Wellington, FL (January 31, 2011) – Calecto V, one of the most famous Grand Prix stallions of our time, not only rode into the winner’s circle with rider and owner Tina Konyot at the Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI, but the magnificent black stallion also rode away with The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award. Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the award is presented to a horse with a successful performance due to their conditioning and fitness level.

Konyot and Calecto won the Grand Prix Dressage class at the Gold Coast show with a score of 71.75%. Konyot, who competed Calecto in the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, was also thrilled that her equine partner won the Sanctuary Peak Performance Award.

Konyot said she looks forward to getting to know the staff at The Sanctuary, as she believes that conditioning is one of the most important physical components of a horse’s ability to perform. She also said that keeping a horse mentally and physically sound factors into a horse’s success.

While Calecto is one of our country’s top horses, Konyot said the key to his physical conditioning lies in his training. Not only does Calecto’s regime include regular training in the arena, but Konyot also does a lot of cross training with the stallion that includes field work and trail riding.

Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary, congratulated Konyot and praised the decorated dressage rider for Calecto’s training routine. “Calecto is an exceptional high performance horse and it is wonderful to hear that he has a full life that includes the chance to work hard but also relax and take a trail ride,” McDuffee said. “I know Tina and Calecto have an incredible bond and it shows when they enter the dressage arena.”

McDuffee added that The Sanctuary looks forward to working with Konyot and her celebrated stallion. “The Sanctuary has two facilities, one in Ocala and we are opening a new one in Wellington, on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Our new facility, The Sanctuary at PBIEC, is a meeting of a world-class therapy and performance and conditioning center with a world-class show area,” McDuffee said. “The Sanctuary in Ocala features some of the most advanced conditioning and therapy equipment in the world, and we will have that same equipment in Wellington.”

The Sanctuary at PBIEC will be a full horse therapy and conditioning center featuring above ground water treadmills, cold saltwater leg spas treatment, two vibration plates with solarium, laser therapy, electromagnetic pulse therapy and a respiratory machine. “The laser therapy, electromagnetic pulse therapy and respiratory machine are all mobile therapy equipment which means the Sanctuary staff will be able to take the equipment out on a golf cart and treat horses in their stalls if they are stabled on the show grounds,” she explained.

For more information on The Sanctuary, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.