Sabine Schut-Kery and Gorgeous Latino No Longer a Pair, Stallion Returned to Holland

Dressage

U.S.A.

American Olympian Sabine Schut-Kery no longer has the ride on one of her principal horses in her barn: Gorgeous Latino. The stallion has returned to The Netherlands.

Gorgeous Latino is a 10-year old KWPN registered stallion by Toto Jr out of Blackmanda (by Rubiquil x Sultan x Doruto). He is bred by Leunis van Lieren.

Hexagon

Bred, reared and trained at Stable Hexagon in The Netherlands, Gorgeous Latino was originally named Latino.

He was first presented at the 2019 KWPN Stallion Licensing but rejected in the second phase. He received the "Gorgeous" prefix when he was licensed with the smaller Dutch NRPS studbook. He was the high scorer of the 2020-2021 NRPS Stallion Performance Test, scoring 10 for walk, 9 for trot and canter, 9.5 for rideability, 9 for self carriage, 9.5 for potential, 10 for willingness to work. He totalled 95 points.

Latino was trained and shown by Benedek Pachl and Thamar Zweistra at the time.

Sold to the U.S.A.

In March 2021 the California based Sandy Mancini acquired the stallion and allocated the ride to Sabine Schut-Kery.

With the Olympian in the saddle, Latino represented the U.S.A. at the 2022 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where they were fourth in the consolation finals for 6-year olds. The pair went on to win the 7-year old division at the 2023 U.S. Young Horse Championships and a year later got the title in the 2024 U.S. Developing Prix St Georges Horse Championship.

The latter championships was also the final competition Sabine Schut-Kery rode with the stallion

Return to Holland

Gorgeous Latino disappeared from the show scene to pop back up in The Netherlands with Thamar Zweistra. The duo competed in a national Intermediaire II test and scored 67,7%.

"A few mistakes, but his talent, power and heart were all there. The future is bright," Thamar stated. "Big thank you to Sandy Mancini for believing in us."

Eurodressage inquired with Edgar Schutte who represents the breeding rights to the stallion in the U.S.A.

"Gorgeous Latino is currently back in the Netherlands as part of a long-term development plan focused on his continued progression to the highest level," he stated. "His return to Holland reflects a strategic decision regarding his training environment and future competition goals."

Schutte continued, "the collaboration with Sabine Schut Kery concluded on good terms, and we are very appreciative of the work she did with Gorgeous Latino. (...) This transition was not the result of a lack of fit or enthusiasm, but rather a natural step in aligning his program with the next phase of his development. Sending an American-owned stallion back to Holland was a deliberate choice, allowing him to train and develop within a highly competitive international environment while preparing for future European competition. Looking ahead, the focus remains on strengthening his Grand Prix work and planning carefully toward European starts in 2026."