USA Reining, the official sport affiliate for the western discipline of reining within the international structure of horse sport, announces together with the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) as well as partners the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), the introduction of reining into the para-equestrian movement.
To be featured at the 2013 AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, para-reining will include a clinic and educational seminar on Thursday, Nov. 14, and a first-ever para-reining demonstration class on Friday, Nov. 15–marking the first para-reining ever to be held within the US Para-Equestrian system and a launching of efforts to bring the discipline online as a fully recognized sport in 2014.
Both affiliates of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), which serves as the National Governing Body for equestrian sport in the United States, USA Reining and USPEA are striving to ensure para-reining rules and competitions are in line with events hosted at stakeholder shows. Those stakeholders are chiefly USA Reining founding partners AQHA and NRHA. AQHA will add para-reining into its existing and thriving Equestrians with Disabilities Program, and NRHA will work to do the same with a newly launched Adaptive Reining program. Once complete, the integration will allow any para-reining event to be multi-approved by any or all of the interested groups, allowing athletes a virtual smorgasbord of options for competitive development.
The role of USA Reining and USPEA are vital as they provide the key pipeline to high-performance competition at the international level. A main goal of the effort is that para-reining athletes could one day earn a spot to represent their nation at international para-reining championships.
The goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian disciplines. From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed. The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), USA Reining and USEF, which provide para-equestrians the top equestrian resources.
The National Reining Horse Association, partnering with their supporting entity, the Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF), is proud to implement an Adaptive Reining Program beginning in 2014. As the standard setting-body for the sport of reining world-wide, NRHA will approve and recognize Adaptive Reining classes and bring the sport to reining enthusiasts of all ability levels. The program’s standards, rules and policies will ensure NRHA’s ability to offer an inclusive, safe and fun environment for para-equestrians worldwide. RHSF will support the program in the form of scholarships and NRHA Affiliate grants that may be used to award prizes for Adaptive Reining classes.
NRHA is proud to partner with the American Quarter Horse Association, the United States Para-Equestrian Association and USA Reining to champion the cause of para-equestrians.
“I’m very excited to be able to expand the access to the sport of reining,” said NRHA President Beth Himes. “The thrill of experiencing reining is amazing. NRHA is very happy to provide an avenue in which we can welcome para-equestrians with the Adaptive Reining Program.”
For more information about attending the USA Reining/USPEA Para-Reining Clinic and Demonstration Class at the AQHA World Championship Show, including schedule, entry form and more, email: Brad@HPowerInc.com.
For more information about USA Reining, click on www.USA-Reining.com.
For more information about the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show visit http://www.aqha.com/Showing/World-Show/Schedule.aspx.
For more information on the National Reining Horse Association visit www.nrha.com.
