Nilo TVF Fulfils Charlotte Haid-Bondergaard's Lusitano Love

Dressage

Sweden

Charlotte Haid-Bondergaard has acquired her fourth Lusitano in Portugal nourishing her love for the breed as Lusitano horses have given her great joy and competitive success in her career.

German horse dealer Jochen Arl scouted the 7-year old Lusitano stallion Nilo TVF for her.

Licensed Stallion

Nilo TVF is a purebred Lusitano licensed stallion by Fogoso out of América (by Rajá). He is bred by Rodrigo Torres at Coudelaria Torres Vaz Freire.

Under Portuguese team rider Maria Pais do Amaral Nilo won the 4-year old saddle class at the 2021 Golega Horse Fair, the most important annual Lusitano championship in the world, and went on to win another gold medal at Cascais.

"Rodrigo brought him up since he was 3 years old," said Amaral. "He is unbelievably talented for piaffe and passage like his sire."

In 2023 he was approved as a licensed breeding stallion by APSL with the highest score of 74.25 points. He was presented by Rodrigo at the licensing in Lisbon.

Lusitano Love

The 7-year old Nilo TVF is schooling all the Grand Prix level movements. Jochen Arl spotted the horse for Haid-Bondergaard who had been looking for another Lusitano addition to her string of horses.

"it is wonderful that Nilo is going to such a nice home, and we hope Charlotte and her family have a great time and partnership with him," said Maria. "Jochen was once again fantastic in matching the right horse with the right rider. We have been working together for over 10 years and we are lucky to count on his support and expertise."

A few months ago, Haid Bondergaard also bought the 5-year old Lusitano stallion Poderoso (by Equador MVL x Ambar MOR) as an FEI prospect in Portugal. She now has four Lusitanos in her barn.

Maria and Nilo TVF (Photo © Rui Pedro Godinho)

"Nilo has three good gaits with a fantastic ease to collection, pirouettes, piaffe and passage," Charlotte explained. "He has beautiful eyes and a lovely radiance. My cousin Helena Tidstrand secured him for me."

Charlotte continued, "he’s my fourth Lusitano and I love the breed. They are wise and have a positive attitude to work. They have an ease with collection and love to show off."

Roberto des Frettes

More than a decade ago Arl sold Lusitano Roberto des Frettes to Charlotte Haid-Bondergaard and the bay sparked Charlotte's love for the Iberian breed.

Roberto proved instrumental in Charlotte's international dressage career. The now 19-year old has been an outstanding match and become a real family horse.

Charlotte and Roberto showed at CDI's, World Cup qualifiers and FEI nations Cups across Europe. Most recently he has been serving as a fabulous Grand Prix schoolmaster for daughter Mary Sophie Haid Bondergaard, who took over the ride in 2022 and won team silver in the Under 25 division at the 2024 Nordic Baltic Championships in Denmark.

"Roberto is the stable’s clown and went to his first Grand Prix at the age of 8," said Charlotte about her first Lusitano and heart horse. "He has a big heart and loves to work. He's a real working machine. He is a gentleman and the perfect tutor for Mary-Sophie. 'Robban' always wants attention and always gets attention. Everyone loves Robban and with 19-years old is he a bundle of energy."