Spanish jumping riders triumph on Day 2 of Madrid Horse Week

Five trophies and five Spanish golds. The second day of IFEMA Madrid Horse Week started just like yesterday, with Spaniards reaching the podium, and this time the rest of the classes were contagious. Early in the morning, with the bars at 1.40m above the ground, in the CSI2* Trophy Rodilla, Kevin González de Zárate, scoring the second place yesterday in the CSI2* Exterior Plus Trophy of 1.25m, and his Recesvinto horse were placed first, in a two-phase test in which 26 pairs (of 38 participants) were able to complete the course. The second place went to the rider Paloma Jiménez-Carmona González and her mare Sherie Star, who surpassed Jesús Garmendia Echevarría and George by just a few tenths of a second.

The morning continued with the CSI2 * 1.25m LG Signature Trophy, also awarding more medals for the Spaniards. For a second time, Kevin González de Zárate received the gold medal, where he surpassed his own mark of the previous day with his 9-year-old horse Calipso van de Bergdalhoeve Z. Álvaro Álvarez Gutiérrez also improved from his result on Friday (bronze at 1.25m), this time, with his gelding Califa SA. The rider Carlota Miret and her 18-year-old mare Ubine Jambo M won the third position.

Today at 2pm, Spain triumphed as the rider Pilar Lucrecia Cordón with Seawillow won the CSI5 * 1.45m Air Europa Trophy, who were the same pair that won the bronze yesterday. The Spanish rider, impressed Madrid with her 9-year-old gelding who she has been jumping with this autumn in the Belgian show competitions in Lier and Opglabbeek. The Italian, Emanuele Gaudiano and his horse Kingston van het Eikenhof achieved the second place, and the Norwegian Victoria Gulliksen, with Ballenteskin Watch This, took the third place on the podium. Only six pairs finished the course without fail, because the time was short.

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Later on, the IFEMA Pavaillions were flooded with some of the most beautiful and epic music. The music was chosen by the 14 riders who designed their own choreography to compete in the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle. But the leaders of the podium did not change much from last night. Dorothee Schneider did not disappoint, and dazzled again on Saturday with DSP Sammy David Jr. in a very original and special reprise where the judges awarded her with a score of 82.29. Just like yesterday, Claudio Castillo Ruiz and his stallion Alcaide were not able to beat the German winner. After winning three silver medals in Rotterdam, here in Madrid, he came second with a good score of 80.23. And finally, in third place, the Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud and his stallion Glock’s Zanardi repeated another bronze just like on Friday in this Freestyle class with a score of 78.35 placing him in the first position of the Dressage World Cup ranking.

In the evening, there was another Spanish victory, and definitely the most exciting. Hidden away by the public, Sergio Álvarez Moya, the last to enter the arena, flew through the most demanding class of the day, the CSI5 * Alfonso X El Sabio University Trophy with heights of 1.55m. The Olympic rider and his young mare Kardenta vant Meerhof were the fastest amongst the dozens of excellent riders that played the winning manga. For less than a second of difference, the Spaniard surpassed the German Christian Ahlmann and the 8-year-old stallion Solid Gold Z. After Álvarez Moya’s exciting round, the Italian Emanuele Gaudiano and his unsual Chalou scored third place. This last pair who repeated their position on the podium, as they achieved the silver of the CSI5 * 1.55m Star Damm Trophy on Friday.

Beyond the high competition, the public of the central arena were entertained by the ponies in the Pony Turf Aon Trophy. They have been followed by a fun with the Horseman team show, the acrobats who, barefoot, jumped an obstacle course of up to 1.40m.

At 10:45 p.m., the last test of the day began, the CSI2* Lexus Trophy, an entertaining Jump & Drive in seven riders, dared to jump on horseback and drive an SUV against the clock. This is how Kevin González de Zárate got his third victory, and he was accompanied on the podium by Fernando de los Santos García, the first rider of Eduardo Álvarez Aznar, and Marco Juncadella Hohenlohe. As a climax, the rider Clémence Faivre and her Romanian horse offered a special performance.

Just like on Friday, the Non Stop Track hosted one show after another: Deporcan’s dogs demonstrated their agility, there was natural dressage and cowboy dressage exhibitions. Meanwhile, men on stilts, donkeys and other pets were strolling around the Horse Hall to entertain the hundreds of fans.

The final of the III Copa de la Vaquera was also held on Saturday, which premiered last year at IFEMA Madrid Horse Week. The winner, to the sound of flamenco, was José Ramón Pérez García with Donaire, who obtained the highest average score after two days of competition. Jonatan Peña and Talavante, the winners in the last edition, were in second place, although they were in the first qualifying round on Friday. Almost the same score as Amador Martín and Santano II JB, in third position.

So an exciting day ends leaving the spectators with a good feeling before the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Grand Prix IFEMA Trophy that will be held tomorrow at 1.00pm.