The development of prestigious European reining began over forty years ago, initiated by Italian cattle breeders who, through their connections with American livestock, introduced Western riding disciplines to Europe. Centered around the Po Valley near Cremona, Italy became the birthplace of European Western riding, hosting the continent’s first Reining Futurity in 1985. Following Italy’s lead, Germany and other European countries embraced these competitions, importing top American horse pedigrees but initially lacking skilled trainers to fully develop the horses’ potential.

To address this gap, American professionals were brought in to train horses and riders, but lesser-known Australian trainers also played a crucial role. Notably, Martin Larcombe and Rob Lawson significantly influenced European reining, with Larcombe promoting a training philosophy centered on horse welfare and respect, which was pioneering at the time. Larcombe’s successes in major Italian competitions and his expertise in horse selection helped establish the genetic and training foundations that underpin the quality and prestige of Western horses in Europe today.