Wellington, Fla. – March 30, 2018 – As the Nations Cup came to a close, Juan Matute Guimon made his way down the centerline one last time for the Florida season. Aboard his longtime partner, Don Diego Ymas, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Don Frederico – Wie Platine, Wolkenstein II), Matute Guimon earned a score of 75.458 percent to win the Under-25 Grand Prix Freestyle, and clinch his third gold medal of the weekend.
The Under-25 competition concluded with the U25 Grand Prix Freestyle, following two days of competition in the U25 Intermediate II and the U25 Grand Prix. Matute Guimon earned a score of 72.294 percent in the Intermediate II and a score of 71.667 percent in the Grand Prix, putting him at the top of the class both days. In the team competition, Spain earned the gold medal with a score of 140.588, Matute Guimon earned his first individual gold in the U25 Grand Prix and claimed his second individual gold in the U25 Grand Prix freestyle with a score of 75.458 percent.
Coming in second place in the freestyle was the United State’s Kerrigan Gluch, aboard Bolero CXLVII, a 14-year-old PRE Stallion (Utrerano VII – Felina XVII, Urano II) owned by Hampton Green Farm. In the freestyle, the pair climbed to a score of 70.833 percent to claim the silver medal. This is the pairs first time competing in a Nations Cup together, and their first time earning a score of over 70 percent. Earlier in the week, Gluch and the stallion earned a score of 65.706 percent for sixth place in the Intermediate II and a score of 66.795 percent for fifth place in the U25 Grand Prix.
Claiming the bronze medal in the U25 Freestyle was Spain’s Rodrigo Encinas Fuentes, earning a score of 70.208 percent. On Wednesday and Thursday, Encinas Fuentes aboard Van the Man, 16-year-old KWPN gelding (Obelisk – Lady, Fruhling/Landjonker) owned by Cesar Parra helped team Spain claim the team gold with a score of 68.294 percent for second place in the Intermediate II. The pair also earned a score of 67.778 percent for third place in the U25 Grand Prix.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Juan Matute Guimon – Gold Medal
On Riding Freestyles:
“I think that the highlight of any freestyle is that the rider gets to choose the lines [in the choreography] that best benefit the horse – I think that is a huge part because you can have so many different types of lines and creativity. I think each freestyle represents the attitude the pair has and shows how much risk they can take with their horse. Freestyles are fun, sometimes they can be a little overwhelming if you are off beat with your music so they can be challenging as well. It’s our chance to wow the judges and show off our technique. It’s always a pleasure to ride a freestyle and it was a good way to wrap up the Global season and the Nations Cup as well – with three gold medals.”
On His Ride:
“In my freestyle, the entrance is a huge highlight – as soon as I leave my halt, it’s an extended canter straight to the judge at C – it’s a huge opening for a freestyle with a competitive attitude. As I came down the last centerline I was thinking ‘This is it, it’s my last centerline in Wellington!’ I was trying not to make any mistakes because I was really excited about my test. We can feel as riders when we do a good job and I knew I hadn’t made any mistakes and I didn’t want to mess up the final line because it’s quite difficult. I was excited, and I spoke to Don Diego, I said ‘Okay buddy, he were go, it’s our last centerline – let’s do this!’ I was quite happy with it overall.”
On His Future Plans:
“We fly to Europe at the end of April, so our horses have some to relax and take a break beforehand – they get to go out in the paddock and be horses. When we return to Europe we’ll compete in the CDI in Segovia in May and the Spanish National Championships in early June. After that, we’ll see if I make it onto the team that will go to WEG or if I stay and do the European Championships in the U25 – it depends how the national championships go.”
Kerrigan Gluch – Silver Medal
On Winning Silver with Bolero:
“It feels amazing! This horse is very new to me still, we’ve only been competing for three months. I started riding him seriously over the summer, so I can’t complain about anything. He tries so hard every single day and he has so much energy. His heart is really good, and I think that’s really special and something you don’t always find. Today feels amazing.”
On Her Freestyle:
“The music is from Marlene Whitaker. It’s actually an older freestyle that Grandioso used and I kind of modified it to make it a little easier. Marlene helped me a lot and put it together fairly quickly so we were able to get it done in a few weeks. This is our second freestyle – I did one to qualify, and the one here. I don’t have a lot of experience with the actual freestyle itself with this horse – but he’s so honest and so correct, and never says no to anything, it makes riding a test that much more enjoyable.”
On Her Future Plans:
“Nothing is set in stone at the moment – I would love to compete in Europe if I’m given the opportunity. I went a few years ago with the young riders, but it’d be amazing to go in the U25. If I don’t go, we’ll keep training at home in Wellington and we’ll go to Michigan for a few months.”
Rodrigo Encinas Fuentes – Bronze Medal
On His Freestyle:
“It was a freestyle that Cesar [Parra] used with Van the Man before me. In Devon last year, I needed a freestyle, so we were looking at them and found this one with the Spanish pasodoble, and he looked at me and said ‘This is the one!’ I actually don’t know who made it, but it was made specifically for this horse – which helps a lot, but it was also made when Cesar was riding him, so he’s a little different now. This is the third time I’ve ridden this freestyle and every time I ride it I feel great!”
On His Future Plans:
“We’re still thinking about it, but there’s a good chance we’ll go to Europe to try and qualify for the European Championships in the U25 Division. We’ll do a couple of shows in Europe and in Spain.”
Final Results CDIO U25 Grand Prix Freestyle
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
- Juan Matute Guimon / ESP / Don Diego Ymas / 75.458
- Kerrigan Gluch / USA / Bolero CXLVIII / 70.833
- Rodrigo Encinas Fuentes / ESP / Van the Man / 70.208
- Natalie Pai / USA / Unlimited / 69.167
- Naima Moreira Laliberte / CAN / I Do Kiss / 68.167
- Molly Paris / USA / Countess / 67.167
- Laurence Blais Tetreault / CAN / Utah / 66.375
- Tanya Strasser-Shostak / CAN / Renaissance Tyme / 63.667
