Dressage in Mexico: Standards Raised Through International Exposure and National Education Programs

Dressage

Mexico

In recent years dressage in Mexico has entered a phase of steady and deliberate development, marked by increased international participation, investment in education, and a clear effort to raise the technical standard of the sport.

One of the clearest indicators of this progress is the growing presence of Mexican riders on the international stage. Mexico has recently qualified combinations for key benchmarks such as the FEI World Breeding Championships in Ermelo, and the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Aachen 2026. Carolina Cordoba and Santiago Ortiz Díez are hose already qualified for Aachen, while additional riders still have opportunities through upcoming CDIs.

Raising Standards Through International Exposure

A key part of this progress has been aligning national competition with international expectations.

Five-star judges are now regularly invited not only to CDIs but also to national shows. Mexican CDIs typically include at least two five-star international judges, and the recent National Championships have consistently featured strong international panels with multiple top-level officials.

At the same time, Mexico has expanded its international calendar, with five CDIs scheduled for 2026. This requires bringing in judges — mainly from Europe — and allows riders to compete at a high level without leaving the country.

The Mexican Equestrian Federation has also increasingly taken into account riders training and competing abroad, recognizing their role in raising the overall standard and integrating their experience into the national structure.

"We believe real progress that has been made in Mexico in terms of the quality and standard of our competitions," said Mexican dressage committee member Valeria Castillo. "This development is now creating real opportunities for riders to achieve qualification results without necessarily having to base themselves in Europe or do extended tours abroad."

Investment in Education

Significant emphasis has also been placed on education.

A structured program for national judges has included seminars with leading international figures such as Katrina Wüst, Hans-Christian Matthiesen, Clive Halsall, Isobel Wessels, Christophe Umbach, Eike Elbert, Irina Maknami, and Henning Lehmann, among others.

National shows with qualification opportunities

In addition, privately supported clinics — such as those with Severo Jurado López and José Antonio García Mena —have provided valuable exposure for riders.

"A broader trainer development program is also being developed, although distance and logistics with Europe remain a challenge," Valeria explained;

Results Starting to Show

These efforts are beginning to translate into results.

There has been a clear increase in the number of Grand Prix horses competing in Mexico, including several produced by Mexican riders. This reflects a strengthening structure within the sport and a growing ability to develop horses to the highest level domestically.

"We fully recognize and support those riders who have successfully qualified while competing in Europe. This is an important and valuable pathway, and their achievements should absolutely be acknowledged, but at the same time we are thrilled to see the growth of our national shows," Castillo explained. "They offer an alternative route and that this represents a meaningful step forward for the sport in Mexico."

Youth and Future Outlook

Mexico has also maintained representation at the North American Youth Championships in recent years with ongoing work to build a more comprehensive youth program.

While challenges remain, particularly due to geography making travelling difficult, the direction is clear: a long-term, structured approach focused on raising standards, creating opportunities, and building a stronger presence in international dressage.

"For a country like Mexico, these steps represent not only progress, but the foundation for long-term international competitiveness," Castillo concluded.