Growing up, Julio Mendoza rode horses and taught students on his father’s farm in Ecuador. He trained several dressage horses to the Grand Prix level and competed in the International Cup held in South America for five years in a row. In 2007, Mendoza moved to the U.S. He resides with his wife Jessica and their three children in North Carolina, not far from the Tryon International Equestrian Center. In 2010, Mendoza earned his USDF Silver Medal and also qualified for Dressage at Devon. The next year, he earned his USDF Bronze Medal and qualified for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara with his nine-year-old Friesian stallion Ivan. In 2013, Mendoza earned his USDF Gold Medal aboard Ivan. In 2015, Mendoza and his mount Chardonnay qualified for the Pan American Games in Toronto, where they finished 17th individually. In 2017, Mendoza traveled to Bogota with Chardonnay to compete at the Bolivarian Games, grabbing three gold medals. Last season, Mendoza’s top goal was to qualify for the 2018 World Equestrian Games. They earned a qualifying score in Wellington and then came home to Tryon to earn a second qualifying score. In September, Mendoza became the first rider ever to represent Ecuador in dressage at WEG.
