SANTI SERRA, STAR PROTAGONIST OF THE INAUGURATION OF IFEMA MADRID HORSE WEEK

On Thursday, November 28, the famous horse trainer and his magical free-roaming show, presented by Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (UAX), will kick off a new edition of the event.

Madrid, October 21, 2024. Next Thursday, November 28, horse trainer Santi Serra (Malleu, Barcelona, ​​1988) will burst onto the central ring of IFEMA MADRID HORSE WEEK (IMHW) to kick off a new edition of the event. There, the Spanish trainer - known as the man who whispers to horses - will offer his magical free-roaming show presented by UAX, becoming the star protagonist of the opening day of IMHW, the most important equestrian event held annually in our country.

In this edition, IMHW, which once again brings the Jumping and Dressage World Cups to the Spanish capital, in addition to the final of the Copa del Rey de Doma Vaquera, will be extended from three to four days - that is, it will run from Thursday 28 to Sunday 1 December - and will take place in its usual location: pavilions 12 and 14 of the Madrid fairgrounds. Santi Serra already participated in the opening day of the 2012 and 2018 editions, filling the central ring and reaping a resounding success in both cases with his performances.

For this comeback, which comes to IMHW thanks to the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Serra has prepared a show in which Arabian, Friesian and American horses ('appaloosa') will participate, as well as falcons, dogs and some surprises yet to be revealed. Without ropes, saddles or bits, just listening to his voice, the animals will work freely to create a unique show, the highlight of next Thursday, November 28 at IFEMA MADRID HORSE WEEK. The extensive program of competitions, shows and exhibitions of this 2024 edition (downloadable below) will also include Compagnie Impulsion's Cossack Vaulting on this first day.

Since he was 14 years old, when he participated as an entertainer in rodeo shows and discovered his gift for communicating with animals, Serra has traveled the world with his horses. In France, he is known as the master; in Russia, as the magician; in the USA, as horsemanshipy, in our country as the horse whisperer. He prefers to define himself in a simpler way: "I'm just a friend of animals," he says. A friendship that is more than evident in his shows and that the public feels as an atavistic reminiscence of the times when having a horse as an ally was a true evolutionary advantage, like a gift that Serra has managed to preserve in an exceptional way and that appeals to the emotions of our most primitive self.

“IMHW is a unique event and performing here again is a luxury for me,” says Serra, who has fond memories of his previous performances at IFEMA MADRID HORSE WEEK. Currently, the trainer is immersed in a successful world tour through Europe, the Middle East, China and America, where he gets the public to react and celebrate with enthusiasm his progressions, his acrobatics, his artistic figures, his magic and, ultimately, his art. “People connect wonderfully with what we propose to them - he assures - But I have a special memory of my previous participations in IMHW and I hope that this and the next ones will be as gratifying or even better, since the event does not stop growing,” he comments.

As for his goals, Serra points out his intention to show the world that with well-being and play, you can get whatever you want from horses, through an elegant and magical ceremony that is actually a statement against animal abuse. “The horses lend themselves to this game because everything is based on freedom and fun and they have a great time performing. The important thing is the well-being of the horses, as we always try to highlight in the performances,” he concludes.