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 Osinski Cara Whitham Sandra Hotz Cesar Torrente Kerrie Swan-Bates
Place Score Nation Athlete Horse E H C M B
1. 74.261 ECU Julio Mendoza Loor Jewel’s Goldstrike 75.543 74.457 74.783 75.217 71.304
2. 72.152 USA Ashley Holzer Valentine 70.978 71.522 73.152 74.239 70.870
3. 67.913 USA Kerrigan Gluch Mejorano HGF 69.674 66.304 69.022 68.804 65.761
4. 67.848 CAN Jill Irving Delacroix 11 67.826 67.283 68.370 67.935 67.826
5. 67.022 USA Bianca Berktold Imperial 67.391 65.978 67.717 67.174 66.848
6. 66.478 USA Benjamin Ebeling Indeed 67.174 66.087 66.087 68.261 64.783
7. 65.913 VEN Patricia Ferrando Honnaisseur SJ 64.565 66.739 66.848 65.652 65.761
8. 64.739 USA Nora Batchelder Divo 65.870 61.848 63.587 66.196 66.196
9. 64.695 USA Kevin Kohmann Inshallah 63.261 65.543 63.478 65.978 65.217
10. 64.565 VEN Patricia Ferrando Elvis 64.674 64.239 64.348 65.761 63.804
11. 64.000 USA Daniela Groenke Bardolino 64.239 62.174 64.565 64.783 64.239
12. 62.304 USA Nicholia Clarke Sir Amour 61.043 62.457 63.978 61.370 62.674