PRESS RELEASE
Julio Mendoza Loor sweeps CDI-W México 2026 with an 80.605% Freestyle
Ecuador's Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike won both World Cup classes at CDIW México 2026, the FEI Dressage World Cup qualifier held 23 to 25 October at Rancho St. Vincent. The pair took Saturday's Grand Prix with 73.891% and closed the show on Sunday with an 80.605% Freestyle, placed first by all five judges in both tests.
Sweden's Patrik Kittel and Touchdown finished second in both classes, with 71.804% in the Grand Prix and 78.800% in the Freestyle. Lithuania's Justina Vanagaite-Samuile and Nabab claimed third in the Freestyle with 74.985%, while Kevin Kohmann (USA) and Sonata MF were third in the Grand Prix on 69.065%.
The crowd agreed with the Ground Jury. Through Spectator Judging, the public scored Mendoza Loor's Freestyle at 82.493 and ranked the top two in the same order as the judges.
Now in its third consecutive edition, CDIW México welcomed riders from twelve nations: the United States, Guatemala, Spain, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Colombia, Sweden, Lithuania, the Cayman Islands and Mexico. Eight combinations started the World Cup Grand Prix, alongside a full programme of CDI1*, CDI2* and CDI3* classes, young horse tests, and youth classes for Children, Juniors and Young Riders.
Between classes, a Prehispanic ballet by Grupo Otom Tekutli performed Day of the Dead dances on Saturday, and Sunday brought an electric violin show and a presentation of stallions. The Grand Prix Freestyle was presented by Finca Sanro.
“When we opened this competition, I said that this is not a place where one person wins. It is a place where teamwork wins. This weekend proved it. Twelve flags, one arena, one passion.
This project began four years ago, and there were nights when I asked myself why we keep going. Then you watch a young rider on a borrowed horse ride the test of their life, or a champion like Julio deliver a Freestyle the whole arena will remember, and you know exactly why. These horses ask us to become better people, and if we listen, we do.
Thank you to every rider, owner, groom, official, volunteer and sponsor who made these days unforgettable. Many nations, one heart, united by dressage.”
Omar Zayrik - Director General, CDIW México
Twenty three young athletes competed on borrowed horses through the FEI Borrowed Horses programme: 18 in the Juniors classes and 5 in the Children classes. Local owners lent their horses so that riders from across the Americas could compete internationally without the cost of shipping their own, and all Borrowed Horses prize givings were held together at the close of Sunday's programme. Volunteers led by Ben McWhorter and the young riders of Dressage4Kids ACT supported the event throughout the weekend.
All Photos: Lukasz Kowalski.