David Raposa Wins Equis Boutique “Best Presented Horse” Award at Winter Equestrian Festival

David Raposa of Clinton, NY, won the Equis Boutique “Best Presented Horse” Award with FEI mount S&L Sage during Week 6 of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Equis Boutique will present the award during all 11 weeks of International Equestrian Federation (FEI) sanctioned competition at the 12-week WEF in Wellington, FL.

Raposa and S&L Sage, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by S&L Farms, were chosen as the best turned out pair after evaluation at the FEI CSI 3* Horse Inspection, earning the “Best Presented” honor from ground jury president Tom Thomson.

“Everybody who knows me knows I am a stickler for how my horses look,” said Raposa who claimed his first-ever “Best Presented” Award. “I always try to keep everything as neat and clean as possible. I wasn't going for any award, but I am glad we won it!”

The win was a team effort for Raposa and his groom Eladio Chavez, who was responsible for preparing S&L Sage for the FEI Horse Inspection earlier in the week.

“He does a really good job, and seeing him get rewarded for that is very nice,” added Raposa.

Raposa and S&L Sage recently stepped up to the FEI level together after the gelding made his grand prix debut this summer as an eight-year-old. He earned several top finishes in 2015, including a top-20 performance at the $1 Million CSI 5* in Saugerties, NY, in September.

“He's a good horse, and hopefully we keep going like this,” said Raposa.

Raposa was presented with a commemorative plaque by Elena Couttenye of Equis Boutique in recognition of the “Best Presented Horse” Award, as well as a pair of breeches and show shirt courtesy of Equis partner brand Manfredi Equestrian. Each week during WEF, Equis Boutique will present a featured product from one of their brands as the prize for “Best Presented Horse”.  The prize for Week 7 will be a sweater from Kingsland Equestrian.

Equis Boutique will honor one horse and rider with the “Best Presented Horse Award” each week of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival, running through April 3.  At the weekly FEI Horse Inspection, the ground jury will evaluate overall turn-out of horse and rider to determine the award winner.

Equis Boutique is a shopping experience for the discerning equestrian and offers the most convenient and luxurious choice for top equine brands to dress the horse and rider.  Featured brands include Parlanti, Manfredi Equestrian, KASK Helmets, Anna Scarpati, Kingsland Equestrian, Kentucky Horsewear, Dy’on, specialty imported bits, as well as Official FEI and Just World International merchandise.

For more information on Equis LLC boutiques, please visit EquisBoutique.com, or find Equis Boutique on Facebook and Instagram! Email info@equisboutique.com for questions on the stores and their products.

About Equis, LLC
Equis LLC delivers superior service in order to educate their consumers on the brands and products they offer and show the variety and quality of their made-to-order, customized products. By providing a unique shopping experience, Equis rises above your normal tack shop to offer only the best. “Live the Experience – A Boutique for the Discerning Equestrian.”