HGF's Ataturc and Mejorano Bring Home the Medals at SICAB World PRE Championships 2017

Hampton Green's two entries in the Copa ANCCE Finals at SICAB 2017 topped their classes of world-class PRE young horses from the best breeders worldwide.

For a second time, HGF competed a Michigan-bred PRE in the SICAB 6 year old finals, and for the second time brought home the Bronze Medal. Our last time to compete at the World Championship of PRE Horses was in 2013, when Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and Vaquero HGF were bronze medalists in the 6 Year Old division. This year, Dani returned to the 6 Year Olds with Mejorano HGF, son of Grandioso III and Ibiza, bred in Michigan. A close scoring level, juried by 6 international judges over two days, finished with the HGF pair again taking the Bronze with scores of 77.8 and 75.2 in the Preliminary and Final tests respectively. Mejorano HGF was sent to Spain from the US in 2015 for training with Dani and we expect him to continue to improve and strengthen as he moves up the levels to the more technical tests.

There was no question, however, [nbsp]who would bring home the Gold in the 7 Year Old Division. HGF's Ataturc was the clear favorite of the two days of competition. With scores of 74.79 and 76.41, Ata and Dani topped a class of high quality, well-trained 7 year olds PREs. Ata has only just begun his show career and has won each of the 6 classes he has entered to date. He was purchased in 2016 as a 6 year old from his breeder, Yeguada Ducal--a PRE breeder in Germany. The horse had been backed at the three gaits but little else, having been used for breeding prior to coming to Mijas. Ata quickly took to his new career in dressage, and Dani decided he was ready to go into the show ring for the first time just two months ago at the Dos Lunas CDN in September. Ataturc is from the bloodlines of ANCCE Elite Stallion Ermitano on his dam's side, and the son of Activo VII, known to riders from the days of the CAR-ANCCE program.

One note on the Doma Clasica (Dressage) competition as a whole--the presence of high-quality and competitive mares! Mares are now the choice of many of the breeders and riders in Spain for dressage and are making their ascension to the top placings in each class, from 4 year old to Grand Prix. With changes to the selection process for the World Championship of Young Horses (Ermelo) planned for next year which will give preference to qualifed PREs in Spain, the path is now wide open for both mares and stallions to be recognized for their quality at the young horse levels. Hang on for the ride!

Photos by Lily Forado