Spanish rider Maria Guerrero Galve and her 7-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Gustaaf are off to a great start this 2018 show season, their first at junior riders' level. After warming up at the CDI Toledo in March, they scored a double victory and second place at the 2018 CDI Segovia at the beginning of April.
At the 2018 CDI Segovia, Guerrero and Gustaaf took a strong start winning the junior team test with 70.253%, placing second in the individual with 67.696% and winning the Kur to Music with 69.667%.
"Gustaaf was calm and concentrated with an impeccable attitude given it was our second international competition and our third competition in total," Maria told Eurodressage. "I felt like we were one, both in training and in the test. The weather was not on our side which made the whole experience more difficult for all participants. On the first competition day I felt unlucky with the fact that I was the first to start in my class but it ended up being the winning test. Through out the weekend we kept our good results and in the freestyle we won."
Maria is coached by the Barcelona based Swedish Grand Prix rider Linda Swande.
"For now I’m very pleased with my and Gustaaf’s performance as team, although there is always room for improvement," Maria added. "I feel confident in our future together, especially with the constant support and confidence given to me by my trainer."
A former pony rider, the now 17-year old Guerrero began her international competition career in 2015 on pony Black Seabiscuit. In 2016 she took over the reins on Den Ostriks Marah which led to her representing Spain at the 2017 European Pony Championships in Kaposvar last July.
Maria turned 17 on 13 April and 2018 meant that she had to make a mandatory transition to horses. Her new partner in crime is Gustaaf, a 7-year old Dutch warmblood gelding y Charmeur x Rousseau x Michelangelo, which the Guerrero family purchased in December from trainer Linda Swande and Jordi Domingo.
"Gustaaf as bought by Domingo as a foal," said Maria. "He was very successful as a young horse, scoring over 80% and also qualifying for the finals in the Spanish Championships."
With three years of international competition down her belt under constant professional supervision from her coach, Maria felt that the transition from ponies to horses was not too difficult. Guerrero also credits Domingo for well training Gustaaf.
"It is thanks to him that I am so prepared this year for the Junior level," she said. "I don’t find junior level much more difficult that pony level, which is a very complicated test."
Like any ambitious competition rider, Guerrero aims to qualify on the Spanish team for the 2018 European Junior Riders Championships in Fontainebleau, France, in July. Her next show will be another CDI in Segovia.
"Then we are obliged to go tho the Spanish Masters, which are together with the Spanish Championships for adults," said Guerrero. "From these competitions the federation will select the teams for the European Championship and if we are good enough hopefully we will make it."
Photo © Rui Pedro Godinho
Related Links
Scores: 2018 CDI Segovia
Scores: 2018 CDI Toledo
Spanish Team for 2017 European Pony Championships Selected