Emanuel Andrade (15) made his debut in the Open Jumper arena in the $25,000 A-T Children’s Benefit Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida at onset of 2012. The teen, who champions the children’s charity Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com), faced off against stiff competition from a field of top international riders, including Olympic veterans and Debbie Stephens, Pablo Barrios and Step By Step Advisory Board member Margie Engle.
Andrade rode two horses, Oxford and La Fe Florli, in the class. After the 45 rounds had been completed, Andrade took the 11th place with La Fe Florli and the class was won by Catherine Pasmore aboard Van David. The second place ribbon went to veteran Andrew Bournes and third place went to iconic Olympic rider Rodrigo Pessoa. The formidable young equestrian took the Championship in the Junior Jumpers Low division riding P.S. I Love You and placed second in the Junior Jumper Highs on Luky Des Roquelines the same week.
Though this is his first time competing in this level of show jumping competition, Emanuel has been putting in winning rounds in the jumper ring both nationally and internationally. While he is gaining a formidable reputation in the show ring, it is his efforts on behalf of children that are also causing people to take notice.
Emanuel, who lives between Caracas, Venezuela and his family’s farm in Wellington, Florida, has had an ongoing passion for fundraising and helping children’s charities in the past. This was just one of the reasons that Emanuel, who is a Junior Ambassador for a group of international riders who work to raise funds and awareness for the Step by Step Foundation, and his trainer Angel Karolyi of Hollow Creek Farm chose the Children’s Benefit Grand Prix to premiere at this level.
But this is not the first time that Andrade has competed to win prize money for kids. He was a member of the 3-rider relay team, which included amateur/owner rider Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Grand Prix veteran Pablo Barrios, that won the 2011 FTI Great Charity Challenge during the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. The Venezuelan trio put in the fastest clean rounds during the fun filled class for a good cause representing Wheels for Kids.
This summer Emanuel and his friend Daniel Stransky, the founding member of Team Step by Step, rode to victory in their divisions when they represented Venezuela in the 2011 FEI America’s Jumping Championships in Guayquil, Ecuador. Andrade competed in the Pre-Junior division against riders from eight different countries including Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Canada and Argentina. He piloted his mare Costa to the Individual Gold Medal and Team Gold in the division. Both teens will be competing for the cause during the 12 weeks of international competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
For further information go to www.stepbystepfoundation.com.