All twenty-three horses passed the inspection and were approved for competition in dressage at the 22nd Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz. The ground jury is comprised solely of female judges, all but one from the American continent: Isobel Wessels (GBR), Lorraine MacDonald (CAN), Marian Cunningham (PER), Janine Rohr (ARG) and Sandy Hotz (USA) will cast the die at these Games.
The arrival in Xalapa by land seems as if out of a Hollywood movie; suddenly the rocky, arid landscape of the central Mexican plateau turns into a humid foggy wetland with very low clouds. As we descend (Mexico City is at 2,250 m above sea level, and Xalapa is at 1,400 m at its lowest), the fog gets thicker, until we see a sign announcing our arrival at Xalapa’s limit.
We couldn’t see anything beyond one or two car lengths, the city seems shrouded in mystery, even the taillights of cars ahead seem blurry, the signs are almost not visible till you’re upon them. Not that they’re much help. Even the GPS navigator gets confused, but finally we find a sign for the Coapexpan residential area and just when we’re beginning to despair of the accuracy of said GPS we see walking on the street with their unmistakable air and walk the grooms of the Club Hípico Coapexpan. A few meters ahead and we’re at the site. (Relief).
The facilities for the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games are beautiful, nestled at the foot of a hill there’s a sand arena with its white fences surrounded by the 12 letter markers for dressage. This club has already been the site for numerous CSI’s, but this is the first time a Dressage show has taken place, and not just any regular show, but the Dressage competition at the oldest regional games.
Today was an ambiance and familiarization practice day, the horse inspection started at 9 am local time, and the starting order was in alphabetical order by National Federations. In total there are 23 combinations representing 9 countries. Five teams (Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Venezuela) contest the team competition to earn one of three starting places for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Puerto Rico fielded individual riders.
The classes ridden at the 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games are the Prix St Georges, Intermediaire I and Inter I Kur to Music.
by Eugenia de Larrea for Eurodressage
Related Links
Scores: 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
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