Photos by tbird/Quinn Saunders
Heading into the second round of the CSIOJ Nations Cup, Team Mexico needed a rally. The four-rider squad of Sofia Michel, Ana Sofia Legorreta Hernandez, Federica Fernandez and Xaviera Maurer Buch sat behind both Canada and the United States on a score of 9, and Chef d'Equipe Mark Laskin needed to keep his squad focused.
"I was always told when I started riding Nations Cup that no matter what happened [in] the first round, the goal is to improve your score," said the newly appointed Mexican Chef d'Equipe, who formerly held the same role for Canada.
So that's what his riders did—emphatically. Showing a poise beyond their years, Michel, Legorreta Hernandez and Fernandez all produced clear efforts in the second round to finish the competition on their first round total and take a notable victory. Maurer Buch, who contributed a 1-fault score in Round 1 did not need to jump again in Round 2 as Mexico relegated the Canadians to second (12 faults), with the United States finishing third (16).
"There's a lot of great team spirit [within Team Mexico]," Laskin said. "All of the senior riders are here to watch and support this morning, so I like that."
They cheered on a historic squad, as the group was the first all-female team to ever represent Mexico in Nations Cup competition.
"I'm starting to get very familiar with everyone in Mexico," he said. "I feel comfortable about it, and there are a lot of good riders. It's kind of like Canada: They ride by the seat of their pants a little bit, but they also have a sprinkling of structure and good, good, solid foundation."
Photo by tbird/Quinn Saunders
$4,250 CSIOJ* Junior Nations Cup
Place / Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. BP First Editions / Sofia Michel / MEX / Sport Horses Sanchez-Cozar / 8/0
1. Yoga Santa Rosa / Ana Sofia Legorreta Hernandez / MEX / 0/0
1. Seltique / Federica Fernandez / MEX / Federico Fernandez / 8/0
1. Con Rouet / Xaviera Maurer Buch / MEX / Salvador Onate Barron / 1/DNS
2. Fay / Stella Chernoff / CAN / Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Co. / 0/0
2. Dammam O.L. / Ava Wong / CAN / Highland Farms / 4/4
2. Decimus / Brooklyn Deacon / CAN / Brooklyn Deacon / 24/EL
2. Chicago CM / Eric Krawitt / CAN / Eric Krawitt / 0/4
3. Matahari HI / Leila Diab / USA / Leila Diab / 4/0
3. George Z.G. / Andrew Lopez / USA / Andrew Lopez / 4/8
3. Fast Lucca / Sahana Ganesan / USA / Sahana Ganesan / 9/12
3. Carlsson / Alexa Leong / USA / Alexa Leong / 0/0
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