{"id":1345,"date":"2018-07-01T13:36:22","date_gmt":"2018-07-01T11:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vaultingworld.com\/blog\/?p=1345"},"modified":"2019-09-07T22:29:55","modified_gmt":"2019-09-07T20:29:55","slug":"vaulting-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vaultingworld.com\/de\/vaulting-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaulting in Mexico: One Vaulter with one dream"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have talked to Alejandra Orozco<\/strong>, the first and so far only Mexican to compete at international vaulting competitions and hopefully at the World Equestrian Games 2018 in Tryon<\/a>. As one of the pioneers in equestrian vaulting in Mexico she is doing a great job promoting our beautiful discipline in Latin America and around the whole world. Read on to learn more about her challenges:<\/p>\n

| SPANISH VERSION BELOW |<\/strong><\/h4>\n

1. When and how did vaulting start in Mexico?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

The first vaulting club in Mexico opened in Mexico City in 1999. During the following years Mr. Adolfo Leucona and his wife Caro organized several events promoting the sport, among them a FEI Course for trainers held by Fernanda Shaw. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. How many vaulting clubs and vaulters do you have in Mexico?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In the last years, the sport has grown a lot in Mexico. At the end of 2017 there were 16 vaulting clubs and about 70 vaulters with levels from recreational to canter\/walk.<\/span><\/p>\n Exhibition in Guadalajara by the Vaulting Academy with the horse Merl\u00edn and the lunger Lalo\n

3. What do you do to promote the sport in Mexico? What is your relationship with the national federation?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

We have a program to help educate both coaches and horses in the country, we organize two or three clinics a year in different cities to keep developing the sport. Several clubs make shows and organize festivals to promote vaulting. In 2015 we organized a trip to California with one of the clubs in Guadalajara. I also started working with the Mexican Equestrian Federation in 2013 after vaulting became a recognized sport in the country. I’m the National Vaulting Director and the contact person for any club willing to practice the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Please, tell us a bit about yourself, your plans and you journey to the WEG 2018.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I started in 2007 when a friend asked me whether I would like to help her with a dance performance on a horse for a show. From then on I started practicing sporadically and in 2011 I texted Emma Seely and Isabelle Parker from Mt Eden and Woodside in California to visit them for some time to practice vaulting with them. <\/span>
\n<\/span>In 2013 I participated in a CVI, being the first Mexican in an international vaulting competition. After that, I knew that I could open up the way and be the first Mexican to participate in World Equestrian Games. In 2014 I signed up for gymnastic, dance, crossfit and yoga classes, I built a barrel and I headed out to train in different places. Every trainer I worked with helped me to improve something and I have learned a lot from every single one of them. I stayed a summer in Europe, took classes in Madrid, Denmark<\/a>, Germany, I have been one month is Brazil<\/a>, another in Peru and every time I could I came back to California to train with MEVC. When I was in Mexico I organized vaulting clinics and invited trainers from the USA to help me train and to give courses for other people who wanted to get to know the sport.<\/span>
\n<\/span>My goal is to keep representing Mexico and to qualify for the WEG in Tryon<\/a>, NC. Last year I got the score to go to 3* and during the next months I have planned to compete at the test event in Tryon in early April, at the Pacific Cup CVI in California, in Canada at the end of May and at the Rocky Mountain Cup in Colorado at the end of June.<\/span><\/p>\n Alejandra at the Pacific Cup 2015\n

5. Where do you get your knowledge from? Do you invite judges or trainers from other countries?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

Yes, at least once a year I organize clinics or courses in different cities in Mexico. Emma Seely and Greta Shryock came twice, we had clinics with Saacha D\u2019Amborossio and Ali Divita. I like to invite trainers with whom I have worked to hold clinics in Mexico and to help me train myself as well as Merl\u00edn (the horse I do vaulting with in Mexico).<\/span><\/p>\n Course for judges in Argentina: Alejandra is also aiming to be a FEI judge!\n

6. What would you need to be able to compete internationally and to develop the discipline in Mexico?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

In Mexico we have 9 vaulting levels: 3 levels in walk, trot\/walk (with the compulsories in walk and freestyle in walk), canter\/walk, basic canter and the international levels 1*, 2* and 3*. Every vaulter can move up the level with an award competition and when getting to the international levels they can start competing at CVIs. One of my goals as the Vaulting Director in the Federation is to help that the next vaulting generation starts competing officially. <\/span><\/p>\n

7. Is it difficult to get vaulting material? Where do you buy it?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At the moment, it\u2019s complicated to buy equipment<\/a> in Mexico. What we have done until now is to order it from other countries, with everything this implies. We have worked with some blacksmiths to make barrels and there are also people making foams and shoes.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Do you have national competitions or are you planning to organize them?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

In the last years we have had several local competitions, award events and festivals. In 2017 we organized the first competition open to the whole country and we had 27 vaulters from 4 clubs! We have planned to start a series of national competitions in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n The first competition in Guadalajara\n

9. What are your goals regarding vaulting (personally and for the discipline)?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

As I mentioned before, one of my main goals for the discipline is to make it grow, support the people starting to compete and helping Mexico to keep participating in CVIs all around the world. Personally, I have the objective to be the first Mexican to attend the WEG and to be able to share what I have been learning.<\/span><\/p>\n