November 5, 2003 - The Fédération Equestre Internationale Reining Committee has released details on a five-year strategic plan to position the sport of reining within FEI as a major discipline. Known as the "Road to Aachen and Beyond," the plan focuses on the implementation of important competitions internationally for horses six years of age and older, while increasing the number of countries where the discipline is held.

"The implementation of the five-year plan is strategically the logical, next step toward the growth of reining as an international discipline," said Frank Costantini, FEI Reining Committee Chairman. "The committee is pleased to share this plan with the reining community and the equestrian world. In development for two years, the plan moves the sport forward following its successful debut at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain last year."

Elements of the 10-point plan include:

1. Management of an international series, The FEI World Reining Masters, beginning in 2004 for individual riders
2. Assist 15 countries to hold CRI (international event in reining) qualifiers in 2004
3. Continental championships starting in 2003, with all continents hosting a championship by 2005
4. Three Nation's Cup competitions held in 2004, increasing to six in 2006
5. Qualification of a minimum of 15 teams for the World Equestrian Games in 2006, to be held in Aachen, Germany
6. The incorporation of Reining as a discipline in FEI children's competition in 2006
7. The introduction of reining through clinics and demonstrations, to a minimum of two countries per year, beginning in 2004
8. Organizing a World Championship for reining in 2008
9. The development of a platform for reining to be considered by the International Olympic Committee as an Olympic discipline by the 2012 Games
10. Development of a funding mechanism for the growth of Reining internationally, and keeping prize money in line with other FEI disciplines

The first element of the plan is the implementation of the FEI World Reining Masters, announced in July of this year. The Reining Masters is a series of qualifying events for individual riders competing on horses six years old and older, concluding with a final.

The inaugural Masters Final will be held December 3, 2004 in Oklahoma City, in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Association Futurity. Negotiations with a presenting sponsor are underway, and a $100,000 prize fund for the final is guaranteed, thanks to National Reining Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association.

Each National Federation (the equestrian organization within each country recognized by the FEI) hosting at least one FEI Reining competition (CRI) in 2004 will receive an invitation to send its leading money-earning rider to the Masters. Although participants may compete in CRIs outside their country of citizenship, riders may only count for Reining Masters eligibility earnings won at CRIs held in their own country.

Riders may compete on more than one horse, and all such earnings will count, because it is the rider who will qualify for the Final, not horse and rider combinations. Those countries which qualified for the finals of the 2002 World Equestrian Games -United States, Canada, Italy, Germany and Great Britain - will be eligible to send their top two money-earning riders.

Two sets of FEI medals will be awarded. All competitors will be eligible to compete for medals in the open division. A separate division will be held for all countries except those that qualified for WEG 2002.

Members of the FEI Reining Committee, in addition to Costantini, are Johannes Orgeldinger of Germany, Antonio Mastrangelo of Italy and Dominique Reynaud of France. FEI's Michael Stone serves as liaison to the committee.

National Federations are being encouraged by the FEI to apply for dates for their CRI qualifiers. Further information is available through Mr. Stone at the FEI office in Lausanne, Switzerland.