A record number of participants at the 2023 Andalucía Sunshine Tour

Dehesa Montenmedio, is the largest equestrian competition site in Europe: in this year’s Tour there are 483 classes taking part between the 19th of January and the 26th of March, with 2.5 million euros in prize money to be won!
From this Thursday, the 19th of January, the XXIX edition of the Andalucía Sunshine Tourwill start up at the Dehesa Montenmedio’s equestrian facilitiesin Vejer de la Frontera.  The whole showjumping Tour runs across nine weeks and includes classes at the very top level of international competition.  Across this time, more than 1,000 riders and 3,500 horses will take to the arenas in 483 classes, of which 40 are FEI Longines Ranking classes.  In all 2.5 million euros in prize money is there to be won!
The event is divided into two parts and starts off with the Andalucía ‘PreSunshine’ Tour, from the 19th to the 29th of January.  After this, the actual Andalucía Sunshine Tour starts on the 7th of February. These events once again, turn the Dehesa Montenmedio into the center of attention in the equine world, as top international showjumpers converge to train and compete in its famous arenas.
This year there are a record number of participants, both of riders and horses who are signed up to compete across these two events.  Top riders attending include Swiss riders; the world number 2, Martin Fuchs and the world renown Steve Guerdat; theyoung Belgian, Gilles Thomas and otherOlympic riders such as the talented and very successful American, Laura Kraut; Penélope Leprevost for France and Yuri Mansur for Brazil.
But it isn’t only about the sport; the Andalucía Sunshine Tour is an extremely important social event and brings in a great ‘out of season’ boost to tourism. It energises the local economy in general in this area of La Janda, and the whole province of Cádiz. Not surprisingly it creates 1,400 jobs both directly and indirectly, and brings to the area’s overall economy, 60 million euros as it also generates 26,000 overnight, stays; all this helping greatly to extend the tourist season  in this area.
Dehesa Montenmedio is the most expansive competition ground in Europe.  There are 7 grass arenas and 14 geotextile “AllWeather” arenas. The indoor arena is removable and is the largest of its type in the world.  There are 966 fixed boxes and the capacity to put up 2.500 boxes in total. There is parking for 800 lorries; in all there are 60 hectares of grounds for both working the horses and for hacking. We can also boast of seven different restaurants and a comprehensive shopping area.
Each year the showground undergoes numerous changes and improvements to keep it moving forwards and improve the facilities, always with the riders, horses and their teams in mind. The aim is to offer excellent well designed spaces, perfectly equipped for management, training and competing.
At last year’s Tour the expansive indoor arena proved to be extremely useful as a warm up for classes and an area for exercising when the weather was unfavourable. This year there are two new arenas where the old arena 12 was located, in the area of the new facilities. Riders at this XXIX Andalucía Sunshine Tour will be able to use the now divided area, as a warm up and competition arena, with 12A Cumano,  geotextile of 65x90m and a newly grassed arena beyond, the 12B King Edward, of 65x110m: a new set up that will make much better use of this space.  Replacing this, a brand new 3.5 hectares, grass exercise area has been created down next to the paddocks.  
In other improvements, the ramp between arenas 6 and 7 has been excavated and made wider and shallower for much easier access. All these works are aimed at improving the facilities for everyone who attends the Andalucía Sunshine Tour and to allow the showground to continue to evolve and to consolidate its role as an essential  date in the European winter showjumping circuit.

Press Release Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Photo Andalucía Sunshine Tour