The 4-year old Zeihar, the 5-year old Saltes TR, the 6-year old Mr President STH, the 7-year old Mentor B, and the Developing Prix St. Georges horse Trapalo de Indalo became the grand champions of the 2023 Spanish Young Horse Championships held at Rios EQ in Murcia, Spain, on 20 - 24 September 2023.
The level presented was once again impressive with a large collection of 80% scoring horses. Spanish WCYH finalist Juan Manuel Acosta enlarged his own collection of gold medals with two more. Professional dressage riders Juan Matute, Carlos Bayo and Manuel Pérez Valle came home with multiple medals hanging round their necks.
4-YO: Zeihar Starts His Reign
Carlos Bayo is no stranger to the 4-year old division. This year he regained the same glory of 2020 (on Let it Go) and 2021 (on Mr President STH) with a third horse. Aboard Zeihar (by Blue Hors Zackerey x Falsterbo) he started as one of the clear favourites. On the first day the rider from Madrid set the tone with a powerful 92.600%. In the final, the Hanoverian bred by Christina Beuke, could not repeat the feat of a first place and dropped to second place (88,000), but his overall score of 314.900% turned out to be the golden total which gave Carlos Bayo his third gold medal.
Alba Abollo on Secret CS
With a difference of 4 percentage points, the silver went to Alba Abollo. The rider from Castilla y León continues her successful path with young horses . On the back of Secret CS (by Secret x Delinger) she placed second (76,200) in the first round, while in the final she won with a powerful 90,000%. Her silver score was 310.8%. Alba has three medals in this championship, the first was with Elvillar CS (2014- 4 years) and the second with Diva HIT CS (2021- 5 years).
The bronze medal went to Manuel Pérez Valle. The Andalusian rider has a very powerful stable and this edition of the championship he presented no less than six horses. Millow SN (by Millennium x Sir Donnerhall) sealed a fifth place in the preliminary and a third place in the final. Finally his bronze average was 291.4
5-YO: Checkmate by Saltes TR
Juan Manuel Acosta on Saltes TR
Juan Manuel Acosta and Saltes TR finally did the checkmate. For the second year in a row, the clash of titans between Juan Manuel Acosta and Sergio Morón was the great attraction, and this year Javier Higuera with his two competition aces entered the battle.
In the first act Juan Manuel Acosta marked his territory with the Hanoverian Saltes TR (by Secret x De Niro) on a score of 89,400 points. The next day, in the second qualifier, Sergio Morón made it clear he was in for a fight with the Danish warmblood Svanegårdens Quatro (by Quaterhit x Dr. Doolittle) won the second act(86,400). In the final, the atmosphere was palpable, the air could be cut with a knife. Morón with his three horses began his fight, but it was neither Quatro nor his Danish warmblood mare Pari-Fiona Nexen (by Floriscount x Stedinger), but with the Danish warmblood Svanegårdens Sick-Sack (by Secret x Blue Hors Don Romantic), the one who never fails, that prevailed. Moron's 5-year olds has had a rollercoaster season with multiple long distance trips to the United Kingdom, Denmark and Holland and back home to Spain. Despite all this summer mileage the chestnut exhibited his quality in the arena; In the final he jumped up to second position (86.200).
Sergio Moron on Svanegaardens Sick-Sack
The last to compete was Juan Manuel Acosta on Saltes TR who fought thill the end. The name Saltés comes from a small river island located in the Huelva and at the time it was the scene of a great battle against the Portuguese. Saltes TR not only displayed all his quality, but with the 86.600% he turned out to be the perfect weapon to win the battle against Morón and his horse battalion. Unseating the second placed pair with a difference of 9 points (391.900%), Juan Manuel Acosta and Saltes TR became the new national champions. The rider from Lepe finishes the year with a bang, being the best after already becoming a world championship finalist in Ermelo.
In the silver position was Sergio Moron with last year's 4-year old champion Sick-Sack with a total of 382.3 % points as a clear example to never give up.The podium trio was completed by Javier Higuera with the Hanoverian bred Director’s Cut (by Destacado x Sandro Hit) with an overall score of 380.400%
6-YO: Mr President STH Head of State
Alejandro Oliva on Mr President STH
The 6-year-old category was not suitable for people with heart problems. The favourites were Mr. President STH, My Toto, Master Piece, Deflorino and Frido SN.
The cards were on the table and each of them performed their tests at great level despite score oscillations from the judges. The second qualifier shook up the entire leader board.
