Sunshine Tour 2021

9 horses for 7 weeks of competition in Vejer de la Frontera… The programme of the international rider, Patricia Segura, was ambitious. Unfortunately, it was not possible to carry it out as planned due to the epidemic of rhinopneumonia (HVE1) which hit Spain, France and Italy at the same time, and forced the organisers to interrupt the competition after four weeks. Today, with all the horses in the team back in good health, it is possible to draw the sporting balance of this first competition of the year 2021.
Patricia Segura’s objective at the Circuito Hípico del Sol was twofold: on the one hand, to gradually get back on track with her three leading horses – Valseuse de Terlong, Venutot and Voisine de Normandie – who had returned to competition after the winter break, and on the other hand, to work on the young horses entered, four of which the Swiss-Spanish rider discovered for the first time.

40th international victory

The competition got off to a very good start, since in the first week, on the same day, in the “Small Tour”, Venutot gave Patricia Segura her 40th international victory, and Valseuse de Terlong her 41st, just ahead of Voisine de Normandie, in second place. The Spanish equestrian news website, ecuestre.es, which covered the competition, praised this “recital”. “I had decided to start quietly in 130-135 with Venutot so that he could have fun, in 135-140 with Valseuse who is always so fast even without forcing and in 140-145 with Voisine who is exceptional, but whom I still have to get to know better”, explains the rider. Good results confirmed afterwards with a new victory for Valseuse in the “Small Tour”, good rankings, a victory for Venutot and a 4th place for Voisine in the “Medium Tour”. All of this was done at the rate of two weekly runs in order to save the mounts for the last three weeks of competition which unfortunately did not take place.

Chagall DC, an extraordinary horse

Sunshine 2021 was then a time of discoveries. First and foremost was Chagall DC, a five-year-old stallion by Catchar Mail, acquired at the beginning of the year and competing for the first time (main picture). “In three weeks he has made huge progress. He started in 105 and finished clear in the 120 final. Chagall gives the impression that everything is easy for him. He is a horse with a future for very big events. He is beautiful, pleasant to ride and easy! “, Patricia Segura enthuses. Another beautiful promise: Kroonprinses, a 6 year old mare by Grand Slam Vdl, who confirmed her potential. “She is a mare with blood, respectful and very willing who still needs to gain experience”, describes the rider. Discoveries, but also reunions with Galilée (5 years old) and Fascia (6 years old) who also worked well… And this even after the end of the competition, since Patricia Segura stayed with her horses during part of the quarantine in Vejer de la Frontera and took advantage of this to spend time with them between rides and work in the forest. “We waited there for two and a half weeks to check that the horses were doing well and then set off again to secure stables so that they could finish their quarantine,” Patricia Segura said, thanking the Luca Moneta team for their care of the horses during this Sunshine. A Sunshine 2021 that was too short, but which nevertheless heralds a promising season… as soon as it can start again in Europe.

Photos : Moises Basallote, DR