IMGA Takes Mounted Games to Mexico!

The International Mounted Games Association (IMGA) was delighted to send eight riders to Mexico following an invitation from Jesús & Mexico MGA for a fantastic week of competition and cultural exchange.

On quite a short notice, the following eight riders put their name forward and were selected to travel to Mexico:

• Amelia Swann (ENG)
• Harriet Boyd (ENG)
• Landon Carrier (USA)
• Matthew Holliday (ENG)
• Nick Fitzsimmons (AUS)
• Owen Davies (WAL)
• Phoebe Ward (ENG)
• Poppy Dixon (ENG)

We would also like to express our appreciation for the amazing support crew that traveled with our riders, Caroline Swann, Amy Dixon, Madelaine Davies, Rebecca Ward, Sharon Boyd, Tanja Cambridge & Laura Hendriks. With your help, knowledge and passion for the sport, you put up an amazing display for riders & spectators. And of course the biggest thank you goes out to our hosts Jesús, Patty and the Izathí Ecuestre Team for having us!

A week in Mexico

On the first couple days, the riders visited the showground, familiarised themselves with the arena and hopped on some jousting horses, while the support crew took measurements.

As Mexico is new to Mounted Games, there are no trained Games ponies available but Jesús organised for the riders to try and selected some amazing ponies, however ponies that had never done Games or seen Games equipement before. That said, the feedback from our riders was very positive!

The next 2 days were for training the ponies and getting to know their Mexican team mates, because the teams were mixed, with 2 Mexican riders in each team. During the training days, our riders shared their knowledge, demonstrated races and offered tips and techniques to help the local riders develop their skills.

It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the Mexican riders and their families, who were keen to learn, get involved and make the most of the opportunity.

The horses also made impressive progress throughout the week, adapting to unfamiliar equipment and the demands of the races. The team worked brilliantly together, from preparing the arena and organising equipment to finding suitable tack and ensuring the horses were ready to compete.

The mixed teams were presented their team tshirts at the opening ceremony of the horse show and Phoebe & Nick gave a lovely opening speech on behalf of IMGA.

The three-day competition ran from Thursday to Saturday, with excitement building throughout the week. Spectator numbers grew as more people came to watch, while media interviews helped raise awareness of mounted games and showcase the sport to a new audience.

The week ended in a memorable awards ceremony, where Team Izathí were crowned champions, receiving a magnificent trophy.
The other teams and supporters were awarded medals before everyone came together to celebrate at the closing party. It was a fantastic end to an already memorable week!

One of the most meaningful contributions was the riding equipment gifted to MGA Mexico, allowing local riders to continue training and developing their skills long after the international team had returned home. A huge thank you at this point to MGA New Zealand and MGA Australia, who sponsored equiment alongside IMGA. Another special thanks to Clare Cole and Tomas Forsythe for their work sourcing additional equipment, and to Lizzy Franck for organising the exchange and bringing this wonderful opportunity together.

IMGA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mexico MGA for the invitation and warm hospitality, and to all the Mexican riders, families, organisers and supporters who made the exchange so special.

A Fantastic Team Experience in Mexico

The Mexico exchange was an amazing experience from start to finish, with the whole team working together to organise equipment, prepare the arena, train the horses and find suitable tack. Everyone was willing to help, creating a positive and supportive team atmosphere throughout the week.

The Mexican hosts and everyone they met were incredibly welcoming and friendly. The local riders and their parents showed great enthusiasm, readily getting involved and demonstrating a real eagerness to learn. The team hopes the experience gave them valuable skills, knowledge and confidence to continue developing mounted games.

It was also encouraging to receive such positive feedback from spectators, with interest growing as the week progressed. Overall, the exchange was a fantastic opportunity to share the sport, build international friendships and create lasting memories.

– Mike & Matthew Holliday

Join the next international IMGA Exchange

What is it like to take part in an international IMGA Exchange?

The riders had the opportunity to explore Mexico, enjoy some sightseeing, experience the local culture and share some fantastic meals together. From getting to know their Mexican hosts to making new friends with riders from other countries, the week offered a real taste of international life beyond the sport.

There were plenty of memorable moments along the way, including the celebrations after the awards ceremony, which brought everyone together to round off an incredible week!

Experiences like this are what make international exchanges so special. You get to ride in a new environment, learn from different people, discover another culture and make friendships that can last long after you return home. You also gain confidence, develop new skills and come away with a fresh perspective on the sport you love.

For the riders who travelled to Mexico, it was an opportunity to share their passion for Mounted Games while helping introduce the sport to a new community. They returned home with amazing memories, new international connections and the satisfaction of having helped make history.

We are hoping to organise more of these international exchanges! If you would like to be part of the next IMGA exchange, please feel free to email your expression of interest to the email below:

If you or your association are interested in hosting international riders, inviting an international team, riders or coaches, please get in touch:

imga.communications@gmail.com

Please keep in mind, we are a non-profit organisation, while we are trying to offer accessible international opportunities to our riders, we will not be able to provide funding for these exchanges.