Before the Show

Maritza and Primoroso II in downtown Chicago.

Before each performance comes a lot of riding, training and practice! We have performed our show of classical dressage for over the last three decades all over the United States and abroad. Horses are our life. They are our passion! Not one of us thinks this is work!

Our method for training and preparing for a horse show is simple. We look at who our audience will be for the event. Are they horse people who know what they are seeing and can fully appreciate all the intricacies of classical dressage? Do they know nothing about horses and simply want a show that is beautiful, inspiring and exciting?

Once that’s been decided, we see who of our four riders can perform for that specific date. If four, then we’ll perform a Quadrille. If three riders can do it, we’ll be doing a Pas de Trois. If only two riders will be available, a Pas de Deux. After that, we choose our riding attire. We have a variety of clothing options from traditional authentic Spanish Traje Corto and Spanish Dress to Portuguese Rejoneo outfits to more modern riding attire. We then choose the music for the show which is usually classical music, flamenco music or Maritza singing rancheras or boleros.

Maritza after the performance in front of Picasso's sculpture in Daley Plaza.

When we begin practicing for a specific horse show with the horses, we begin in the outdoor arena, always being focused, since we only ride the stallions and although they are noble, they may want to cause a little mischief. We’ve never had more problems than a few pinned back ears, but we’re still careful. After about two weeks of practicing a certain routine, the horses really don’t mind each other and then we can begin making all the moves closer and closer to one another. We love doing the circles so that each horse almost touches the other. It certainly feels exciting for the crowd when they find out we’re riding stallions.