CARMEN FRANCO - QUECA 

After graduating from the Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia) as an Architect in 1991 I decided to fly to Germany and learn how to ride the proper way. Thanks to Marco Bernal, I found a very nice family, owner of a successful Jumping and Dressage Stable in Sottrum. After three years of intensive equestrian schooling under the tutorship of the late Mr. Gerd Rietbrock, a highly renowned member of the Hanoverian Association and a National German Judge, his wife Kristin and his daughter Mrs. Anja Rietbrock, "Reitmeister" and "Golden Medal Award" of the German Equestrian Federation, I was awarded with the "BEREITER" title of the German Equestrian Federation in August 1995.

I returned to Colombia, my home country, with the goal to become an active and successful Member of the Colombian Equestrian Federation as a competitive Rider and Instructor, a Judge and a Member of the Dressage Technical Committee of said Federation.

As a RIDER and under the training mainly of Mr. THOMAS VON SAMSON (GER) and other clinicians such as Mr. GARY ROCKWELL (USA), Mr. JACQUES VAN DAELE (BEL), Mrs. JENNIE LORISTON-CLARKE (GBR), Mrs. IRMELI SUMMANEN (FIN), Miss STEPHANIE REXRODT (GER), Mr. UWE SPENLEN (GER), Mr. ERIC LETTE (SWE) and Mr. SIEGFRIED PEILICKE (GER) had the following results:

• Four Times COLOMBIAN NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPION
• Two Times COLOMBIAN NATIONAL DRESSAGE RESERVE-CHAMPION

                               

• 4 Times Winner as Individual and with the Team of the FEI WORLD DRESSAGE CHALLENGE Classes in Colombia. World's Best Result Test A 2001

Left: Mrs. Jennie Loriston-Clarke (GBR), Mrs. Irmeli Summanen (FIN) FEI Judges and Ms. Stephanie Rexrodt from PSI Performance Sales International. Award Ceremony Challenge 2001. CHINA TOWN. Owner: CARMEN FRANCO

Right: Mr. Jacques van Daele (BEL), Mr. Gary Rockwell (USA) FEI Judges and Mrs. María Margarita de Londoño President of the Colombian Equestrian Federation. Award Ceremony Challenge 2002. SAFARI. Owner: CLAUS SOEHLKE

 

• Best Athelete of the Equestrian League of Cundinamarca 2001

Here receiving the trophee from the hands of Cundinamarca's Governor Mr. Alvaro Cruz

 

As a TRAINER I kept working on my skills to develop my clients into successful dressage riders. I took clinics with Mr. HUBERTUS SCHMIDT (GER), Mr. SIEGFRIED PEILICKE (GER),  Mr. STEFAN HOLLANDERS (BEL), Mr. ERIC WILLEMS (NED) and Mr. ERIC LETTE (SWE). 

Some of those achievements were 4 Colombian National Dressage Champions in Children, Young Rider and Training Level. Also the Team of the League of Cundinamarca won the Gold Medal at the Colombian National Games in 2000 and  two of the riders on the team won the Gold and the Bronze Individual Medals for their performances.

 

Constanza Jaramillo and Rosen

Team and Individual Gold Medalist

Colombian National Games 2000

As a JUDGE I took clinics given by FEI Judges like Mrs. MARIETTE WITHAGES (BEL), Mrs. LINDA ZANG (USA), Dr. RAÚL CRUZ (COL), Mr. UWE SPENLEN (GER), Mr GERT STUMME (GER), Mr. WOJCIECH MARKOWSKI (POL) and Mr. TONY ANSPACH (GER).  I hold the category of Judge A in Colombia, the highest level you can reach in our country.

Since I came to Florida I have had success not only as a rider achieving:

• Suncoast Horse Show - Dressage Champion 2006 Prix St. Georges Level with Copenhagen RL, Owned by Mr. William Robinson - Robinson Lusitanos
• Winner Gold Coast Fall Fling, November 2006. Intermediaire I. Copenhagen RL.
• Short List for Colombian Dressage Team for Pan-American Games 2007 with Copenhagen RL. Thanks to the help of a group of excellent professionals:

Dressage Trainers: Mrs. Allyn Schiavone, Mr. Thomas von Samson and Mr. Marco Bernal 

Sports Director: Mr. Juan De Brigard

Veterinarian: Dr. Ben Schachter - Wellington Equine Associates

Chiropractor: Dr. Steve Engle

Farriers: Mr. Herb Checchi, Mr. Arnie Gervasio and Mr. Don Later

Braider: Pam Kwarchak

 

 

Lesson with Mrs. ALLYN SCHIAVONE  trainer in charge of

 the process for Pan-American Games. COPENHAGEN RL.

 

My clients had many successful shows too:

TWIN RIVERS SADDLE CLUB

YEAR END AWARDS SHOW SEASON 2005/2006

Darlene Moree and Calypso: CHAMPION FIRST LEVEL

Rose Miller and Tacoma: CHAMPION TRAINING LEVEL

Dr. Janet Hibel and Valentines 'n Roses: RESERVE CHAMPION TRAINING LEVEL

Ruth Cardwell and Westyn

SUNCOAST SUNBURN CLASSIC 1

August 26, 2006 - TAMPA, FL

Ruth Cardwell and Westyn: HIGH POINT AWARD 79.231%, VINTAGE CUP RIDER AWARD, HANOVERIAN RIBBON AND TRAINING LEVEL CHAMPION

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