Lexington, KY – The inaugural FEI World Reining Final gets underway in Malmo, Sweden this week as part of a four-day reining event at Bökeberg, Skåne. The United States will be represented by two of its top reining athletes, Tom McCutcheon and Craig Schmersal.

World Champion and Team Gold medalist from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, McCutcheon heads to Malmo with the momentum of a banner year at his back. He was named 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year and his WEG horse, Gunners Special Nite, was crowned 2010 Farnam/USEF Horse of the Year. Gunners Special Nite won’t be making this trip, so McCutcheon will be relying on Darlins Not Painted, a 9-year-old American Paint Horse mare owned by Turnabout Farm.

“I always look forward to the opportunity to represent the U.S.,” said McCutcheon. “It’s always great to show in front of European reining fans; they’re loud and they love reining!”

McCutcheon will be joined by WEG Teammate and Individual Silver medalist, Craig Schmersal, who will ride Miss Lil Addy Tude in her first overseas appearance. The 9-year-old American Quarter Horse mare just finished second in the CRI5* at the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, proving she can be a formidable opponent in a big venue.

The Final in Malmo marks another important opportunity for the U.S. Reiners to prove their prowess on the world stage. Each National Federation is only invited to send two athletes (with one horse each) to contend for $100,000 in prize money. The one-round event takes place at 19:00 CEST on Saturday May 21.

FEI TV will broadcast the FEI World Reining Final on www.feitv.org.

More information is available about this event here: http://worldreiningfinal.com/.