Alejandro Oliva and the Dutch warmblood Mr. President STH (by I’m Perfect STH x Voice, bred by the Dutch Grand Prix riders Denise Nekeman) steered to victory with 386.1 %. The pair collected 82,800% (3rd) in the first round and smashed the second and finals with winning scores of 87,000 and 86.400 points. The KWPN impressed with its quality of gaits, and particular the uphill canter as he took off and landed with the best result ever.
Carlos Bayo on Me Too
Carlos Bayo riding the KWPN bred Me Too (by Toto Jr x Metall) were the runners-up with 385.5 points. They won the first qualifier with a massive 87.000 , and placed second the two other tests (86.200 and 84.600). This black pearl has it all: beauty, movement and character and throughout the three days the horse presented good rideability and a lot of quality in trot with energetic suspension, clear rhythm and willingness to collect.
Antonio Verdejo and Irina Zakhrabekova's DSP bred Master Piece (by Morricone x Rosario) collected bronze 372.800%, placing second in the first qualifier (84.200), dropping to fourth place in the second preliminary test (80.400) and ending in third place in the finals (84.000) . The black stallion has a marvellous walk with big ground cover and a very good stretch over the topline.
7-YO: Acosta’s second gold with Mentor B
Juan Manuel Acosta on Mentor B
Juan Manuel Acosta waltzed to his second title of the day with the impressive Westfalian bred Mentor B (by Marques x Fidertanz) . This pair left the audience star struck. Their golden path in this championship was very easy aboard Mentor Bn with whom he won bronze in the 5-year old division two years ago. The Westfalian impressed with his quality of gaits and particular the knee action. This pair were in their own league. They achieved the necessary scores to take home the national title. The pair sealed a hattrick with three winning scores: 76.801, 77.731 and 79.186. Overall they totalled 351.77 points for gold.
Over the years Acosta has graduated with excellence in the Spanish Young Horse Championship. On Sunday, he won his sixth gold medal. Acosta has not only increased his legend a little in terms of medals, but he has validated his training and horse selection system. Winning a gold is always special, but winning two is something magical and even very difficult to repeat. Acosta joins the select group of two wins in the same championship, as Mena did in 2020 with Horizonte and Nautilus. For Acosta, September 26 will always be a day to remember and one that he will never forget. So far he has won on Columbus TR in 2016 and 2017, on Donana TR in 2018 and 2019, and on mentor and Saltes TR in 2023.
Esmee van Gijtenbeek on Lipton C
The silver medal went to emigrated Dutch rider Esmee Van Gijtenbeek with Lipton C (by Guardian S x Valdez) , who remained in second position all three days during the championship. The Dutch rider, who now lives in Andalusia, was the perfect definition of regularity. The champions' podium was closed by Juan Matute with his great promise for the future, his Dutch warmblood gelding Lexus (by Vivaldi x Ferro) on 344,464 points. Lexus went from less to more in the championship, landing fourth position in the two qualifiers and third in the freestyle 78,605.
8-9-YO: P.R.E Trapalo de Indalo Beats Warmbloods
In the Developing Prix St Georges horse division for 8 and 9-year olds, 16 combinations lined up. Spanish European Championship team rider Alejandro Sánchez del Barco and the P.R.E stallion Trapalo de Indalo (by Esbelto VII x Bandolero LXXVII) were a league of their own. This pair won the two rounds with solid scores above seventy. The pair posted 71,219% and 71,500% .
Alejandro Sanchez on Trapalo de Indalo
With no space left in the stands, the final test which concluded the championships was the 8-9 years old Freestyle. The joys for Alejandro did not stop. The Spanish rider earned his first title with Trapalo de indalo . The head rider at Yeguada Indalo had the summer of a lifetime: representing Spain at the World Championships of Young Horses in Ermelo and European Championships in Riesenbecj and his first gold Spanish YH Championship medal. Performing to the sound of Andalusian melodies, specifically of “Tu Canción” by Diego Valdivia and the Anthem of Andalusia in the walk, Trapalo de Indalo received a 77.740%. This score marked the great culmination and closure of three days of golden strides. Once again, Alejandro defeated the odds and put the P.R.E at the top ahead of warmbloods.
The silver medal went to Juan Matute with the Westfalian bred Formentor (by Finest x Pavarotti van de Helle) on 332.909 points and Manuel Pérez del Valle closed the podium on the Hanoverian bred Semino SN (by Scolari x Furstenreich) with 328.357 points.
Outstanding Organization
Juan Matute on Formentor
Back in December 2022, the Federation announced the new venues for the 2023 Championships. The big surprise was that Rios EQ would become the host of the Young Horse championship. Expectations were uncertain and after four days, they had far exceeded them.
The Organizing Committee was in tune and created a perfect experience for all the riders. The details made the difference; and the backpacks with gifts at the vet-check, the insatiable work of the volunteers with the water bottles after the tests, as well as the countless gifts to the champions were exceptional.
