France victorious – Ireland well positioned

The world-ranking show jumping competition in Oliva Nova was won by France: Harold Boisset took first place in the Gold Tour 1.45m show jumping (0/60.38) in Oliva Nova with nine-year-old Quolita Z, securing prize money of 6,125 euros. The 27 year old from Languedoc-Roussillon proved his theory: “Quolita is a horse for the future”. But if you look at their results up until now, there can be little doubt that the future began a long time ago…

Boisset and Quolita Z have also triumphed at several CSI events in France this season. Behind the French rider came Brit Laura Renwick with Rembrandt Blue (0/61.13), ahead of Irish Nations Cup rider Trevor Breen with Georgie d`Ouvray EC (80/64.45). In fourth place was Russian rider Vladimir Tuganov with his Belgian chestnut horse Bluebuster, and Tuganov was simply delighted with the grass arena at the Autumn MET in Oliva Nova. “It’s unbelievable – you feel like you’re floating, the surface is so good“, described the 54 year old Russian Olympic competitor.

In fact, the Autumn MET in Oliva Nova has been receiving a huge number of compliments. Irish World Cup rider Cameron Hanley, who lives in Höxter, has come to the Spanish Mediterranean coast with several horses and his whole family in order to extend the season. “I love being here because the whole concept of this tour works. I can bring my family with me because the leisure facilities and programme are so varied that no-one gets bored. We can always head down to the beach or take a trip to Valencia.” His work with the young horses is very much a focus at the moment. “I have five of them here aged between five and seven, including one of the very best young horses around – Cas. He will

hopefully take part in his first Grand Prix here when he is eight, just like Caretina. I did exactly the same with her.”

Hanley is giving his top horses like Antello Z a break at the moment and is concentrating entirely on his young horses in Spain. “It’s a good place to work. The complex is generously size but it is compact and the paths are short. It’s fabulous that we can take all the horses down to the beach every day as it’s really good training for their movement patterns”.

This certainly seems to be the case, as young star Cas executed his first appearance in the big tour at the Autumn MET without a single fault. Why not see it for yourself? 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