Yom Tov and Riskalla Unit

Hungarian entrepreneur Arie Yom Tov is expanding his collaboration with Brazilian paralympian Rodolpho Riskalla. After receiving the ride on Grand Prix horse Irish Coffee BH in the autumn, Riskalla has now welcomed two more horses in his barn.

Making Dreams Come True

"I got to know Rodolpho and his family better at the start of the month and it has been so amazing," Yom Tov told Eurodressage. "He is a really special guy with no end to his motivation. How he overcame his illness has really made an impact on me. We talked a lot and as a result I have decided to sponsor with as target to write history."

In 2015  Rodolpho contracted bacterial meningitis and lost both legs below the knees, all the fingers on his right hand and some from the left. He defied the odds and went on to ride at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. At the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics he won silver.

Yom Tov and Riskalla share the dream of achieving something great and unique in the sport of dressage. "We want to try for Rodolpho to compete in the next Olympics in Paris not just in the Paralympics but also in the able-bodied Olympic Games for Brazil," Arie continued.

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Riskalla added, "Arie invited us to visit his stables in Budapest. I told him about my plans to try to qualify for the Pan Ams and hopefully for the Olympics. I was also looking for second horse for the para shows and he directly proposed me  two horses. Both are very nice to ride and hopefully we’ll do all we have planned."

Denzel and King Leatherdale

In order for Rodolpho to achieve this goal, Yom Tov has given him the 14-year old Grand Prix level competed Denzel and the 7-year old FEI hopeful King Leatherdale.

The  Dutch warmblood Denzel is by Zorion x Truppa and was previously shown at international Grand Prix level by Thamar Zweistra. Last year he served as an Under 25 schoolmaster for Jazmin Yom Tov.

"With Denzel, Rodolpho will do his best to take part in the 2023 Pan American Games and qualify as a Brazilian member team to the Olympic Games," said Arie

The Dutch warmblood King Leatherdale O (by Lord Leatherdale x Ronaldo) will be a second iron in the fire for the para classes alongside the 9-year old KWPN bred Irish Coffee BH (by Blue Hors Romanov x Jazz). "King Leatherdale is a super talented horse with very very nice gaits," said Arie.

Busy Times Ahead

Riskalla, was recently elected to the newly created World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athletes’ Council, is based in Germany and trains with Holga Finken in preparation of his 2023-2024 campaign.

"It’s very important for the sport to count on owners like Arie who let us, riders, have nice horses to compete," Rodolpho added. "I can only say a big thank you."

Photos © Anett Somogyvari - private - Astrid Appels

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