Spanish National Championships and Arrival in Malaga of HGF Horses

HGF's Encanto XI was slated to be one of the top horses in the Intermediare I Championships for Spain in Toledo last month, and his performance in the Prix St. George suggested the same, a Third Place on Friday and leading PRE. This championship, however, was not to be like the last two--and rider Daniel Martin scratched Encanto just before the Intermediare I for a minor inflammation of a superficial cut on the horse's coronary band that made him slightly uneven on Saturday. Treatment by the show vet resulted in 100% soundness the following day, but the championships were forfeited. Following this weekend, Encanto will move on from the Small Tour, and will begin working toward a Grand Prix debut at the National levels sometime next year.

Later in the week, four additional HGF stallions arrived safely from Michigan to the training facility of Daniel Martin in Fuengirola, just outside of Marbella. Two of the horses, Adelante (Grandioso VII) and Idolo Americano have many winnings and substantial show records at the lower levels in the United States, having been trained and shown the past two years by HGF rider Maria Lithander with scores consistently over 70% in Wellington. Adelante is a 2002 full brother to Grandioso III, Courtney King-Dye's Grand Prix prospect, and Idolo Americano (2003) is the 2007 Champion US Bred Stallion at Devon Breed Show, and 2010 USDF Regional Reserve Champion for Second Level. Both horses will be ready for Prix St. George at some point during 2011.

Two 2007 colts were also sent to be trained by Daniel. Vaquero HGF is by Cuatrero IV (Marin Garcia) out of Encina (Idilio). Conquero HGF is a half-brother to Encanto XI on the dam side, and sired by Cosaco XI (Dehesa de Yeguas). 

HGF is happy to work in collaboration with the training program of Daniel Martin in Spain and we look forward to seeing the horses in the Spanish show rings in 2011.