Olivia LaGoy-Weltz. (Photo courtesy of www.socialcircuitequine.com)

Rotterdam, The Netherlands (June 30, 2017) — Custom Saddlery, crafter of tailor-made saddles for riders and horses of all levels, congratulates three elite competitors who had outstanding performances and top placings at the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CDIO 5* dressage competition in Rotterdam, South Holland. Each of Custom Saddlery’s “Most Valuable Riders (MVRs),” Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Juan Matute Guimon, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees, demonstrated how important a personalized saddle is to each horse’s performance.

Custom Saddlery MVR LaGoy-Weltz and her 17.1-hand, 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, Rassing’s Lonoir (De Noir x Loran) competed for the United States team that won the Nations Cup Competition at Rotterdam with a final score of 446.442.

LaGoy-Weltz, an experienced rider and trainer who works out of Mountain Crest Farm in Haymarket, Virginia and Wellington, Florida, scored a personal best on Lonoir in the Grand Prix and finished third with 74.580 percent. “He is an exceptionally sensitive, athletic, and sweet horse,” says LaGoy-Weltz. “He loves his time in the field as much as he loves his work. In 2014, I started riding Lono in a Custom Wolfgang model with a long block. I love the fit of that saddle. It’s still one of my favorite models. I also ride in the Omni, the Advantage Mono Flap, and the Wolfgang Solo.”

LaGoy-Weltz is sure to keep Custom Saddlery a part of her winning strategy. “Custom has an extensive network of saddlers all over the country,” she says, “and now in Europe, too. So I have a great saddle support system no matter where I go.” This MVR will waste no time in putting this support system to use this summer. “We’re on to Aachen!” she said.

Dutch Custom Saddlery MVR and Olympian Madeleine Witte-Vrees claimed reserve title in the Nations Cup Grand Prix with 75.660 percent, riding Cennin, a 10-year-old KWPN/Oldenburg stallion by Vivaldi. No strangers to success down the centerline, Witte-Vrees and Cennin were the Dutch reserve combination at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and they currently stand 22nd on the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings.

Also successful at Rotterdam was Custom Saddlery MVR Juan Matute Guimon, a 19-year-old dressage prodigy who rides for Spain. His father is three-time Spanish Olympian Juan Matute, and the family lives in Florida. At Rotterdam, the young Matute won the CDI Under 25 Musical Freestyle on 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Don Diego Ymas with a score of 76.015 percent – a personal best. The pair also took reserve in the CDI Under 25 Intermediaire II.

Before entering an arena for what has become a must-watch ride, Matute Guimon saddles up with the Custom Saddlery’s Advantage R model. “I love the Custom Saddlery saddles,” the young man said. “I ride with the Advantage R because it’s comfortable and precise. It fits perfectly to my horses’ backs and I feel as if my seat aid is uninterrupted. Nice leather, great seat, and comfortable for the rider and the horse. Custom has a huge variety of trees so they really make the saddle customized.

“Don Diego Ymas and I entered the arena with the attitude of a champion. We knew that if we wanted to win we had to give it our absolute best. We had a totally mistake free test and there was lots of harmony and power!” said Matute Guimon. The young Spaniard is looking forward to saddling up next at CHIO Aachen with an eye trained on competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Custom Saddlery MVRs know that quality tack and equipment are integral to bringing out the best in their horses. Other top dressage riders who agree include MVRs Heather Blitz, Patrik Kittel, and Steffen Peters. Custom Saddlery offers professional saddle fitting services with expert saddle fitters across the United States and internationally, and manufactures high quality accessories including stirrup leathers, girths, and saddle pads. Find a catalog of Custom saddles and an expert saddle fitter near you at www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information, contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865