Wellington, FL (September 13, 2011) – Peter van Borst, International Sales Director for Interagro Lusitanos of Brazil, has been traveling to the Brazilian farm for the past 20 years and said each time he drives through the former coffee plantation’s rolling lush hills, now home of the world’s finest Lusitano horses, he feels as if he has discovered the “hidden valley of Lusitanos.” The exclusive, world-renown farm, situated on 1,200 acres outside of the small town of Itapira, about an hour and a half from São Paulo, is now offering private visits to the Brazilian farm for horse enthusiasts wishing to purchase an Interagro Lusitano.
“I travel to Interagro often and now interested buyers can accompany me, stay at the farm and experience the magic first-hand,” van Borst said. “The Interagro Lusitano farm is like no other place on earth. It wasn’t built to impress the public, in fact the only way you can visit the farm is through private invitation. I will say it is quite emotional when you come around the bend and view the farm for the first time.”
Mr. van Borst said the trips will give prospective buyers a chance to experience the life and culture of Interagro Lusitanos and take home the horse of their dreams. “They will stay at the farm, enjoy the joyous Brazilian culture and the lifestyle of the farm, as well as have the chance to see the horses, ride and drive them and become part of the Interagro family. It really is an incredible opportunity, and of course I can’t say enough about the quality of the Interagro horses. The cross-selection of Lusitano bloodlines that Interagro offers, as well as the selection of lineages, is something you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world.”
The lineages at Interagro include Andrade, Coudelaria Nacional, Veiga and other bloodlines. “Interagro breeds for a competitive style of Lusitano. The result is a scopier, elegant, and athletic horse that is suitable for amateur and professional riders alike,” Mr. van Borst said. “Interagro’s horses are bred to meet the demand for modern Iberian horses in the competitive world.”
Interagro, which is the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world and winner of the prestigious “Best Breeder of the Year” Award by ABPSL in 2009/2010, will also give prospective buyers the rare opportunity to see an entire “family” of horses. “A buyer will get the chance to see the “living pedigree” of an individual horse, which outlines the noble lineage and unique bloodlines of an Interagro Lusitano,” van Borst said, adding that he has watched countless Lusitanos from Interagro become successful over the years.
Mr. Peter van Borst, who has trained high-performance horses for the last 35 years and specializes in Iberian horses, said, “I have exported horses all over the world and I will work with the buyers to handle international transportation and everything else involved with buying a horse and getting it back to their farm.” While it might sound cliché, a trip to Interagro Lusitanos really is a once in a lifetime trip. “The visits will immerse you in a world of Lusitanos with bloodlines that you would have to travel the entire countryside of Portugal to find. It is certainly something people will never forget,” Mr. van Borst said. “Interagro has exported over 250 horses to the US alone.”
Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga, founder of Interagro, said the future of Interagro is entirely devoted to the preservation of the unique Interagro bloodlines and the development of the modern Lusitano horse. “For that purpose Interagro keeps an average of 150 exceptional brood mares and a group of 25 top quality stallions, including some of the most famous in the breed like Farao (JHC), Nirvana Interagro, and many others. Before them, other fantastic stallions like Ofensor (MV) and Yacht (SA) served our mares. Nothing similar, in number and quality, can be found at any single place in the world,” Gonzaga said.
The Interagro horse is a modern Lusitano, a horse that excels in the traditional equestrian disciplines, from dressage and driving to jumping and working equitation. “To assure that our goals are and will always be met, we maintain the highest standards in breeding, training and post-sale assistance,” Gonzaga said. “We have a permanent staff of more than 60 competent professionals and also employ a group of renowned foreign professionals as consultants.”
For more information on Interagro Lusitanos, 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 800 horses populate the 1200-acre ranch outside São Paolo. 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. Interagro Lusitano horses are now successfully competing, and winning, on four continents.
For more information contact:
Johnny Robb – JRPR, Inc.
561-753-4608
jrpr@mac.com