Spanish young rider Sofia Pachón Macías and her 13-year old gelding Dacapo produced a wipe-out in her division at the 2016 CDI Oliva Nova on 21 - 24 April 2016, winning all three classes in her age category. Pachon admitted that it is always satisfying when things go well, given how difficult the sport of dressage is, in which so many elements need to come into place on the day.
“To achieve the same routines and quality of work that we have at home is very rewarding, and I’m lucky that Dacapo has matured and is much more relaxed in competition,” the 20-year old Sofia told Eurodressage. "This allows him to be much more concentrated in his work," she added. "Overall, I’m very happy with the work we have achieved in Oliva Nova.”
With 66.272% in the team test, 67.018 % in the individual, and 69.083% in the Kur, Sofia feels that Dacapo is getting better and better, even though these advances are not really being reflected in the scores.
“We were hoping to get higher percentages this time as I feel that we have improved a lot since our last outing. I’m very proud that these improvements have been noticed and valued by great judges like Maribel Alonso, Francis Verbeek, Mary Seeyfried, etc.”
A very spooky horse in the beginning, Dacapo had lacked confidence, and was very big and too strong at the beginning of his partnership with Sofia. The former pony rider and junior has been trained by Federico Molina for the last eight years and Sofia has benefit from his help and support to become a combination with Dacapo.
“Today he is a very intelligent, mature and willing ride with an adorable character and impeccable manners," she explained. “I feel that the three of us are on the right road and we understand and confide in each other. Our plan for the future is to compete in Grand Prix, probably in 2017. We are working on many of the more difficult exercises like piaffe and passage, and I feel this allows Dacapo to stand out more now in the young riders thanks to the power he has in his hind quarters.”
Sofia’s man goal for this year is to represent Spain at the 2016 European Young Riders Championships, and to win the confidence of selectors Luis Lucio and Nicky Barrett.
“For me, the most important thing in my life is the horse world, but I am also studying a degree in International Relations at the University Europea in Madrid, and at the same time helping in the family business," said Pachon. "This means that I am able to adapt my schedules around my trainings and competitions. We are also hoping to get another young horse for me to train up to the higher levels.”
by Sarah Warne - Photo © Clicphoto
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