Juan Matute Guimon’s “Emotional” Return to Competition in Spanish Championships

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Juan Matute Guimon on Quantico at the 2020 Spanish Championships. Photo courtesy of Maria Guimon

MADRID, Oct. 16, 2020–Most important for Juan Matute Guimon’s ride on Quantico in the Spanish Championships Friday was that he was able to compete again after only five months since surgery to repair a brain disorder.

Juan and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by his father, a three-time Olympian for Spain, that placed 13th on a score of 66.716% in the Grand Prix.

The 22-year-old rider and Quantico have competed together since Young Rider CDIs at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida almost six years ago and two years ago was on Spain’s team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina in 2018 that earned the nation a start at the Tokyo Olympics.

Juan Matute Guimon on Quantico with his father, Juan, after the Spanish Championships Grand Prix. Photo courtesy Maria Guimon

“Clearly inside the ring I had some difficulties today with keeping it all under control and, therefore, I made very expensive mistakes ,” Juan told dressage-news.com in a text message.

“Quantico was too excited and much too hot to keep it all together. … he was on fire.

“After such a long time since the last show (the 5* in Doha back in February) I must get back in shape and develop the feeling in the arena.

“For me it was a very emotional moment when I saw both of my parents and my aunt at the corner of the arena.

“The last centerline was really special because it brought to my mind all the time that has gone by at the hospital and how thankful I must be to sooo many people, thousands, for all of their support and faith in me! Tomorrow it will be better.

“Keeps me humble and motivated to continue improving!”