Jessica Mendoza & Within the Air. © Sportfot
Every week in the past, British present leaping athlete Jessica Mendoza was on a horseback safari in Africa, admiring elephants and different wildlife from the consolation of the saddle. This week, she switched gears for week 2 of the Winter Equestrian Competition (WEF) and rode to a win within the $32,000 CSI3* Adequan® WEF Problem Cup Spherical 2 from a star-studded order that included a number of Olympians and top-ten ranked athletes.
After getting back from her African trip, Mendoza took to the grass derby discipline on Friday afternoon for a victory driving Within the Air, a mare creating buzz and already successful as much as the CSI5* degree with the FEI World Cup™ finalist.
“It was unbelievable,” Mendoza mentioned of kicking off her season with an enormous win after a jump-off towards a “who’s who” of worldwide present leaping riders that included world no. 1 and Thursday’s victor Henrick Von Eckermann (SWE), German Olympian Richard Vogel, and world no. 3 Ben Maher (GBR), to call a couple of. “It was not a simple jump-off towards these boys, so it was good to beat them.”
Mendoza was one among 13 to leap clear over Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s (GER) first-round observe, and one among solely three ladies to get the job completed. She took over the lead halfway via the jump-off, realizing there have been nonetheless quick riders behind her.
“My horse is actually essentially the most unbelievable horse to go within the ring on, not to mention a jump-off,” Mendoza mentioned of Within the Air, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Air Jordan x Indoctro). “I’ve full religion in her, however it’s fairly good to see them behind me.”
Rounding out the rostrum was Vogel claiming second place with Cydello, and Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal took third driving Fast Chick 3 for proprietor Victoria Huertematte.
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