Arabian Horse

The Pan American Championship being held
every two years reunites the power endurance
nations of the region like Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Ecuador, Guatemala and Uruguay. It was the first
time that this championship took place in Punta
del Este, on Thursday 12 October 2017.
The 120km were divided into 4 stages of 39.6km,
28.7km, 28.7km and last loop of 23km. We witnessed
some very intense racing in both categories.
The senior category was won by Isha Judd (URU)
riding JQ Zarial. This horse raced to fifth place in
the last World Endurance Championship in Slovakia.
Jonatan Rivera (URU) riding El Sheik led the race
from the first loop. Along with team mate Isha
Judd they were fighting against Monica Pinto
Lima Graziano, from Brazil, riding Caetê CSM
who was also pushing to get the gold. In the
last loop Isha and Jonatan increased the pace to
27km.h to finally arrive hand in hand. Unfortunately
Jonatan’s horse failed with metabolic at
the last vet control.
Isha told us: “Is the first time that I win a big race
and till the last moment it was far from certain.
I trust very much in the capacity my mare, JQ
Zarial. She is a real champion and she is prepared
well by Fernanda Villar and Federico Zubiaurre,
and to the point where her fitness level
is so strong that I know she would never stop. It
was wonderful for me to cross the line with Joni
(Jonatan Rivera), we are always together in these
big events and I was sad when his horse did not
pass. After Pilar Saravia (Uruguay) finished it was
a relief, and when the grand champion Amarillo
HLM did his last trot, it was confirmed Uruguay
obtained gold. My mare, JQ Zarial will now have
big holiday which she really deserves.”
Isha & JQ Zarial from Uruguay took the Gold
medal, Monica Pinto Lima Graziano from Brazil
took Silver and the bronze medal went to Maxi
Wimmer and EO Salma from Chile.
The Best Condition Award in senior category
was for the Brazilian horse Caetê CSM.
In the Young Rider Category the winner Valentina
Mendez, Uruguay, riding AS Mister made it at
an average speed of 26.09km/h which is a new
track record.
In the first loop the eventual winner was leading
the race with her teammates from Uruguay. Two
of them were out after the second loop at the vet
check. This was a difficult moment for the rest
of the team because it compromised the team
gold medal. Valentina continued in the top position
and maintained a good speed, followed by
Teresa Sanchez (Uruguay) and Trinidad Mendez
(Argentina). Valentina pushed her stallion to the
limit and was impossible for the others to catch
her.
The gold medal winner commented: “The race
was a very difficult, the track was hard and dangerous;
and I never went slower than 26 km/h.
It was a tremendous challenge for the whole
team. This track for me is the one that demands
the most from both the horse and the rider, but
AS Mister showed us all his greatness running at
an average speed of 26km/h. In the last loop we
went to 32km/h, I only have words of profound
gratitude for all Uruguayans, for all those who
supported me and trusted both AS Mister and
me. I am very proud and happy to have a horse
like this, and I want to give a special thanks to
Saul and Nestor Silva who take care of Mister
each day. “
Teresa Sanchez riding the top mare LG Muneerah
got the silver medal; mare who was fighting for
top position for Uruguay in the World Endurance
Championship in Slovakia last year with Jonatan
Rivera but was eliminated at the final vet check.
Trinidad Mendez, from Argentina, arrived in
third position but her horse VS Amancay didn’t
pass in the final vet inspection and Joaquin Stirling
riding LG Chichone, who crossed the finish
line in fourth place, took bronze medal.
Uruguay got the team gold medal thanks to the
fourth position of Pilar Saravia riding Baraka Nasim.
15 years-old Pilar is leading the Senior FEI
Ranking. The third entry to secure the team gold
was Maria Pereira who was riding Amarillo HLM,
the 2013 Pan American Endurance Champion.
Arabian Horse Intl
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