Dressage Ranking Benchmarks Team Interagro’s Competition Talent
Fauno Interagro and Johnny Miranda
Eros Interagro and Alexandre Souza
Itapira, SP, Brazil (April 24, 2017) – The old cliché of ‘practice makes perfect’ is the inspiration behind the most recent dressage event in Itapira, Brazil. On April 13, 2017, Interagro Lusitanos hosted the first phase of its own dressage ranking series, a schooling show environment designed to perfect the poise and precision of their competitive riders in the sport of dressage. Interagro’s entire team of horses and riders, including those that specialize in working the farm, working equitation, and driving, stretched their legs in the dressage arena under the gaze of a Brazilian national judge. With an impressive 17 horse and rider combinations performing tests through Fourth Level, the Dressage Ranking featured horses from Interagro’s J Generation (coming 4-year-olds), current sales horses, breeding stallions, and their active show team going down the centerline to sharpen their competitive and dressage skills.
As the first of four dressage rankings scheduled at Interagro in 2017, the event was organized by the Brazilian stud and training center in conjunction with international dressage rider Pia Aragao, who has trained and campaigned Interagro horses through the FEI level including Brazilian Small Tour Champion Baldor Interagro. “I was very pleased to see all of the horse and rider combinations scoring over 60% on such young horses,” said Aragao of the Ranking results. “All of the combinations were very well presented, and I think at the end of the year after 4 of these rankings we will be able to see how each horse and rider develops their competitive skills, confidence, and fitness level.”
The unfederated event nonetheless precisely followed official competition rules under judge Sergio de Fiori and was designed to evaluate and train Interagro’s riders and horses. With Aragao organizing the ride times, entries, and judge and with Patricia Brito scribing, the ranking’s final results will be calculated by rider as horses sell or progress to recognized events. Interagro’s only rule for its team of riders was that they must each choose one sales horse to compete, to evenly spread the rides between the farm’s seasoned competitors and young horses.
Brazilian national judge Sergio de Fiori watches Caudilho Interagro and Alexandre Souza while Patricia Brito acts as scribe.
Indus Interagro and Edmar Martins de Brito
Antonio Souza and Jerezano Interagro
Alexandre Souza and Hectar Interagro
Edmar Martins de Brito rode Indus Interagro (Baldor Interagro x Cybele Interagro) to top honors in Training Level with a 70%. Alcimar Godoi, one of Interagro’s domadors or young horse starters, began his dressage career in 2016 and showed fantastic improvement in 2017, riding a J Generation stallion and Baldor Interagro’s full brother, Janitor Interagro (Ofensor (MV) x Quinata Interagro), to tie for second place on a 64.783% with one of Interagro’s drivers, Antonio Souza. Souza and Jerezano Interagro also scored a 64.783 in the Training Level class, an impressive accomplishment for the horse and rider, who both are competitive in driving. Souza also competed his driving horses Herbert Interagro (Legendario do Mirante x Mundana Interagro) and Jackpot Interagro (Nirvana Interagro x Naranja do Mirante) in Training Level. Jair Souza finished fourth with Firmador Interagro (Ofensor (MV) x Rainha (MAC)), one of Interagro’s working horses, scoring a 63.913%.
First Level saw Alexandre Souza and Hectar Interagro (Profano Interagro x Cassandra Interagro) take the win with a 70%, while Edmar Martins de Brito and Idalio Interagro (Baldor Interagro x Baby Interagro) took second with a 68.889%. Alexandre Souza and Hawk Interagro (Quinio Interagro x Camelia Interagro) were in a close third on 68.148%, and Johnny Miranda and Fauno Interagro (Nirvana Interagro x Ninfeta Interagro) finished fourth with a 67.037%. Fifth also went to Miranda, this time aboard one of Interagro’s breeding stallions and working equitation champions, Hanibal Interagro (Legendario do Mirante x Berta Interagro), who scored a 65.370%. Alexandre Souza and Eros Interagro (Quixote Intergro x Xina Interagro) finished sixth with a 63.333%.
Miranda also took first in the Second Level test, riding Canaletto Interagro (Nirvana Interagro x Ximbica Interagro) to a winning score of 64.394%. Canaletto, who is also a decorated driving competitor, will aim to continue his winning ways in a May 9th driving show. Second went to Edmar Martins de Brito and Hadrian Interagro (Baldor Interagro x Latina (JNU)) with a 63.636% and third to Alexandre Souza and breeding stallion Caudilho Interagro (Ofensor (MV) x Nevada (MAC)) with a 63.030%.
Edmar Martins de Brito topped both the Third and Fourth Level tests with Herodotus Interagro (Baldor Interagro x Sibila Interagro) in the Third Level class with a 66.515% and Empreiteiro Interagro in the Fourth Level class with a 62.703%. Empreiteiro Interagro is one of Interagro’s breeding stallions and a working equitation champion, while Herodotus will compete in working equitation for the first time in late April.
Edmar Martins de Brito and Idalio Interagro
Receiving these baseline readings of their competitive performance identified the strengths of each combination as well as highlighted areas to be improved upon. This progression benefits both Interagro’s team of riders as well as their herd of Lusitano sporthorses as they develop their competitive careers. As the driving and working equitation disciplines also feature dressage phases, the ranking offered them a unique view of dressage and new vantage point to finesse their dressage skills within their disciplines.
Aragao, who began her dressage career in Sweden before moving to Brazil, believes that holding these realistic dressage rankings prepares the horses and riders both mentally and physically for actual competitions. “To create an even more realistic environment, we load the horses into the trailer and train for the jog as well, creating a truly genuine atmosphere for the horses and riders,” said Aragao. “This allows them to grow and learn for the next step in their career, whether its competing for Interagro or finding success with a new owner. It’s very important in training to set goals and have an impartial judge to provide feedback. And of course I am always thrilled to see Baldor’s offspring and watch them follow in their sire’s footsteps. They are quite outstanding in both quality and gaits, and are true athletes.”
Click here for the full results the first Interagro Dressage Ranking!
For more information on Interagro Lusitanos, Interagro’s horses for sale, or the Lusitano bloodlines, visit Interagro’s website at www.Lusitano-Interagro.com, follow them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram (@interagrolusitanos).
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Media contact: Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson | holly@equinium.com | +1 954 205 7992