Wellington, FL – November 7, 2011 – G&C Farm recently wrapped up a fantastic season of competition for 2011 and now looks forward to an even better 2012 as the team gears up for a busy winter in Florida. With a lengthy European tour and many wins throughout the season, G&C Farm’s main rider Pablo Barrios certainly made his mark on the sport this year. G&C Farm is based in Wellington, FL, and is owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal.
Barrios showed on the highly competitive Global Champions Tour throughout the summer, earning top prizes with many of G&C Farm’s talented horses, including G&C Flash, G&C Quivola, and G&C Sinatra. Barrios guided G&C Quick Star 11 to a win in the Prix France Galop 1.50m speed class in Chantilly, France. The pair also had a win earlier on in the tour, jumping to victory in the Prix Generali (1.50m) in Cannes, France. G&C Quick Star 11 is a 13-year-old KWPN mare by Quick Star x Grannus, and has been Barrios’ top mount this season.
Following a successful summer tour, Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 traveled to compete at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in October, hoping to secure a spot for the Venezuelan team in this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 had eight faults in the opening day of competition, finishing in twelfth place individually with the Venezuelan team sitting in sixth. The team needed to do well the following day, but after a refusal and fall in the second round, Barrios was out of the competition.
G&C Farm owner Gustavo Mirabal reflected on the outcome in Guadalajara, explaining that Barrios had come into the competition very sick, but was determined to ride for his team. “Pablo was very sick and the doctor told him not to go, but it was very important for Venezuela that Pablo shows,” Mirabal stated. “He was the anchor of the team, so we took the risk.”
Although it was a disappointing turnout, the team at G&C Farm is looking to the future and is excited about the 2012 show season. Barrios will have time off until the holidays, and will then get back in the saddle to compete during the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. G&C Farm has had many wins in Wellington in recent years and hopes to have another great circuit this winter.
G&C Farm will sponsor multiple events for the 2012 season, continuing as a strong supporter of the sport in North America. The farm will once again sponsor CSIO competition during week eight of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in March. G&C Farm will be the presenting sponsor of the Nations Cup on Friday, March 2, and will also sponsor the $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby on Sunday, February 19, during week six. They are the sponsor of the G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper division as well, which will host four FEI ROLEX ranking classes during the circuit.
As the 2012 season continues, G&C Farm will return for their third year as the presenting sponsor of the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, held every April at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The farm will also continue their sponsorship at Spruce Meadows this season, once again presenting the $50,000 G&C Farm Rider’s Cup at the horse show summer tournaments in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
“We are very proud of the accomplishments of G&C Farm this year – of Pablo, and the horses and everyone who has been a part of the Venezuelan team,” Mirabal noted. “We look forward to another fantastic season in 2012 and we will continue our commitment to support the sport of show jumping and promote the talent and success of the horses and riders that make this such an amazing sport.”
For more information on G&C Farm, please visit www.gandcfarm.com.
G&C Farm brings exceptional horses and top Venezuelan 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 on the Venezuelan team for all high level tournaments and top competitions, including the World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games. G&C Farm sponsors top grand prix rider Pablo Barrios of Venezuela, as well as other up and coming riders.