News

Spain's "family" team for Wellington Nations Cup

Mar 19, 2013

Wellington - From April 11-14 a special Nations Cup formula with teams existing out of senior riders doing GP and less experienced riders showing tests at Prix St Georges level is expected.

Three time Olympian for Spain Juan Matute will deliver a very special team for the event. The Spanish team will consist of the Matute family members exclusively, including father Juan, his 17 year old daughter Paula, and 15 year old son, Juan Jr. The special Nations Cup is testing a formula aimed at moving to the top level dressage at the Pan American Games. Since the Matute family moved to the United States five years ago, Juan had not ridden competitively. Due to the special occasion he started again and qualified to ride GP lately, scoring for the second time 65% which had been the premise stated by the Spanish Equestrian Federation.

The three riders each have capable horses that have been competed successfully for years–Don Diego, Chicago and Gasper–they are developing two horses as back ups to be sure they are prepared for any problems. The two horses, Califar and Escritor de Ymas II, are PRE, pure Spanish horses, an aspect that is important to them.