Spain's most successful dressage rider in history Beatriz Ferrer-Salat felt the sunshine at the recent 2013 CDI Vejer de la Frontera introducing out her rising baby stars Edgar Wallace and Sir Radjah to the international competition atmosphere and leading them straight into the winner's circle.
Aboard Sir Radjah, Ferrer-Salat took out the Prix St Georges and the Intermediaire 1 with scores above 70% on the first week of competition. Edgar Wallace made a winning M-level debut in the Owners' classes at the Sunshine tour. "I competed on my 8 year-old Sir Radjah at this level for the first time and was really excited that he won both classes with such good percentages," Beatriz told Eurodressage. "I also rode Edgar Wallace in the owner's class, which is a juniors level class, and he also was very good, again winning with scores above 70%."
An individual bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympics, Beatriz is looking forward to some more career highlights on her rising stars. "Sir Radjah is a very talented horse, with a lot of potential and particularly clever and willing. Wallace is more complicated, but he has three amazing gaits."
Sir Radjah, an 8-year old Westfalian by Sir Donnerhall I out of a Radjah Z dam, has just starting PSG level but is already schooling the Grand Prix movements. "He's incredibly willing and has lots of energy," said Ferrer-Salat. "It's always been a pleasure to ride him, since the first day I tried him when he was three. He gave me the same feeling as Beauvalais, this huge will to work and go forward. He has an easy temperament, very loving and confident."
Edgar Wallace is also 8 years old but he's a Hanoverian by Ehrenwort out of Walt Disney I dam. "He also a very loving horse, although a lot more insecure, often scared by the surroundings. But he's got three amazing gaits and a lot of presence," Beatriz explained.
Spotted by her good friend Frank Lamontagne, Beatriz was encouraged to go and try the horses. She knew even at that age that they had potential. Sir Radjah was originally owned by Margo Noffke and Edgar Wallace by Ernst Kemper. Beatriz bought Radjah in August 2008 as a 3-year old and Edgar Wallace in 2009 as a 4-year old and has trained them along the levels herself.
Describing the 2013 Sunshine Tour as "wonderful," Beatriz was happy not only with her performance but also some good luck with the weather. "We really had great weather, with sun every day. It was a bit cooler in the mornings but we reached temperatures of at least 20 degrees on many of the days," she confirmed. "So the horses went accordingly, happy and enjoying themselves, although Wallace was a bit spooky going from the warm up to the main ring."
Training with renowned German based Dutch trainer Ton de Ridder since February 2010, Beatriz rides everyday at her facility Villa Equus in Gualba, Spain, 50 km north of Barcelona. "Ton comes to visit me there regularly for a couple of days at a time and then we go to all the shows together," she said. "Also I normally take my horses to him over the summer to prepare for the different shows and championships."
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Top Iberian - Rui Pedro Godinho
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