North Salem, N.Y. – It was 25 years ago that Guatemalan Olympian Juan Andrés Rodríguez competed at the Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) presented by Gotham North. As a proud father, he will watch as his 13-year-old twin daughters Ana Cristina and Ana Sophia compete in the children’s division of the North American Youth Show Jumping Championships presented by USHJA this week. The twins and their mother, Michelle Bovssinot Rodriguez, took a seat on their tack trunk for a brief conversation.

What is it like training with your father?

Ana Cristina: We are confident with him. He can tell us anything; we have a great relationship. He looks at all the little details and explains what is going right and wrong. He supports us.

What is the story behind both girls having the name Ana? 

Michelle:I had a complicated pregnancy. The mother of the Virgin Maria in the Catholic religion is Ana. Ana was very old when she had Maria and had a complicated pregnancy. Everyone told me to [pray] to Ana to have a good pregnancy, and they were born [healthy]. I liked [the names] Sophia and Cristina, so I named my first-born Ana Sophia and the second was Ana Cristina.

When did you get on a horse?

Ana Cristina: When I was four.

Ana Sophia: We started riding when we were seven.

What do you like most about your horses?

Ana Cristina: All of it! She is sweet. When I met her, we connected. She is fast, so she taught me to ride fresh. She helps me a lot.

Ana Sophia: She is so friendly.

Ana Cristina: But when [Sophia] met her [horse], the horse was tough and nervous, but then she calmed down.

Ana Sophia: We also have a great connection. I love her!

What is it like traveling and competing together?

Ana Sophia: It is exciting because you feel like you have a partner and we can talk with each other every day. We groom our horses together and help our groom Jamie [Ordonez].

Ana Cristina: Our riding is different from each other. [Ana Sophia] is classic and calm. If I have a bad day, she supports me so that is cool.

Was it your goal to attend NAYC and compete together?

Ana Cristina:Yes! It is very exciting to represent Guatemala. It is difficult to [qualify], and there is a lot of competition.

Ana Sophia:I am so proud of us because we are representing our country.

Have you ever competed on a team and what are you looking forward to?

Ana Sophia: No; just supporting each other and taking care of [one another].

Ana Cristina: Not giving up and cheering everyone on. If we have a bad day, we just have to keep going.

What did you think of your first FEI jog?

Ana Cristina: It was our first time! It was a little scary.

Ana Sophia: We trained for the jog at home, and our dad gave us some good tips.

Check out the live stream of the NAYC on USEF Network through Sunday, August 5.

View the NAYC schedule and results.

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