8/ DECEMBER 2021 THE RIDER NRHA Statement Regarding Reining’s Removal as FEI Discipline


NOVEMBER 18, 2021 - During the Fédéra- tion Equestre Internationale General Assem- bly which began on November 14 and concludes today, November 17, reining was removed as an FEI discipline. According to former National Reining Horse Association


President Mike Hancock, it was not an unex- pected move. Hancock chaired NRHA’s FEI Task


Force that was created in 2019 and has been involved with reining internationally in one capacity or another since the nineties. “We’ve


had many conversations with FEI including face-to-face meetings in 2018 and 2020. Both entities recognize the value of and interest in reining and reining horses worldwide. How- ever, we were never able to blend the two or- ganizations and their business models,”


Hancock explained. He added, “Also with the difficulties


during the 2018 World Equestrian Games as well as the ensuing announcement that there would be no multi-discipline WEG going for- ward, you might say the bloom came off rein- ing as an international event for the reining community. For NRHA, there was less attrac- tion, but we continued with an International Competition Task Force created in 2020, and just days before the General Assembly we had conversations and tried to reach a work- ing agreement with FEI officials. Unfortu- nately, this was not possible.” Current NRHA President Rick Clark


was quick to thank Hancock and the Interna- tional Competition Task Force and noted that he would repurpose it to address the possibil- ity of future NRHA competitions in an inter- national format. He said, “The NRHA still has an interest in International and Continen- tal championships and will research resources that might allow them to take place. We are glad to hear that FEI and a good number of National Federations are supportive of us proceeding in that direction. The Interna- tional Competition Taskforce created in 2020 will address this to determine if it is feasible.” NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter


added, “All of us who have been involved thank the friends we have made at FEI for the years of support in jointly promoting the sport of reining.” Along with Hancock, the NRHA Inter-


national Competition Task Force is com- prised of Rick Clark, Rosanne Sternberg, Adam Heaton, Mark Blake, Andre DeBelle- feuille and Paulus Beurskens. Generously provided by NRHA.


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