Maria Caetano starting out her Lusitano Grand Prix prospect and it’s details, details, details. Now the combination are part of the Portuguese team for Tokyo…
Back in 2017, THM watched Maria Caetano and the Lusitano stallion, Fenix de Tineo (by Rubi) starting out, working with Ton de Ridder. Felix was only seven years old, but he had already had an international win, in the Inter I at Munich – he too is another natural mover. Once again, it is details, details, details.
Fenix’s sire, Rubi, representing Portugal at the 2012 Olympics in London
Share the working session…
In the half pass left: “Look to your left, sit to the left, in the half pass look where you want to go. Make it clear, finish in shoulder in, don’t stop before the letter.”
And, “forward your hands, show some lightness, that’s what the judges want to see – not this Dutch riding.”
“In the canter, deeper neck, loose in the back, really jump. Never forget you get points for what they see, not what you feel.”
Once again, the ring-craft: “At Aachen that change in the Prix St Georges is where the horse can look out and see the warm up area, it’s the same in the Grand Prix in the rein back, so you must be thinking ahead.”
Training is dialogue: “Maria, give me a score for these changes…”
“I started too late.”
“Then you lost the quality of the canter at the end when you collect. Make sure you go right to the marker, show the judges you can control every stride. On the snaffle rein so the horse is uphill in the changes.”
“It is important not to forget the small details, to take the points from the first halt. That was not forward enough, the first impression for the judges must really be forward.”
Read more of Maria and her Lusitano stallions below
