Devon, PA (October 17, 2011) – Suplicio Da Roposa, a gorgeous 12-year-old Lusitano stallion owned by Nancy Himmelblau, captured the High Score Lusitano Award during the prestigious Dressage at Devon Horse Show. Sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world, the High Score Lusitano Award recognizes the highest scoring Lusitano during dressage competitions and highlights the dynamic and competitive Lusitano breed. Suplicio earned a 73.7% in the Iberian Horse class in the Breed Division with Bruce Griffin.
Himmelblau, from Somerset, New Jersey, was thrilled with her stallion’s performance as well as the fact that he rode away with the Lusitano High Score Award. “This was his second time to compete at Devon, but his first time in the Iberian Breed class,” she said. “I train with Suzanne Marshall and she is the one who introduced me to the breed.”
Marshall, who was at Devon with Himmelblau, said she knew Suplicio as a five-year-old in Brazil. “When we went to Brazil to look for a horse for Nancy, I was shocked to find out that Suplicio was for sale,” Marshall said. “The Lusitano horse chooses its owner, and after Nancy rode him he didn’t want her to leave the ring. He chose her.”
Himmelblau said it has been a perfect match and that her Lusitano performance stallion has lived up to the breed’s reputation. “His temperament and his patience with a green rider were some of the reasons I bought him,” she said. “I have had him since 2008 and he is lovely to handle and work with and he is really wonderful to ride.”
As a prominent breeder of Lusitano horses, Interagro Lusitanos was pleased to award Suplicio with the High Score award. “We are always excited to recognize outstanding achievements by a Lusitano. My father founded Interagro and our family has been wholeheartedly dedicated to this wonderful breed. We are very pleased that Nancy and her stallion did so well at Devon and we congratulate them on their success,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, the Managing Director of Interagro Lusitanos of Brazil.
Gonzaga said Interagro Lusitanos will be sponsoring the High Score Lusitano Award throughout the winter dressage season in Florida, presenting each winner with a beautifully embroidered scrim sheet from Interagro Farm. “We love to showcase the talent and success of these fabulous horses,” she said. “We have imported many Lusitanos into the United States, and as competition and performance horses they are hard to beat.”
Interagro Lusitanos is located on a 1200-acre ranch outside of São Paulo and is home to 700 Lusitano horses. “One of the great things about the Lusitano breed is that they can be ridden by an amateur or a professional. Throughout the season I know we will see both amateurs and professionals winning the High Score Lusitano Award, proving the versatility and talent of this unique breed,” Gonzaga said.
Gonzaga said that Interagro’s intent over the years has been to develop a bloodline of Lusitanos that are competitive in contemporary equestrian pursuits, including the FEI level dressage. “For riders who aren’t familiar with the Lusitano breed, we invite you to visit us in Brazil. Once you have been to our farm and experienced the Lusitano, you will be forever changed. When you visit our farm, you become part of our family and will experience Interagro in a unique way: from riding and driving the horses, learning the history of the farm, experiencing the Brazilian culture and food and appreciating the warmth and dedication that our family has for our horses, home and country.”
To learn more about Interagro Lusitanos, or a buying trip to the Brazilian farm, visit their website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.
About Interagro Lusitanos
Founded in 1975 by Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga to preserve the Lusitano breed, Interagro Lusitanos is now recognized as the world’s largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses. Dr. Gonzaga started with a small band of four mares and one stallion imported to Brazil from the breed’s native Portugal; to date nearly 700 horses populate the 1200-acre ranch outside São Paulo. Today, Cecilia Gonzaga manages the farm and operations. Interagro Lusitanos are handled, prepared, and evaluated from birth, with a handful of the best stock presented at auction each year.
For more information contact:
Johnny Robb – JRPR, Inc.
561-753-4608
jrpr@mac.com