Spanish U25 Rider Adan Esterlich Dies in Car Accident

Dressage

Spain

Devastating news came from the Spanish dressage world two weeks ago as Under 25 rider Adan Esterlich tragically passed away following a car accident on Sunday 2 November 2025.

Adan was 24 years old.

Fatal Accident

According to the newspaper La Vanguardia the accident occurred on the AP-7, one of the busiest roads in the Tarragona province. On Sunday evening round 19h00 Esterlich was driving north on the motorway near Tarragona, when his vehicle collided with two cars, including a tow truck that was loading a broken-down car on the scene.

Esterlich succumbed to injuries sustained shortly after impact, while three other occupants sustained minor injuries. They were taken to Joan XXIII Hospital in Tarragona for medical care.

Dressage Career

Adan Esterlich Arasa dedicated his life to horses and dressage. He was a working student at Agusti Elias' Can Alzina equestrian centre near Barcelona.

Esterlich began his competition career in 2015 as a junior rider aboard the bay PRE Llamantol. He moved to Young Riders level in 2019, the year he began riding with Elias. They finished 17th at the 2019 Spanish Young Riders Championships.

Under Agusti's tutelage Adan "continued to develop his career as a professional rider, excelling in the training and breaking in of young horses until reaching the highest level," Lily Forado wrote.

Adan's most successful horse was Goldwyn Sollenburg (by Bretton Woods x OO Seven), which he first competed at Young Riders level, finishing 10th at the 2020 Spanish YR Championships, before moving up to Under 25 level. The pair made its CDI debut in 2021 at Las Cadenas in the U25 division, placing in the top five in all three tests. From there he went to the CDI Le Mans. They were named first reserve for the Spanish team for the 2021 European Under 25 Championships. They were fifth at the 2021 Spanish Under 25 Championships. In 2022 he showed in Compiegne. The horse sold to American Lauren Asher.

With Newport at the 2025 Spanish YH Championships

In 2023 he took the grey PRE stallion Traca Trans Candau to the CDI Segovia for the 7-year old tests. In 2024 he competed his coach Agusti's top Grand Prix horse Altaneiro at Under 25 level at CDI's in Las Cadenas and Esponsende to gain mileage at the level. The pair was named reserve for the Spanish team for the 2024 European Under 25 Championships.

This year Adan competed mainly young horses at national level in Spain, winning bronze with the 5-year old KWPN bred Princeton (by Jameson x Tuschinski) at the 2025 Spanish Young Horse Championships. He also finished 8th on Newport CDN in the 7-year old division.

Adam was an only son and leaves behind a family devastated and bereaved. He will be greatly missed.