Spanish Youth Team Horse De Yakare Retired from Sport

Dressage

Spain

De Yakare, a three-time Spanish team horse at the European Youth Riders Championships, has been retired from competition sport. The grey gelding did her last show at the Spanish Championships, where he won Young Rider gold.

De Yakare is a 19-year old CDE registered mare by Cacique Quin out of Incita (by Casto). She is bred at broodfarm El Ponton.

María Velasco Cano

The grey mare became the youth team rider for Alfonso Ruiz Velasco, but it was his mother María Velasco Cano who first competed the mare.

The mare made her international show debut at medium tour level at the CDI Segovia in May 2016. They landed just outside the top 20 at the 2017 Spanish Grand Prix Championships. In 2021 the duo returned to the international arena at Grand Prix level at the CDI Camarma de Esteruelas, followed by Madrid. Their highlight competition was the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix Championship, where the pair finished 14th.

Alfonso Ruiz Velasco

Maria's son Alfonso took over the ride on De Yakare as a schoolmaster.

They began competing nationally in 2022 and they made their international show debut at junior level at the CDI Segovia in April 2023. They were nominated on the Spanish team for the European Junior Rider Championships in Kronberg, where they finished 51st in the individual test with 66,912%. They concluded the year at the CDI Madrid with two second places.

There were no international shows in 2024, but they returned in 2025 at the CDI Las Cadenes and were back on the team for the Junior Europeans in Le Mans. They again landed 51st place in the individual test, this time with 63,971%

In 2026 they moved to Young Riders level and campaigned at the CDI's in Jerez and Las Cadenas before securing a slot on the team for the European Young Riders Championships in Pilisjaszfalu, where they placed 44th in the individual test at tje 64,912%.

In the FEI divisions at the Spanish Youth Riders Championships they were fourth in 2022 (JR), won gold in 2023 (JR), did not compete in 2024, were fifth in 2025 (JR), and there was gold in 2026 (YR)

Retirement

The 19-year old mare now concluded her sport career with Young Riders' gold at the Nationals. A special retirement ceremony was held after the medal ceremony in which the grey mare got a wreath round her neck and was honoured for her achievements.