OCALA, Fla.--Julio Mendoza Loor of Ecuador on Jewel’s Goldstrike, his Olympic mount, won the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* on Friday, March 7 at World Equestrian Center – Ocala during the WEC March Dressage CDI4*.
Julio Mendoza on Jewel's Goldstrike (Photo by Andrew Ryback) In their first show back since the 2024 Paris Olympic Games seven months ago, Mendoza and Jewel’s Goldstrike scored 75.860% to win by just two-hundredths of a point.
“Today was better than yesterday,” said Mendoza of the Freestyle following the Grand Prix on Thursday. “Today he wanted to perform, and he was a little bit nervous in the beginning, but he was with me all the time.
“There were a lot of highlights tonight in the test,” he said. “My pirouettes were the highlight tonight. He was really, really with me. After the line of the one-tempis, he was really there in what I was asking him to do. His performance was amazing. Nothing is better than competing here at WEC – Ocala.”
Knowing that Goldie would have the whole day to wait until the freestyle began on Friday evening, Mendoza made a concerted effort to keep Goldie’s nerves settled and focused on the horse’s favorite things: handwalking, grass and time outside of the stall.
“He ate grass and rolled multiple times,” said Mendoza. “He laid down today for almost 10 minutes and was eating grass. I didn’t ride him because I knew if I rode him, he would get even hotter. I preferred to keep him calm and relaxed. I wanted him to know that he didn’t have to perform during the day; it was his time to relax. I try to give him all the time that he deserves.”
WHILE THIS freestyle win earned points for the US Equestrian Open for Dressage, Mendoza will stay laser focused on his plan for 2026, which currently includes a three-month stay in Europe for competition, qualifying for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, Germany, and the 2026 South American Games.
Anna Marek on Fayvel, was second. just behind with a score of 75.840%.
With this second-place finish, Marek now leads the standings for the US Equestrian Open for Dressage, and her sights are set on the final, which will be held in California this November.
Denielle Gallagher of Canada on Come Back De Massa scored 69.345% for third place.
