Wellington, FL (May 30, 2012) – Bon Orpheo, a beautiful bay Lusitano, rode away with the Interagro Lusitano High Score Award at the Gold Coast Dressage Association Finale. The six-year-old Lusitano competed in the First Level Test 3 class with trainer Michele Renshaw, earning a 70.968% as well as the Lusitano High Score, sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder of Lusitano horses in the world. Interagro has sponsored the award at select shows during the winter show season to recognize the most successful Lusitanos and their riders.
Michele Renshaw (left) and Bon Orpheo won the Interagro Lusitano High Score Lusitano Award at the Gold Coast Dressage Association Finale. Sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world, the award recognizes the outstanding achievements of the Lusitano breed in the competitive world.
“I just got the ride on Bon Orpheo in February and we have done one schooling show and this was our first recognized show together,” Renshaw said. “He was super and I look forward to moving him up to Third Level.”
The Lusitano has proven to be an exceptional performance horse on the Florida dressage circuit in 2012, with professional riders, amateurs, and young riders all bringing home ribbons aboard the talented breed. Cecilia Gonzaga, the Managing Director of Interagro Lusitanos, congratulated Bon Orpheo and his rider and owner on their success at the Gold Coast Finale. “Bon Orpheo is out of an Interagro mare, Pitomba Interagro, and has won the Lusitano High Score Award at other shows in the past. It was wonderful for us to see him back in the spotlight,” Gonzaga said. “Interagro Lusitanos enjoys sponsoring the Lusitano High Score Award because we love to promote this talented and versatile breed. It’s always wonderful to see a Lusitano competing at the upper levels of the sport, and we take equal enjoyment in seeing an amateur or young rider exhibit these horses. They have the mind and athleticism to succeed in many different endeavors.”
Interagro Lusitanos was named the 2009/2010 Best Lusitano Breeder by the ABPSL, and won the Best Breeder Award at a regional show in 2011. “It’s exciting to see that our tradition in breeding excellence continues,” Gonzaga said, adding that the Brazilian farm has also opened their doors for private buying trips for prospective buyers. Interagro Lusitanos also hosts The Lusitano Collection® International Horse Auction and the Interagro Collection National Horse Auction each year, giving prospective buyers a chance to hand select the perfect Lusitano. The auctions are always an action-packed event, featuring everything from lively Samba dancers to exhibition rides to a showcase of demonstrations by each of the sale horses taking part in the auction. The Lusitano Collection® usually features young horses under saddle, while the National Auction features young foals and weanlings; this year, both auctions will be combined into one dynamic auction with a selection of trained, mature horses and younger prospects and will include horses both from Interagro and from Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga, a partner breeder who participates in the Lusitano Collection® auctions. The date for the combined auctions is set for August 25, 2012, and will feature an excellent selection of talented, athletic young Lusitanos.
To learn more about Interagro Lusitanos, visit their website at www.lusitano-interagro.com. For more information on the combined auctions, travel information, or the horses, contact Interagro at info@lusitano-interagro.com or 917-363-0383.
___________________________________________________
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 nearly 800 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.
