Vivino Returns to Denmark, Shubins Wind Down Assets in Spain

Dressage

Spain

American dressage aficionados Steve and Kathy Shubin are winding down their dressage project in Spain and have returned licensed stallion Vivino to Helgstrand in Denmark.

Through their company Equifoal the Shubin couple sponsored Spanish Grand Prix rider Alejandro Asencio, providing him with horses to ride as well as a base to work out of: a brand new built, state-of-the art equestrian center in Casares, Spain.

Team Dreams

Alejandro's international career started in 2015 aboard Kathleen's Spanish bred Dalio IX (by Delegado II). He showed him through 2018. In 2016 she purchased the Hanoverian gelding Focus (by Fiorano x Weltissimo) and the chestnut became Alejandro's first major international Grand Prix horse. Asencio made his big international break through on the chestnut in 2017 and competed him at CDI Grand Prix level for eight years.

The couple then bought the Lusitano stallion Gaviao dos Cedros as Grand Prix hopeful in the winter of 2016-2017, followed by high profile purchases of the Danish warmblood stallion Straight Horse Sezarion (by Sezuan x Romanov) in 2018 and the Hanoverian auction price record stallion Vivino in April 2021 at Helgstrand Dressage in Denmark.

Gaviao was intended as his Tokyo Olympic hopeful after competing at the 2018 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo. He debuted him at national Grand Prix level in February 2020 but a 15-month break from showing soon followed. They returned in May 2021 for one show and missed out on the first team selection trial at the 2021 Spanish Nationals. Gaviao made his international Grand Prix debut in October 2022 and was then targeting for the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside hopeful Sezarion.

With Gaviao Alejandro became long listed for Spanish team selection for the 2023 European Dressage Championships, but a colic dashed their team dreams. In 2024 he showed Gaviao and Sezarion at the CDI's in Jerez and Madrid at the start of the year, but his Olympic run ended prematurely on both horses in the spring. He competed both horses again early in 2025 in Lier, Alter, and Vejer, but aborted the team selection path after the CDIO Compiegne in May 2025. Asencio sustained a back injury that ended up requiring surgery. He returned to the saddle after a period of recovery.

Vivino being warmed up for his first show in September 2021

The Equifoal team also held high for the now 10-year old stallion Vivino, but the tall chestnut ended up doing only one local competition in Spain in September 2021. He won the 5-year old preliminary test (8.480 points) and placed second in the finals test (8.390 points).

Winding Down

Steve and Kathy Shubin have now decided to wind down their assets in Spain due to health issues. They are selling some of the horses as well as the equestrian facility. Focus has already been sold to Taiwanese Vivian Chang.

"Alejandro will move on to further his riding career later this year," Steve Shubin told Eurodressage exclusively. "Alejandro has been wonderful for almost 14 years. A few of the horses are coming to Texas next month for Kathy’s riding pleasure. Vivino is in training in Denmark being prepared for sale. Our beautiful horse facility will be marketed for sale this year."

Steve's wife Kathy Shubin (née Harter) is a 1967 Wimbledon semi-finalist tennis player who married Steve in 1995. He made his fortune with Fleshlight, a company that designs and sells adults toys. Kathy has a life-long passion and love for horses.

"Sezarion and Gaviao will be coming to our ranch in Texas soon," Steve added. "Kathy has a large horse facility here with many hills and riding trails."