Wellington, Florida at Elemis and Cinnia Ranch owned and managed by Yeguada de Ymas Photo: Maria Guimón
Cristina Danguillecourt and Javier Bacariza are a strong force to watch! From a super breeding and training facility in the West of Spain to international FEI success through the Ymas horses in Wellington, Florida and Europe. Their horses grow into strong youngsters in sight of beautiful European mountains, with a state of the art breeding laboratory, and a training spa to ensure the horses reach the correct development. Their horses are started and trained to unparalleled success in Spain and Wellington, Florida overseen by three time Olympian, Juan Matute. The time, effort, and passion of Yeguada de Ymas (Translated to mean: Stud Farm of Ymas) really makes a ripple effect on the sport of Dressage on a USA National level, a Spanish International level, and an overall inspiration through the international success of the young rising star Matute family.Yeguada de Ymas works to develop:
Yeguada de Ymas farm in Spain Photo: Yeguada de Ymas
The farm in Spain: With a breeding stable in the West of Spain, the Ymas name truly develops the best horses. These horses are specially gifted in their movements. The farm continues the tradition of breeding PRE horses but also CDE (Spanish Sport horses) to promote and continue to develop the horses into competitive movers on the world stage in dressage.
The Breeding: With a full-time laboratory for the horses at the farm, Yeguada de Ymas has its own complete Veterinary team for the breeding. The Laboratory includes embryo transfers, the best in breeding technology, and a whole lot more.
The Breaking: At three and a half years of age, the young horses begin to be trained under saddle (very light initiation due to their age) and depending on their aptitude. The number of youngsters depends from one year to another, but both male and female are prepared for training.
A Scholarship Program:
Yeguada de Ymas farm in Spain Photo: Yeguada de Ymas
Yeguada de Ymas offers a training course for future riders of Dressage. The applicant must know that knowledge of Spanish is not a requirement. The applicant must send a video of 8 minutes of duration where he/she is seen walking, trotting and cantering. Optionally, one can send an additional video of a test. This video can be sent in DVD or mp4 format to the following address: Yeguada de Ymas C/ Leréz nº2 , 28002-Madrid, España. Please include in this packet your contact information. Riders will compete in Spain and there may be an option of continuing 6 months training in Wellington, Florida, USA. The riders selected will have a 5 year contract, which includes the 2 years of training (housing is provided during these two years at the Yeguada de Ymas).
Two Scholarship participants continue to thrive and grow, now in Wellington, Florida at Elemis and Cinnia Ranch owned and managed by Yeguada de Ymas.
Pau Gómez Molina Scholarship rider for Yeguada de Ymas Photo: Yeguada de Ymas
Pau Gómez Molina who now trains in Wellington, Florida said, "I won a scholarship that the Yeguada de Ymas offered in Spain. The basis of the scholarship was to help young dressage riders improve their abilities. I have been able to do this thanks to the famous Spanish trainer Juan Matute. With him and the horses offered to me by the Yeguada de Ymas, I have had the possibility to compete 20 times. I have obtained the bronze and silver medal of the USEF. Among other abilities Juan Matute has helped me learn to compete with different age group horses which have widened my skills. I am able to ride at Prix St George, and if needed, I am able to compete a five year old horse. My goal for this summer is to keep working hard and to prepare myself for next winter season."
Carlos Rodríguez Villanueva Scholarship rider for Yeguada de Ymas Photo: Yeguada de Ymas
Carlos Rodríguez Villanueva said, “I am currently training horses of the Yeguada de Ymas under the supervision of Juan Matute. This year I have ridden horses of various breeds and different age groups. I have also been able to compete and have done very well. My goal is to be able to reach a higher level of skills to be able to compete in more difficult tests than what I have done so far. In the mornings I train with Juan Matute, and in the afternoons I usually ride in the track installations of Elemis and Cinnia Ranch seeking to relax the horse with a leisure work out at the extraordinary landscaping that surrounds them. I feel privileged to be a part of the team and be able to train with Juan Matute, ride the horses of the Yeguada de Ymas, and enjoy with them the great installations the Yeguada de Ymas has at Wellington. During the summer I will continue to train the horses that will not be traveling to Europe, and I will also compete in some of the summer tests. However, what I am most looking forward is to participate in next seasons competitions and successfully reap in the work I have placed in the horses I ride.”
Yeguada de Ymas International Caliber Horses:
Jamaicano de Ymas III prepares to qualify for 2014 Verden World Young Horse Finals with Juan Matute Jr. in Europe Photo: Maria Guimón
Jamaicano de Ymas III is the off-spring of Jamaicana IV and Estanquero de Ymas. Jamaicano de Ymas III prepares to qualify for 2014 Verden World Young Horse Finals with Juan Matute Jr. in Europe.
