Caliente Interagro Selected to Ride in NEDA 2012 Fall Symposium Demonstration
New Gloucester, ME (November 21, 2012) – Interagro Lusitanos has always been known for breeding outstanding horses, and dressage riders attending the New England Dressage Association(NEDA) 2012 Fall Weekend Symposium, held on Oct 27th -28th at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine, were able to see one of these amazing young Lusitano horses in true form. Caliente (formerly Caligula) Interagro, a five-year-old Lusitano gelding, was ridden in a demonstration by Hana Poulin during the symposium, featuring FEI “O” Judge Stephen Clarke of Great Britain and Canadian Olympian, Ashley Holzer.
“I am quite excited and honored,” states Caliente’s owner, Candace Platz, DVM. “His role was to demonstrate the proper development of a young horse with the goal of FEI dressage.” Because of their bloodlines, Interagro Lusitanos excel as sport horses in all disciplines, but they absolutely shine in the dressage ring. This breeding, combined with proper and compassionate development and training by his owner, has given Caliente the perfect start to his dressage career. “His gaits, which were not impressive when he was young, have improved amazingly, so the genetics for super movement must be in there,” confirms Patz. “I have been committed to taking time with Cali, not asking him to learn movements but to learn to move to the bit in self carriage and good balance, so that he gains true strength and confidence,” she explains. “Without working specifically on movements, he is now learning all the lateral work in the trot and starting counter canter without fear or tension. He is still very young and tries so hard to please that he can become tense and worried. Our job has been to keep redirecting his energy to the task at hand while remaining calm and sure that he will never be asked to do anything that causes him to be fearful or unbalanced.”
Those who attended the demonstration at the symposium saw the results of this training and development in a young horse bred for this purpose, and Patz points out what they can expect to see from Caliente in the future, “The horse will have a natural and elegant passage and his instincts for piaffe are solid,” she explains. “But for now, he will continue to work on growing his mind and muscles so that he can make fully happy use of his lovely body.”
The Interagro horse is a modern Lusitano, a horse that excels in the traditional equestrian disciplines, from dressage and driving to jumping and working equitation. Interagro horses can be seen driving, working, and training on the farm in Brazil everyday. Interagro is committed to preserving the pure bloodlines of the Lusitano breed, and Interagro bloodlines include some of the most respected bloodlines in the breed such as Farao (JHC), Nirvana Interagro, Ofensor (MV), Xique-Xique (CI) and Yacht (SA).
Interagro also offers guests and clients a unique way to truly immerse themselves in the Luistano breed and the equestrian culture of Interagro through Destination Lusitano. From riding an Interagro stallion across the rolling Brazilian countryside to enjoying Portuguese cuisine, Destination Lusitano caters to each guests needs and can be tailored to their interests. In addition, the 600 Lusitanos that call Interagro home make Destination Lusitano the ultimate equestrian getaway.
For more information on Destination Lusitano or to learn more about Interagro Lusitanos, visit their website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.
About Interagro Lusitanos
Founded in 1975 by Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga to preserve the
Lusitano breed, Interagro Lusitanos is now recognized as the world’s largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses. Dr. Gonzaga started with a small band of four mares and one stallion imported to Brazil from the breed’s native Portugal; to date over 600 horses populate the 1200-acre ranch outside São Paulo. Today, Cecilia Gonzaga manages the farm and operations. Interagro Lusitanos are handled, prepared, and evaluated from birth, with a handful of the best stock presented at auction each year.
