19-Year-Old Colombian Is Newest Team Step by Step Rider Raising Funds & Awareness
Wellington, FL – November 9, 2012 — Mario Gamboa piloted the grey gelding Unico to top honors during Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Fall Circuit at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. The 19-year-old from Bogota, Colombia, was presented with the award for the Level 6 Jumper Championship for his efforts aboard the 11-year-old Dutch warmblood named Unico (Odermus R x High Hopes) on the final day of ESP’s Fall Finale Horse Show on November 4, 2012.
While Gamboa may be a new face in the winner’s circle here in America, he is an established up and coming young talent and has represented his native Colombia internationally on numerous occasions, including as a member of the Gold Medal winning team at the 2010 South American Games and at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, where he was awarded the Individual Silver Medal. He is currently a Guest Rider for Liliane Stransky and is training under Hector Florentino at Stransky’s Mission Farm and Le Club Resort in Wellington, Florida where he has been proving his merit by winning top honors at top horse shows around the country.
In addition the talented teen is the newest member to join the team of equestrians who champion the charity Step by Step Foundation by donating funds and raising awareness at show jumping competitions around the world. “The championship is a great start to my career here in America,” stated Gamboa. “It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to be a Guest Rider here. Thanks to Liliane [Stransky] I am able to not only take the next step in my riding career, but at the same time actually making a difference in other people’s lives. Riding for a cause like Step by Step is hugely rewarding in every way! I hope to win more, because the more I win, the more they do!”
The ESP Fall Circuit featured six weeks of world-class competition on October 5 to November 18, 2012 and was prelude to things to come for Gamboa and Stransky’s Mission Farm during the fantastic winter show season at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will run January 9 – March 31, 2013, at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Equestrian Sport Productions looks forward to another fantastic year as the winter season quickly approaches.
For further information, go to www.stepbystepfoundation.com and www.stranskymissionfarm.com.