Claudio Castilla Ruiz Sees Two Grand Prix Rides Sold Abroad: Lario and Sardon

Dressage

Spain

Spanish Olympian Claudio Castilla Ruiz has parted with two of his internationally competed Grand Prix horses: Lario and Sardon. Both were owned by Maria Jose Alvarez Mezquieriz.

Lario de Adama de Susa

Lario is a 14-year old Hanoverian by Locksley II out of Rania K (by Rotspon x Davignon) . He is bred by Alvarez at her stud farm Adama de Susa in Spain.

As a young horse the chestnut was first trained and competed by Maria Albiñana Sanz, who won gold in the 4-year old division at the 2015 Spanish Young Horse Championships and they were fourth in 2016. She debuted him internationally in the 5-year old tests at the 2016 CDI Valencia, followed by the CDI's in Oliva and Segovia. In 2017 she also showed him at the CDI's in Valencia and Segovia. Out of 12 international starts they won 11.

In 2018 Claudio Castilla took over the ride and won the 7-year old division at the 2018 Spanish Young Horse Championships. Their international debut was at the CDI Segovia in the 7-year old classes, winning the two tests. In 2019 they they made their small tour debut at the CDIO Aachen and won bronze in the medium tour at the 2019 Spanish Young Horse Championships.

The horse's string of success continued as in 2020 he aced the In the Spanish Developing Prix St Georges Horse Championships. They also showed in the medium tour at the CDI's in Cascais and Alter do Chao. In 2021 they showed in two more medium tours in Jerez and Madrid before making their international big tour debut at the 2022 CDI Jerez. They were long-listed for the 2022 Spanish WEG team.

Claudio and Lario campaigned for 2.5 years at international Grand Prix level until their last start in Madrid in November 2024. They won the Grand Prix Special at the CDI Jerez in March 2023 and were 8th at the 2023 Spanish Dressage Championships. Lario's Grand Prix scores were between 64 - 70%.

Sardon de Adama de Susa

Saron is a 16-year old Hanoverian by Sandro Hit out of Wolke (by Worldly x Donnerhall). He is also bred by Alvarez.

Claudio and Sardon at the 2023 CDI Ermelo

Sardon was initially developed and competed by Raul Pereda Ortega, who premiered him internationally in the 6-year old tests at the 2015 CDI Oliva. They won bronze at the 2015 Spanish Young Horse Championships. In 2016 they showed in the 7-year old classes at the CDI's in Valencia, Oliva and Segovia. In 2017 they did one Prix St Georges at the CDI Valencia.

In 2018 Sardon moved into training with Claudio Castilla Ruiz and placed 9th at the 2018 Spanish Small Tour Championships. The horse made its international Grand Prix debut at the 2018 CDI Segovia. A more than two-year break from the CDI ring followed and they came back in November 2020 at the CDI Alter do Chao.

Castilla showed the black stallion internationally until October 2023. Their last CDI was in Madrid where they scored 67.935% in the Grand Prix.

Sold Abroad

Both horses were shipped to a dealing yard in France and have now been sold.

Lario has been sold to an adult amateur from New York, U.S.A. Sardon has been sold as a schoolmaster and is moving to Cairo, Egypt.