Black Tie Interagro, a five-year-old Lusitano owned by Tracy Aubin of Connecticut, was the recipient of the High Point Lusitano Year End Award at the 2010 Gold Coast Dressage Association banquet.
Ridden by Heather Bender, Black Tie Interagro won the year-end award by scoring a 72% in a Training Level 4 class.
The Lusitano CollectionTM, which hosts The Lusitano CollectionTM International Horse Auction, sponsored the Year End Lusitano Award. “I think it is amazing that he won because it was his first horse show,” Aubin said. “But he is a very fast learner so I am not surprised. I am showing him in dressage, but my goal is to do eventing with him.”
Aubin said that Black Tie Interagro, who was part of the 2010 Lusitano CollectionTM International Horse Auction, is taking to his life as an event horse with ease. “He is muscling up and very happy. He really seems to like it,” Aubin said. “We might do some beginner eventing next year but we are taking it slow with the jumping to ensure that he has a solid foundation.”
Aubin said another one of her goals is to ride Black Tie Interagro in a pas de deux next year at the Equine Affair. “I keep Black Tie at the Connecticut Equestrian Center, which is owned by Athene von Hirschberg, and she has a Lusitano named Zulu Interagro. Our goal is to ride them in a pas de deux. Next year is going to be a really busy year, but Black Tie is an absolute pleasure and I am really looking forward to it,” Aubin said.
“We are very excited for Tracy and Black Tie Interagro and look forward to watching their career as it progresses.
Lusitano’s are talented in so many disciplines, and we are sure Black Tie will excel whether he is galloping cross country or performing a pas de deux,” Gonzaga said. “The Lusitano CollectionTM is committed to presenting top quality Lusitanos and we are excited to support the equestrian community and the owners, trainers, and riders of these spectacular horses by sponsoring the High Point Lusitano Award.” The Lusitano CollectionTM will continue to sponsor the equestrian community by giving out a High Score Lusitano Award at Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA) and Wellington Classic Dressage Association (WCD) shows during the winter dressage circuit. Many Lusitanos compete at these shows in a variety of levels, from Introductory to Grand Prix, and so the award is made available to amateurs as well as seasoned FEI riders.
The Lusitano CollectionTM will present the High Point Lusitano Award at the following GCDA and WCD shows: the GCDA Fall Fling, November 13-14, 2010; the WCD Holiday Challenge, December 11-12, 2010; the GCDA Opener CDI, January 21-23, 2011; the WCD Spring Challenge CDI, February 10-13, 2011; and the WCD Challenge II.
The Lusitano CollectionTM International Horse Auction will take place in the United States, for the fourth consecutive year, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida on February 23-26, 2011. The auction, which features horses from the world’s top Lusitano breeders, gives interested buyers the unique opportunity to purchase Brazilian horses without the hassle of import fees or quarantine periods.