Following the FEI European Reining Championships held in Manerbio, Italy, last May, preparations are under way for the second finals edition of the $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Series, presented by the Arcese Group, which will be held on September 22-25, 2005.

The finals of the prestigious competition, which were held in Oklahoma City during the National Reining Horse Association Futurity last year, will be hosted at the beautiful Palasturla facility located in Manerbio, Italy.

“We are very proud to be able to host the upcoming finals of this year’s FEI World Reining Masters Series,” said the president of the organizing committee and National Reininvg Horse Association (NRHA) Hall of Famer Eleuterio Arcese. “The Palasturla facility, which was built thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of Giovanni Sturla, a keen reining fan, has proven to be a great location for high-class competition, and thanks to the collaboration of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation and the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA), as well as the support of the National Reining Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Reining Horse Sports Foundation, as well as the FEI, I am confident that the expectations of reining enthusiasts worldwide will be met.”

Once again, the finals of the FEI World Reining Masters will offer a $75,000 open and a $25,000 restricted division. The first is open to all riders, the restricted division will only be open to those countries who did not qualify for the finals at the 2002 World Equestrian Games (WEG) held in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Therefore the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Italy and Germany will only be able to compete in the open division and will be allowed to send two riders; all other countries are eligible to compete with one qualified rider.

An update regarding countries that have already qualified riders for the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters finals and information regarding those countries that are still in the process of holding CRI qualifiers will be released soon. With 15 countries expected to participate in the much-awaited-for competition, the final date for qualifications will be Sunday, August 28, and the deadline for entry submission will be Monday, August 29 2005.

~~~