Ricardo Villa
Trainer, Olympic Qualifier
Two times National Champion of Colombia, Ricardo Villa of VM Show Jumpers had an impressive career in international show jumping prior to relocating to the United States in 2015. With the Colombian Equestrian team, he won a Gold Medal at the Central American Games in El Salvador 2002, A Bronze Medal at the Central American Games in Bogota 2006 and a Silver
Medal at the Central American Games in Mexico in 2014. He also competed at the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. You can read more about Ricardo in these issues of Fedecuestre Issue 5 and see all the Fedecuestre Issues that Ricardo is featured in. Ricardo has trained many successful horses over the years but his greatest by far was the legendary VDL Bubalu. The Dutch stallion went on to win numerous team medals with Jur Vrieling but he began his career with Ricardo. As a two and a half year old, Bubalu completed the first round of the stallion licensing but he was not selected for the second round. The horse was sent to a Dutch rider but was very difficult. At that point, Ricardo bought him and began his training. Some well-known riders told Ricardo that Bubalu would never become a Grand Prix horse (he did not have a lead change) but Ricardo believed in him and continued to work with him. The pair went on to win the National Championship of Colombia in 2008. In 2009 Bubalu was approved in North America for breeding by the BWP with an impressive score of 86% . Ricardo and Bubalu also placed 4 th at the Grand Prix in Lexington, Kentucky and 5 th at HITS Saugerties. Bubalu eventually returned to the Netherlands and went on to great success with Jur Vrieling and the Dutch team including winnings in multiple Nation’s Cups, including Aachen, Dublin, Hickstead and La Baule. Bubalu was Silver Medalist at the London Olympics and Gold Medalist at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, France with the Dutch team. Ricardo’s training facility in Campobello, SC features a 230 x 140 ft outdoor ring with world class GGT footing. Full service and training board is available. Ship-in lessons are welcome. Ricardo has a keen ability to evaluate and improve horses and riders. He works with riders of varying levels of experience who compete in various disciplines – hunter-jumpers, eventing and dressage.
