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46 SIDELINES MAY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE H O R S E S H O W

Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez

By Jennifer Ward

For Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez, 2010 was a career year. Only 26 years old, he has already achieved what many riders dream of by competing at the World Cup Final as well as the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.

Now based in Boca Raton year-round, Andres is able to maximize his training and sales business as well as hone his competitive skills at two of the biggest show jumping circuits in the world, the Winter Equestrian Festival and HITS Ocala.

It was his ability to compete against the best in the world that led to his success in 2010. In April, Andres made his World Cup Final debut in Geneva and, in October, competed as a member of the Venezuelan team at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, both with Larkanaro. Representing Venezuela at the 2010 World Equestrian Games was all the more impressive considering it was the frst time that Venezuela had felded a full team for any major championship. In addition, Andres jumped

double clear with Da Vinci in the team competition at the 2010 Central American Games in Puerto Rico, helping Venezuela claim the team gold medal – another frst for his country.

“I was really excited that, in my frst year doing the sport as a professional, I had the chance to qualify for the World Cup Final,” said Andres, 26, who had previously competed as an amateur while working in investment banking for Violy and Company in New York. “To also win the team gold at the Central American Games and to be on the team for the World Equestrian Games was incredible. In my frst year of dedicating myself to the sport 24/7, I had the opportunity to do all these things.”

Success has continued for Andres in 2011. In the frst 10 weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival, he had six wins to his credit in the highly competitive 1.40m division, as well as placing second in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic during week fve with Secret, who is back in action after being sidelined with an injury last season. Secret, a 12-year-old grey Dutch-bred gelding, was also his mount for the Wellington Nations’ Cup on March 4. Another mount, Da Vinci, carried Andres to victory in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix held in Ocala in January.

With the support of his owners, Andrés Olivares and Robert Castro, Andres has built a solid string of competitive horses, and has also attracted sponsorships from such high-profle equestrian brands as Cavalor, Devoucoux, and GPA.

Andres continues to train with 2004 Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, who is also based in Wellington during the winter, explaining, “Rodrigo already knows me, and that is a big advantage. He has seen me ride throughout my career, and I learned how to ride in his system. To have the masters around you and giving you advice is the best possible situation.”

Andres is also coaching students of his own, including two from Venezuela. Luis Larrazabal has been successfully

contesting the Artisan Farms Young Riders’ Grand Prix events at the Winter Equestrian Festival while Clarissa Chumaceiro has won nine classes in the Children’s 13 and under division. Looking to the future, Andres plans to compete at the 2011 Pan American Games in October, where Venezuela hopes to make history by successfully securing an Olympic berth for London in 2012. No matter what the future holds, Andres is sure to make his name in the sport.

Andres Rodriguez and Da Vinci won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, in January

Photo by ESI Photography