Photo: Baluarte Interagro has been awarded the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Award declared by the North American Lusitano Breeders Association. (Photo courtesy of Tupa)
Atlanta, GA (November 14, 2012) ˆ Interagro Lusitanos are known for their prowess in the dressage arena, and the tradition continues as 7-year-old Baluarte Interagro has been awarded the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Award declared by the North American Lusitano Breeders Association. The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the final year end standings on October 15, and Baluarte came out on top with a median score of 67.751, ranking him #1 in the First Level Open division. The bay Lusitano horse is owned by Cathy Cooper Champion, and was ridden by Kimberly Schisler into all his 2012 first level scores.
„I am of course thrilled with Balu‚s success,‰ states Champion. „We hope to improve his scores even more in the near future. He and I are currently in full training with Adam Lastowka, a Grand Prix trainer and former winner at Dressage at Devon, and we plan to show 2nd and 3rd level this year.‰ Interagro Lusitanos has always been known for breeding outstanding sport horses, and Baluarte is no exception. „Balu has all of the qualities that make a well-bred Lusitano a great dressage choice for an adult amateur,‰ Champion describes. „He is willing and comfortable, an easy keeper, a little too smart for his own good, and the darling and clown of the barn.‰ She continues, „He is happiest learning new things–even silly things like how to zip and unzip our barn manager’s jacket, which he did spontaneously one day to the mirth of everyone around!‰
Champion purchased Baluarte Interagro from the 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction in West Palm Beach, FL. He is by Perdigueiro (MAC) and out of Rabina (JNU). Rabina (JNU), comes from the Coudelaria Núncio, founded by João Núncio, a famous Portuguese bullfighter who rode and selected horses for the Coudelaria Veiga (MV). Because Núncio selected his Lusitanos based on exemplary behavior and performance in the arena, the Núncio mares are all from pure Veiga origin, come with an extremely high degree of consanguinity, and are not available in the market place. Through a special concession from the Núncio family, Interagro is the only breeder to obtain a group of these treasured mares. These females are a valuable asset for any top level breeding program that can use the proper stallions to fully match their extraordinary genetic power and transmit it to their offspring. Interagro is very satisfied with the results obtained with these crossings.
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).
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.
