Pan Am Games eventing horses enjoy some sunshine and hand-grazing at the equestrian venue, the Escuela de Equitación Regimiento Granaderos. The facility is home to the Chilean army riding school.
Go behind the scenes of the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile
Text and photos by Diana De Rosa
The geography, language, and local culture combine to give every major international equestrian competition its own unique feel and flair. Customs and cuisine can vary greatly, producing memorable moments at all ends of the spectrum of experience.
Sometimes you really do have to be there to fully appreciate an experience, but for those who couldn’t be in Santiago, Chile, for the 2023 Pan American Games, here’s a behind-the-scenes photo diary. For a complete report and exclusive photos of the dressage competition, see “Gold Shines Bright for Team USA at Santiago 2023 Pan American Games” in the January/February 2024 issue of USDF Connection (coming soon!).
The Pan Am dressage competition arenaSelfie in front of the competition arena during the dressage arena-familiarization sessions. I’ve been covering Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan Am Games, and numerous others for many years.Colorful building and boats in the Chilean city of Concón, which has a robust fishing industry.A building appears precariously perched on a cliff in Concón, located in Chile’s Valparaíso Province.Fiu, the 2023 Pan Am Games mascot, dances in the opening ceremony. So called because of the sounds it makes, the bird is native to Chilean and Argentinian wetlands.Colorfully clad and painted aerialist entertains at the opening ceremony.The opening ceremony featured peoples of the various regions in Chile, who performed in traditional native costume.Several trade-fair vendors offered such traditional Chilean wares as pottery and leather goods.Team USA’s Anna Marek and Fire Fly at the dressage horse inspection. The pair went on to capture the dressage team gold and individual bronze medals.USDF members were well represented in Santiago. Former USDF president Lisa Gorretta was an FEI dressage steward at the Pan Am Games.The main Pan Am Games press center in Santiago was many journalists’ office. Equestrian media did most of their work on site in a smaller press room at the Quillota venue.Chilean pride was evident throughout the competition. Even the man who drove the tractor that dragged the arena displayed the flag every time he went to work.More national pride on display by a group of Pan Am Games equestrian-competition attendees.
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