The Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE) has appointed Bernadette Pujals as the new team manager for the junior, young riders and Under 25.
She is succeeding Finnish Jenny Eriksson with whom the RFHE chose not to renew its contract.
Bernadette Pujals
The 54-year old Pujals is originally from Barcelona, Spain, but made her name as an dressage professional for Mexico.
She married Mexican Grand Prix rider Antonio Rivera Galarza and switched to the Mexican nationality. She first represented Mexico at the 1998 World Equestrian Games on Emir, but her first major success arrived at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg where she won team and individual bronze aboard Rossini. She went on to win team gold and individual bronze at the 2002 Central American Games. She and Rivera divorced.
Bernadette's most successful horse to date is the Hanoverian stallion Vincent (by Weltmeyer) with whom she won individual silver and team bronze at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. Under the supervision of German Jonny Hilberath she placed 10th at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen and was 9th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. With Bindu she got team silver at the 2006 Central American Games in Bogota.
Her last international start was at the 2019 Pan American Games on PRE Curioso XXV. In 2020 Pujals moved back to Spain and reverted to her original nationality.
RFHE and Pujals
In 2022 RFHE already appointed Pujals as its young horse technical advisor.
Now she has added the youth team manager (trainer) position to her task.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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