At an early age, Mauricio Ruiz started riding in Bogota, Colombia with Ricardo Villa, who initially developed his knowledge of the equestrian sport and the welfare of horses.
In 2002 Mauricio left Colombia to start a new chapter in his sporting career in The United States, where he began to see a professional view of our equestrian sport.
In 2003 at 19 years old, Mauricio qualified for the World Cup final in the Canadian league with the Belgium-bred mare Ratoucha. The good results he achieved in the Canadian league gave them the ticket to enter the Colombian team for the Pan-American games in Santo Domingo, where he achieved 15th place. This placement secured his country a spot in the Olympic Games in Athens.
Sadly his mare was injured shortly before the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
This made him realize that he needed to be in Europe, to learn about producing horses and to manage them successfully for the high-level sport.
That September, in order to advance his professional career, Mauricio moved to France to work and train in the stable of Eric Navet, who has since been one of the most influential people in Mauricio`s career. Here he spent five precious years learning from Eric, one of the best riders of all time and a true horseman.
In 2007, after a successful sportive season, Mauricio once again was selected for the Pan American games in Rio de Janeiro with his mare Ratoucha.
Later in 2010, Mauricio always willing to learn more took the opportunity to spend some months at the stable of an icon of the equestrian sport, Nelson Pessoa.
After spending eight wonderful years in France, Mauricio decided it was time to move in 2011 to Belgium to the stable of Neil Jones, where he discovered the side of a trading show jumping stable.
One year on, he decided to move to Warredal in Neeroeteren, Belgium, to start his own stable together with his business partner Hercules Gadelha, in the production of young talented horses in order to develop them in the sport for further commercialization.
In 2014 Mauricio was selected as a reserve rider at the world equestrian games in Caen with his Belgium-bred mare Fara van de Maltahoeve. Together with Fara, he accomplished very good results at the highest level of the European circuit before she was sold to Rushy Marsh Farms.
In 2018 Mauricio was once again a reserve rider at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon with another Belgium-bred gelding Dinky Toy van de Kranenburg. Thanks to Dinky Toy, Mauricio could participate in the best five-star level shows that Europe had to offer before he was sold to Stephex Stables and Scuderia 1918.
In 2021 Mauricio bought a Horse farm in Bocholt, Belgium in order to expand his professional activity. Offering to his clients and horse owners a high-quality facility with a warm atmosphere. With the new facility, he was able to expand the breeding program and he is currently breeding 10 horses every year with former Grand Prix mares. This activity will allow him to have a bigger stock of show horses for all his clients at different levels.
Mauricio has gained great experience after so many years in Europe, which has allowed him to find, produce, and sell many exceptional horses for some of the best yards and riders in Europe and North America.
