Congratulations to 13-year-old Gabriela Souza-Cordovez, first athlete to represent The Bahamas in FEI Dressage! Gaby won individual bronze in the Children Division and team gold in the mixed teams at the CDI-W Mexico 2025 at Rancho St. Vincent, Mexico. The competition was part of the Borrowed Horses Project, an FEI education initiative allowing Children (12-14 years) and Juniors (14-18 years) to compete on borrowed horses. The CDI-W Mexico 2025 marked the first time the event has been held in the Americas as a part of a CDI-W (Dressage World Cup Qualifier) competition.
Gabriela rode Gitano, a 13-year old Mexican Sport Horse gelding owned by Mercedes Urquiza Pardo of Mexico, and was coached by Jessica McTaggart of Grand Cayman. The pair scored 67.143% in the CDICh Children Preliminary B – Borrowed Horse Test and 65.350% in the CDICh Children Team – Borrowed Horse Test. The combined scores earned Gabriela an individual bronze, behind Mercedes Urquiza Pardo/Alma of Mexico and Paloma Herrera Iglesias/Cool Time LS Elite of Costa Rica.
Gabriela was also a member of the gold medal-winning mixed team, along with Renata Herdoiza (Ecuador), Jaimie Fletcher (Trinidad and Tobago) and Bennet McWhorter (USA). Teams were mixed to include riders from different countries and from the Children and Junior categories. All tests were judged by a panel of three judges: Isobel Wessels of Great Britain, Frederico Pinteus of Portugal, and Marian E. Cunningham of Peru.
Congratulations Gaby and Gitano!
Congratulations and thank you, Coach Jessica!
Super thank you to Rancho St. Vincent, Equo.mx, Omar Zayrik and all the CDI-W Mexico 2025 Family! See you next year!
