Why not just grab your bathing suit and come over to Mallorca next weekend for a swim and to watch the summer show in Spain, the CDI4*Es Fangar, on that beautiful Mediterranean island? Held at Es Fangar Stud farm, this year’s edition promises to be one of the "as good as it gets" dressage shows of the 2015 season. The CDI4* has attracted 70 riders from all over the world (from 15 nations) and they will compete next weekend at one of Spain’s most dreamed-of holiday spots.
The event, also known as the Balearen Tour, is ready to open its doors. There are incredible prizes on offer, with a purse of 72,000 euro and four BMW cars to be won at the CDI as well as in the National competition which has a further 80 riders, plus lots of gadgets and gifts to take away... but we don’t want to bore you with what you may already know.
It is not such a common occurrence for invitational to be taken by the meaning of the word and for gifts to be so exceptional. However, this is what it takes to have simply the best athletes competing at a show, thus ensuring top competition for the audiences.
Thoughts concerning a hot theme: the Future of Dressage.
We are aiming for more and better competitions all the time, while dressage, the discipline in itself, should rather be preserved the way it is. The future of dressage has already started, with invitational shows and exceptional showcase performances in outstanding surroundings; ideas for locations are unlimited and this CDI4* on the island of Mallorca is already a competition to be counted among them.
Obviously, the event which gathers the very best riders in the sport offer something else beyond top dressage competition – they are fun and emotional and catch the attention of bigger audiences for our most precious assets, the horses themselves. Horses have no borders; nobody is immune to the charm of an elegant horse, to the beauty of horses in the fields, to emotions triggered by music and dressage. In any other sports discipline, the elite athletes don’t pay to compete; instead, they are paid to be seen, and this may be where dressage goes. This could be the path to a bright future for dressage. We can stop tinkering with the Grand Prix test and keep the essence of dressage intact, while providing a real extravagant showcase of the sport for the very best.
In this way, events such as Balearen Tour are great promoters of the sport. The CDI4* Es Fangar has entered the select circle of invitationals such as the CHIO Aachen, the Al –Shaqab Horse Show, the New York Central Park Dressage Show amongst a few others. There is no doubt that they all achieve a very special goal, as they usually unite the world’s very best dressage riders and reach large audiences.
The team at Es Fangar has even gone a step further as they have not only invited the very best riders but also local and amateur riders. The territorial and the national 2* competitions offer space for all levels. In addition, the host has extended a generous invitation to the horse-loving population of the island and the entire dressage world. The truth is we are far from having them all at this venue, but amongst them there are future stars and some top international riders. We all know what it means to launch a competition, and this year’s Balearen Tour is a true door-opener, which is not easy to promote and accomplish.
However, the Eisenmann family and Patrik Kofler, the stud-manager, as well as Federico Padron, the event director, are united in their evaluation at the countdown for this new show: “We have set a milestone and we are so thrilled to promote this event, which will make history and which will definitely help to promote this sport we all worship dearly, in its traditions and meanings. But horses deserve a greater audience and events like this are helping us gain new fans. With the amazing support and generosity of the Eisenmann family we all will live up to what is becoming the future of dressage. Spain has found surroundings to host, together with a well-connected team of the Eisenmann – Kofler families, another top show in the dressage world. We are proud to be part of this.”
“When Federico first called me, I thought it was a crazy idea and I didn’t think too much about it. And I said I’d love to be there and I’ll support it, but I’m not really sure it’ll ever happen. But it did happen, now we are there, and only 3 more days to go for this amazing venue”, said Beatriz Ferrer-Salat when asked about the event.
Teams and horses are already making their way to the island. There will be boats, cars and planes in movement, carrying people from all over the world over the next few days to visit the biggest of Spain’s Mediterranean islands. Haven’t you always wanted to go to check it out for yourself but there was never enough time? Now, both the moment and the opportunity have come, as the host, the Eisenman family, has invited everybody to this summer event.
This will be the first show resulting from a five-year commitment planned between the host family and topiberian to stage the event at Es Fangar. The CDI4* will bring Olympic-calibre athletes to Mallorca for first time since the National Championships were held on Mallorca back in the 1980s. It will also benefit charities, including children’s groups, and will broaden the exposure of equestrian sport.
Who will be on the scene?
Ladies and royalty first: Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has decided to come to compete at the Balearen Tour. Never having competed on Spanish soil before, she has picked this exotic island show for her first appearance with Fabienne . Our Spanish dressage queen, Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, is to participate with Sir Radjah and Edgar Wallace, her Big and Small Tour prospects, respectively. DEDelgado will be kept at home, for even more lofty purposes. Jordi Domingo will bring Wonder, who is living up to her name more each time; Joyce Lenearts and Madeleine de Vries from the Netherlands will compete; Alizee Froment will be here from France; Marc Boblet, Michael Rapcewicz, and Karen Pavicic are coming from Canada; Isabell Steidle is visiting from Germany, and so on; all will be on the spot at Grand Prix level. José Antonio García Mena and Dragao are not going to miss this event, and nor will Claudio Castilla, Lauro Aguiló, Cristobal Belmonte, among many others. Fans will not want to miss this amazing opportunity to see these special pairs once again.
The Es Fangar judging panel comprises outstanding 5* judges such as Katrina Wüst, (Ger) Francis Verbeek (Hol), Gotthilf Riexinger (Ger), Isobel Wessels (GB) and Anette Fransen–Jacobeus (Den), while the president of this select club will be Spanish 4* judge, Juan Carlos Campos.
The hosts are the first among the supporters of this event, but they are not alone. Cars and scooters, jewellery and gadgets are some of the elements with which large companies are supporting this event, provided by Eisenmann, Flight Sights S.L., MOS D.O.O Servis, TMG Consultants, Tech Pro, Asi Group, Unternehmensgruppe Morof, Horse-Pferdesportsysteme, Nova 5, Mabu Hay Cocktail Bar and P.A.B Romania, plus many others.
The Es Fangar event is showing that dreams can come true and the future of dressage is already here. The CDI4*, no doubt, will turn into one of the benchmarks in the international European competition scene within the next years, the first step is done. You don’t want to miss it?
Stay tuned via www.topiberian.com, where you will be able to watch the whole show as well the Es Fangar arena as the 2012 Arena will be live streamed. We’ll bring you all the information about this astonishing show straight to your home. With Bobby Bobadillas commentating on the livestreaming as always, dressage becomes more transparent and comprehensible. All results will be available online at scores.topiberian.com.
If you need any last minute information, please don’t hesitate to consult eventos.topiberian.com, balearen-tour.com or send an e-mail to Mallorca@topiberian.com
Text and photos by Katharina Braren/Topiberian
Related Links
Mallorca, the New Paradise with a CDI4* Invitational
The 2015 Southern Dressage Tour in Spain is Calling