Mexican Grand Prix rider Bernadette Pujals has acquired Southern Cross Stud's 8-year old Westfalian stallion Baron de Ley (by Breitling x Diego xx) as a 2016 Rio Olympic Games' hopeful.
Bred by Wittig and Tiemann and trained and competed by Brigitte Wittig, Baron de Ley finished 13th at the 2010 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf and qualified for the 2011 Bundeschampionate but did not compete there. The horse was an alternate for the German team that competed at the 2011 World Young Horse Championships in Verden.
The bay stallion recently made its Prix St. Georges debut in Germany.
Jules and Jill Walker, owners of Southern Cross Stud, explained that "the horse was not for sale when we were approached. We had intended to keep him in training with our aim of getting him to Grand Prix. However, we are delighted that he has gone to Berna. We feel it is a fantastic opportunity for him and we are looking forward to seeing what this partnership can achieve. We negotiated the opportunity to breed from him in the future with Berna, and we are excited about that too.”
Southern Cross Stud has negotiated on the rights for frozen semen for its breeding program.
Mexico City based Bernadette Pujals has been a long time international Grand Prix rider, who made her claim to fame at the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Vincent. At the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Pujals finished sixth overall on the Danish bred Heslegards Rolex.
Related Links
Southern Cross Stud Winter Sales January - March 2013
Rubinio, Furstenball, Baron de Ley W win 2011 Hille Bundeschampionate Qualifier
Southern Cross Stud Aims for the Top in Dressage Breeding and Sport
German Horses Selected for 2011 World Young Horse Championships
Heslegards Rolex Sold to Bernadette Pujals