Arizona Reining Horse Professional Ben Balow has been tapped to be the reining coach for Team Ireland Reining at the World Equestrian Games in late September. Balow comes to the prestigious WEG with over two decades of professional reining experience.

Early in his career, Ben spent three years as an assistant trainer at Bill Horn’s legendary training facility in Cable, Ohio. Bill, who is now an NRHA Hall of Fame member as well as its first Million Dollar Rider, taught Ben the art of reining and showing. In 1997, Balow spent a year working in Ballinamore, Ireland, where he opened and managed the first western riding training facility in the country. There, Ben met and befriended Ollie Galligan, an Irish native who spent two years as Ben’s assistant. Ollie will be representing Ireland at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and asked that Balow be tapped for the coaching position.

“I’m very honored to help Ollie and Team Ireland at the World Equestrian Games,” Balow said. “The time I spent in Ireland was one of the best experiences of my life, and I’ll always have a special place for the country and people of Ireland. Ollie is a talented rider and good friend, and I’m very proud to be a coach for him.”

The World Equestrian Games are comprised of the world championships for eight equestrian sports. The Games are held every four years, two years prior to teh Olympic Games, and are governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale. Reining is the only western discipline represented at the Games, and this is the first time the event has been held on American soil.

“It’ll be a very exciting, history-making event, and I’m proud ot be going as a coach,” said Balow.

Ben Balow Training Stables is located just outside Prescott, Arizona, in Skull Valley. To learn more about Ben, visit his new website, www.benbalowreining.com.

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