Velasco, Under 25 Hopeful for Polish Team Rider Veronica Pawluk

Dressage

Poland

Polish junior rider Veronica Pawluk has welcomed Grand Prix horse Velasco into her barn as future Under 25 prospect.

Velasco is a 10-year old Westfalian stallion by Veneno out of Be My Baby (by Biasini x Ehrentusch). He is bred by Antonius Schulze-Averdiek.

Hungarian Team Horse

Velasco was first competed by Karin Schulze Tophoff as a 3-year old in the young horse classes. The chestnut gained ring experience with her until the autumn of 2020.

Velasco sold to German based Hungarian Grand Prix rider Berill Szoke Toth, who debuted him three years later at small tour level and moved him up to developing Grand Prix level in 2024. They rode in the Louisdor Cup qualifier in Hagen, where they secured a ticket to the Finals by finishing second. Velasco impressed with his quality and talent at Grand Prix level and finished sixth at the Louisdor Cup Finals after a third place in the warm-up round.

Szoke Toth and Velasco made their international debut at Grand Prix level in 2025 at the Aachen Festival 4 Dressage, followed by two CDI's in Hagen. The pair represented Hungary at the 2025 European Championships in Crozet.

Under 25 Hopeful

Pawluk and Fallete OLD winning
the 2025 CDIO-J Aachen

Velasco has been sold to the German based Pawluk family for daughter Veronica to ride.

"He is such a kind horse, still young, but already very secure at Grand Prix level," Pawluk told Eurodressage. "I've really enjoyed getting to know Velasco and he is offering me so much. We will slowly prepare for Young Riders level next year and he has all the quality and experience for Under 25 later on."

Veronica is a five-time Polish youth champion and has represented Poland at five consecutive European Youth Championships since 2021, three at pony level and two at junior level. She rode her pony D'Artagnan to kur bronze at the 2022 European Pony Championships and with Fallete OLD she finished 11th in the Kur at the 2025 European Junior Riders Championships.

This year Vero took a step back from international competition to focus fully on successfully completing her International Baccalaureate. Pawluk is now back on track with her riding and preparing herself for an exciting future with several horses.