Mendoza Loor Returns to Winner’s Circle at World Equestrian Center February Dressage CDI3*
Ocala, FL – The World Equestrian Center (WEC) February Dressage CDI3* sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage held the first classes of competition on Thursday, February 15, 2024, and saw 2023 Pan American Games individual gold medalists Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Jewel’s Goldstrike return to the winner’s circle in their first competitive outing since the championship. Young professional Quinn Iverson (USA) was victorious in the Prix St. Georges CDI1* with Gremlin 41, owned by Billie Davidson. The show, which hosts Fédération Equestre International (FEI) and USEF/USDF-rated classes, continues through Sunday, February 18.
Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike scored a personal best in the Grand Prix with 74.869% from the panel of judges that included Sandra Hotz (USA), Omar Zayrik (MEX), Thomas Kessler (GER), Knut Danzbert (GER) and Jane Weatherwax (USA).
After winning their gold medal in Santiago, Chile, Mendoza Loor gave his mount “Goldie” a month off for him to rest and relax in his pasture on their farm in North Carolina. He slowly brought him back with two-hour trail rides, hillwork, cavalettis and then moving into the arena, all while riding in a snaffle bit.
“He deserved to have time off,” said Mendoza Loor of the 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Bretton Woods x Watermill Scandic. “Before we went to the Pan American Games, that was my promise to him, that no matter what we do and how we finish, he would have time off. The relationship we have is about trust. Trust is the number one thing you can have with your horse. Trust, harmony, and relaxation.”
The trust, harmony, and relaxation showed in the ring, despite a “little bit of tension into the corner at K,” described Mendoza Loor. “I had to ask him to stay with me. The judges rewarded the piaffe and passage today. The pirouettes were good and in the line of one-tempis I went for a bigger canter, and he held them beautifully all the way across the diagonal. The personal best feels good because it’s not about how much we can do, it’s how much fun we can have, and that was really fun.”
With his victory in the Pan American Games last year, Mendoza Loor qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this summer. He, Goldie, and his team – which includes his wife and “rock” Jessica – will travel to Belgium in May where they will stay for the summer. They have planned for three competitions including Wiesbaden, Rotterdam and Aachen, to prepare for the Olympics. This will be Mendoza Loor’s first time ever visiting Europe.
Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike return to the show arena on Friday, February 16, for the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*.
Photo In their first competition since winning gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike scored a personal best in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography | Press release Jump Media WEC Ocala
