Smashing his international debut with a new horse at the 2016 CDI Vestfold on 22 - 25 February 2016, Spanish Grand Prix rider Severo Jurado Lopez and his Olympic hope Lorenzo won both the Grand Prix and Kur to Music with promising scores that keep the door open for Olympic team consideration.
Lopez and Lorenzo (by Lord Loxley x Rubin Royal) scored 69.220% and 76.150% for a double victory at the annual Arctic Equestrian Games in Vestfold, Norway.
“The show couldn't have gone better for us,” said Severo. “To win both his classes at his international debut was just incredible.”
The ownership of Lorenzo was transferred just in time for the Olympic ownership deadline of 15 January 2016. Lopez is based in Vodskov, Denmark, where he is an assistant trainer at Andreas Helgstrand's sales yard. Lorenzo was previously owned by Danish couple Kirsten and Jorn Elkjaer-Holm, who have owned the 10-year old Lorenzo since he was a 3-year old.
“This horse always gives me a nice feeling. He is very positive and he wants to please me. This is a wonderful thing for a rider to feel. In competition Lorenzo is always relaxed and in Vestfold during the warming up and during the test he was very concentrated," Lopez explained.
Riding the horse now for almost a year, Severo got the opportunity to ride him through Andreas. The Spaniard says he enjoyed riding Lorenzo right from the beginning.
“From the first time I saw the horse, I had a postive feeling about him and I was sure that he had a lot of potential. Lorenzo's strengths are his three really nice gaits and definitely his positive mind,” he said.
Lorenzo will now enjoy a few well deserved days off in the field, after which he will be brought in to prepare for the pair's upcoming competitions.
“My next CDI will be in Herning (Denmark), and given that the horse has more potential I hope we can produce this in our future competitions," said Severo.
by Sarah Warne - Photo © Mia L. Amundsen
Related Links
Scores 2016 CDI Vestfold