Zonik Hit, Portugal's Team Number One in Riesenbeck, Sold to German Grand Prix Rider

Dressage

Portugal

Zonik Hit, Portugal's highest scoring team horse at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck under Joao Pedro Moreira, has been sold to a German Grand Prix rider. He will continue his sport career under Lisa Müller.

Zonik Hit is a 10-year old Oldenburg by Zonik out of Donna Argentina II (by Diamond Hit x Argentinus x Gotland). He is bred by Steve Lewinski.

Joao Pedro Moreira

The German based Portuguese rider Joao Pedro Moreira produced the black to Grand Prix level.

The pair made its show debut in Germany in February 2021 at the CDN Ankum, where Moreira rode the then 8-year gelding first in the Inter II and the next day in the Grand Prix. Their international debut was in June 2021 at the CDI Herzlake, followed by Grote Brogel, Sint-Truiden, and Crozet. They were nominated as the first reserve for the Portuguese team for the 2021 European Championships in Hagen.

In 2022 they upped the ante and after increasing scores at the CDI's in Sint-Truiden, Hagen, Compiègne and the Aachen Dressage Days they were on the team for the 2022 World Championships in Herning, where they placed 28th in the Grand Prix Special with 70.942% as best performing Portuguese pair.

At the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck

Under the supervision of Portuguese team trainer Kyra Kyrklund, Moreira and Zonik Hit unlocked a new level and at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck they once again were the highest scoring combination for Portugal. They were the sole Portuguese duo to make it into the Kur to Music finals, in which they finished 18th with 73.986%.

Dreaming of Paris

In Riesenbeck, Portugal was unable to secure a team spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics but the country is currently ranked number one on the Olympic Ranking List to potentially qualify a composite team for the 2024 Olympics, so the Olympic dream is within reach.

However Joao and his wife Marta Moreira have decided the accept the offer made for their number one in the barn, Zonik Hit, from German Grand Prix rider Lisa Müller and the horse has been sold.

Moreira does not rule himself out of the Olympics as he still has two rising Grand Prix horses in the barn (amongst other potentials): Escobello, an 8-year old Rhinelander by Escolar x Belissimo M, and the 8-year old Oldenburg Furst Kennedy (by Fursten-Look x Don Kennedy) which Moreira co-owns with Roberto Pedrosa of Haras do Drosa.

"It was the perfect match and the best home for our dear Zonik," Joao told Eurodressage about the sale. "If the Olympic place or composite team happens, I plan to fight for it, obviously as always respecting each horse's timing and welfare."