Exploring Equestrian Excellence Across Borders
Mateo Rodríguez Aguirre, the former Secretary General of the Chilean Horse Breeders Federation, is currently embarking on an enriching journey through equestrian centers, engaging with prominent breeders and trainers in Belgium, Spain, and Morocco. His travels have been marked by meaningful interactions and impressive experiences in the equestrian world, reflecting his deep passion for the discipline.
While in Meknes, Morocco, Rodríguez received a call from CaballoyRodeo, prompting him to share his travel insights. He expressed his satisfaction with the diverse locations he visited, starting with Belgium, where he had the opportunity to meet Eduardo Gouveia, a Brazilian show jumping horse breeder who has settled in Belgium. Gouveia manages eleven mares and sells their offspring, ranging from newborns to those already jumping competitively. Rodríguez also attended a major competition featuring over 2,000 show jumping horses, highlighting the vibrant equestrian scene in Belgium.
Rodríguez's journey continued in Spain, where he caught up with Alexis Reta, an Argentine trainer based in Seville, who is well-acquainted with Rodríguez. He also spent time with Francisco Núñez Jr., who is currently training under Professor Rafael Soto, and had a day-long visit with Manuel Carvajal, touring the stud farm of Fernando Peña, known for his expertise in cattle handling. The connections he made included notable figures from the 1990s and early 2000s vaquera dressage scene, such as Rafael Román and Juan Carlos Román, as well as classical training expert José María Sánchez, who trained the Chilean team for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. Additionally, he met with José Fuentes, a distinguished judge in vaquera dressage.
Rodríguez then headed to Morocco, where he is continuing his itinerary. “Yesterday, we visited an equestrian center near Rabat, and today I am with Youssef Alá, the Vice President of the Association of Berber and Arab-Berber Horse Breeders. We are touring his facilities and observing his horses,” he shared.
Reflecting on his travels thus far, Rodríguez emphasized the vast potential for learning, particularly in technology. He was impressed by innovations used for mares, such as devices placed in the vulva that alert breeders when a mare is about to give birth, a practice common among high-value horses that he found remarkably surprising. Moreover, he noted the continuous learning opportunities in high-level training, engaging in discussions about horse training techniques and observing how horses are handled, which always adds to his knowledge.
“We will continue exploring Morocco, visiting different Berber horse studs,” he concluded, underscoring his dedication to expanding his horizons within the equestrian field.
As reported by m.caballoyrodeo.cl.
