Before a large, cheering crowd at the Stadium Arena at World Equestrian Center in Ocala, FL, Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) secured his second win in a row with Jewel’s Goldstrike, this time topping the Grand Prix Freestyle 3*, the highlight class on Friday 14 April 2023.
The show runs through Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Two Personal Bests in Ocala
As the last to go in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike delivered and came away with a personal best score of 81.210% from the judges, including 84.875% from the judge at C. The judges in the class included Sandra Hotz (USA), Marian E. Cunningham (PER), Cara Whitham (CAN), Michael Osinski (USA) and Sandra Andrea Smith (ARG).
“It was an amazing ride today,” said Mendoza Loor. “I don’t have enough words to express to the world how happy I am and grateful I am to ride that horse. It’s a dream. He’s my unicorn. I am so grateful that he allows me to make mistakes, and he forgives me for them. We are learning together each and every day.”
Mendoza Loor’s music was put together by Leslie Berro, but his wife Jessica designed all of the choreography. It features Ecuadorian music but also has pop music, such as an instrumental of Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita.”
Mendoza Loor recalled, “The crowd was amazing, especially for the riders. The crowd gets into the music and follows the beat with the steps. When the crowd started clapping, he started to feel it. He was like, ‘Is that clapping for me?’ I was like, ‘Yes, baby. Let’s go!’ It was a lot of fun. The crowd at the end really enjoyed the performance and the judges too.”
Pan Am and Paris
“My main focus is keeping him happy,” he said of his 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Bretton Woods x Scandic. “I am going to love him forever. He’s never going to be for sale; he’s always going to have a home at the farm. He never has to worry because he’s not going anywhere. He showed me everything and has given me everything.”
"Having Her See New Places"
Repeating Thursday’s performance, Olympian Ashley Holzer (USA) and her own Valentine, a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare by Sir Donnerhall x Ragazzo, placed second with 77.790%.
“I am constantly dealing with bringing her to new venues and having her see new places,” explained Holzer. “She is really tricky, and she was still very tense in there. She kept trying; she didn’t completely throw in the towel. Some parts had a fabulous feeling.
“She’s got to learn to sink or swim, but at least I feel a tense horse that is trying her heart out so that’s better than what she has done in the past,” continued Holzer. “I was thrilled she didn’t make mistakes in the changes, and she kept herself quiet in the canter pirouettes. She did some great things she hasn’t been able to do before. She’s slowly getting better, and I am really happy about that.”
Spicy Mejorano HGF
Arguably the crowd favorite of the night, Kerrigan Gluch (USA) and the spicy Mejorano HGF were third with a personal best score as well of 74.755%.
The previous best score in the Grand Prix Freestyle for the pair was 74.570% this past January. This freestyle was only their sixth together.
“I really wanted to go show him off,” said Kerrigan of the 12-year-old PRE gelding by Grandioso x Galan XVI owned by Hampton Green Farm. “I always put a little pressure on myself to do the best I can, but I try not to put that on him. I think I was able to do that tonight, which led to a good score and good test. I think I rode well, and he performed really well.”
Related Links
Scores: 2023 CDI Ocala
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