About
Caroline Sterckx
Caroline Sterckx is our director of riding programs and has been with San Pascual Stables since 2007. Her students range in age and experience. She teaches with a disciplined, yet lighthearted and positive manner, establishing a learning environment that is fun but also effective.Caroline has been raised around horses since the day she was born. Her father owned the Country Riding Club in the center of Brussels, Belguim. She has been hooked since and horses remain as Caroline’s first passion.
She started competing in Jumpers at the age of 8 and by the age of 12 had joined the national Belguim pony team. At 16 she moved to Nelson Pessoa’s stables and joined the Junior National Belgian team. Caroline competed at all of the official European competitions including the European Championship in Berlin, Germany where she finished fifth. That same year she was second at the South American Championship in Monterrey, Mexico.
At 19 she continued to compete in the young riders circuit all over Europe. Caroline feels very lucky and honored to have trained with some of the top trainers in the world, Rodrigo and Nelson Pessoa, Jos Kumps, George Morris and Gilles Bertrand de Ballanda to name a few.
David Sterckx
European Grand Prix rider and trainer David Sterckx directs the San Pascual Sterckx Stables show team as well as offering training to clients who prefer not to show. He continues to compete successfully at the Grand Prix level after moving his world class horses to San Pascual Stables. David’s previous experience includes his competitive training under the direction of world renowned Nelson Pessoa, serving as a member of the Junior National Team of Belgium, Belgian National Champion and former record holder in the prestigious Puissance classes, as well as numerous successes in the Grand Prix rings of Europe.The show team is comprised of riders of all ages competing at different skill levels and areas of interest. The team competes at many “A” and “AA” rated horse shows in California as well as the Pony Finals in Kentucky. The California show circuit is highly competitive and includes prestigious shows such as Los Angeles Equestrian Centers’ Memorial Day Classic, LA International Jumping Festival, LA National and National Preview shows, Horseshows in the Sun (HITS) in Thermal, Blenheim Equisports Horse Shows at Rancho Mission Viejo, Showpark in San Juan Capistrano and Del Mar.
Because many of these shows offer world class Grand Prix and World Cup qualifying classes, this provides valuable learning opportunities for the team. They are able to compete against very skilled riders, analyze the techniques of world class riders and personalize the experience through the observation of their trainer’s preparation and competition.
For more information please call David at 310-666-1060
