Portuguese Raquel Falcao, Daniel Pinto and Maria Caetano reigned over the international big tour classes at the 2015 CDI Vilamoura on 10 - 12 April 2015. Falcao and 17-year old Lusitano Real (by Hostil) taking the Grand Prix with 67.920%, while Daniel Pinto and Santurion de Massa claimed the Special. Maria Caetano and her new ride, 13-year old PSL stallion Vendaval won the Kur with 70.575%.
“I really enjoyed riding the Grand Prix,” Raquel told Eurodressage. “My horse was fresh and relaxed. It felt really good.”
The elegant grey Real is bred at the Julio Borba stud is a very calm and generous horse. Raquel says he is always willing to work. /P>
“I have owned and ridden Real since he was four years old,” Raquel explained. “It has been a long journey together!”
The pair will now continue their training with Olympic rider Daniel Pinto and will work on improving the Grand Prix exercises and on keeping Real fresh and fit. Their next show will be the CDI Madrid in May
Falcao's coach Daniel Pinto claimed the Grand Prix Special aboard Sylvain Massa's cross bred Trakehner x Lusitano Santurion de Massa (by Munchhausen). The bay is a young horse with little experience, but he was very concentrated and connected with Daniel throughout the CDI.
“He is a horse that is very good in his mind, he is calm and likes to work. For a stallion he is particularly generous and I enjoy very much the time we train together," said Pinto. Pinto has been training the stallion since he was four years old.
“I will keep working every day as I have been doing until now and the day that he produces in the arena what he does at home will be a great achievement for me and for him," said Pinto.
Daniel’s goal is to continue to work together with Kyra Kyrklund and Richard White, who he says have helped him a lot in the evolution of this horse.
“My first objective is to qualify on the Portuguese Team for the 2015 European Championship; the second goal and dream is to participate in my third Olympic Games with one more horse that I trained myself," Daniel added.
Maria Caetano topped the leader baord in the Grand Prix Kur to Music on Sunday afternoon. She has only been riding the impressive Vendaval since January and is delighted by the progress they have made so far.
“Vendaval has an amazing talent for the Grand Prix movements," said Maria. "His highlights are passage and piaffe and he has a great character. He is really a charming boy!”
Bred by Arsenio Raposo Cordeiro and owned by Carin Van Woensel-Verschueren, Vendaval made his CDI debut at Grand Prix level in Vilamoura. Therefore, Maria is particularly happy with the results.
“In the Grand Prix he was a bit tense and I could not have him always with me," she said. "We need more experience together! In the Kur, he was more relaxed and concentrated on my aids. He loves music and will be a great freestyle horse!”
Maria rode to a freestyle arranged by Portuguese Rui Pedro Godinho and Maria chose to ride to the popular Pirates of the Caribbean music. She is looking forward to presenting the Kur throughout Europe.
“We are now starting our 'European Tour' with some CDI’s in preparation of the next European Championships. I'm hoping to rise in the ranking points towards the Olympics," Caetano explained.
by Sarah Warne - Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
Eurodressage's Astrid Appels took photos of all riders competing in the CDI Vilamoura. If you are interested in photos, contact us by email with your name and the name of the horse.
Related Link
Eurodressage "On the Scene" at the 2015 CDI Vilamoura
