Less than two weeks before the 2023 Pan American Games the Brazilian team has undergone a horse change. Portuguese based Joao Victor Marcari Oliva will be riding his reserve horse instead of his number one, Escorial Campline.
On 15 October 2023 the two European based Brazilian team horses, Fogoso Campline (Renderson Oliveira) and Feel Good VO (Joao Oliva) boarded the plane for the flight to Chile.
The veterinary team of the Brazilian Equestrian Confederation (CBH) decided on the last minute swap of Escorial with reserve horse Escorial Campline.
Feel Good VO is an 11-year old Westfalian by Franziskus x Dimension. He is bred by Tina Ludwichowski and owned by the rider. the pair made its international show debut in 2020 at small tour level and moved up to medium tour level by the end of that year. In 2022 the bay was ridden by Nuno Chaves de Almeida, who initially rode for Portugal but declared for Brazil that year. The pair represented Brazil at the World Championships in Herning, where they were 85th in the Grand Prix with 62.904%.
In 2023 the ride returned to Oliva who qualified him first for the Brazilian team for the Pan Ams before Escorial was selected by Brazilian team trainer and Oliva's home coach Norbert van Laak.
In the end though it's Feel Good VO who is making the journey to Santiago where Brazil will be riding for a team spot for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. They have to place in the top three of the nations' ranking to make it to Paris.
Photo © Rui Pedro Godinho
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