Former Argentine Olympian rider passes away 

Buenos Aires Herald - January 10, 2014

The International Equestrian Federation issued a communique lamenting the death of Pedro Oscar Mayorga, the former FEI Honorary Vice President and Bureau Member, who passed away peacefully on 6 January 2014 at the age of 93 surrounded by his family in Buenos Aires.

Mayorga was an Olympic rider, a chef d’équipe, and an official at the highest level; he was also the longest serving FEI Bureau member, having joined in 1956 as the first Latin American representative on the Bureau.

He began competing when he was eight years old, winning the national junior championship twice. In1947 he met Elena Argañaráz, the top lady rider at that time and they were married eight months later. The couple had five children, three of whom-Eduardo, Juan Francisco and current FEI Second Vice President Pablo, were involved in jumping.

Mayorga was a member of the Argentine jumping team that competed at the Pan American Games inMexico City (1955) and Chicago (1959). However, his most important achievement was the Argentine team´s fourth place finish at the 1956 Olympic Games in

At the end of the 1950s, he added the role of chef d’équipe. In 1960 he was chef d’équipe of the Argentinean team which won the historic Aga Khan trophy at the Dublin Horse Show in Ireland. He was also chef d’équipe at the Olympic Games in Rome the same year.

Between 1962 and 1976 he was Technical Delegate in Jumping and Eventing, President of the Ground Jury in Jumping, and a member of the Appeal Committee at key events, including four Olympic Games – Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, and Montreal 1976.

When Mayorga retired from the FEI, HRH Prince Philip, FEI President from 1964 to 1986, wrote him, “the Bureau will not be the same without you.”

Current FEI President, Princess Haya said, “The passing of Pedro Oscar Mayorga comes as very sad news to us all.” “He was a talented rider, a successful chef d’équipe, a much respected official, the longest serving FEI Bureau member and Vice President, and a real gentleman whom I admired very much. He dedicated his long life to serving our sport and the contribution he has made in his various roles is truly exceptional.”