The sunshine made the day on Thursday 26 February 2015! Everybody could feel it, spring has started early at the new sunshine show, the 2015 CDI Jerez de la Frontera at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, inaugurated on 25 February 2015 in the south of Spain. It was the first day of competition at the CDI3* and it was a day of exciting debuts!
Not was it the premiere of the CDI Jerez de la Frontera at this venue, a real luxury frame for a dressage competition at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, but also most of the winning combinations made their debut at a new level. And the new CDI-Am, an amateur category recently launched by the FEI, took place for the very first time ever on European soil.
Dragao Takes the Prix St Georges
The action started yesterday morning in the PALACE ARENA, which is named after the beautiful 19th century palace constructed by the Duque de Abrantes.
The curtain rose and José Antonio García Mena, the local hero, did it again, a vini, vidi, vici; this time in the Prix St Georges with the Lusitano stallion Dragao do Figueiras (by Unico out of Valeria), who was last year's 6 year old national Champion, bred by Sociedade Quinta das Terras. One could appreciate their youth and their talent at the same time. They won on the day of their debut in the category with a 70,263%.
Another beautiful Iberian horse came in second, Manchego ARB (by Gumiel out of Helguera), some might remember him from the World Championships for Young Horses in 2011 in Verden, where the nice moving Pure Breed Spanish horse contested the Finals in the 5-year old class. Now Cristina Duran, his new owner and rider, trained by José Daniel Martín Dockx - who just came back from competing Hampton Green Farm's horses in Wellington - was second placed. Their test was fluent and harmonious and they seem to be in good shape. Their average of 68,921% proved it. The Spanish rider Ruben Arabe and his warmblood V.Laureus (by Laurens), owned by the ‘Fundación Escuela de Equitación de Madrid’, also made their debut with 67,684%.
Young Horse Power
It was a very ‘artsy’ competition with horses dancing in front of the Palace. The scene reminded of the beginning of equestrian tradition in Spain; it was something unique to watch, dressage fans enjoyed the afternoon in the sunshine and of course the morning.
The Young Horses had the honour to open the show, 4-year olds competing at the national CDN2*, taking place at the same time. Valvanera Palacios Ortuño with Kebir A (by Redford out of Alba A), bred and owned by Yeguada Ruiseñores, based in Spain, was the winner. They showed a little bit of tension but lots of potential.
Under young Portuguese rider Maria Caetano, a couple of horses from Yeguada Finca Tineo, the Spanish based lusitano breeder, showed off their quality. Caetano won the class with Fenix de Tineo, a son of the lusitano Olympic stallion Rubi AR. He was active and expressive with a lot of suspension and a flowing and easy going ride. He showed himself an elastic horse who received good points also for his clear uphill canter.
Claudio Castilla Ruiz almost did a hat trick in the 6-year old category. He won with Sunfire (by Sandro Hit out of Donata) and became second with Summernight (by Swarovski out of Cleofee) both owned by Yeguada Sola Nogales. They scored over 78,000.
We will see all of them once again on Saturday! So don´t miss the live streaming which is open every day for all the tests at www.topiberian.com.
Spain Sets the European 2015 Outdoor Show Season in Motion
It was much fun to meet everybody again after the winter. Spain is still one of those countries were the action stops when it comes to Christmas and the change of the competition seasons. So riders were excited to see their friends again. Lots of foreigners – mainly horse lovers - were around as the Royal School showed one of their performances. Many people were watching the first CDI tests ever to be held at the Royal School, the place were it all once started.
On the evening of the first competition day of the CDI there was an opening cocktail for the riders, officials and dressage friends. The "who´s who" from Jerez, the famous town of sherry and horses, were on the scene. Riders welcomed this new event and enjoyed the reception. Unanimously impressed by the facilities, the smooth flow and the wonderful, traditional atmosphere, the crowds loved it!
All in all 110 combinations from 9 nations are participating - a real success for this first edition. José Antonio García Mena, one of Spain's international top riders and a real “local hero,” said that he loves to compete at this wonderful place; he was expressing what many riders stated.
Where tradition and innovation go hand in hand.
When you arrive in Jerez you can feel it in the air, life is easier all of a sudden, people work to live and not vice versa. Tradition is important, friendly and warm, people are wonderful hosts.
This is an ideal location where to marry tradition and innovation, from high definition, open live streaming with the back drop of a XIXth century palace to live scoring with some of the top 5* judges, including the recently appointed President of the Olympic Ground Jury in Rio de Janeiro 2016, Maribel Alonso de Quinzaños.
Engaging both the worldwide online and offline audience with a guinea pig test ridden by one of the Royal School’s veteran riders, Antonio Cid entered the ring before the start of the grand Prix class this afternoon explaining the mysteries of the art of Dressage.
Among other collaborators at the venue are Jaracar Jeep, Momento Andaluz, El Diario de Jerez, la Junta de Andalucía, Tourism Office of Andalusia and Juan Gil Bodegas Familiares.
If you can’t join on the showgrounds, click on www.topiberian.com for continuous live broadcasting!
Bobby Fernández de Bobadilla, former head of Spanish Dressage at the national Federation is commenting live every day.
For more information about the show events.topiberian.com. You can always follow the scores, live with each mark given by a judge, on scores.topiberian.com.
by Katharina Braren - Photos © Top Iberian - Peter Holler
Related Links
Scores 2015 CDI Jerez de la Frontera
The 2015 Southern Dressage Tour in Spain is Calling