-- WEC press release, edited by Eurodressage
The World Equestrian Center in Ocala (WEC) hosted its third international dressage competition of the year parallel to the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington and saw its entry field climb from 9 competitors at their first CDI to 18 combinations across the levels for their third winter show.
The opening competition took place on Thursday, March 6, 2025 and hometown hero Anna Marek of Dunnellon, FL, piloted Cynthia Davila’s Fayvel to victory in the Grand Prix 4* which was ridden indoors. Marek and Fayvel topped the class of 8 pairs with a score of 70.522%.
Marek Gains Momentum
This is their third competition since June 2024 when they ended their year with a show in Germany. They had a strong outing last month, and their momentum continued this week with a harmonious test.
“I love WEC. I feel like it’s my home base,” said Marek, who trains with Anne Gribbons. “It works schedule-wise for the horses, plus they have the US Equestrian Open for Dressage qualifiers. Any chance that I can show here, I do.
“I really wanted to go in and have a clean test, which is what Anne always tells me,” she continued. “She’s coming from a judge’s perspective. Even with the World Cup and the US Equestrian Open where it’s the freestyle that matters, you have to lay down a clean, relaxed Grand Prix and prove yourself to the judges, so they know what to expect. That’s what he did today, so I was really happy.”
With two horses at the grand prix championship level, Fayvel and Fire Fly, Marek feels that their differences have helped her improve as a rider. “Having two horses that are so different at this level and focusing on riding them in such precise tests has made me be able to mold myself to what I’m riding,” she explained. “At this level, the tiniest details matter so much. I’ve been able to carry that into my other horses and work on making the horse that’s only done Prix St. Georges a few times more focused on the small things and the relaxation. When people tell me that the horse looks nice and relaxed, and that it was a fluid test, those compliments mean so much to me. That’s what I want to showcase and what I want people to think of when they see me ride.”
Qualify for U.S. Equestrian Open
Marek and Fayvel will return to the ring on Friday evening for the Grand Prix Freestyle 4*. While their plan will remain virtually the same, Marek has made a few small adjustments to hopefully earn a few more points from the judges.
“He’s such a cool horse in that he’s very willing, and nothing is really that hard for him,” she said of the 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top x Houston. “I’ve tweaked just a little bit to show off how well he piaffes to where the judges are sitting so they can see it better. Then we added in one little piaffe to a tricky exercise.”
Friday’s result will contribute to Marek’s goal of qualifying Fayvel for the US Equestrian Open for Dressage, as it is one of 23 qualifiers across the country ahead of the final in California this November. Marek, who narrowly missed out on a spot for the 2025 World Cup Finals, also plans to compete at WEC’s April and May dressage shows.
Mendoza Back after Paris
Second place in the Grand Prix 4* with 69.587% went to Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Jewel’s Goldstrike, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding (Bretton Woods x Scandic) he owns with Jessica and Justin Mendoza.
Mendoza and Goldie spent their time trail riding and taking one- and two-hour hacks a few times a week. Goldie, who is known for loving his 24/7 turnout life, revelled in his downtime by living outside and snoozing under a pile of shavings in his run-in shed despite the cold temperatures at his North Carolina farm.
“We let him be a horse. I decided to give him the time off so he could go and relax and calm down his brain,” said Mendoza. “We respected his time a lot, and if he was sleeping in the field, I wasn’t waking him up to ride. Before the Olympics was the European tour and everything, and it was a lot for the horse, for any horse.”
Mendoza acknowledged that while they had mistakes in their grand prix test, it was merely a starting point in their journey back to the show ring. He praised their trot half-passes, as well as the lines of one- and two-tempis.
“Today was our first show back, and he was very hot,” he said. “This is what he is, and I love the spirit that he has. For the horse to love the job, they have to have the personality. He has that. He is 14 now, and he has plenty more energy to go. Every mistake is an opportunity, and it’s important that we come back and that we’re enjoying each other.
“I love him no matter what,” he went on to say. “If he had mistakes today, he did them more for fun, not being naughty. His character is what drives me to ride him every day and wake up every morning with one point in mind. He’s not only a horse, he’s my best friend. I’m so grateful for him.”
Mendoza is normally a Wellington regular but shifted his attention to Ocala after his entry got rejected for the 5* CDI Wellington last year. Ocala is also closer to his base and reduces travel time for his horse.
For 2025 he plans to stay in North America to compete and will work toward showing on a European tour and qualifying for the World Championships in Aachen, Germany, in 2026.
Third place went to Denielle Gallagher (CAN) and Come Back De Massa, a 13-year-old Lusitano gelding by Galopin de la Font x Quixote SDS she owns with Ellen Lazarus. They scored 67.065%.
Gugler Wins 3* Grand Prix
Earlier in the morning, Sylvia Gugler (USA) and Vulkano 14, a 10-year-old DSP gelding by Van Vivaldi I x Sir Donnerhall I owned by Gugler Sporthorses GmbH and Co.KG, won the Grand Prix CDI3* with a score of 65.717%.
There were only two combinations in the class.
Related Link
Scores: 2025 CDI Ocala