Hungary is not exactly known as a prominent dressage country, despite its close connections to the Lippizaner stud farm in Lipica, Slovenia. Nevertheless, over the years individual riders from Hungary were able to capture the spotlight. Most famous Hungarian dressage rider so far is Guyla Dallos, who was successful in the World Cup circuit aboard Aktion. Yet now a new young rising star is claiming the limelight: Máté Garai. This is how a dressage career starts in Hungary.
Máté started to riding when he was 11-years old. First he tried "big" horses, but it was his trainer Péter Pachl -- with whom he has been training ever since -- who put forward the idea to buy a riding pony. In other European countries children start horse riding with ponies and Pachl recommended them to do the same.
After several lower level ponies Pachl and Mate’s parents started to look for an FEI pony schoolmaster. That was the first point where good luck and Mate’s riding ambitions met. Through the De Deken family in Belgium, the Garais got acquainted with the FEI pony No Limit and the Belgians were generous to offer them the ride. Since that time Máté has been working hard every day and the talented, well ridden pony taught him much.
The second milestone in Máté's riding career was a training session held by Siegfried Peilicke in Hungary. Through Peilicke, Máté and No Limit got the opportunity to spend some weeks training with Cornelia Endres, the German Pony Team Trainer. The trainig sessions in Bouldern have been fundamental for the development of Máté's riding skills ever since.
Máté took part in many international pony competitions with No Limit and his second pony Dynamit and represented Hungary three times at European Pony Championships. His best result was in June 2006 in Stadl Paura, Austria, where he finished 5th with a score of 70,17% aboard Dynamit. In July they captured 6th place in Aach, Germany, and received the “Best non-resident” title.
2007 will be Máté’s last year riding FEI ponies and the Garai family started looking for a junior riders horse already last autumn. After trying several horses the decision was clear that once again a De Deken owned horse would be the best match for Máté. The Garai family purchased Romero, a lovely 14-year-old gelding by Ritual, with whom Julie de Deken booked her first successes as a Belgian junior rider. Julie and Romero competed in the 2003 Sunshine Tour in Spain and various CDI's throughout Europe.
Máté and Romero did their first competition after only four weeks training and they were very successful. With a score of 68,09%, they took first place at M-level at the first trial of the Wintercup in Hungary. The participated in training sessions with German Hannes Baumgart and Spanish Ignacio Lopez Porras and the overall impression was that Máté Garai and Romero are a good pair with many possibilities and great promises.
“Romero is a horse I can learn much from. Day by day I can get new feelings. I like to work with him very much!” said Máté. Watch out for this Hungarian duo as they conquer the European junior riders scene.
Photos copyrighted: Mitrov Gabi and Pegazus - a lovasok lapja TSN Kft
Related Links
2006 CDI-P Stadl Paura
2006 CDI-P Aach