Top international dressage rider Juan Matute Guimon is “back where he belongs”, having returned to the saddle nearly three months after suffering a bleed on the brain.
The 22-year-old Spanish rider, who made his senior championship team debut at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, was taken to hospital in a critical condition in Madrid on 5 May.
Juan was placed in an induced coma and underwent two operations to ease the pressure on his brain. His sister Paula provided regular updates on his condition, reporting that he had sat up for the first time on 31 May, and a CT scan on 1 June “couldn’t have been better”.
During his time in hospital Juan received an outpouring of support from the dressage community, with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, among those sharing messages of support.
Juan left hospital at the beginning of July, and last week he made a return to the saddle.
The leading dressage rider has represented Spain at six youth Europeans and made his senior championship debut aged 20 at
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Quantico Ymas Juan Matute Guimon during the Grand Prix at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 at Tryon International Equestrian Centre, near Tryon North Carolina in the USA between 11th-23rd September 2018
He thanked his parents for proving to him that “everything is possible when you believe and have faith”.
“It feels absolutely amazing to be back where I belong,” he said. “I’m so fortunate and I feel blessed for being able to share my passion with my family.”
“For those of you who are struggling with something within your own life, or a family member around you is having a difficult time, believe in the Lord and have faith that everything will be all right.”
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
