Last year, Spain was thrilled with the national victory in the Nations Cup of the CSIO 3* in Vejer.
Over a thousand horse-and-rider pairs are competing this week at the Dehesa Montenmedio facilities, with today's highly anticipated Nations Cup. Top-level participants include Jerome Guery, Giulia Martinengo, and Billy Twomey.
Today, starting at noon, the Nations Cup will be played. The four members of the Spanish team will be Eduardo Álvarez Aznar, Fanfa, Teresa Blázquez, and Tati Márquez Galobares. Jesús Garmendia will be the fifth member.
The Spanish team will start in fourth place, doing so in this order: First Tati with "Aldo", second Fanfa with "Ezilis du Mesnil", third the host Teresa Blázquez with "Nasa de Toxandria" and fourth the current Spanish Absolute Champion pair, Edu & "D' Orient Batilly".
Tati Márquez and "Aldo du Manoir" form a highly experienced pair, fresh off a strong performance at the CSIO 5* Nations Cup in Barcelona. Manuel Fernández Saro (aka Fanfa), an Olympic rider, is always a reliable asset to the national team. He recently sold "Jarlín de Torres," his first horse, but will have no problem rising to the occasion with "Ezilis du Mesnil." Teresa Blázquez and "Nasa" are competing on home soil and are a very consistent pair. Eduardo Álvarez Aznar, who needs little introduction, recently won the gold medal at the Spanish Championships with this same horse, on this very same course.
The team, captained by Carolo López Quesada, has a great chance today. Those lucky enough to be there will see it trackside; those of us far away will have to be content to follow it through Clip My Horse.
Photo: Equus Media
