Naïma Moreira Laliberté scores major win in Florida before heading home to Canada

- From Terra Nova Equestrian Center press release

While most Canadian snowbirds have already landed back home for the summer, Naïma Moriera Laliberté’s decision to stay for the CDI Myakka City held at TerraNova Equestrian Center proved to be a good one. She rode her 12-year-old gelding Inspire to victory in the CDI3* Grand Prix with a 68.891%.

The win marked Moreira Laliberté and Inspire’s first international grand prix victory since stepping up to the level at TerraNova’s April CDI a year ago. Inspire’s test featured many sevens and 7.5s, with an eight given for the extended canter, the two-time changes, the flying change between the pirouettes, and the final halt. The only glitch came in one of the piaffes, which was costly as the movement carries a double coefficient.
“He really tried hard in there,” said the 28-year-old. “Of course, there are so many things I want to improve, and I always try and go mistake free. It is going to be achievable; I just need to run him. I consider him still a green horse and he still needs to learn the routine and get confidence and experience in there — he hasn’t done much at this level yet.
“I’ve had him since he was three and I’m very proud that he became a grand prix horse and there is so much more in there for the future. I’ve been training with Ashley Holzer, who was here today to support us, which I am grateful for, as well as Jordi Domingo in Europe,” continued Moreira Laliberté, who was excited to return to TerraNova to compete. “It’s a great venue. The facility is amazing, the footing is beautiful, and the stables are brand new. I love the mats in the stalls, and I think the horses like it too. It’s always nice to come back here.”

Moreira Laliberté often spends summers on the other side of the Atlantic, in Spain with Jordi Domingo, but has opted to stay in Canada this time round.
“This year, I’m going to go back to my hometown Montreal,” she said. “This is a bit of an off year [with no major championship shows], so we’re going to enjoy spending a bit more time at home.”
Before Moreira Laliberté heads north, she will contest the Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday, May 3. It will be Inspire’s first freestyle at the level, and he will perform to his stablemate Statesman’s music, as he does not yet have his own.