Dr. Tracy Durham and her amazing 11 year old Lusitano stallion, Voluntario Interagro, rode into the ribbons this fall, taking first place in the Adequan®/USDF Final All Breed Award in the Musical Freestyle with a score of 65.067%. In addition to these wins, Voluntario also participated in the most recent Arthur Kottas clinic, hosted by Bear Spot Farm in Concord, MA, where Kottas suggested that he should be taken to 4th Level or Intermediare I.
“He is a brave and steadfast horse with a wicked sense of humor!” Durham describes. “While he has 3 lovely gaits and unlimited ability for the most collected work, it is his charisma and ability to focus that makes him such a good competitor. I am so proud of Voluntario’s success in the USDF All Breeds program. His year end championship in the Musical Freestyle, and 3rd place in the 3rd Level Open Division were accomplished with a minimal number of competitions, which truly reflects his talent.”
Durham and Voluntario came to be a team through some very generous support of family and friends, as well as with the help of her mentor of 35 years, Carol Lavell. However, it was the connection to Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga of Interagro Lusitanos that brought the two together. Durham explains that after the 2005 auction, her friends and supporters banded together to purchase a horse for her as a gift, and they wanted one that she could take all the way to Grand Prix. “Dr. Paulo helped a local trainer to import two stallions and offered Carol and myself our pick for the reserve prices from the auction, and I picked the bay stallion! My friends’ and Dr. Paulo’s generosity allowed me the horse of my dreams, and I hope Voluntario’s success is a worthy ‘Thank you’ to them all. I’m really planning on Voluntario becoming my next Grand Prix horse, and in the meantime, we’ve been enjoying a fabulous journey along the way!”
The Interagro horse is a modern Lusitano, a horse that excels in many disciplines, from dressage and driving to jumping and working equitation. Interagro horses can be seen driving, working, and training on the farm in Brazil everyday. Interagro is committed to preserving the pure bloodlines of the Lusitano breed, and Interagro bloodlines include some of the most respected bloodlines in the breed such as Farao (JHC), Nirvana Interagro, Ofensor (MV), Xique-Xique (CI) and Yacht (SA).
Interagro also offers guests and clients a unique way to truly immerse themselves in the Luistano breed and the equestrian culture of Interagro through Destination Lusitano. From riding an Interagro stallion across the rolling Brazilian countryside to enjoying Portuguese cuisine, Destination Lusitano caters to each guests needs and can be tailored to their interests. In addition, the 600 Lusitanos that call Interagro home make Destination Lusitano the ultimate equestrian getaway.