Mantovani’s Orion de La Gesse and João Oliva Ready for a New Challenge in Ermelo

Brazil

For the third year in a row, Mantovani Horses will be represented at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, this time with the talented six-year-old Lusitano stallion, Mantovani’s Orion de La Gesse.

Guided by the experienced Brazilian Olympian João Oliva, Orion is set to compete on the world stage in Ermelo on 4 - 8 September 2024.

Mantovani's Orion de la Gesse

This opportunity follows their outstanding winning scores at the CDI-YH Cascais (POR) in February, where Orion impressed with a finals test score of 84.600, easily fulfilling the selection criterium for a coveted spot in this prestigious event.

Mantovani Horses' 6-year old Orion de la Gesse was bred in France at Haras de la Gesse and is by Escorial out of Hipotese (by Zamorim). He sold as a 2-year old to Portugal and got licensed as a breeding stallion in 2023. He is part of Mantovani's impressive string of Lusitano breeding stallions that are making their mark at the highest levels of international dressage sport.

Oliva Meets the Challenge

The Ermelo competition is known for its competitiveness with some of the best young horses in the world set to compete and rider Joao Oliva’s experience is a vital asset to meet the challenge.

João previously competed in Ermelo in August 2023 with Mantovani’s Nuelo, another exceptional Lusitano stallion. His prior experience on these electric show grounds gives him a unique insight into the challenges of this competition, which will be crucial to navigate Orion and cope with the excitement of the event.

What makes this journey particularly special is Orion’s lineage. Both Orion and Nuelo share the same sire—Mantovani’s Escorial, one of the most celebrated Lusitanos in dressage who competed at the 2021 Olympics and 2022 World Championships. Escorial’s bloodline has consistently produced outstanding competitors.

The Next Phase

As Orion prepares for this next challenge, Nuelo is currently being readied for Prix St Georges level and then advance to Grand Prix.

"Orion has been very well trained, which is the foundation of any performance in sport," said owner Thiago Mantovani. "Orion is poised to make a significant impact in Ermelo. Our focus now is on them executing their best performance and embracing the experience, which comes with competing at this prestigious level."

Discover Mantovani Horses on www.mantovanihorses.com or Instagram.