Portuguese Maria Caetano has withdrawn from competing at the 2025 World Championships for young dressage horses in Verden, Germany, on 5 - 10 August 2025.
Olympian Caetano was selected to represent Portugal and the Lusitano breed with the 6-year old stallion Pendragon Tineo (by Dragao Figeuras out of Guahadiana). The bay stallion is owned by Juan Manuel Cordeiro.
Pendragon was initially trained and competed by Spanish Olympian Claudia Castillo Ruiz who premiered him internationally in 2024 and took him to the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where he finished 21st in the consolation finals for 5-year olds. As of 2025 Caetano has been showing the stallion at CDI's in Jerez and Abrantes.
The pair will not be competing in Verden though.
"Unfortunately, no WBFSH Dressage World Championships for us this year," said Caetano. "While Pendragon de Tineo was one his way to Verden, I decided to spend a couple of days with my family on the where I suffered an accident on a swimming pool playing with my kid. I got a severe back contusion with very high pain, so the doctors said I cannot ride or make any effort for some days. Such a pity not being able to show our rocket in such a big competition!"
Portuguese horse breeding will continue to be represented through riders from Spain and Brazil. Claudio Castilla Ruiz is entered with Queluz d'Figueiras, Pastor d'Figueiras, and Odin Comando SN, while Joao Oliva is riding Mantovani's Orion de la Gesse.
Photo © ABR Fotografie
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses