The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has announced a series of selection trials for its inaugural $100,000 Cosequin/USET Reining Championship Presented by Bayer. The Championship will make its debut as part of the 1999 Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, June 24 - 27 at the USET Olympic Training Center in Gladstone, NJ.

The nation's 20 best Reining horses plus ties (six years of age or older) will qualify for the Reining Championship at the following host venues:

• National Western Stock Show (Denver, CO) -- January 21, 1999
• Florida 8th Annual Classic (Ocala, FL) -- February 25 - 28, 1999
• Arizona Reining Horse Classic (Scottsdale, AZ) -- March 10 - 14, 1999
• 12th Annual Gordyville Breeders Cup (Gifford, IL) -- March 19 - 21, 1999
• National Reining Breeders Classic (Guthrie, OK) -- April 10 - 18, 1999
• Carolina Classic (Raleigh, NC) -- April 22 - 25, 1999
• Hollywood Charity (Burbank, CA) -- April 29 - May 2, 1999

The top six finishers plus ties at each selection trial will qualify for a semi-final to be held at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby in Oklahoma City. The Derby will be held May 19 - 22, 1999, (a move from its traditional June date), so as not to conflict with the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions. The top 20 finishers plus ties among the approximate 50 competitors in the semi-final will qualify for the championship at the Festival of Champions.

For further information on the $100,000 Cosequin/USET Reining Championship Presented by Bayer, please contact the USET at (908) 234-1251.

Read about world class Reining legend Bill Horn.