November 5, 2013–A new discipline will be on display at the 2013 AQHA World Championship Show: para-reining. USA Reining and the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) announced last month that along with the help of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), reining would be introduced as a discipline for para-equestrian athletes.
With the aim of making para-reining a fully recognized sport in 2014, a clinic and educational seminar will take place on Thursday, November 14 in Oklahoma City, Okla., followed by the first-ever para-reining demonstration class on Friday, November 15.
The USEF, USA Reining, and USPEA are striving to ensure para-reining rules and competitions are in line with events hosted at AQHA and NRHA shows. AQHA will integrate para-reining into its existing and thriving Equestrians with Disabilities Program, and NRHA will work to do the same with a newly launched disabled riders program. Over time, para-reining competitors will have a variety of competition options.
The USEF, USA Reining, and USPEA will play a vital role in creating a 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 the U.S. at international para-reining championships.
For more information about attending the USA Reining/USPEA Para-Reining Clinic and Demonstration Class at the AQHA World Championship Show, contact Brad Ettleman of USA Reining at Brad@HPowerInc.com.
For more information about the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show: http://www.aqha.com/Showing/World-Show/Schedule.aspx.
For more information about the USPEA please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand at Wheeler966@aol.com or (610) 356-6481.
For more information on the High Performance Para-Equestrian program, contact Director Laureen Johnson at lkjohnson@usef.org or (908) 326-1155.
