About Viva Iberica
Yeguada Iberica (Iberian Stud) was established by Richard and Sue Lust in the early 1980’s in Spain and their UK tack shop 'Viva Iberica' in 1987, selling Spanish and Portuguese tack and riding clothing. In 1991 saddles and tack for dressage, endurance, jumping, the disabled, Baroque and horseball was added to the range along with the birth of their international webshop.
After 31 years adding new products to their huge range of saddles and tack in 2018 Viva Iberica became Viva Iberica en Linea S.L. (Viva Iberica Online) and now, after 32 years, the Company has one of the most comprehensive ranges of saddles available through mail order.
Here's some information on how we gained our experience in the Spanish equestrian world . . .
1987; began working with Iberian saddle and equestrian equipment manufacturers. 'Viva Iberica' became the first UK stockist for the Spanish saddle maker Zaldi. Direct supply from other manufacturers and suppliers including Marjoman, Ludomar, Monturas Lucas and Hispano Hipica was organised. Viva Iberica is now Zaldi's major worldwide mail order distributor.
For more than 35 years Richard and Sue have been deeply involved in the Spanish horse and riding scene and trained with champion Doma Vaquera and Alta Escuela riders. Friends, such as the equestrian photographer and Doma Vaquera aficionado Rafael Lemos, introduced them to the traditional culture and riding of Spain, Doma Vaquera, la Garrocha, Acoso y Derribo and much more. Juan Llamas, passed on his knowledge and it was from the heart of Spain that they gained the know-how to produce the ‘Spanish Tack and Riding Clothing Guide’, which is referred to throughout the world, having been endorsed as wholly accurate and an authority for the correct and traditional values in the various disciplines of Spanish equitation.
Viva Iberica moved back to Spain and is located at Finca Iberica in Castilla la Mancha. The move allowed the efficiency of the webshop to be improved, benefiting from fast access to suppliers in order to provide a rapid service and larger range of goods, which today includes over 900 saddle options for dressage, endurance, Spanish, Portuguese, Baroque, jumping, horseball, special saddles for the disabled and a wide range of other equestrian equipment.
Viva Iberica's long and harmonious relationship with Zaldi has resulted in an exceptional arrangement where saddles can be made to order, to customer’s specific requirements, and usually dispatched within just 7 working days from order. This efficient manufacturer/supplier arrangement combines the ultimate in customer choice backed up by a fast delivery through FedEx, Correos or Correos Express and with free or subsidised delivery to many parts of the world.
Viva Iberica supplies modern quality saddles made with the latest developments in technology, as well as authentic traditional models and can advise regarding traditional tack and costume.
Using Zaldi's saddle sizing gauge that Viva Iberica make available free of charge, plus a comprehensive fitting and sizing guide, correctly fitting saddles are supplied all over the world, backed by a free of charge width adjustment service.
About Us and Yeguada Iberica
Sue and Richard passed training and judging courses in Spain for the PRE horse. Richard introduced Doma Vaquera to the UK and founded the first UK Doma Vaquera Association with the exclusive support of the Asociacion Nacional de Doma Vaquera (Spanish National Doma Vaquera Association) and is currently an international delegate. He introduced the first Cobra of mares to the UK and regularly demonstrated 3 or 5 mares while riding one of the stud’s stallions at Yeguada Iberica's many exhibitions at County and other shows throughout the UK.
Yeguada Iberica's talented PRE and Lusitano horses have been trained in various disciplines, including Alta Escuela, Doma Vaquera and driving. A pair of the stud's PRE stallions, Malabar and Kan VIII finished 2nd overall in the international driving competition at Royal Windsor Horse Show only 11 weeks after being introduced to harness (Kan, at 34 years old is still well today). After numerous first places, D. Luis Rivero Merry, President of the Driving Association of Spain printed in Spain’s national driving association magazine; “Yeguada Iberica's Malabar and Kan VIII were the most successful driven pair of PRE’s in the UK of the 20th century. Yeguada Iberica were awarded the Mejor Ganaderia (Best Stud) by the Cria Caballar at the National Championships for 7 years and their stallion Granero IV was the National Progeny Champion for 8 consecutive years.