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Encanto XI and Daniel Martin are Intermediare I Champions of Andalucia
Last weekend in Almeria, Spain, HGF's Encanto and Daniel Martin Dockx were awarded Champions of Andalucia for Intermediare I. Encanto has not competed since the Sunshine Tour earlier in the year, but improved his scores at the I-I in this latest showing, finishing with a composite score of 67.55%. Daniel and Encanto are preparing for the National Championships of Spain in November. Encanto is an 8 year old PRE Stallion, branded HGF, by Evento out of the late Cantora XVI. The colt has been in Spain since 2007 in training with Daniel, and last year the pair achieved the Reserve National Championship for Developing Horses in Spain, and placed in the ribbons in the international classes at Sunshine Tour this past March. Daniel makes regular visits to HGF to train with Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye and to assist HGF riders. Daniel is taking over the training of Adelante and Idolo Americano later this year.
HGF's Encanto XI Debuts in the Grand Prix at Sunshine Tour
HGF's Encanto XI Debuts in the Grand Prix at Sunshine Tour Last weekend, HGF-bred Encanto XI did his first Grand Prix test in the Sunshine Tour CDI*** in Vejer, Spain. Rider Daniel Martin Dockx brought Encanto to Vejer for the purpose of schooling with Spanish Team Coach Jan Bemelmens, and the decision was made to enter the horse in the Inter II and Grand Prix the first weekend of the three week series. Due to the horse's young age, Dani Martin was given permission by the Ground Jury to only do the two tests. In the Inter II, Dani got his feet wet at International Big Tour competition, and the pair scored 64.45 with errors in a few of the movements. On Saturday, horse and rider appeared more comfortable in the Grand Prix. Opening the class as the first ride, they received 67.02% and finished 7th in a class of 27 horses. Encanto XI is a 2002 PRE stallion, son of Evento out of Cantora XVI. At four years old, Encanto was sent to Spain to begin his dressage training with Dani Martin, and the pair went on to 2009 Reserve National Developing Horse Champion, and 2010 Inter I Champion of Andalucia. Astrid Appels of www.eurodressage.com was there and said of the ride: Jose Daniel Martin Dockx brought five horses to the Sunshine Tour, four of them to compete. Aboard Kim Boyer's 9-year old PRE stallion Encanto XI (by Evento out of the late Cantora XVI) the charming pair placed seventh with 67.021%. The duo is one of the rising stars in Spain having became regional small tour champion and national reserve champion in the developing horse class in 2010. Encanto's youth and inexperience at Grand Prix level were still obvious in the test as he needed to have more strength to stay balanced in the piaffe. Nevertheless the lovely sit and expression were there. http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/03/08/garcia-mena-and-norte-bring-dash-arena-2011-sunshine-tour See alsohttp://www.topiberian.com/index.php?option=com_content[&]view=article[&]id=2852%3Ajose-antonio-garcia-mena-y-norte-abren-el-gran-premio-con-un-exito[&]catid=74%3Aactualidad-internacional-[&]Itemid=819[&]lang=en
Where Are They Now? Decoroso HGF and Cindy Ramirez-Smith
Meet Cindy Ramirez-Smith, Dressage trainer from Santa Barbara, California, and owner of Decoroso HGF, a 2006 Chestnut PRE Stallion (Decoroso x Quintera): "I've been horse crazy ever since I was a small child, and was fortunate enough to get my first pony at the age of nine. Soon after, I became a member of Black Oaks Pony Club, eventually achieving the "A" rating from United States Pony Clubs. I grew up riding anything and everything that I could, from gaited horses, to foxhunting and eventing. For several years I worked as a working student for Brian and Lisa Sabo at their eventing facility. My passion was eventing, and in order to do this I gave lessons, started young horses, showed horses, and rode horses that their owners didn't want to ride. I evented up through the Intermediate level before I decided to make dressage my primary focus. I have shown many horses up to fourth level and then either sold them for their owners, trained their owners on them at lower levels, or sold my own horses at that point as a wise business move." "Three years ago, on a vacation to the Andalucia region of Spain, my husband and I fell in love with the PRE horses that we saw performing in Jerez. Their innate athleticism, coupled with their extremely high work ethic and trainability, made them a great choice for a dressage horse. After a long search, last year we purchased Decoroso HGF, a 2006 PRE stallion from Hampton Green Farm as an upper level dressage prospect. He is such an incredible horse that earlier this year we went back to Hampton Green and purchased Carina HGF, a 2008 mare that will begin her training this summer. We are looking forward to the future of these two very promising young horses." "Decoroso HGF has been steadily improving all spring. He is a wonderful stallion to be around because he loves attention and is a very hard and serious worker. Vulcan Mesa Ranch is his home in Atascadero, California. Every day he goes to work in arenas that he shares with mares, geldings, children on ponies, and jumpers and never bats an eye at any of it. Deco has shown remarkable consistency at shows for any horse of his age with 5 tests at First Level having scores between 67% and 70%. Our plans for the year include competing in October at the CDS Annual Championships and moving up to second level." "The last show that we went to, SLO-CDS Spring Fling on April 24, we won 1st level 2 and 3 with a 70% and a 69.6%!"