Julio Mendoza Loor Sweeps 2026 CDI-W Mexico with 80.605% Freestyle

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2026 CDI-W Lerma

-- CDIW Mexico press release - Photos © Lukasz Kowalski

Ecuador's Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike won both World Cup classes at the 2026 CDI-W Mexico, the only FEI Dressage World Cup qualifier held in the Central and Latin American continent.

The event took place at Rancho St. Vincent in Lerma (MEX) on 23 to 25 October 2026.

Three Different Flags on the Podium

The pair took Saturday's Grand Prix with 73.891% and closed the show on Sunday with an 80.605% Freestyle, placed first by all five judges in both tests.

Sweden's Patrik Kittel and his Swedish warmblood gelding Touchdown (by Quaterback x Sack) were flown in and finished second in both classes, with 71.804% in the Grand Prix and 78.800% in the Freestyle.

Joining them for the flight were Lithuania's Justina Vanagaite-Samuile and the Belgian warmblood gelding Nabab (by ). For her the long journey also paid off as she claimed third in the Freestyle with 74.985%, while American Kevin Kohmann and Sonata MF were third in the Grand Prix on 69.065%.

The crowd agreed with the Ground Jury. Through Spectator Judging, the public scored Mendoza Loor's Freestyle at 82.493 and ranked the top two in the same order as the judges. The Grand Prix Freestyle was presented by Finca Sanro.

Past winners of the. CDI-W Mexica are Matthias Rath (GER) on Destacado FRH in 2025 and Borja Carrascosa (ESP) on Sir Hubert NRW in 2024.

Twelve Nations in Mexico

Now in its third consecutive edition, CDIW México welcomed riders from twelve nations: the United States, Guatemala, Spain, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Colombia, Sweden, Lithuania, the Cayman Islands and Mexico.

Eight combinations started the World Cup Grand Prix, alongside a full programme of CDI1*, CDI2* and CDI3* classes, young horse tests, and youth classes for Children, Juniors and Young Riders.

Omar Zayrik, Director General of CDI-W México, stated, "when we opened this competition, I said that this is not a place where one person wins. It is a place where teamwork wins. This weekend proved it. Twelve flags, one arena, one passion."

Zayrik continued, "this project began four years ago, and there were nights when I asked myself why we keep going. Then you watch a young rider on a borrowed horse ride the test of their life, or a champion like Julio deliver a Freestyle the whole arena will remember, and you know exactly why. These horses ask us to become better people, and if we listen, we do."

He concluded, "thank you to every rider, owner, groom, official, volunteer and sponsor who made these days unforgettable. Many nations, one heart, united by dressage."

Borrowed Horses and a Mexican Identity

Twenty three young athletes competed on borrowed horses through the FEI Borrowed Horses programme: 18 in the Juniors classes and 5 in the Children classes. Local owners lent their horses so that riders from across the Americas could compete internationally without the cost of shipping their own, and all Borrowed Horses prize givings were held together at the close of Sunday's programme.

Volunteers led by Ben McWhorter and the young riders of Dressage4Kids ACT supported the event throughout the weekend.

Many nations, one heart, united by dressage

The show also put Mexican culture at the centre of the arena:

Axolotl trophies. Podium winners received axolotls hand painted by Mexican artisans, a symbol of transformation and resilience.
Day of the Dead. On Saturday, Grupo Otom T ekutli, directed by Ricardo Flores, performed traditional pre-Hispanic dances during the midday break.
Art for the grooms. Twelve skulls hand painted by twelve artists, brought together by Peimbert Art Gallery, were displayed among the arena letters and auctioned: 70% of the proceeds go to the five grooms judged to take the best care of their horses, and 30% to the artists.
Sunday show. An electric violin performance and a presentation of stallions filled the break before the Freestyle.
Rider care. Rodavento offered riders a free Recovery Lab throughout the competition.