International Reining Competition Comes to Chilliwack

For the first time ever, WEG is being held in North America, giving Canadian reiners an unprecedented opportunity to compete on the world stage with their own horses. Eight riders have qualified for the finals, through a series of competitions held earlier in the year. At those (CRI) competitions, riders needed to earn qualifying scores on any horse.

But to win a place on Canada’s WEG team, competitors must bring the horse they hope to ride in Kentucky in September. This means that Canadian riders who live and compete in other parts of Canada and in the US will be bringing their “A Team” horses to Heritage Park, where the Western Canadian Reining Association will play host to the WEG Canadian Team Selection Finals. The competition will be held in conjunction with WCRA’s annual West Coast Classic—BC’s premier reining competition.

·    Lisa Coulter                           Kelowna, BC and Pilot Point, TX

·    Brad Giesbrecht                    Swift Current, SK and Pilot Point, TX

·    Duane Latimer                       Bienfait, SK and Ardmore, OK

·    Pierre-Luc Phaneuf                Laval, QC

·    Shawna Sapergia                 Cochrane, AB

·    Amanda Self                         Pritchard, BC

·    Patrice St-Onge                    Valleyfield, QC and Gainesville, TX

In 2002 reining became the first (and still the only) Western discipline to be included in the World Equestrian Games. Canada has made a strong showing in each event since. In 2002 at Jerez, Spain, Team Canada claimed silver and Shawna Sapergia took the Individual bronze medal. In 2006 at Aachen, Germany, Duane Latimer won the Individual Championship and Team Canada took the team silver.

Reining is a high-level equestrian discipline that tests the skill and ability of horse and rider in patterns that call for a series of manoeuvres including the sport’s trademark spins and dramatic sliding stops.

WCRA to Host Canadian WEG Qualifier July 16 – 18