Joaquin Orth and Bellini, Mexico's Dressage Representative at the 1996 Olympic Games, and member of the Gold Medal Team from Mexico at the North American Dressage Championships, is having a very successful winter season with the trailer full of horses he himself hauled from South of the Boarder. "It was another tough trip for us" he told me after arriving in Clarcona Horseman's Park for the first show of the Orlando Dressage circuit. He first trip he alluded to was their seven day stay at the border on their way to The North American Dressage Championships last Sept 97.

The trip to Florida was just as eventful. "The lights to the trailer went out somewhere in Texas." Joaquin told us at the first Orlando show Jan 17." I had to keep going, so I bought some flashlights for $2.50 and several bags of Cheetos snacks. I emptied the Cheetos out of the bags, and then duct taped them to the flashlight, and the flashlights to the trailer. The red cellophane from the Cheetos bags did the trick, and we were back on the road."

When they arrived at Clarcona Horseman's Park, they were actually a day ahead of time. They came in on a Sunday at the tail end of a Paint Horse Show. Low on feed and hay, the horse show announcer made a request for donations. "We have a rig of Dressage horses in from Mexico. All the feed stores are closed, and they need to feed their six horses dinner tonight. Stop barn if you have some hay and grain before you leave." Joachim told me people were stopping by, some with just a handful, to lend their support!

As you can see by checking ScoreSource, it was worth the trip. Besides winning rides on Bellini in every show this season, Orth's Prix St George/Intermediaire scores on Douglas, a 17.2 hand Rhienlander Gelding, and Salvador Ouale's Dutch Stallion by Saros, Festival have been the winning scores of most of their classes.

Both horses are for sale, and will soon be listed on our web site. Mexico has high hopes this season for bringing a team to the World Equestrian Games this fall in Rome. Antonio Rivera, NADC individual Gold Medallist, and Berna Pujals, are both training and competing in Florida this winter before leaving for Europe. Rivera is the wild card to represent his country at The Volvo World Cup Dressage in April, being held in Gothenburg Sweden.