December 29, 2009 – Guatemala – Juan de Dios Alvarez of Costa Rica won the qualifying event
for the Central American Games held during the two-week Guatemala Horse
Festival of Cortijo from November 11-15 and 18-22 in Guatemala.
A regular participant in the Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo, Dios Alvarez shipped several horses, including Darwin Z, from his home base in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. The long trip proved worthwhile, as Dios Alvarez and Darwin Z won the competition, which acted as a qualifier for the 2010 Central American Games to be held in Guatemala.
The Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo attracted entries from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama as well as a strong home-side contingent from Guatemala. A total of 40 entries contested the Central American Games qualifying event, held over three days in a championship format with a speed phase, a two-round Nations’ Cup phase, and a grand prix with jump-off.
Following the opening speed phase, Dios Alvarez was placed third after incurring only 0.48 faults. With clear rounds in both the Nations’ Cup and the Grand Prix, Dios Alvarez added nothing to his score to win the Central American Games qualifier with a total score of .048 faults. The second place finisher had a total of 3.95 faults.
“All year, I have been aiming Darwin Z at the Central American Games qualifier in Guatemala, and am very happy that we were able to produce clear round after clear round,” said Dios Alverez, 24, a business administration student.
In addition to being a top show jumping competitor, Darwin Z is an important part of the Alvarez breeding program at Haras el Coyol. The 12-year-old stallion is by the selle francais sire Duc de Moyon Z and out of Qroqant Z (Quick Star x Ramiro Z). Darwin Z successfully competed at the 1.45m level in Argentina before being purchased by Dios Alvarez.
The Haras el Coyol breeding program features the top bloodlines from around the world, using its own stallions as well as imported frozen semen, and a band of 20 broodmares. Approximately 12 foals are produced each year for the hunter/jumper and dressage disciplines. The 2009 World Cup Final show jumping course designer, Anthony D’Ambrosio of the United States, and 2010 World Equestrian Games dressage judge, Cara Whitham of Canada, regularly travel to Costa Rica to assist with the development and training of the horses produced through the breeding program.
For more information, please contact Juan de Dios Alvarez at juanalvarezaguilar@hotmail.com.
