Norway tops the 7 yo Horses in Oliva

Norway tops the 7 yo Horses in Oliva
At the Tour in Oliva, Spain, the Young Horses started their international competition again yesterday for the second week. While the numbers involved – 150 more horses at this year’s Oliva Nova MET – are cause for celebration for initiator Carlos Borho, those taking part are also highly satisfied with the progress their horses are making.

With the seven year old horses victory was for Norway with Cougar Z G&C under the saddle of Norway's Cecilie Hatteland. The pair finished their second phase in 27.16 seconds. Last weeks winner, Constant Van Paesschen and Astro Boy (by Sarantos) followed in a second place stopping the clock at 28.25 seconds. Compatriot Jerome Guery and Cibelle Du Seigneur (Ogano Sitte E.T.) finished third.

The top five was completed by Severin Hillereau (Don Durona) and Matthew Sampson (Billy Tortilla). For most Oliva is seen as a perfect training circuit. Also Rene Tebbel is present with his horses and pupils. In fact it is the tour for young horses, aged five to seven years, which dominates the first few days of each of the tournament weeks, and which is a major focus for the National Trainer for the Ukraine and former German Champion. “Nowhere else gives you quite the same opportunity to do such intensive work with young horses”, says Tebbel. “Normally you’d only take one or at most two youngsters to an international tournament, while the instructors at home take care of the young horses. Here you can concentrate fully on these horses, even with big international events on the programme for the weekends”.