INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - The Equestrian Association of the Philippines is bringing in four renowned European coaches, including an Olympic medalist, to help prepare its athletes for the Southeast Asian Championships slated in Thailand late this year and other foreign tournaments.

Equestrian president Carissa Coscolluela, herself a former equestrienne, said Belgians Stanny can Paeschen and Jos Kumps, Argentinian Sebastian Pellon Laison and Bavarian Frank Freund will train seven Filipinos who are taking part in the Southeast Asian Equestrian Championships in Laos.

Paeschen was part of Belgium’s team jumping squad that took the bronze in the 1976 Montreal Olympics while Kumps has trained several Olympic and world champions.

Laison is a showjumping trainor and Freund a dressage champion.

Toni Leviste, who saw action in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will lead the RP team composed of Jones Lanza, Joker Arroyo, Australian-based World Cup rider Michelle Barrera, 2007 SEA Games silver medalist Diego Lorenzo and brothers Mateo and Lucas Lorenzo.