Portuguese Olympian Maria Caetano Gives Birth to Baby Girl

Dressage

Portugal

Portuguese Grand Prix team rider and Tokyo Olympian Maria Caetano has given birth to her first child, a baby girl, on 2 February 2022.

Maria delivered a healthy baby with the father, António Gomes Pereira, by her side. The girl has been named Maria do Rosário Moura Caetano Gomes Pereira. Amicably called Rosarinho, the baby girl weighed 3.530 kg at birth.

"No words to describe this unconditional love," Maria stated. "Thank you António for all the tireless strength and support at this unforgettable moment in our lives!!"

Baby Break after Olympics

Caetano announced her pregnancy in August 2021 right after achieving a milestone in her career: riding at the Olympic Games.

Aboard the then 11-year old Lusitano stallion Fenix de Tineo (by Rubi AR x Oheide), bred and owned by Juan Manuel Cordeiro, she placed 8th with the team in the Grand Prix Special and posted 70.311% in the Grand Prix. Caetano trained Fenix de Tineo from novice level to Grand Prix. They won the Portuguese Young Horse Championships in 2015 and 2016, represented the Lusitano breed at the 2017 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, moved to Grand Prix level in 2019, and rode her first Olympics in Tokyo.

Maria waved the opportunity to compete at the 2021 European Dressage Championships in Hagen in September 2021, shifting down a gear from riding due to her pregnancy. In the winter she stopped entirely to focus on a successful third trimester for her baby.

"I have to confess that it was a bit difficult not being able to ride for some months," Maria told Eurodressage, "but I was lucky to be able to be at the stable everyday watching my father and my assistant rider Carolina Oliveira working all my horses."

Back in the Saddle for Herning

Although Maria only gave birth two days ago, her mind is already back on horses and the summer target of the 2022 World Championships Dressage in Herning.

For the 2022 show season, Maria has three Grand Prix horses to choose from: her Olympic star Fenix de Tineo and the two 10-year old Lusitano cross breds Hit Plus (by Bretton Woods x Peralta Pinha) and Happy Plus (by Bretton Woods x Rubin Royal). Her fourth Grand Prix horse, 15-year old Lusitano stallion Coroado (by Rubi AR x Xaqiero), is still on the road to recovery from an injury.

"I’m planning to return to the show ring as soon as I’m recovered," she said. "Thanks to my father’s super job, Fenix de Tineo, Hit Plus and Happy Plus are super ready to start competing at any moment. I cannot plan an exact date yet, but the idea is to start early enough to try to be one of the chosen ones for the Portuguese Team in Herning."