The 2023 Young Horse Championship drewn the curtain on a GREAT generation of top-level horses and riders. Spanish Dressage has a very bright future.
Editor's note: Just like we complained last year, we'll repeat it again: for a national young horse championships, it is sad to see how little accurate pedigree info was available via the official score website. Dam sires were never mentioned, and half the time the sire and breeder info was absent.
4-year olds
Full stands at Rios EQ for the Championship
1) Carlos Bayo Calvo – Zeihar – 314.900
2) Alba Abollo Fontela – Secret Cs – 310.800
3) Manuel Pérez Valle – Milow Sn – 291.400
4) Lorenzo Bernal Díaz n – Siux – 288.100
5) Roberto Carlos Cruz Rodríguez – Van Helsing – 283.900
6) Alba Abollo Fontela l – Deseado Jb – 283.500
7) Paloma Parga Manzano – Ohio – 279.100
8) Alfonso Gormaz Torcal – Furst Ayud Romantica – 273.100
9) Alfonso Gormaz Torcal – Moncayo Ltb – 272.200
10) Jaime Melgarejo Amian n – Quimico – 272.100
11) Ferran Serra Simón – Batchelor Wl – 271.400
12) Sara Lewin Ohlenschläger r – Frangelico – 267.400
13) Ana Martínez López – Orion – 267.100
14) Pedro Hernández Triviño – Ofendido Mango – 262.700
15) Luis Quilis Galán – Jetzt Oder Nie – 260.800
15) Antonio Vivancos Cervantes – Olaf Rona – 260.800
17) José Manuel Vicente Guil – Orlands – 260.300
18) David De Castro Gomez-serranillos – Escalomillo – 258.100
5-year olds
1) Juan Manuel Acosta Ponce – Saltes Tr – 391.900
2) Sergio Morón Basoco – Sick-sack – 382.300
3) Javier Higuera Carmona n – Director´s Cut – 380.400
4) Sergio Morón Basoco – Quatro – 376.000
5) Sergio Morón Basoco i – Fiona – 357.600
6) Victoria Vila Carbo – Flotte Deern – 355.600
7) Elena Aragón García – Ulano – 350.100
8) Antonio Vivancos Cervantes – Secret One – 349.900
9) Jorge García Pino – Nuance Gs – 348.200
10) Pau Bosch Peon – Quincy – 344.700
11) Javier Higuera Carmona – Bombastic – 343.800
12) Hector Fernandez Alvarez – Falkor Ac – 340.000
13) Pedro Hernández Triviño u – Limeño Arenas Ii – 337.000
14) Lucas Elías Lara – Black Raven – 336.400
15) Pedro Hernández Triviño – Jt Urraco Ii – 333.400
16) Joan Antón Mila López – Ibero Sinia – 330.900
17) José Carlos González Guerrero – Leonardo Ix – 327.800
18) Cristian Moreira Alves – Vaiana – 326.200
6-year olds
1) Alejandro Oliva Lázaro – Mr President Sth – 386.100
2) Carlos Bayo Calvo – Me Too! – 385.500
3) Antonio Verdejo Pérez – Master Piece – 372.800
4) Manuel Pérez Valle – Frido Sn – 360.800
5) Alejandro Oliva Lázaro a – Quarzo – 357.200
6) Paula Hervas García t – Deflorino – 355.600
7) Juan Carlos Alanis Camero – Dafo – 355.500
8) Alfonso Gormaz Torcal – Frederick – 352.800
9) Cristina Torrent Moll – Dinna Marq – 352.200
10) Ángel Bermejo Sánchez a – De Jure – 350.400
11) Sara Lewin Ohlenschläger – Finn Comfort – 349.700,
2) Jesús Sánchez Martín – Deinhardt M – 347.700
13) Alejandro Oliva Lázaro – Fayenna – 346.700
14) Pedro Hernández Triviño – Florence – 345.400
15) Marcos Márquez Reyes – Armas Nardo – 334.500
16) Fernando Ariza Lobato – Morfeo De Lg – 328.000
17) Alberto Muñoz Carrero – Max Power B – 319.600
18) Terhi Katrina Arponen – New Wettel – 315.300
7-year olds
1) Juan Manuel Acosta Ponce – Mentor B – 351.770
2) Esmee Van Gijtenbeek – Lipton C – 347.332
3) Juan Pablo Matute Guimon – Lexus – 344.464
4) Manuel Pérez Valle – L´avion Sn – 341.287
5) Alfonso Expósito Santiso – Drago – 327.950
6) Antonio José Vázquez Quintero – Laurel – 326.106
