Wellington, FL – April 10, 2012 – Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela, owners of G&C Farm, are pleased to announce a new partnership with Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa. G&C Farm has grown to be one of the biggest sponsors of show jumping in North America since their farm opened in Wellington, Florida, in 2009. This support of the sport will continue as the farm’s riders compete in the U.S. and abroad.
Olympian Pablo Barrios, who has ridden for G&C Farm for the past three years, is moving on to further his own business and expand his organization.
Gustavo Mirabal stated, “It was a mutual decision between us and Pablo. Our exclusive contract with Pablo had reached its end date, and we are parting on good terms. We know that Pablo will continue to be very successful in his endeavors and we wish him the best of luck.”
“G&C Farm will now support more up-and-coming riders and we look forward to competing at the top level of the sport with Rodrigo Pessoa,” Mirabal continued. “We are happy to have Rodrigo in our stable and riding our horses. I want G&C Farm to have a presence in Europe as well, and who better to have than Rodrigo? I hope that the G&C horses – G&C Quick Star 11, G&C LaGran, and future mounts – together with the Double H Farm horses, will get Rodrigo to the place that he belongs – back as the number one rider in the world.”
Pessoa will ride the top horses at G&C Farm in Europe and will help train the riders at G&C Farm along with his uncle, Helio Pessoa.
“In the last few years, G&C Farm has been a great supporter of the sport,” said Rodrigo Pessoa. “They’ve invested a lot of money and energy into promoting the sport. It means a lot to me to start a cooperation with someone that is so enthusiastic about the sport and really wants to help, and is not only for their own development. That is something that is important to me. Pablo started this venture with G&C Farm three years ago and he’s done a great job to put them on the map. That cannot go unnoticed.”
Gustavo, Carolina, and Maria Emilia Mirabal at the presentation of the 2012 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G&C Farm. Photo by V.Valenti/The Book LLC
Pessoa added, “For me riding-wise, it’s great to be counting on G&C Farm’s support as well. My primary sponsor still is Double H Farm and Hunter Harrison. I’m really looking forward to the situation that being with G&C Farm will bring. We are starting primarily a training job that I’ll do with my uncle Helio Pessoa, which is also something that is really interesting for me. He lives in Brazil, and thanks to this opportunity that G&C Farm is giving us, we can work together. It’s nice to be reunited.”
In addition to Rodrigo Pessoa, G&C Farm will support young riders Mark Bluman of Colombia and Luis Fernando Larrazabal of Venezuela. Rider Luis Miguel Martinez will be training and competing the young horses for G&C Farm. Along with Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal showing in the amateur jumpers, their daughter Maria Emilia will compete in the junior jumpers. New barn manager Elizabeth Rae will compete for the farm, and G&C Farm will also help support professional rider Gustavo Arroyo of Venezuela, who is based in Europe.
Pessoa said, “They have two really talented young riders that they’re going to help, which is really good. They’re talented riders and the support of a big-time sponsor like G&C makes a difference when you’re at that age. I think that’s really great.”
Mark Bluman is 21 years old and based in Wellington. In addition to riding two horses for G&C Farm, he will compete with his Nations Cup mount, Big Brother. “I think this is a great opportunity for me and Luis. We are young and Gustavo is giving us everything to get to the top of the sport. He’s a great supporter and I’m really happy to be working with him. I have to say thanks to Gustavo for giving us such a great opportunity and for bringing one of the best riders and trainers in the world for us to work with. I’m very pleased with the whole G&C team.”
Luis Fernando Larrazabal, who is 19 years old and also based in Wellington, will bring a five-year-old that he owns with his family and G&C Sacramento, a 13-year-old that competes at the 1.50m level, to compete along with G&C Farm horses. His goal is compete at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and to qualify for the indoor circuit this fall.
“It’s like a dream come true,” Larrazabal said. “Riding with Rodrigo and having Gustavo to help me is unbelievable. I’m really thankful. I’m going to keep working and try to do my best for them.”
Mirabal said, “I’m sure that Luis and Mark will bring G&C Farm a lot of wins and in time they will be at the top of the sport as well. It will be great to have Helio Pessoa working together with Rodrigo. I think it is going to be a great match.”
Pessoa and the top G&C Farm horses, such as G&C Quick Star 11 and G&C LaGran, will compete in Europe. “I live in Europe and the shows there are important. Whatever horses I’ll ride for G&C Farm will add to my string of horses. It’s good for me, but it’s also good for my other horses because it will allow me to have more mounts and try to compete more. It will bring the whole package forward. As soon as the horses are ready to show, we’ll start showing,” Pessoa stated.
Rodrigo Pessoa
The horses and riders of G&C Farm will compete next at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show in May.


For more information on G&C Farm please visit the new website at www.gandcfarm.com, like their page on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.
G&C Farm brings exceptional horses and top jumper riders to the highest levels of competition. Their state-of-the-art, full-service facility is located in Wellington, FL. The vision of G&C Farm is to improve the instruction and training of their top jumper riders and horses in order to seek a place at all high level tournaments and top competitions, including the World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games. G&C Farm sponsors Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa, as well as other up-and-coming riders.