Cardiga Team Starts Strong in the Portuguese Dressage Cup: Working for the Future of the Sport.

Cardiga Dressage Ponies, the team from the João Cardiga Equestrian Academy, debuted this sporting season in Vale de Ferreiros with 3 podium finishes in the children's and novice categories, and another in the first leg of the Portuguese Dressage Cup, an event that took place simultaneously.

Cardiga Team, in the ponies division, was represented by four pairs, aged 8 to 12 years old, competing in the Children's (Laura Morais and Matilde Sanches Cardiga with Trinco) and Novice (Mariana Mustra with Extreme and Caetana Linhares de Andrade with Gin) categories.

In the children's category, Matilde Cardiga secured 2nd position and Laura Morais 3rd. In the novice category, the pair Caetana and Gin also secured 3rd position. "This year, Cardiga Dressage Ponies welcomes many debutants full of determination and commitment, who are the future of this sport," praised João Pedro Cardiga, the Academy's sports director. "This allows us to continue nurturing the dressage pyramid with small great athletes. We are certain that the future is well secured," he concluded.

In another event, João Pedro Cardiga competed in the Portuguese Cup, debuting Osado, a 6-year-old purebred Lusitano horse who also reached the last step of the podium with scores of 67% and 68.5%. The 2nd Leg of the National Dressage Pony Trophy will take place on May 26th at the João Cardiga Equestrian Academy facilities in Barcarena, Oeiras.