AUSTRALIA’S top reining competitors will be in Wagga this weekend hoping earn a share of $4500 in prize money.
Wagga will host the Slide to the Nationals Reining Spectacular.
Organisers are tipping some spectacular action and encourage spectators to take some time to visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) to watch. Reining is one of the most classic western events and sets the foundations for many other disciplines.
Riders are required to guide their horses though set patterns and the combination is judged on precision in various maneuvers including circles, spins, and stops.
Riverina Reiners publicity officer Hayley Crossingham of Hanwood said the show would feature more than 50 riders from NSW and Victoria.
And throughout the weekend there will be 180 competition runs.
“Spectators will enjoy the Saturday afternoon and evening sessions the most,” she said.
At this time feature events include the Southern Futurity Open and Southern Futurity Open Non Pro events. These events will be followed by the open glass and the open non pro. “The ladies event on Saturday afternoon will also be a highlight with half of each entry being donated to the Cancer Council of NSW,” she said.
Mrs Crossingham said the ladies would feature lots of competitors looking “pretty in pink” to support the breast cancer charity.
Ten classes will be held on the Saturday and eight on the Sunday.
Ms Crossingham said the standard would range from beginners through to professionals.
“The event is growing in this area and throughout the Riverina and it is very big in Queensland and Victoria,” she said. Well known competitor and president of Riverina Reiners Graham Cooper of Stockinbingal will be competing.
Mr Cooper is principal of Coopers Performance Horses and he has entries in the open futurity.
The Wagga show holds pride of place on many competitor’s calendars because it is the final qualifier before the Australian Reining Futurity and Continental Championships in Tamworth in September. The action commences on Saturday morning at 7.30am with the non-sanctioned any handed and two handed rookie classes.
The next event is the sanctioned national qualifier class – the novice horse open and non pro. “Our extremely talented youth riders will take the stage in the sanctioned youth classes,” said Ms Crossingham.
This event will be followed by the pretty in pink class which will raise funds and support the Cancer Council charity.
