Manerbio, Italy – August 18, 2008 - Germany’s Chéf D’Equipe, Paul Kratschmer, announced the team members which will be representing their country in the very first FEI World Reining Championship. The championship will be held in Manerbio, Italy, on September 11-14.

Team Germany will be represented by Sylvia Rzepka riding Doctor Zip Nic, Emanuel Ernst aboard Legends Diamond Doc, Daniel Klein riding Dealin Gin and Oliver Stein with Smart Little Lenic. Reserve horse and rider combination will be Nina Lill riding Lena Cielo Jewel.

Sylvia Rzepka won two of the four qualifying FEI CRIs held in Germany this year astride Doctor Zip Nic. The six-year-old Reminic stallion is owned by Zip Nic Partners. Rzepka represented her country in the 2006 World Equestrian Games held in Aachen, Germany where she placed 8^th in the individual competition.

Emanuel Ernst and Legends Diamond Doc were part of the German team that won the team gold medal during the 2007 European Reining Championships held in Mooslargue, France. The nine-year-old stallion is owned by Paul Kratschmer and is by The Major Legend.

Daniel Klein has been showing the six-year-old Dealin Gin successfully on both the national and international reining scene. Dealin Gin, owned by the Dealin Gin Syndicate, is by Dealin Dirty and out of the Smart Chic Olena mare Chic San Lena.

Oliver Stein was part of the German team that won the gold medal at the 2002 European Reining Championships held in Manerbio, Italy. Smart Little Lenic is an eight-year-old son of Reminic. The stallion is owned by Silke Stein.

More than twenty countries from four continents are expected to compete in the 2008 FEI World Reining Championship.  For the very first time, FEI will award Reining medals outside the World Equestrian Games.