Major tournament series the Autumn MET kicks off on 20th October on the Mediterranean coast, and a big number of equestrian VIPs will be there. Top Spanish show jumper Sergio Alvarez Moya will be arriving in Oliva Nova on Tuesday, along with his horses, while Cameron Hanley from Ireland and German show jumper Lars Nieberg will also be taking part in the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour, which is organised and marketed by German agency Herbert Ulonska – Equestrian Sport Events, from 20th October.
30-year-old Sergio Alvarez Moya is in the top 30 of the show jumping world rankings and is extending the summer season at the MET in Oliva Nova before he heads to the World Cup season indoors in Lyon. “I’ve been coming to Oliva Nova for the MET for several years now, and I really enjoy it every time”, says Moya. “The conditions are simply fantastic, both for young and older horses. The Tour is always developing, the organisers always did their best.” As well as plenty of show jumping, Sergio Alvarez Moya also has his sights set on swimming with his horses in the nearby Mediterranean Sea: “I hope I’m up early enough to be able to go bathing…”
Whereas Alvarez Moya will be using the Autumn MET for a week, Lars Nieberg (Münster) has the chance to spend even longer making the most of the sport on offer and the opportunity to work intensively with his horses. The two-time team Olympic champion is coming to the MET in Oliva Nova with 14 horses and the support of his son Max Nieberg. “Horsemaster” Nieberg’s focus will be on the younger horses. “They got a bit of a raw deal during the summer season,” says Nieberg, “so now they’re going to take the centre of my work. I came here a few years ago and was really impressed with the conditions and environment, and I’ve heard since that these have improved even further”. As well as his young horses, Nieberg also has his two best horses Galippo and Casalora with him in Spain.
The Equestrian Sport Centre, in easy reach of a the beach, has indeed continued to develop its horse-related facilities. As well as the 300 permanent boxes, veterinarian clinic, generous sand arenas and first-class grass area already available, a further warm-up area and longing circle have been added to the stabling area. The Equestrian Centre in Oliva Nova is one of the most state-of-the-art of its kind in Europe and will be opening its doors for the international Autumn MET from 20th October to 8th November.
Further information about the Autumn MET, the programme, the possibilities etc. under www.mediterranean-equestrian-tour.net. The marketing and organisation lies in the hands of the German agency Equestrian Sport Events, www.csi-ese.de
Source: press release
