More Money For Representing Your Country

At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, it’s all about the teams, the countries they represent and the money that can be won.

To increase reining team participation in the Games, the Federation Equestre Internationale has approved deepening the prize-money payout. This year, the team reining competition will pay a $100,000 purse to 15 places. Countries that haven’t yet met the FEI requirements for a full team can still apply for wild-card status.

“We at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are working to have as many countries represented as possible and are committed to making it possible for anyone interested to participate,” said Brad Ettleman, reining discipline manager for the Games. “Nations that are interested in applying for wild cards should let me know right away so I can help them in the process.”

New to the 2010 Games is the Second Qualifying Competition, a recognition of the fact that good horses and riders can have bad days. The Second Qualifying Competition allows individual reiners a second chance to qualify for the individual finals. Riders who place in the top five of Second Qualifying Competition earn a berth to the individual finals and a guaranteed prize of $2,000.

Second Qualifying riders who place sixth through 15th are guaranteed $2,000, as well.

“With this new, far-reaching payback system, we look forward to many competitors who might not otherwise be able to fund their trip to join us in Lexington, Kentucky, this autumn,” Ettleman said. “Plus, as the Games are in the United States, there are a great number of quality, show-ready and qualified horses that are available for lease, making the cost of traveling to Kentucky even more economical.”

In the individual finals, a purse of $100,000 will be paid out through 20 places.

“This new system allows for a minimum of $2,000 for 35 competitors – very deep within the field of starters,” Ettleman said. “We want as many full teams as possible

AQHA is the official reining breed sponsor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. For information, go to www.alltechfeigames.com. To ask a question about leasing a horse or forming a team, write to Brad.Ettleman@FEIGames2010.org.

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 www.aqha.com/magazines.

More Money Available for Representing Your Country

The American Quarter Horse Journal, March 2, 2010 –

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