2002 World Equestrian Games

Grand Prix - Nation's Competition

Spain Takes The Team Bronze Medal

The host country of the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain took 'home' the Team Bronze Medal. Rafael Soto Andrade, Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo, Ignacio Rambla Algarin, and Beatriz Ferrer-Salat earned a total of 5,403 points to take the third place position on the podium with the German Gold Medalists and the USA Silver Medalists. Each time a Spanish rider entered or exited Chapin Stadium the appreciative crowds cheered loudly and often broke into spontaneous 'flamenco' clapping. Spain made history at these games – taking their first WEG medal, the Bronze, with a team that had one German sporthorse and three Purebred Spanish horses, notably different in conformation and gaits from the warmbloods who have dominated dressage. But as Judge Mariette Withages noted, "We judged them like the others. They have their strong and weak points. You don't need to be a Spanish horse for that!"