After a week of hard work, pavilions 12 and 14 of the Madrid Fair are now ready to host the seventh edition of IFEMA Madrid Horse Week, one of the most exciting World Cup Equestrian events in the Spanish capital. The Spanish Eduardo Álvarez Aznar won gold in the CSI5 * Hola Trophy and the German Marcus Ehning was the last undefeated of the day in the Six Bars competition.
The first day started early in the morning with the Exterior Plus Trophy. Only 12 years old, Carlos Bohro, the youngest rider of the event, has won the first test of 1.25m, riding his horse, Eberlin M. The second place, for a tenth of a second difference was Kevin González de Zárate with his horse Calipso van de Bergdalhoeve Z. This Spanish rider has arrived at the IFEMA Madrid Horse Week after winning last weekend in the CSN5 * Top Ten, which was held at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. He was joined on the podium by another Spaniard, Alejandro Álvarez Gutiérrez and his gelding Little Chap S.
At 11.45 a.m., to spice things up, the bars were risen up to 1.40m in the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela Trophy. The Portuguese Luis Sabino Gonçalves and his horse Unesco du Rouet have delighted the public with a very fast round, three seconds faster than the Spanish Marco Juncadella Hohenlohe and his horse Urbain des Grezils. The bronze was awarded to another Spaniard, Ismael García Roque, who remained first in the test, until Juncadella entered the track.
By noon, the stands of the central arena, becoming increasingly crowded, witnessed the victory of Eduardo Álvarez Aznar in the Hola Trophy, 1.45m, the first 5 * class of the day. He has competed with F, a 9-year-old KWPN gelding, which he has introduced relatively recently in high competition and with which he is already reaping good results. In addition, Álvarez Aznar was third with his Madrid in Motion team in the last GCL final of the Prague Playoffs. The Italian Emilio Bicocchi and Flinton were in second place and Ömer Karaevli and Roso Au Crosnier, in third position. The Turkish rider, by the way, who rides for the Carpe Diem stables, has been having a spectacular season that began with his young horses at the Sunshine Tour
The time was very tight in the 1.45m class and eight riders, with zero runs, have been penalized for time. The best-ranked Spanish pair, after Aznar, was Pilar Lucrecia Cordón and Seawillow, in fourth position.
For the second consecutive year, IFEMA Madrid Horse Week has celebrated the FEI Grand Prix World Cup Dressage Prize. The German Dorothee Schneider has dazzled the crowd with her black DSP Sammy Davis Jr., with a score of 78.21, almost four points above the Spanish Claudio Castilla Ruiz and his Alcaide stallion, qualifying with a 74.35. Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock´s Zanardi have achieved third place (72.71).
One of the most anticipated events of the day, and also the highest, has been the 1.55m Star Damm Trophy. The star of the night was the Portuguese Luciana Diniz and her fantastic Vertigo du Desert. The Portuguese, with the son of Mylord Carthago, has surpassed the Italian Emanuele Gaudiano and his stallion Chalou by just a few tenths. Frenchman Simon Delestre and Hermes Ryan achieved bronze
The adrenaline-fueled competition of the Six Bars has put an end to the first day of IFEMA Madrid Horse Week. After 10:30 p.m., twelve riders have met in this high-flying competition. Three pairs have overcome the fourth obstacle of 1.85m, Max Kühner, Laura Renwick and Marcus Ehning, but after the withdrawal of the Austrian, the German rider was the winner. His 11-year-old stallion, A la Carte NRW, easily passed the bars at 1.95m from the ground.
Aside from the competitions, spectators were able to enjoy a wonderful show from Alfonsina Maldonado’s equestrian exhibition in the afternoon, the Uruguayan rider who lost her hand and now perfectly performs dressage exercises. Late at night, the children and their little Shetlands invaded the central arena to take part in the Grand National of the Pony Turf.
Meanwhile, in the Salón del Caballo, with more than 90 stands, several activities entertained fans. Jonatan Peña and Talavante won the first qualifying round of the III Copa de la Vaquera Masters, which this year repeats under the spotlight of IFEMA after being released in the last edition.
In addition, the little ones were able to ride in the Pony Park organized by the La Moraleja Equestrian Club, as well as making crafts and painting murals in the Eulen Group’s activity space. And, on the Non-Stop Track, there was a succession of exhibits, such as the Lusitanian thoroughbred show, natural dressage and the Horsemanship show, with acrobats who jump on foot, obstacles of 1.50m. In addition, the Caravaca Wine Horses submitted their official UNESCO World Heritage nomination for 2020.
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