“I am a 17-year-old Amazon who has just entered her last year as a youth player,” Catuxa González explains to LA RAZÓN. His relationship with horses began very early, almost naturally. “When I was little I went to a nursery that had ponies and, from there, everything grew. I started with classes at an equestrian center in Santiago and progressed little by little with different horses that helped me a lot in the process.”
Within the equestrian world, the Show Jump It was always his destiny. “What made me choose this discipline were the sensations it conveys: doing a course with your horse, the activation, that feeling of momentum,” he says. “Since I was little it was always what I liked the most, I loved watching the jumping classes and I dreamed of being there.”
Until recently, Catuxa competed with “Amelie”an experienced mare with whom he had “incredibly good seasons.” However, there came a turning point: “We had been together for many years and little by little we were always getting a little stuck in the same thing,” she acknowledges. “We take the decision to sell it so that she would continue to shine ahead and I could evolve sportingly.” That change opened the door to a new partner: a young foal that attracted attention for its origins and, above all, for its character. “The first time I tried it I thought it would be a long roadbut one that we would be proud of in the future. There I was clear that I wanted him to be my new partner,” he explains.
Major challenge
Taking on the training of a young horse while it is still young is a huge challenge, but Catuxa faces it with enthusiasm and ambition. “I’m very excited. I know it will be a long road, but very emotional, and I think it will give me a lot as an equestrian. I really want to learn in this new stage.”
In this process, the patience It has become the basis of everything. “In the short time that I have been with my horse I have realized that the most important thing is patience. If you have that, the rest follows itself: the trustthe connection…”. A relationship that is not one-way. “I have to teach him, but he is also going to teach me a lot,” he says.
The daily work has changed radically compared to what I experienced with an already mature mare. “Every day he learns something new and over time it has to be reinforced,” he explains. He colt works six days a week, combining mounted sessions, rope work and exercises adapted to each situation. “Some days we work on the flat, other days we skip routes on the outside track and, when it rains, we do control exercises in the riding arena. “It responds incredibly well and makes everything quite easy.”
good character
Coexistence also makes a difference. “Thanks to its character it is super comfortable and pleasant. It is very affectionate and expressive; Sometimes, just by his gestures, you know how he feels or what he needs.
Regarding objectives, Catuxa prefers not to rush. “The plans are flowing, but in the short term we want them to train and hold competitions, little by little.” In the medium term, the goals are more ambitious. “We would love to be able to compete in their category in important competitions, if it couldn’t be with me, with my teacher, who supports me and helps me at every moment of this process.”
The sensations are promising. “In the short time that I have been riding him he has shown a lot of quality and courage. I would love to be able to run some Spanish Championship for young horses with him and continue adding good contests.”
Special link
On an emotional level, working with a foal also represents a special bond. “With a young horse you create a very strong relationship because you are with it from the beginning of its sporting career. In sport, patience is even more fundamental than with an experienced horse.”
Looking to the future, Catuxa is clear about its main objective. “This year the most important thing is that the horse grows and getting used to the contests, to new places. In the future, I want to feel proud of how far we have come, knowing everything that was behind it.”
Beyond competition, the horse is an essential part of his life. “Riding gives me peace of mind and passion at the same time. “This sport is hard physically and mentally, but it makes you strong and always gives you something as a person and as an athlete.”
