The Slovak qualifying CRI for the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Series presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) was held on May 1st in Weikersdorf, Austria, during the Austrian Classic show. The FEI agreed to make an exception for Slovakia and to run the qualifier concurrently with the Austrian qualifying show so as to provide the riders the best possible conditions.

With a total of 13 entries, six represented the Slovakia colors and, with a score of 139, Zuzana Pacesova riding Written Prescription took first place honors in the Slovak CRI closely followed by Daniel Mazdej who, riding Painted Pepito, ranked second with a half point difference. Third place was taken by Martin Barancok on Dancing Rainbow with a score of 136.

Twenty-seven-year-old Zuzana Pacesova is one of Slovakia’s top and most experienced trainers and today she works as assistant trainer for Vernon Sapergia and Sylvia Rzepka in Mitterndorf, Austria. She began riding horses at the age of ten in vaulting and dressage, and then moved on to western equitation. In 1997 she won her first Reining championship and has since collected numerous awards in this discipline, both in her home country and in Europe.

The FEI World Reining Masters Series is a competition defining the best individual reiner each year. It is based on qualifying the best reiner from each NF for a final event, which alternates between the USA and Europe. The finals offer a $75,000 Open and a $25,000 Restricted division. The first is open to all riders, the Restricted division is only 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 U.S.A, Canada, Great Britain, Italy and Germany are 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.

With over 20 countries expected to participate, reiners worldwide have qualified, or are getting ready to qualify, for the second edition of the $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Series presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) in collaboration with the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), the Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).