CAN Iberian horses challenge the warmbloods in the international dressage arena? The truth is they already have and will undoubtedly continue to do so. The pool of potential dressage stars from Portugal and Spain is much smaller than the northern European warmblood, so they are likely always to be a rarity, but there is something about the Iberian which captures the imagination.
The performance of PRE (Pura Raza Española) Fuego De Cardenas and Juan Manuel Muñoz in the freestyle at the 2010 World Games was memorable. Even though they didn’t win, their performance raised the spirits of the spectators. They scored more than 81% and left many warmbloods languishing down the leaderboard.
And at the London Olympics, social media was awash with videos of Portugal’s Goncalo Carvalho and Rubi AR’s spectacular piaffe and passage. In 2019, Portugal qualified for the Tokyo Olympics on Lusitanos (PSL – Puro Sangue Lusitano). The Spanish national team has always included PREs in the mix.
In 2019, Britain fielded its first Nations Cup team with an Iberian horse, when Vicki Thompson-Winfield and Sam Francis’s impressive PRE, Mango Jacaro, made their team debut at Hickstead where they had a personal best of 74.05% in the grand prix freestyle. Lusitano Ufano flew the flag for Britain with Becky Edwards as members of the British young riders’ team at the European Championships in 2015 and 2016.
Denne historien er fra February 04, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra February 04, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
