Prodigio MVL, Lusitano FEI Hopeful for Canadian Grand Prix Rider Mathilde Blais Tetreault

Dressage

Canada

Canadian Pan American Games and Olympic hopeful, Mathilde Blais Tetreault, has taken on the training of the 4-year old Lusitano stallion Prodigio MVL as an FEI level hopeful.

Prodigio MVL is owned by Michel Paulin and Nadège Labrecque of Kébérica stud farm in Issoudun, Quebec.

Prodigio MVL

Kébérica sourced Prodigio MVL directly from the breeder, Equo-resort Monte Velho in Portugal, where they acquired him as a 6-month old foal in 2019.

Prodigio MVL is by international Grand Prix stallion Dragão das Figueiras out of Jiesta MVL, who is by Monte Velho's flagship stallion Equador MVL. Prodigio combines the best Lusitano Grand Prix genes in both the sire and dam line.

Dragao das Figueiras represented Luxembourg at the 2019 European Dressage Championships under Sascha Schulz, while Equador MVL represented Portugal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Games and was the key horse in Portugal's historic FEI Nations Cup victory in Hickstead.

Sourcing and Breeding the Best

Kébérica has been breeding top Lusitano dressage horses for more than 10 years. They have imported horses from reputable breeders in Europe such as Massa stud farm, Coudelaria Santa Margarida, Do Luar, and Monte Velho.

"Since the beginning we’ve always believed we should stick to what other breeders were doing in Europe with the improvement of the breed as our main goal, to produce dressage horses for the Grand Prix rider but with the temperament for an amateur," Nadège told Eurodressage. "We have sold many foals to the USA and Mexico and we cherish the dream of exporting foals to Europe one day. It’s the ultimate goal of the breeding farm to be recognize in another continent."

When Prodigio MVL was born in Portugal, Nadège and Michel knew he was the horse they needed to add to their breeding program as the bloodlines would be unique in North America. Prodigio MVL will be getting ready for his licensing in the fall and should also be available for breeding in 2024.

"His first foal will hit the ground at Kébérica this summer and there is already a lot of interest for them," Nadège added with a smile.

Stars Aligned for Stellar Future

Mathilde Blais Tetreault is thrilled to welcome Prodigio MVL in her barn.

"I have known Nadège and Michel from Kébérica for a couple of years already," she explained. "We have been interested in working together for a while now, but the stars never seemed to align for us. When they approached me to take on the training of Prodigio I immediately said yes! He is truly special, and I firmly believe he can be a top horse for Canada."

Mathilde and Fedor, Pan Am team hopefuls and aiming for
the Paris Olympics

Mathilde’s sales and training operation is based in Montreal, Canada but she spends her winters in Wellington, Florida to compete and train.

Blais Tetreault is aiming for a spot on the Canadian Team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. It would be Mathilde’s first Championships representing Canada as a senior with her 13-year old KWPN horse Fedor.

"It is so important to have owners like Nadège and Michel in our sport to help riders who don’t have sponsors to keep a string of good horses to compete at the top level," said Mathilde. "It is a sport that is increasingly expensive and we need all the supports we can get."