The recognition of a lifetime – XII Peña Caballista Award
Every year, during the Feria del Rosario Equestrian Parade, a Tribute Plaque is awarded to the person or institution whose career has promoted the equestrian spirit or who has worked for the horse with good work. A well-deserved recognition, which contrary to what one might think, did not come about at the initiative of the Peña Caballista Sol de Fuengirola but from the Asociación Cultural Ecuestre Costa del Sol (ACECOS), whose president is Francisco de Sosa.
In this way, ACECOS has been working hard for more than a decade organising all kinds of cultural and sporting events with the aim of
horse as a protagonist thanks to a group of concerned people, including, in addition to its president Francisco de Sosa, Cristóbal Belmonte Roldán, Guillermo García Palma, José Daniel Martín Dockx and Cristóbal Porras.
Since the first Plaque of Tribute was awarded to Paco “El Gasolina” in 2001, there have been many recipients of this recognition, which is becoming more prestigious every year, such as Inger Hallberg, Manuel Gago de Dávila, Mateo Pérez, Matías Fernández Sáenz de Tejada, José Martín Alarcón, Isidro Maldonado Espinosa, Michael Lewin, Salvador Cortés García and Lázaro Fernández Oñate.
Paco ‘El Gasolina’ Edition 2001
Now deceased, Paco was a very famous coachman who used to hire his car to show visitors the most emblematic places and corners of Malaga, first the capital and then Fuengirola. Since he was a child he started to drive when there were hardly any motor cars and he continued to ride in the davits of his car until the end, despite being very old and in poor health. Loved and admired by all for a lifetime devoted to his horse-drawn carriage, he earned the nickname of "El Gasolina" because he was always racing everywhere. His son, who inherited his father's hobby, continues his work.
Mateo Pérez 2004 Edition
A hotel businessman from Morocco, Mateo Pérez was the promoter of the National Harness Competition "Ciudad de Fuengirola", which is even older than the one in the city of Seville. But Mateo Pérez not only created the competition but also went further, covering all the expenses and lodging in the Hotel Las Palmeras (also created by him) for all those who came from abroad. He also managed to attract illustrious participants to the town of Fuengirola, such as the Domecq family, Osborne, Williams, ... thus achieving great prestige for the competition. At present, he is secluded in his home, surrounded by his family, who give him all the warmth they can after the tragic loss of his son Felipe.
Matías Fernández Sáenz de Tejada Edition 2005
Founder of the Peña Caballista Sol de Fuengirola, he has been its president for twenty-five long years. Matías Fernández Saénz de Tejada is considered by many as an "endearing, affable and friendly friend, a good conversationalist, with charisma to unite wills, always conciliatory and with a great capacity to solve problems".
Salvador Cortés García Edition 2010
He was born in Alozaina (Malaga) and began studying pharmacy, following the family's medical tradition. However, his love for the countryside and his passion for horses led him to put aside his studies to dedicate himself fully to the creation of the Salvador Cortés Purebred Spanish Horse Breeding Farm in 1964. Under the premise of choosing the best, the breeder visited from one side of Spain to the other the oldest and most prestigious stud farms, closed in Bocado, in order to achieve one of the purest lines in existence. Having achieved his goal, he bought a beautiful farm in the reserved area of the Sierra de los Alcornocales (Cádiz), where his mares and foals graze freely in the meadow in this dreamlike setting. After achieving national recognition after winning important titles in morphology, movements and functionality, Salvador Cortés began to export horses abroad, with which he has also achieved well-deserved respect. He also has a small but valuable collection of carriages with which he has also won important prizes. In the spring of 2007, just as he was beginning to enjoy the tranquillity of old age, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His son Cristóbal Cortés Bueno continues his work, always remembering his father's premises: honesty in his work and the highest quality in his choices. His horses bear the stamp of their breeder: the brio of his joy, the temperament of his character and the nobility of his heart.
Isidro Maldonado Espinosa Edition 2007
A riding instructor, Isidro Maldonado Espinosa came from Aguadulce (Seville) under the guidance of José Martín Alarcón, and over the years established his own stables at El Hinojal. He has forged many young riders who have achieved the title of Spanish Champion in Dressage, among them, José Daniel Martín Dockx, who has made a brilliant debut at the recent Olympic Games in London. Today, as a trainer, he continues to reap the national and international recognition he deserves.
Eduardo López-Ayala Valverde President of Peña de los Caballistas
Eduardo López-Ayala Valverde President of Peña de Los Caballistas
José Martín Alarcón 2006 Edition
José Martín Alarcón is a builder who is very fond of horses and has promoted the disciplines of Doma Clásica, Alta Escuela and Doma Vaquera. As well as passing on his passion to his son Daniel Martín Dockx, who even made his debut at the recent Olympic Games in London, José Martín has contributed to the fact that personalities such as Arthur Kottas, director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, gave a clinic in Spain for the first time in Mijas Costa. José Martín Alarcón is also credited with attracting Isidro Maldonado Espinosa, one of the most renowned masters of Dressage, to our land.
Inger Hallberg Edition 2002
Swedish-born Inger Hallberg arrived on the Costa del Sol in the 1960s. Since then she has been dedicated to teaching young riders the principles of dressage for 50 years. She has trained riders of the stature of José Daniel Martín Dockx, who made his brilliant debut at the recent Olympic Games in London. Nowadays, although she no longer teaches, she still rides horses and gives the occasional lesson, despite the fact that she has a hip prosthesis.
MANUEL GAGO DE DÁVILA 2003 EDITION
A lawyer who has lived in Marbella since 1970, when he left Madrid, Manuel Gago owned until 2007 a stable of horses “Isabela” with a prestigious collection of carriages and saddlery which he looked after with great care. Champion of Spain in Tronco and runner-up of Andalusia in Cuarta, Gago has always participated in the most important competitions in Ronda, Jerez, Seville, Malaga and Fuengirola. He is considered a national and international reference in the world of harness riding. Nowadays, Manuel Gago, at 77 years of age, continues to harness horses together with Cristóbal Porras, who became a spur for Don Manuel to return to his great passion after the loss of his sister. For his part, Manuel Gago is “like a father” to Cristóbal Porras and is respected and admired by the fans.
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