Mendoza Loor Rebounds for Freestyle Win, Lyle Ascends Field to Lead at World Equestrian Center April Dressage CDI3*
It was a day full of fantastic international dressage at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) April Dressage CDI3* sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage on Friday, April 12, 2024. Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Jewel’s Goldstrike danced to the top of the class in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, while Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Helix, owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and Heidi Humphries, won the Grand Prix for Special CDI3* over 24 other competitors. The show hosts Fédération Equestre International (FEI) and USEF/USDF-rated classes and continues through Sunday, April 14.
Mendoza Loor is no stranger to the winner’s circle at WEC – Ocala, having won all six classes in three shows leading up to this week. With an uncharacteristic fourth-place finish in Thursday’s Grand Prix, Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike rebounded in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* to take top honors once again with a score of 77.055%.
“Today, my strong points were my canter pirouettes,” he described. “It was the highlight of the test. The piaffe was really good too, especially the piaffe from the canter pirouette; that transition was really excellent tonight. I wanted him to stay with me and be with me during the entire test – he did it, and I am very pleased with that.”
Mendoza Loor and the 10 other competitors were judged by a panel including Stephen Clarke (GBR), Alice Schwab (AUT), Alban Tissot (FRA), Natacha Waddell (BRA) and Raphaël Saleh (FRA). Second place in the freestyle went to the Grand Prix winners, Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Lars van de Hoenderheide owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center. She and the 12-year-old BWP gelding by Negro x Layout scored 76.145% in their first freestyle together. Third place went to Pablo Gomez Molina (ESP) on Ulises de Ymas, owned by Yeguada de Ymas S.L., Javier Bacariza and Cristina Danguillecourt. Gomez Molina and the 14-year-old PRE gelding (Seni Indio x Superior II) received a score of 74.315%.
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