CSI Maeza Backs the Future of Equestrian Sport and Spanish Horse Breeding with Two Special Trophies

Sariego, June 29, 2026 –

CSI Maeza gets underway this Friday with three action-packed days of competition featuring classes counting towards the Longines FEI World Ranking and bringing together some of the finest national and international riders on the circuit. Beyond the sporting spectacle, however, the event will once again shine a spotlight on two key pillars for the future of the sport: young talent and Spanish sport horse breeding.

To underline this commitment, the competition programme will feature two special awards: the Sariego Town Council Trophy for the Best Under-25 Rider and the Comarca de la Sidra Trophy for the Best Spanish Sport Horse (Caballo de Deporte Español – CDE) placed in the Maeza Grand Prix.

The Future of Spanish Show Jumping Comes to Maeza

The Sariego Town Council Trophy will bring together a new generation of riders who, despite their young age, are already competing at the highest international level and represent the immediate future of Spanish and international show jumping.

Among the standout names is Lucía Fernández Hidalgo, 19, who recently won team silver at the Junior European Championships and became the only Spanish rider to produce a faultless round in the Grand Prix at the CSIO Compiègne. She also recently made her debut in a 1.55m Grand Prix.

Also competing will be the reigning Spanish Champion María Giralt, 19, who continues to establish herself on the international circuit with major victories and consistently strong performances over recent seasons.

Another leading contender is Juan Riva, 20, a regular member of the Spanish national teams. This year he played a key role in Spain’s Nations Cup victory at Compiègne with a decisive double clear round and went on to claim team bronze at the Future Champions event in Hagen.

The international contingent is led by Guatemala’s Valentina Arenas, 22, one of the most promising young riders on the circuit after recently winning a 1.45m class at the Longines Global Champions Tour in St. Tropez. She is joined by Italy’s Chloe Bertolini, 21, a member of the Italian Young Rider team who also competed at last year’s CSI Maeza, and Norway’s Jenny Krogsæter, 25, one of the breakout stars of the European circuit following her impressive FEI World Cup debut in Oslo and a sixth-place finish in the Helsinki Grand Prix.

The Under-25 line-up is completed by several other highly promising Spanish riders, including Celia Cobo, 19, a European medallist and regular member of the Spanish team; Catalonia’s Álex Codina, 24, who has delivered notable international performances at venues such as Basel and St. Tropez; Asturias’ Daniel Ocaña, 18, the reigning Asturias Junior Champion; and Luis Ortiz, 22, who was recently selected for Spain’s senior team to compete in the Nations Cup in Lier.

Spanish Sport Horses to Receive Their Own Recognition

CSI Maeza’s commitment to the future of the sport also extends to the Comarca de la Sidra Trophy for the Best Spanish Sport Horse (Caballo de Deporte Español – CDE) placed in the Maeza Grand Prix, an award that recognises the outstanding work carried out by Spanish breeders and stud farms.

Among the contenders are some of the finest Spanish-bred horses currently competing on the international stage. Leading the field is Tirano, the horse with which Ismael García Roque represented Spain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the pair produced the best individual result for the Spanish jumping team.

Also in contention are horses such as Helia de Maeza, bred at Yeguada Maeza and now firmly established at 1.45m Longines Ranking level under Dutch rider Eric van der Vleuten Jr., together with the young Júpiter de Maeza, another of the stud’s outstanding prospects and the horse featured on this year’s official event poster.

Spanish breeding will also be represented by a number of top-class combinations, including Ali Baba HT and Santa Ana HT, ridden by José Bono, who claimed a podium finish in the Maeza Grand Prix with the former in 2023.

Javier González Fraga will compete with Sonic JGF and Cornet Sound JGF. Sonic JGF arrives at Maeza after recently winning the opening 1.45m class at the CSI2* in Matosinhos and following one of the standout performances in the CSI3* Casas Novas Grand Prix in 2025, confirming the excellent form of the partnership.

The line-up also includes Lezo, the reigning Portuguese National Champion with Rafael Dinis; Nina Puigroq, recent winner of the Moura Tours Valencia Grand Prix with Laura Roquet; Ibon, Ordesa and Prio YM, ridden by Luis Fernández Gil Fournier; Nemo de Porceyo with Inés Hernández Yanguas; Polyhorn del Salz with Sofía Castellanos; Xanadú de Olid with Nicolás Cobo; and the promising Hades de Maeza, bred at the stud and competing this weekend with Asturian rider Jairo Junquera, with whom the mare has already earned a silver medal at the Asturias Championships in the five-year-old category.

Santiago Núñez Riva will also travel to Maeza with several of the most promising Spanish Sport Horses in his stable, including Kilahuea de Capellán, a Spanish Championship medallist and representative of Spanish breeding at the WBFSH Studbooks World Championships; Valenza de Capellán, winner of the ANCADES Final for six-year-olds; and Valquiria de Capellán, another exciting prospect for Spanish sport horse breeding.

With these two special trophies, CSI Maeza reaffirms its commitment to the development of the sport by supporting both the next generation of riders and the continued excellence of Spanish horse breeding. This long-term vision complements a world-class sporting programme and will once again make Asturias one of the leading stages of international show jumping throughout the weekend.