The Mexican dressage federation announced the team that will represent Mexico at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from June 24 to July 3, 2023.
The Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG) are the oldest continuous regional games. The first Central American and Caribbean Games were held in 1926 in Mexico. Equestrian sports first appeared at these Games in 1935
El Salvador – Dominican Republic
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championship event, held every four years, usually in the middle of the year between the Summer Olympics. The 24th edition of the games will take place from June 23 to July 8, 2023.
They were originally planned to take place in Panama City, but on July 24, 2020 their government pulled out as hosts due to Covid. The organizer Centro Caribe Sports found an alternative in San Salvador, El Salvador as the main host city.
Due to infrastructure and schedule problems, seven sports have been relocated to Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, including equestrian sports.
selection problems
There has been quite a bit of confusion in the run up to CACGs with four different versions of technical manuals circulating among equestrian federations.
The Spanish version listed on the official CACG website is dated December 12, 2022; but there was also an English version dated March 12, 2023; a third version dated March 15, 2023 (but identical to the Spanish version of December 12), and a fourth that the FEI uploaded on March 15, 2023. The FEI website version showed contradictions in key sections in comparison with the manual on the official website of the San Salvador Games. .
Hybrid teams with small and large course combinations are allowed and bonus points for team result are awarded to large course horses. For example, there is a bonus of 3% in one manual and 1.5% in another.
In addition, the Games will be open to any horse, except those that have finished in the top fifteen (15) places in a Championship or Intermediate II level Games, or in Olympic Games, or won one of the first three (3) places in an Intermediate Championship II or higher in a CDI3*/CDI4*/CDI5* or CDI0* prior to the Nominal Entry date. This rule does not apply if the horse has been owned by another rider. This means that some of these Central American riders are not allowed to bring their best horse to Santo Domingo.
Following communication with key CACG players, the FEI supports the current version of the Technical Manual published on the FEI website (Version V6), as all previous versions “include many incorrect provisions that are not in accordance with the FEI Dressage Rules.”
Apparently countries have been selecting their combinations based on the first version of the manual on the official website.
Mexican team
At this point in the process, cyclists from eight countries have declared themselves, but Mexico is the first to announce its final team as defending champions.
The Mexican team was selected based on three qualifiers held this spring, as well as scores abroad. Your team is made up of:
- Santiago Ortiz – Dagasus, a 15 year old Dutch Warmblood out of Painted Black x. Esteban
- Enrique Palacios – Deinhard, a 10 year old Hanoverian by Don Frederico x Londonderry
- Carlos Maldonado – Frans, a 13-year-old Dutch warmblood by Voice x Lancet
- Antonio Rivera – Fite, a 15-year-old Hanoverian by Laureano x Harvard
The reserve runner is José Luis Padilla with the 9-year-old Friesian Twan van Plexat (by Sake 449 x Beart 411).
Photo © Astrid Appels
related links
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Team Mexico and Yvonne Losos de Muniz win gold at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games
Marco Bernal makes experience count and wins Kur Gold at the 2014 Central American Games
Mexico wins team gold at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games
Bernal and Colombia win goal at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz wins individual gold at the 2002 Central American Games
