The Lusitano breed was in the spotlight at the recent United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention in Jacksonville, Florida, when an award-winning Lusitano took part in the symposium and two lucky audience members won tickets to the upcoming 2011 Lusitano Collection^TM International Horse Auction. The auction, which will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, on February 23-26, 2011, will feature Lusitano horses from the world’s top Lusitano breeders.

Dressage rider Leah Winston showed the six-year-old Lusitano stallion Amintas Interagro, owned by Al and Sherie Zobec of Z Stallions in Palm City, Florida, in the USDF symposium. Winston has found success with Amintas in the FEI Six-Year-Old division and believes the stallion has Grand Prix potential.

“Amintas is my pride and joy,” Winston said, adding that she co-owns him with the Zobecs. “Although the level we were demonstrating was below the level he is currently competing, it was great exposure for us and the Lusitano breed. The judges for the symposium, Gary Rockwell and Lilo Fiore, treated us very fairly and helped me with some of the issues that actually carry through to the level I ride Amintas in now. Gary even commented that he is a very nice young horse and has a great work ethic, very serious and will be fun to train up through the levels. He also commented on the relationship that he feels we have developed.”

Winston wasn’t the only one excited about Lusitanos, as California horsewomen Becki Cook and Andrea Duncan won tickets to the Lusitano Collection^TM International Horse Auction. “I am so humbled to have the opportunity to see these majestic horses in such a hands on, personal way. What an incredible gift!  I cannot thank the Lusitano Collection enough,” said Duncan. “I absolutely squealed with delight when they called my name at USDF. I heard a lot of groans when folks realized they hadn’t won. I even ran into a gal whose name is Andrea and her last name starts with a D who was so bummed when she realized it wasn’t her name that had been selected, poor thing!”

 Duncan, and her trainer Cook, traveled to the USDF convention to accept an award for Duncan’s colt, Rafael, who was number one in the nation in his age group in the Oldenburg GOV. “I am very excited to be able to go to the auction. I am really interested to see the breed from the eyes of those most experienced and hopefully educate myself further on the Lusitano,” Cook said. “I enjoy the baroque breeds and feel strongly that in order to understand the modern sport horse one must go beyond the modern breed books and delve into the breeding programs of our founding breeds.”

The Lusitano Collection^TM International Horse Auction is called the “most exciting sport horse auction in the United States” and fans of the magnificent Lusitano breed are already gearing up for the 2011 festivities. Duncan and Cook’s free tickets, valued at $350, will give them the chance to attend the welcome reception, horse showcase, auction and catered dinner.

The auction also gives prospective buyers the unique opportunity to purchase Brazilian horses without the hassle of import fees or quarantine periods. In addition, the horses all come with vet checks and well-documented histories. “The buyers have a wonderful advantage of knowing that these are some of the best Lusitanos we have to offer. Interagro has over 800 horses and we have known the horses we send to auction since they were born, and have been with them every step of the way,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, Managing Director of Interagro Farm in Brazil, which will offer horses in the auction.

Interested buyers can ride their dream horses in advance by taking part in the horse tryouts on Wednesday, February 23^rd and Thursday February 24^th. Veterinarian check ups will take place on Friday, February 25^th followed by a horse showcase at 6:00 in the evening, featuring professionals riding the exquisite auction horses and showing their training, temperament, and natural gaits. The weekend will culminate with the gala dinner and auction on Saturday, February 26^th, beginning at 5:00 pm. On auction night, the air will be filled with electricity as the bidding heats up and one lucky buyer after another becomes the proud owner of their dream horse. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.lusitanocollection.com.

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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. The annual Lusitano Collection^TM International Horse Auction gives buyers a unique opportunity to evaluate, experience, and purchase top-quality Lusitano horses in the U.S. without the complications of importation and quarantine. Interagro Lusitano horses are now successfully competing, and winning, on four continents.