Elvis LD and Bernat Barrachina, a Partnership Built for the Future

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F.O.C.U.S.

Bernat Barrachina’s double victory with Elvis LD at CDI 4* Crozet was more than another international result for the professional rider, it was an important marker in the development of one of Spain’s most promising young dressage horses.

Natural Ability in Electric Environment

International young horse classes can offer an early indication of talent, but they also reveal something more important as to how a horse responds when natural ability is placed under pressure. At CDI4* Crozet in France, the seven-year-old Hanoverian Elvis LD (by Escolar x Londonderry) demonstrated both.

Ridden by Spain’s Bernat Barrachina, Elvis won the 7-YO preliminary test with 73.868%, narrowly finishing ahead of the Netherlands’ Julia Groenhart on 73.368%. The combination then returned for the finals test and produced an even stronger performance, improving their score to 75.029%, again finishing ahead of the Netherlands’ Julia Groenhart, who scored 73.915%. For Bernat is was a notable double victory.

The pair arrived in France having been selected by the Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation to represent Spain. Against an international field they produced two performances that combined expression with increasing composure, showing that Elvis was beginning to translate his ability at home into confidence inside the arena.

For Bernat, the significance of the week extended beyond the final percentages.

Spanish team trainer Rien van der Schaft congratulates
Bernat in Crozet

“I’m incredibly proud of Elvis,” he said. “He showed real maturity throughout the week and coped brilliantly with the conditions. What pleased me most wasn’t just the scores, but how relaxed, confident and willing he felt in the arena. Every competition he gains experience, and you can really feel him developing into the horse we believe he can become.Winning both tests at this level was a fantastic reward for everyone involved in his development.”

Talent Supported by Temperament

Elvis’s appeal as a young dressage horse lies not simply in the size or expression of his movement, but in the combination of athleticism and rideability he is beginning to demonstrate.

In Crozet he impressed with the natural rhythm and elasticity of his trot, an increasingly uphill canter and a relaxed, expressive walk. Crucially, he was able to maintain his freshness and willingness across both tests, despite the demanding summer temperatures and the atmosphere of an international competition.

Young horse success is often associated with spectacular movement, but long-term progression requires considerably more. The ability to remain attentive, accept the rider’s aids and recover from the inevitable moments of tension can ultimately be as important as raw athletic talent. It was this growing maturity that stood out in Elvis’s performances.

Building on Impressive 2025

The Crozet result followed an impressive 2025 season, during which Elvis won the 2025 Spanish Masters Championship with 86.2%, placed first at CDI Jardy and became Spanish 6-year-old champion. Together, the performances demonstrated that Elvis was not producing an isolated result but establishing a consistent trajectory among Europe’s leading young dressage horses.

For a talented seven-year-old the temptation can be to accelerate the training process. However, physical strength, confidence and mental resilience cannot be manufactured through competition scores alone. Each stage must prepare the horse for the next without compromising his willingness or soundness. Crozet suggested that this balance is being carefully maintained.

"Elvis was expressive without appearing overwhelmed, competitive without losing relaxation and increasingly confident without being asked to perform beyond his stage of development," said Bernat. "This was a result that revealed the process."

Looking Ahead

With time, individual competitions inevitably become part of a longer sporting record. The significance of Crozet therefore lies not only in the two victories, but in what the performances revealed about the training process behind them.

"Elvis showed he is a young horse beginning to understand his role, trust me as his rider and carry his ability into a more demanding international environment," Bernat added. "Of course there remains a considerable journey between success in seven-year-old classes and the demands of international Grand Prix. The movements become more difficult, the physical requirements increase and the margins between combinations become smaller."

The foundations were visible in Crozet: rhythm, rideability, expression, confidence and a willingness to work are the qualities upon which that progression can be built.

Elvis LD left France with two international victories added to his record. More importantly, he left having taken another meaningful step in his education. The results confirmed his quality. The manner in which they were achieved offered an even more compelling indication of his future.

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