final during the 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show in Oklahoma City on December 3. The competition brings 20 riders from 17 countries to Oklahoma City along with many international visitors. Set to return are Austrian rider Rudi Kronsteiner and Rosanne Sternberg’s Smart Spook, 2007 and 2008 open and restricted division champions.

 “By hosting this event, we are looking to ensure that the momentum of reining continues,” NRHA Executive Director Dan Wall said. “Besides the high-performance reining competition at the 2010 Alltech® FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, this is a perfect way to showcase the sport of reining before a worldwide audience.”

The World Reining Masters Final is a thrilling competition involving the best individual reiners in the world. All have qualified, according to a point system, in their National Federations. Once qualified, the riders advance to the Masters to compete for $100,000 in prize money in two divisions along with the honor of representing their country. The two divisions of competition include the $75,000-added open and $25,000-added restricted open. The five countries that were finalists in the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, are allowed to send their top two riders to compete in the open division only. These countries are the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Other countries can send one rider, and are eligible to compete in the open and restricted divisions. A complete list of entries is shown below.

 2009 FEI World Reining Masters Final Entries

Nation / Athlete / Horse / Owner

AUS / Robyn Schiller / Dun It At Dawn / Debbie Hackett AUT / Rudi Kronsteiner / Smart Spook / Rosanne Sternberg BEL / Bernard Fonck / Great Sun Burst / De Bruin, Gattuso & Vandorp BRA / Ricardo Arinato Heymann / Kitsche Rock / David Applegarth CAN / Patrice St-Onge / Leitachic / Babcock, Heckman & Bartlett CAN / Lisa Coulter / Hollywood Aces / Bob Thompson CZE / Tomas Martinek / Don Julio Whiz / Rosanne Sternberg DOM / Fauntly Garrido / A Smart Enterprise / Robert J Laporta ESP / Francesc Cueto / Footworks Special / Ruben Pacheco Cuevas FRA / Gregory LeGrand / Mr Awesome Affaire / High Crest Reiners, Inc.

GBR / Francesca Sternberg / Whizin Off Sparks / Rosanne Sternberg GER / Nico Hörmann / Setting Off Sparks / Rosanne Sternberg ISR / Shai Kaneti / Rooster Wilson / Ollie Griffith ITA / Andrea Castrucci / Skeets Dun / Andrea Castrucci MEX / Alejandro Gonzalez / Shiners Quixote / Carol Rose & Paris Wixon NED / Rieky Young / Cowboy Smarts / Jim Babcock POL / Bogdan Czarnik / Colonel Pepenator / Cathrine Petitte SUI / Christoph Seiler / Ruffle Me Up / Greg Hill USA / Pete Kyle / Whizs Bronze Star / Kaitlin Townsend USA / Craig Schmersal / Mr Dual Rey / Holly Casey

 The 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show runs until December 5 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan®; Arenus, Cimarron Trailers; Classic Equine; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Purina Mills; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Company; SmartPak and Wimpys Little Step.

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. For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit www.nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.