15/05/2024
Love this so I just had to share! 🤩
Grand Prix Dressage Zebra, Carletto At The Royal Dutch Equestrian Sport Center
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to witness Baroque horses excelling in high-level dressage competitions. Among these breeds, the Iberian horses, such as Portugal's Lusitano and Spain's Andalusian or Pura Raza Española (PRE), are particularly renowned for their trainable temperaments and exceptional talent in advanced collected work. Even Friesian horses are gaining recognition as a breed capable of competing with warmbloods. However, there is another Baroque breed that you may not have heard of before - the Murgese horse.
Originating from the southern region of Italy, specifically Puglia, the Murgese breed has a long history dating back hundreds of years. During the 15th and 16th centuries, these horses were highly favored by the Italian cavalry. Unfortunately, their numbers dwindled to the brink of extinction.
These remarkable horses, often displaying a striking appearance, are typically black or occasionally blue roan. They possess a powerful build, excellent balance, and high intelligence. One particular Murgese horse making waves in the dressage scene in the Netherlands is an 11-year-old stallion named Carletto. He is believed to be the only Murgese horse in the world competing at the grand prix level.
Under the guidance of Dutch-Italian rider Jolanda Adelaar, Carletto recently made his debut at this level, impressively scoring 66.9% at a national show in Velsen-Zuid, the Netherlands. Jolanda expresses her satisfaction, stating, "Everything I envisioned Carletto achieving is now becoming a reality. Like many Baroque horse breeds, his strengths shine through in piaffe and passage." Jolanda is no stranger to achieving success with unconventional breeds, as she began her dressage career riding a Fjord horse. She purchased Carletto eight years ago as an untrained young horse from his breeder in Puglia. She has since trained him up the levels at her home in Brabant, Netherlands, and now aspires to compete with him at the international grand prix level.
Jolanda affectionately refers to Carletto as "Rocky Balboa" due to his underdog status and his journey from humble beginnings.
