Pinto Back to the Drawing Board after Santurion's Elimination at 2021 CDI Munich

Dressage

Portugal

Portuguese Grand Prix rider Daniel Pinto was hopeful for a successful come back to the show ring of his top ride, Santurion de Massa, after a two-year break due to injury. However an elimination at the CDI Munich last weekend force the rider to return back to the drawing board.

The 15-year old Santurion de Massa is a Portuguese crossbred by Trakhner stallion Munchhausen out of a Lusitano dam, Viena (by Estoiro). He is bred by Sylvain Massa and since 2020 owned by Daniel Pinto.

Portuguese Team Horse

Pinto and Santurion represented Portugal at the 2015 and 2017 European Dressage Championships, but missed out on the 2018 World Equestrian Games. The bay injured himself and needed two years to make a come back.

In 2020 the combination returned to the CDI ring in the summer at Beloura, where they were fifth twice. Three months later they finished second twice at the 2020 CDI Alter do Chao.

The 2021 CDI Munich last weekend was their first international outside Portugal and the first phase into Portuguese team selection for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Unfortunately that road got deviated as the pair was eliminated in the Grand Prix for unlevelness.

Back to the Drawing Board

Pinto and Santurion at the 2018 CDIO Aachen

According to Pinto, Santurion arrived safe and sound in Germany and successfully passed the vet check. However, in the Grand Prix he showed tension and become irregular in the trot work. The bell rung.

"This competition was an important check point in the recovery of Santurion for the big stage," Pinto explained. "The stress of a big journey always adds a new level of difficulty to our horses. We were extremely happy with the splendid return of Santurion after a long, two years break. All pointed to a full recovery: we won the Portuguese reserve champion's title last year and we succeeded in several competitions with excellent scores! Most of all, I personally felt Santurion gave me a great feeling in the saddle! He was back to his competitive mood, proving to be happy and in great shape! All looked effortless for him."

Daniel continued, "unfortunately, we all know that equestrian sport also has unexpected setbacks. Santurion revealed similar symptoms to the ones that made us withdraw from the last World Equestrian Games. I am now extra careful to identify what might have caused these symptoms and I will take the proper time to decide what will come next with our team."