British girl power, Spanish purposefulness

Chloe Aston is well on her way to becoming series winner of week one of the Autumn MET in Oliva Nova. Not a day goes by without the young Brit from London, just 18 years of age, achieving yet another victory. Aston trains with Di Lampard and has been racking up wins both in the young horse and higher-level events. On Saturday the junior rider won the 1.35m competition of the international Gold Tour in Oliva Nova with Amigo T, who belongs to Joanne Aston – the fourth victory for this purposeful young rider.

Chloe won team bronze in 2012 with the British junior team at the European Championships and one year later secured an individual bronze. And now she’s impressing the pros in Spain, who don’t begrudge the superb young Brit her by now extensive collection of wins. One such professional, who knows the long career path to becoming a pro only too well, is Lars Nieberg. The Lower Saxony-born rider, who is resident in Münster, has come to Spain with son Max and a number of young horses. The two-time Olympic champion is unwaveringly convinced of the aims and benefits of the tournament tour in Spain: “It’s exactly what’s needed, the opportunity to do what I am currently doing with my horses – the decision was absolutely right”, Nieberg concluded after just under a week of the Autumn MET. “And the work we can do on the beach is perfect! We just can’t quite achieve at home what we manage to do down on the beach in the water with both the young and more experienced horses. I was surprised how relaxed and open Galippo was after half an hour of trotting and galloping along the water’s edge. It’s enormous fun. The horses seem good so far, but we’re still taking things fairly easy. Gaining experience is what’s needed for most of them!” And it’s not just the horses who are feeling the benefits of Oliva Nova, observes Lars Nieberg smiling, he too has been indulging in runs and cool-offs down at the beach…

The man who created and developed the Equestrian Centre in Oliva Nova and the international tournament tour is Carlos Bohre. The businessman and equestrian sports enthusiast has realised a dream in Oliva Nova and he’s not done yet: ”The big aim is that in a couple of years’ time we’ll have tournaments all the time here between October and April and as a season finale in the spring – probably in April – we’ll host a five-star CSI.” Carlos Bohre doesn’t think in baby steps though: “The CSI5* isn’t a realistic aim for 2016, but if we can find enough sponsors, it definitely will be for 2017. We want to be constantly developing and improving, and we’re delighted that we’ve received such great feedback this autumn”.

He hadn’t in his wildest dreams imagined that so many riders and horses from so many different countries would come to Oliva Nova for the 2015 Autumn MET. “We’ve got over 150 more horses than last autumn”, enthuses Bohre, “that’s brilliant, isn’t it?!”

The Autumn MET in Oliva Nova is available as a livestream.

Results are available at www.horse-timing.com.

www.mediterranean-equestrian-tour.net.

Source: Press release