International dressage competition in Spain is growing more and more. After a great experience last year, this 2015 show season has a Southern Dressage Tour waiting for riders: four beautiful locations are offering CDIs held at top facilities in Jerez – Barcelona – Madrid – Mallorca.
Why should one travel thousands of kilometres south? There is one reason besides the guaranteed much better weather conditions for a smooth outdoor season start: the warm atmosphere while competing at top level, including tests à la carte, at astonishing locations!
Compete and enjoy Spanish hospitality ! Each and every one of these 5 CDIs promises to be a fun weekend with much more than riding or competing before the eyes of some of the very best international 5* judges. Spain is different - Experience it yourself!
Jerez: First CDI-Am on European Soil
Last year Barcelona began with the brand new Medium Tour and this year Jerez offers a “competition opener” with a complete programme including the first CDI-Am on European soil. The CDI3* at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art takes place 25 February - 1 March 2015 at the showgrounds of the Royal Spanish Riding School in Jerez. This is a new opportunity to return to the 2002 WEG host city and ride in the hall of fame of this fairytale top facility.
The Royal Andalusian School is one of the places were Spanish Dressage once started: Rafael, Invasor, Ignacio, Evento, Granadero, etc. This distinguished facility opens its doors to international competitors for the first time ever. But not without shaping up for its new guests. The arenas are upgraded with Martin Collins geotextile which will guarantee the wellbeing of the horses. This CDI3*/U25/YH/CDI-Am/Y/J/Ch/P promises to be a unique event with 10 prestigious international judges (5 of them are 5*), free live streaming worldwide and facilities which can satisfy any necessity of top competitors and their teams.
The venue is located at walking distance from “downtown Jerez,” a village characterized by Spanish culture at its best. The greatest sherry wineries, amazing seafood, the yearly flamenco festival, the ocean close by and its own airport are only some of the advantages. Besides this, the Royal School treats its guests with free entrance to some of their exhibition pieces: long reins, pas de deux, etc., will be shown during competition breaks.
If you are an amateur with a passion for high-level competition, the CDI-Am is a new opportunity to enjoy the impressive atmosphere of an international show and have the international elite around while competing stressless at an adequate level, amongst amateurs.
Barcelona: You Can't Get Enough of Spain!
So the trip goes on: The Barcelona Dressage Tour promises again to be great fun and top competition only two weeks later. The programme is exiting with a CDI3* starting on 17 - 22 March 2015 and a CDI4* from 25 - 29 March at Can Alzina. The host family Elías-Collins-Vilà is waiting for you to spoil its guests with their amazing facilities and continuous congenial atmosphere, the highest level dressage in Spain, music, friends & emotions and amazing prizes, a full purse of 74,400 euro plus some extra-surprises as there were last year's watches from the Barbançon family, a generous and beautiful gift for the winners of the top tests.
The CDI3* and the CDI4* with a Small and Medium Tour, as well as a Big Tour with two Grand Prixs (for Special and for Freestyle), a U25/YH/CDI-Am/Y/J/Ch/P and the “Clásica”, a very popular national class at medium level and open to international riders, build a complete programme from 17 - 29 March at the BARCELONA DRESSAGE TOUR 2015.
Last year it was a very interesting show with lots of new combinations coming. There were many debuts, Jordi Domingo & Wonder, José Antonio García Mena & Batuta, Spencer Wilton & Super Nova, etc. Danish Anders Dahl had his most successful outcome at the Prix St. Georges level with his amazing Selten HW shown for the first time internationally. He has promised to be back this year at GP level), Carl Hester, Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud, Jessica Michel, Remy Bastings, Henriette Andersen etc. etc. - there were all there and there will be plenty of good riders once again. Don´t miss it this time!
One thing is guaranteed, Barcelona will be great fun! The restaurant promises amazing regional cooking, friends and distractions are waiting for you! An interesting side programme is set up: Barcelona is only 30 km away with an amazing night life if you like to party or enjoy top food, culture and leisure.
And another plus for this show: the new Judging Supervisory panel will be on the spot! It is Uwe Mechelm who will assist David Hunt in preparation of the 2015 European Championships, this year’s top competition date in Aachen. Barcelona's CDIs as well as Jerez qualify for the top event lots of riders are working for. All in all 14 international 5* judges, amongst which we find Maribel Alonso, Stephan Clarke, Susanne Baarup, will take part in this ground jury. An amazing opportunity to show new horses or improvements to this select crowd.
DOS LUNAS a 5* hotel for horses in Sotogrande
After competing in Jerez one might want to extend the “tour” and stay around until the CDIs in Barcelona begin. Doubtless there are lots of places en route to Barcelona and in its surroundings to stay with horses. But there is one location which you don´t want to miss! Definitely worth a stay and a couple days of vacation: Don Lunas, which literally means the “double moon”. If you really would like to treat yourself and your horse to a 5* location, this is the place to be. Have a look at the video and you will see what is waiting for you in Dos Lunas, an amazing place, amazing people at a top Polo-Dressage facility where you calmly recharge batteries for a couple of days. Your horse enjoys turn out and Dammann footing in the dressage arenas or in endless canter ovals around the green polo fields. When finished with riding the Sotogrande marina, nearby beaches and luxury condominiums are waiting for the human athletes to rest. You have to try this out!
Hospitality is BIG at the Southern Dressage Tour
All shows count on wonderful hospitality areas. In Barcelona at Can Alzina you can reserve your table at the Jockey Club, from where you can enjoy excellent views of both main arenas and catering while following the exciting competition. In Jerez the hospitality is open in the historical “Palacio Recreo de las Cadenas” on the showgrounds with the finest Andalusian cooking. If you would like to treat your friends or family while you are competing or celebrate any company gathering in an elegant, equestrian atmosphere there won't be a better place to do so. Have a look at the video and the pictures.
Madrid and Mallorca: Top Shows Coming Soon!
Another CDI3* is on the calendar at the end of May, it is the Madrid Dressage Festival on 22 - 28 May 2015, a big gathering for international dressage riders at the heart of equestrian sport, in the capital of Spain. This dressage party promises to grow once more with new arenas at the centennial Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. A great show programme and an even better leisure offer make this Festival very attractive for riders and owners. This is really the biggest dressage show in Spain: more than 300 combinations every year confirm it.
Dreams come true!
There will be another national and international competition in the month of June on the island of Mallorca. Lots of fans are devoted to this beautiful Balearic island, a vacation haven for many northern Europeans. Now there is a place to compete seriously on the island at the incredible Es Fangar studfarm. For the first time ever the historic Mallorquin finca will open its doors and invite you to compete and enjoy the amazing facilities. Sun, Mediterranean coves, magnificent facilities and the most interesting concept of sustainable, organic lifestyle for horses and people are the “leitmotiv” of a venue chosen by the host who wishes to surprise and offer its best to the world's dressage community.
More details on these two shows are to come.
The whole Southern Tour aims to offer competition at its best, why not in the south? All these shows grant services to make life easier for riders, grooms, owners, trainers and any others involved in top performance. Many of the online software tools can ease bureaucratic processes and save time: a complete digital (electronic) data system from the reservation of the box, the bedding, online scoring, the live streaming of the show, video library, and much more.
For any further information on where to stay, what to see, where to eat, directions and more, visit the official show website events.topiberian.com, which will have continuous, updated information on all these events.
For more information please contact jerez@topiberian.com, barcelona@topiberian.com, madrid@topiberian.com, mallorca@topiberian.com.