It was the middle of the night in Germany when American dressage rider Lisa Cosgrove excitedly learned that she was the proud new owner of a Lusitano gelding named Antiochus Interagro.
Cosgrove purchased the Pure Veiga bred gelding over the phone during the 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction in Wellington, Florida, an annual event that brings the magnificent breed to the United States and gives discriminating riders the chance to discover the beauty and talent of the Lusitano.
“The team at Lusitano Collection made it really easy to bid via telephone, although it was 4:30 in the morning here when the call came that Antiochus Interagro was about to be presented,” Cosgrove said. “I was very excited, and even though it was the middle of the night I can say that my heart was pounding and I certainly had an adrenalin rush!”
Over 300 people attended the action-packed auction filled with festivities and splendor set amidst the backdrop of the beautiful Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington. Cosgrove, who lives in Bavaria, attended vicariously through the phone. “The Lusitano Collection arranged for a very nice fellow named Ryan to bid for me via telephone,” she said. “I’d been looking for a Lusitano and had looked in Germany and Portugal for some time but just couldn’t find what I was looking for, so after discussing it with my husband I decided to bid based on what I saw on the website and the video of Antiochus Interagro. I heard about the Lusitano auction from a friend who got her mare from them in 2005.”
Cosgrove’s purchase marks the first time that the Lusitano Collection has acted as an export portal for Brazilian bred Lusitanos to Germany. “I was looking for a horse that was the complete package. My search in Europe proved unsuccessful, mainly because geldings in the age, training, and quality bracket I was looking for just weren’t available,” said Cosgrove. She wasn’t willing to compromise on any of her requirements, and so turned to the US and South American markets in search of such a horse. “The Lusitano Collection made the decision to bid very easy through the very professionally organized and informative website, along with a higher standard of photography and video. Despite the short time frame and the fact that I had never ridden or seen Antiochus in person, the level of service and quality of information made me confident in taking this action, and I don’t have the slightest bit of buyer’s remorse!”
Cosgrove is thrilled with her new gelding, a gray, seven-year-old who stands 16 hands, and can’t wait to meet him. “My plans for Antiochus are to have fun, to advance my dressage skills, and to learn more about classical dressage,” she said. “I have no plans for competing him, however, I just want to have fun. I will be boarding him at a barn called El Rocio, which is named after a historical pilgrimage which honors a saint. It’s a pretty special place for people, but more importantly, for the horses.”
While Cosgrove said she comes from an eventing background, she said she is looking forward to taking dressage lessons. Antiochus will make the perfect dressage partner and the gelding is considered “royalty” in the Lusitano world. He is one of four full-brothers of 100% Veiga bloodlines from Interagro Farm, and his sire, Ofensor (MV), is one of the most prized Lusitanos in history.
“I’ve never owned a Lusitano before but our barn has a fair number of Lusitano’s and PRE’s so I have daily exposure to them. I’ve had Thoroughbreds and warmbloods so this is a whole new world for me,” Cosgrove said. “From the experience I’ve had, I can tell Lusitanos are uncomplicated, good natured and forgiving horses who also seem to be game for anything.”
Each year an amazing selection of Lusitano horses are imported to the United States for the auction by two top breeders: Interagro Lusitanos, the largest exporter of Lusitanos in the world and the winner of the prestigious “Best Breeder of the Year” Award by ABPSL in 2009/2010, and Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga, named the 2010 Best Breeder and Best Exhibitor at the 29th Lusitano International Horse Show in Brazil. Each Lusitano is selected for their athleticism, trainability, and potential in the competition arena. The horses are all pre-vetted, and their complete medical histories are documented for prospective buyers.
“The buyers have a wonderful advantage of knowing that these are some of the best Lusitanos we have to offer. Interagro’s horses are carefully bred and evaluated for their potential as trainable, talented sporthorses. We focus on horses that enjoy their work, have excellent movement, and are intelligent. Each horse selected for the auction is ready to begin successful careers with their new owners,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, the Managing Director of Interagro Farm. “We are thrilled for Antiochus and Lisa and know they are going to make each other very happy.”
Photos © Darcy Scott
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