THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL LUSITANO FESTIVAL

Jul 05, 2024

Text: Lusitano World · Photos: Carlos Hernâni

The 2024 International Lusitano Festival delivered another triumphant edition, dazzling attendees with the splendor and quality of the Lusitano breed. Hosted at Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, the festival drew a great crowd despite adverse weather conditions on the first day. APSL's decision to revert to the original layout, featuring the main restaurant and social area in the stair lounge, enhanced the event's visual appeal and provided more space for commercial stands surrounding the arena. We applaud APSL's choice!

The Model and Gait competitions were highly contested, with over 120 Lusitanos stepping onto the green grass of Possolo! It was a delight to see the high attendance of breeders, including both renowned and upcoming breeding projects, all presenting high-quality horses. Everyone contributed to a fantastic Lusitano parade that showcased the breed's ongoing evolution and growth.

First Day - FEMALES IN HAND

The first day of the festival was dedicated to the mares presented in hand. Due to the dressage and working equitation competitions, the schedule for the Model and Gaits was set for 8 p.m. Although this timing allowed more people to attend after work, we believe it was quite late given the number of animals competing. To add to the late hours, the challenging weather and difficult footing conditions due to the rain affected the presentations, with several horses unable to show their best.

Despite these obstacles, the exceptional quality of the competitors was evident, with a total of 10 gold medals awarded across three classes.

1-Year-Old Fillies: In a highly competitive category, Trança (Nescafe x Nieta), bred by Dr. Pedro Ferraz da Costa, captivated the audience with her exquisite appearance and elegance, securing first place and a gold medal.

2-Year-Old Fillies: Surra (Escorial x Irreal), bred by Coudelaria Leonardo Franco, stood out among 14 contestants to claim the gold in her class.

3-Year-Old Fillies: The experienced competitor Rose das Lanternas (Escorial x Citarra das Arribas), bred by Quinta das Lanternas, clinched first place and a gold medal in her category.

Mares with Foals: Memória (Zaire x Única), from Coudelaria Leonardo Franco, left a lasting impression on the judges with her exceptional class, quality of movement, and beauty. She dominated the first day of the festival, securing first place in her class and earning the title of 'Female Champion in Hand'.

Second Day - MALES IN HAND

On the second day of the show, the young Lusitano males stole the spotlight! We witnessed superb quality across highly contested classes, with the judges awarding a total of 8 gold medals and 4 silver medals.

1-Year-Old Colts: In a fiercely contested category featuring 13 stunning colts, Trovante da Lagoa (Lord Plus x Doçura), bred by Coudelaria Quinta da Lagoa, emerged as the standout, earning a gold medal.

2-Year-Old Colts: The winner of the class with a gold medal was Sublime JCL (Jasmim Plus x Neblina JCL) from the breeder José Correia Leite. This gold medalist certainly lived up to his name; he also took home the title of 'Male Champion in Hand' and made a lasting impression.

3-Year-Old Colts: Ruinart SC (Escorial x Julieta da Misericordia), bred by Coudelaria Silva Carneiro, dazzled the judges with his expressiveness and quality, grabbing first place and a gold medal in his category.

THIRD DAY - RIDDEN CLASSES

The final day of the event featured the highly anticipated ridden classes, showcasing both mares and stallions under saddle.

Ladies got first! In the 4-Year-Old class, Química da Ferraria (Musico da Ferraria x Jiboia da Ferraria), bred by Ferraria Horses, took first place and received a silver medal. The 5-Year-Old and older class, Nursula (Zaire x Ursula), bred by Coudelaria Leonardo Franco, stood out with a commanding first-place finish, earning a well-deserved gold medal. Nursula impressed everyone with her size, adherence to breed standards, and exceptional movement. Because of her outstanding performance and the lack of a gold medal in the 4-Year-Old class, Nursula was automatically awarded the title of 'Female Ridden Champion'—a fitting recognition for such an impressive mare!

The male classes, in particular, drew a remarkable attendance. The 4-Year-Old class was won by the remarkable Quiebro das Arcas (Jasmim Plus x Invicta das Arcas), bred by Coudelaria Manuel Maia Correia, who also secured the gold medal. Mafalda Galiza Mendes piloted Quiebro in an impeccable presentation where elegance, power, and finesse were the highlights.

The 5-Year-Old and older class was highly contested, with several horses displaying outstanding quality. A total of 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal were awarded. Olissipo da Broa (Varão da Broa x Fidalga da Broa), bred by Manuel Tavares Veiga, conquered first place with gold. On a flawless display of equestrian tradition, Manuel Veiga guided this horse of his own family breeding and showed that classical style never goes out of fashion.

Quiebro and Olissipo competed fiercely for the coveted title of 'Ridden Male Champion'. Both horses were presented twice for the final decision, resulting in a tie of 3-3 among the jury panel. Emidio Pinto, the president of the jury, faced the difficult task of making the decisive ruling. Ultimately, Quiebro das Arcas triumphed, securing the title of Ridden Male Champion over Olissipo da Broa.

BEST BREEDER TITLE GOES TO LEONARDO FRANCO STUD

Leonardo Franco Stud was honored with the Best Breeder title: a strong return to the competition with superb horses that dominated various categories from functionality tests to Model and Gaits. They wrapped up their participation with an impressive haul of 5 gold medals and two 'Champion' titles: Nursula and Memória. After a two-year hiatus from the Festival, they've proven once again that they’re at the top of their game! Massive congratulations to Coudelaria Leonardo Franco for an outstanding performance that truly highlighted the excellence of their breeding program.

The 2024 International Lusitano Festival set a high standard for future events, boasting remarkable horse attendance and consistently high quality displayed across all classes. The festival successfully showcased the breed's excellence, leaving participants and spectators alike impressed. With a renewed sense of enthusiasm and pride for the Lusitano community, attendees returned home excited about upcoming events and the continued promotion of this magnificent breed.

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Lusitano World offers a combination of services dedicated to promote the Lusitano Horse worldwide and to highlight the richness of Portuguese equestrian culture. Visit our website and follow our social media platforms to find out what we can offer.