As the Road to Paris Olympics Unfolds, Julio Mendoza Provides Expert Advice on Nurturing Equine Well-being

With his steady rise, Equestrian Julio Mendoza has acquired a prominent place in the Dressage industry. The 44-year-old became the first Ecuadorian dressage rider in 2018 to compete at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Further along, Mendoza climbed the stages of 3 Pan American games to ultimately fetch a path to the biggest stage of his career: the Olympics. In a recent interview, the Dressage champion revealed a part of his success lies in integrated equine training and well-being. Back in October 2023, Julio competed at the Pan American games and received the event’s highest honor. Following Ecuador’s qualification, the equestrian sought Ecuador a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Equestrian emphasizes mindful training

Julio Mendoza recently made his appearance on Wyff 4 for an interview on his Olympic qualification. The equestrian talking of the path, revealed his plans on reaching Paris for the games. According to Julio, his equine, Jewel’s Goldstrike, and the team will fly to Paris on May 1st or 2nd to let the horse adjust to the changes. Before the Olympics begin in July end, Julio would like to test himself and his horse against the riders but until then it is all about the well-being. “Right now we are trying to find a program to help keeping him healthy and happy,” Mendoza says talking about his occupation of time until the Paris games.

Julio further adds that the period between Pan Am and the Olympics is quite long, inducing a threat of things going wrong. Hence, it has become important to keep a watchful eye and treat the horse with softness. He adds that the harshness of training that qualification pressure brings can adversely affect the equines, obliging them to react differently.

“I am going to keep my horse how I have been training until now and keeping him in the top where he is, keeping him stronger,” he says. As per the regulations, the equestrian will have to perform on the same equine that brought him qualification at the Pan American 2023.

Julio Mendoza to the Olympics

On October 25th, 2023, the third day of the Pan American games, Julio Mendoza alongside his horse, Jewel’s Goldstrike put up a score of 87.230 points. The mixed freestyle final results earned Julio and Ecuador a second gold medal. But that wasn’t all. The score also brought the nation a qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. “I can’t believe it – history for Ecuador and I got my spot for the Olympics today so it’s really exciting,” said Julio Mendoza Loor.

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Furthermore, Julio credited Jewel’s Goldstrike for his successful performance letting him on a break for the next two months. “Going to bubble wrap him,” Mendoza says in the interview and his methods abide by.

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