Vejer de la Frontera (ESP), 26 February 2020 - We have arrived at the halfway point in the Sunshine Tour this week with the Young Horses continuing to show great improvements. Today there was a new challenge, their first opportunity to jump in the grass arenas. Overall this proved to be a great success. The 5 yr old class had 109 entries and 107 clear rounds. The 6yr old class was held in the new “Carola” arena with 200 entries and 189clears.
Carola Arena
The “Carola” arena is arena number 17, is named after a lovely KWPN mare that was owned and competed by Teresa Blázquez. The mare went on to the American rider Sophie Gochman and continued with her success, winning numerous International Grand Prix and Nations Cup rounds. Teresa, who owns and organises the Sunshine Tour with her family, still has a great fondness for this 13yr old mare.“She was a wonderful mare that I bought from Sergio Álvarez Moya when she was 7yrs old. Two years before that she had won the Young Horse 5yr old Final, here at the Tour with Sergio. She was very special and a very good mare. I won a lot with her including the Grand Prix of La Coruña”.Now Sophie, who trains with Amanda Derbyshire, is enjoying her a lot and winning many classes with the mare who was born in the Netherlands, raised and trained in Spain.