WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor on Jewels Goldstrike won the CDIO3* Grand Prix Freestyle with 79.325% at the Global Dressage Festival.
Julio Mendoza Loor onbJewels Goldstrike (Photo by Susan Stickle)The 26-year-old Anna-Cristina Abbelen 0f Germay recorded another career high score of 77.16%, on Sam Donnerhall to finish second, and Caroline Darcourt of Sweden was third with Caroline Darcourt, just 0.28 percentage points ahead of compatriot Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén.
Mendoza Loor, who is 43, also won the CDIO3* Grand Prix Special on a new personal best earlier in the week.
The pair had tremendous small tour success at the Bolivarian Games in 2022, winning all three tests and leading Ecuador to team gold, but this is only the horse’s fourth big tour CDI.
“It was the feeling of a lifetime, the ride was unbelievable," said Loor. "He is a horse who wants to perform, he wants to be there and to always try harder. He is willing to do everything and more than what I’m asking. I’m so proud of him for how young he is. He’s an unbelievable horse. Last year was the first time I competed him here in Wellington, and he won the CDI, and this time he really showed me what he can do and made me so proud.”
MENDOZA LOOR, who is based in Columbus, NC, has owned Jewel’s Goldstrike for three years and has discovered the key to the gelding: ample turnout.
“At home he’s a horse to leave in his field 24/7," said Mendoza Loor, who has his sights set on the Pan Am games in Santiago, Chile in the fall, and then perhaps the 2024 Olympics. "He loves to be in his field, even if it’s raining, snowing, sunny, cold, he just loves to be outside — and to hack. At home I’m working on improving each movement, to make every one stronger and better, and keeping his mind calm and mind and body fit."
The gold and silver medalists from the USA in the Nations Cup Intermediate I Freestyle laid down new personal bests.
The 20-year-old Christian Simonson, who is based in Wellington and trains with Adrienne Lyle, won riding Son Of A Lady to 78.445%, and Charlotte Jorst on Zhaplin Langholt scored 76.205%.
Denmark’s Alexander Yde Helgstrand was third on Belantis, a former ride of Germany’s Isabell Werth, with 74.665%.
“‘Sonny’ truly felt amazing for the whole test,” Simonson said. “The trot work was so elastic and he really carried himself throughout the whole test, so I could not be more proud of him. He is a hot tamale to ride, and it amazes me how much energy he has.
“He’s been an absolute wonder horse," he said. "Everything we have given him, he has taken in stride, literally. He is so elastic in every movement you feel like his entire body is moving and, when he collects, he sits so much. He’s a total dream to ride.”
A high quality field of eight combinations in the Under-25 Grand Prix Freestyle provided much to celebrate in dressage’s future, with the top five all scoring over 72%.
Leading the all-American podium line-up was 19-year-old Erin Nichols, who rode Elian Royale to 75.975%. She has only been riding the horse for six months.
Callie O’Connell, 24, on Eaton H scored 75.04% to place second, and Benjamin Ebeling was third with 74.165% on Status Royal OLD.
“My horse felt great, he was right there with me," said Nichols. "This was our first time at Global, my first U25 Nations Cup, my first grand prix freestyle and my horse’s first freestyle, so to come out with a score like that was absolutely incredible.
“When I first sat on him, I remember we all just went, ‘Wow this is a total match.’ I really owe a lot of Dirk’s training to my success today. To ride, Elian’s a very hot horse. He’s full of fire, and it’s always about keeping him calm,” said Nichols, who is aiming for the European under-25 tour.