Cristina Danguillecourt shared, “Since he was born, Jamaicano de Ymas III proved to be special. Watching him play in the fields with his peers’ one could observe his natural spring, reunion capabilities and extreme faculty of extension from his very first steps. We didn’t start to train him until he was 3 and a half years of age, and the actual riding and training did not start until he was 4 years of age. He likes to play in the paddock before his training session, and I believe that helps his happy horse attitude and his ability to concentrate.”
“He is a future Grand Prix horse and that can’t be said of many of the five year old horses. His trainer Juan Matute and rider Juan Matute Guimón have done a wonderful job to help Jamaicano flourish with all his abilities. I wish them both the best and have my fingers crossed that this horse with his rider will prove themselves worthy to be at the World Championship in Verden 2014, and that the judges will see and agree on this point. We all, at the Yeguada de Ymas, have no doubt in our minds that they are!”
And International Riders:
Sereno de Ymas owned by Yeguada de Ymas ridden by Paula Matute Photo: Maria Guimón
The 2014 Florida winter season proved successful for eighteen Year old Paula Matute. She worked hard to establish 70% scores throughout the season on a score of Ymas horses at various levels from national to FEI Grand Prix. She said, “I am very happy to be part of such a great project. It is very exciting to see the progress of these horses day by day, watching them on the camera being born to following them all the way throughout the journey makes this a very unique and unforgettable experience. As for today, most of the horses that are being trained at Yeguada de Ymas are below the age of 7 except for Tarpan Ymas and Don Diego Ymas. These two are the eldest of the collection currently competing at Grand Prix. To be able to ride Grand Prix at such a young age gives me the chance to learn and prepare my young ones correctly from the very beginning, looking for the correct feelings that will one day be needed for a Grand Prix. Having the proper scale of training according to the horse’s age is perhaps the key to make a future star.”
“As far as my projects , I am currently working on 2 with Yeguada de Ymas:
Sereno de Ymas is my youngest one, Sereno is a PRE Stallion - currently a 6 years old with an outstanding capacity to learn new information quickly. He is extremely smart, and this is why I believe he will be a future horse. Personally I believe it is key that a horse has the capacity to hold on to everything that is being thought and apply it in the ring. Perhaps that is what I like most about Sereno, his honesty. Although he is a strong stallion, his mind stays with me at home just like at the show. I know I can count on him. My goal with him is to keep training for a future Grand Prix horse.
Tarpan Ymas owned by Yeguada de Ymas ridden by Paula Matute Photo: Maria Guimón
And, my eldest, Tarpan Ymas. He was purchased by Yeguada de Ymas some months ago from Spain with the expectation of making me a Grand Prix rider. What we didn't except is that it would happen only few months after. Tarpan and I have a very special bond which was easy to spot out from the very first day I sat on him. It is because of this bond that we have been able to progress so quickly into the Grand Prix. My dream for this summer is to participate at the CHIO AACHEN CDIO in the U25 division. However the foreshadow for the Wellington 2015 season will be to complete the open Grand Prix tour. This is all truly exciting. I am working towards horses for the future, having a group of young horses with such quality makes me dream that one day it will turn into a group of Grand Prix horses that I’ve built on my own. I have to thank Yeguada de Ymas - our generous sponsor for believing that teenagers like us can make this dream happen.”
Jamaicano de Ymas III prepares to qualify for 2014 Verden World Young Horse Finals with Juan Matute Jr. in Europe Photo: Maria Guimón
The 2014 Wellington Nations Cup Bronze Medal winner Juan Matute Jr said, “It's a pleasure to be able to ride a horse like Jamaicano de Ymas, a stunning 5 year old chesnut PRE Stallion bred by Cristina Danguillecourt and Javier Bacariza in their breeding facility in Spain. He is smart, teddy-bear sweet, and super talented.
In the barn, even though he is an alpha stallion, he is always friendly and funny. However, my favorite part of his personality is that he is able to show these qualities in his everyday work as well as in the ring at a competition. Even though he is young, due to his maturity and ability to quickly process and understand the material, it feels as if I am riding an experienced Grand Prix veteran.
Our main goal with him is to make sure he keeps getting the right training and positive experience in the ring for future competitions. However, this upcoming summer we will be showing around Europe with the goal of obtaining a qualifier score to be able to represent our country at the Young Horse World Championships which takes place in the north of Germany, Verden. In order to qualify in our country for this multicultural competition, Jamaicano and I need to obtain a score of 80%. Even though this score is not easy to achieve, I have no doubt that Jamaicano's quality would make our country proud.”
