Anastasiya Volkova's Acapulco Retired from Sport

Dressage

Russia

Russian Under 25 team rider Anastasiya Volkova has retired her 2021 European U25 Championship team horse Acapulco from sport.

Acapulco is an 18-year old Dutch warmblood by Steffen Peters' Olympic mount Ravel out of Olyander (by Mytens xx). He is bred by Tim Coomans in The Netherlands.

He was NRPS licensed as a young stallion. He is a full brother to First One TC and Burning Star.

Sold to Russia

The bay sold to Russian Natalia Bronnikova, who had close ties with the Dutch horse market.

Acapulco was first competed internationally in September 2016 by Evgeny Sharangovich, who rode him in two internationals in Moscow.

Two years later he resurfaced in the CDI ring with Anastasiya Prosvetova, who campaigned the horse for two seasons at junior riders level, only in Moscow.

Anastasiya Volkova

Acapulco then sold to Anastasiya Volkova, who made her international show debut on him at Grand Prix level in November 2020.

The pair first rode in two internationals as a senior, in Moscow in November 2020 and in Nizhniy Novgorod in June 2021, before dropping down to Under 25 level and being selected on the Russian team without a previous international U25 start.

The pair went straight to the European Under 25 Championships in Hagen, where they scored 67.706% in the Intermediaire II, 66.590% in the short Grand Prix and finished 11th in the Freestyle final with 72.515%.

Banned from International Sport

Since Russia's invasion and war in Ukraine, all Russian athletes and horses are banned from FEI competition sport since the spring of 2022.

Volkova continued to compete Acapulco at national level, as horse competitions continue to go on in full swing in Russia. They recently showed in their final event at the All-Russian competitions in the KSK "Otrada" equestrian center. The horse has now been retired from sport.

Dressagestars.ru quoted Volkova: "I am very happy that we were able to finish today on such a good note with one of our best rides in all four seasons."

The 26-year old Volkova has been competing internationally since 2013. She has campaigned no less than 13 horses internationally in 9 years time, starting with Etalon, followed by Voskhod, Vepster, Westpoint Don, Vintazh, Eney, Chocolate, Raphael, Zantos B, Rio de Janejro, Franklin, Krokant and finally Acapulco.