The peak of Carlos López’s career in equestrian came in 1955, when he won a gold medal in individual jumping and silver with the team at that year’s Mediterranean Games. He then represented Spain at the 1956 Stockholm Equestrian Olympics where, with Paco Goyoaga and Carlos Figueroa, he was sixth in the team event and 14th individually. He also led his country to four victories at the Nations’ Cup. Following his retirement from active competition, he served as director of the national junior equestrian team and was involved heavily in the breeding and selling of horses. His son Carlos Jr. was also a competitive equestrian.