Spanish Olympic team rider Jose Antonio Garcia Mena made his long awaited show debut aboard Isabell Werth's former championship horse El Santo NRW at the regional show in Unna-Massen, Germany, on 30 April - 1 May 2016. It was a premier with highs and lows.
Saturday's Grand Prix class was assessed by German judges Knut Danzberg, Michael Huberich and Christian Wendel. Garcia Mena and the 15-year old Rhinelander gelding El Santo NRW (by Ehrentusch x Rhythmus) finished second with 68.467%. He placed first, fifth and second with the three judges. The class was won by Britta Rasche-Merkt on the 13-year old bay stallion Xerez with 68.767%. Nine pairs in total contested the class.
For the Kur to Music on Sunday 1 May 2016 seven pairs were lined up to compete and Rasche-Merkt bagged her second, consecutive victory. Garcia Mena and El Santo, however, had to retire from his freestyle ride right after the bell had rung, as the bay gelding knocked himself and became unlevel. Remarkably, Garcia Mena was not listed on the official starters' list nor score sheet for the freestyle.
The 35-year old Garcia Mena has been a fixture on the Spanish team for more than seven years. He contested the 2010 and 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2009, 2013 and 2015 European Championships on Norte Lovera.
Garcia Mena began helping Isabell Werth with some piaffe training for El Santo three years ago. Since then the riders have become friends and Werth's sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze agreed to give the ride on El Santo for the 2016 Olympic year. Jose Antonio retired his top grand Prix horse Norte at the end of 2015 and has currently been campaigning the rising Grand Prix horse Sir Schiwago (by Sir Donnerhall x Lanciano), which was previously trained and competed by Ingrid Klimke.
Photo © Massener Heide
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