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High
Hopes for Pallas Interagro
Archive: October 2002
Pallas
Interagro, a five-year-old stallion, owned by John and Harriet
Body of First Strike Lusitano Ltd. is now in training at their
ranch in Texas with Grand Prix rider Ken Hart and showing great
promise.
"We
anticipate he'll do extremely well," said John of the stunning
bay 15.3hh Lusitano who is already jumping six-foot fences.
"By our expectations he will progress on quickly to recognized
US Show Jumping divisions by spring 2002."
The
Bodys first spotted Interagro Lusitanos in action at a local
show in Fort Worth where they also met Interagro's American
agent, Peter Van Borst. "We were
amazed both with their performance and temperament," said John.
"The horses had arrived from Brazil via Miami, and although
they underwent a climate change from summer to winter they remained
calm, in control and relaxed in their new American surroundings.
They performed with great ease and ability at the show where
they came first in the 'Under twos'. Since then we've never
ceased to be awed by their determined spirit yet gentle nature."
Pallas
is stabled at the Body's breeding/training ranch in Aubrey,
TX where Ken trains in partnership with his wife and dressage
rider, Joanne Hart. The Bodys have imported four other younger
Lusitanos including two-year-old colts, Thales Interagro - who
won second place at the 2001 International
Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association Nationals - and
Testementario Interagro. They also own two fillies. Thalia Interagro
finished second in her class 'Portuguese Fillies 2 & Under'
at the 2001 Nationals while her stablemate, Tess - an Isabella
filly and the only one of her kind in the US - finished third.
The Bodys have training plans for all their horses but their
main focus is currently on Pallas.
"We're
banking on a lot from this horse," said John. "We are using
Pallas as an ambassador for Lusitanos. He is not for sale but
will be shown off in 2002. We're very excited about it."
Ken,
with an experienced eye after training horses for 25 years,
is also enthused by what he has seen so far. "He [Pallas] has
an ability to turn quickly and adjust his stride with ease yet
be able to jump with tremendous athleticism," he said. "He also
shows the scope to jump across wide oxers and, for his size,
jumps with great power which is characteristic of the strong
hind end of the Lusitano breed."
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