Hardrock Z was one of several horses that Emanuel Andrade competed in the FEI divisions at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Starting Gate Communications.
Wellington, Florida – Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela was honoured with the Hermes Talented Young Rider Award at the close of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
The Hermes Talented Young Rider Award is presented to the rider aged 16 to 25 who earns the most points in International Equestrian Federation (FEI) sanctioned competition during the 12-week show jumping circuit. At 18 years of age, Andrade was a regular competitor in the FEI division, earning numerous top placings. Among the highlights were a sixth place finish in the $372,000 CSI5* Suncast Grand Prix riding Hardrock Z and, the following week, being a member of Venezuela’s fourth placed team in the $100,000 Kingsland Equestrian FEI Nations’ Cup riding Clouwni.
In a special ceremony held in the International Ring, Andrade was presented with a ‘Hermes Petite’ saddle, as well as a Hampton Presentation Rug by James Sardelli, Senior Equestrian Account Manager of Hermes, and Monique Connelly, Equestrian Specialist for the Madison Ave. Hermes Boutique.
“I am very excited to win this award,” said Andrade. “I am very proud of all my team and the people that are behind me helping me; it is impossible to have these kinds of results by myself. Thank you to Hermes for their support. I am very happy!”
Andrade was also named the Leading Jumper Owner of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival with a total of 21 horses contributing points towards the title. He was also the runner-up in the standings for the Leading Jumping Rider, outpaced only by Laura Chapot.
There was no doubt that Andrade would claim the Circuit Champion title in the Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper division. Andrade filled the top three placings in the final standings, earning the Circuit Championship with C. Jack Sparrow, the Reserve Circuit Championship with Oxford, and also placing third with Boy IV.
For good measure, Andrade finished out the final week of competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival by placing first and second in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner with Natif des Roches and Rufus de Violaines respectively.
“We had a super good circuit,” said Andrade who earned a total of six championship and 17 reserve championship titles over the 12 weeks of competition. “All my horses gave me everything to have a good result, and even the horses that just jump in the mediums are good for me because I can practice a lot. The whole team, including the horses, helps to make these results happen.”
With the Winter Equestrian Festival coming to a close, Andrade will next compete at the Global Champions Tour in Miami. From there, it’s on to Lexington, KY before heading north to Canada for the Spruce Meadows Summer Series in Calgary, AB. Andrade then hopes to be named to the Venezuelan team for the 2015 Pan American Games with either Hardrock Z or Clouwni. Hosted in Toronto, ON, the Pan American Games are of particular importance as two countries will qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio based on the results. While there has been individual representation in the past, Venezuela has never before qualified a full team in show jumping for the Olympic Games.
At only 17 years of age, Andrade made his major games debut at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, riding Hardrock Z, an 11-year-old bay Zangersheide stallion (Heartbreaker x Carthago Z). From there, Andrade rode in the Furusiyya Nations’ Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain, marking the first time that Venezuela had qualified for the annual event.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca
