Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor Rides Jewel’s Goldstrike Victory in Ocala CDI3* Grand Prix on Personal Best Score

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Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike in their first competition at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

OCALA, Florida, April 13, 2023–Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor rode Jewel’s Goldstrike to a personal best score to win the World Equestrian Center CDI3* Grand Prix Thursday in the first competition for the pair since a successful Wellington winter circuit.

Julio, who has dual citizenship of both Ecuador and the United States and lives in Columbus, North Carolina and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding scored 74.261% for the win that was his third victory so far this year.

He is aiming for a start at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile at the end of October.

Ashley Holzer of Wellington  and Valentine, her 13-year-old Hanoverian mare that she rode on the U.S. team at last year’s world championships, placed second on 72.152%.

Kerrigan Gluch, based in Ocala, and the 12-year-old PRE gelding Mejorano HGF were third on 67.913%.

Ashley Holzer and Valentine. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Julio, who has created a buzz around Jewel’s Goldstrike with crowd-pleasing performances, said he has found the key to keeping the horse happy, keeping outside in a field no matter the weather.

“From the moment that I sat on him the first time it’s been a dream,” he said. “He’s a horse that wants to work and he never says no.”

As a citizen and resident of the U.S., Julio wants to ride for America but his success is working against him.

The process requires a two-year break from competing at a championship–the combination swept the Bolivarion championships in June last year. And he hopes to qualify for the Pan Ams in October and then the Olympics in Paris in July next year.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix

Judges:Michael OsinskiCara WhithamSandra HotzCesar TorrenteKerrie Swan-Bates
PlaceScoreNationAthleteHorseEHCMB
1.74.261ECUJulio Mendoza LoorJewel’s Goldstrike75.54374.45774.78375.21771.304
2.72.152USAAshley HolzerValentine70.97871.52273.15274.23970.870
3.67.913USAKerrigan GluchMejorano HGF69.67466.30469.02268.80465.761
4.67.848CANJill IrvingDelacroix 1167.82667.28368.37067.93567.826
5.67.022USABianca BerktoldImperial67.39165.97867.71767.17466.848
6.66.478USABenjamin EbelingIndeed67.17466.08766.08768.26164.783
7.65.913VENPatricia FerrandoHonnaisseur SJ64.56566.73966.84865.65265.761
8.64.739USANora BatchelderDivo65.87061.84863.58766.19666.196
9.64.695USAKevin KohmannInshallah63.26165.54363.47865.97865.217
10.64.565VENPatricia FerrandoElvis64.67464.23964.34865.76163.804
11.64.000USADaniela GroenkeBardolino64.23962.17464.56564.78364.239
12.62.304USANicholia ClarkeSir Amour61.04362.45763.97861.37062.674