In this issue:
Top driver Houtappels-Bruder finishes season with another win in Austria
Cuddy Tops with Tony at Pony Finals
Safe Sport Fundraising Success at tbird
Foster ‘Electrique’ in Langley
Ballard Captures win with Nina in Traverse City
Colleen Loach Second at Bromont Horse Trials
Originally from Ariss, ON, Kelly Houtappels-Bruder and her team achieved an exciting win against some of the world’s best drivers in the CAI3* Horse Single Division at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Driving Competition – St. Margarethen in Austria from August 10 – 13, 2023.
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder and Flip
Photo Credit: Josef Szot
After earning a win last month in Le Pin-au-Haras, France, the world ranked number two singles driver guided her trusted partner Flip (Fidertanz x Carprilli), a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Frank Houtappels, to a strong start with a score of 40.12 in the dressage phase on Thursday. A day later in the marathon, they added 79.18 to their total, and concluded the event on a final score of 119.30 to secure another top finish.
“This was our last international competition of the season and it was so nice finishing the season this way. The entire year has gone well, but we always had one phase that didn’t quite go according to plan – our progress ultimately peaking at the right moment gives a shot of confidence going into next year and ultimately the 2024 World Championships in Le Pin au Haras in September,” said Houtappels-Bruder.
Houtappels-Bruder and Claus
Photo Credit: Josef Szot
Houtappels-Bruder also debuted her young horse Backstage CQ or ‘Claus’ in the CAI2*-H1. “He exceeded all expectations and finished fourth from the 16 entries. He had an amazing positive experience and promises to fill Flips shoes in the future. This show probably had one of the most stunning competition rings in Europe nestled in the Austrian alps.”
Canada/USA Tie for First at Pony Finals
At the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, Cameron Cuddy of Toronto, ON, and Temper of Tony tied for first place in the USEF National Pony Jumper Individual Championship from August 8 – 13.
Cuddy and Temper of Tony posing with the trophy
Photo Credit: Ontario Hunter Jumper Association Facebook page
The 12-year-old Cuddy laid down a flawless ride, his fourth such round of the pony finals with Tony, a 16-year-old Quarter Horse Cross owned by Krista Elford. The pressure was on when USA’s Reagan Voxman and Air Force One rose to the occasion to tie Cuddy for the lead. Because Cuddy hails from Canada, the two riders didn’t need a jump-off and joined each other on the top step of the podium with Voxman claiming the national title.
On top of tying for first place, Cuddy also received the style of riding award for his composed courses throughout the USEF Pony Finals. “He really likes to jump,” Cuddy said of Tony.“Unless there’s something he really doesn’t like about the jump, he’s always going to go towards it. He’s really good.”
For results and more information about the USEF Pony Finals, please click here. For more information on Cuddy and Tony’s adventures to compete in Lexington, click here.
Inaugural Safe Sport Fundraiser at Tbird
A little further northwest, in Langley, BC, EC was proud to partner with WeRideTogether to host the $7,500 Equestrian Canada Open Jumper Classic with all proceeds being fundraised to support the movement. As a group working to shed light on abuse and misconduct within horse sports, they provide support and resources for victims as well as information and actions to make our sport safer for everyone.
Richelle Cornell and Certified taking a victory lap.
Photo credit: Kady Dane Photography
With 102 competitors, competition was stiff for the charity class. Run for the first time at Thunderbird, the class was combined across three heights—1.15m, 1.10m, and 1.0m—and open to all riders, vying for the prize money. Richelle Cornell of Kelowna, BC, took the win with the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse Certified (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x O.B.O.S Quality 004), owned by Louise Ritson.
“We want to thank Equestrian Canada and tbird for the incredible support in bringing our charity class to life with us where we raised over $25,000 for #WeRideTogether,” said Executive Director, Michaela Shepard. “It takes a community effort to promote safe and healthy sport, and Equestrian Canada is a true leader in this space. We couldn’t be more happy with the turnout and reception of this class.”
Foster ‘Electrique’ in Langley
In front of a hometown crowd, Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, posted multiple wins aboard Electrique (Emerald van’t Ruytershof x Voltaire) during FEI CSI3* classes at the 2023 Summer Fort Welcome at the Thunderbird Show Park.
On Friday, Foster and the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by 5 Roosters, jumped double clear and finished with a time of 39.95. Two days later, the two-time Olympian jumped double clear again in CSI3* The Keg Grand Prix and outpaced a seven-horse jump-off in a course designed by Mexico’s Anderson Lima with a time of 40.56.
Tiffany Foster and Electrique in the CSI3* Steelcraft 1.50m
Photo Credit: Kim Gaudry
When asked about Electrique, Foster explained, “she’s a great combination of a massive stride, an agile horse and a careful horse.” She added, “she’s really competitive, because she turns left, she turns right, she drops strides—she does everything you ask her to do. I honestly couldn’t be happier with her. I just love her.”
Ballard and Nina tops in Traverse City
Meanwhile in Traverse City, MI, Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, won the $38,700 Alltech CSI2* after being one of 17 athlete-horse combinations to jump clear over Nick Granat’s first-round course on Aug. 9.
Of the 16 combinatons who opted to return, Ballard aboard Nanini van d’Abelendreef (Kannan x Heartbreakers), a 10-year-old Belgian warmblood mare co-owned by Jill Shulman and Sydney Shulman Desiderio, recorded the fastest time of 34.69 over the other 10 athletes who also jumped clear in the final round.
Erynn Ballard and Nanini Van D’Abelendreef
Photo Credit: Andrew Ryback
While Ballard was surprised by how the class shook out, she wasn’t surprised by who stood in the winner’s circle – ‘Nina.’ “It’s really fun to develop her. We’ve had her since she was seven-coming-eight and straight up to 1.50m. When you have a relationship with a horse like that who’s so special and so good, it just makes it a little different.”
Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC, and her partner FE Golden Eye made Canada proud finishing in second place in the CCI4*-S at the Bromont Horse Trials from August 11 – 13, 2023 at prestigous Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park.
Loach and the 11-year-old Hanoverian (Goldfever 3 x Contendro I) gelding she co-owns with Peter Barry and Amanda Bernhard, started out the competition on a solid dressage score of 31.7. then made fast clean work of the show jumping course to move into first place. They then switched their focus to the cross-country course designed by USA’s Derek DiGrazia and Canada’s Jay Hambly, finishing with a score of 22.8 and a final score of 54.5 behind USA’s Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg.
Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
In the CCI3*-S, Brooke Massie of Saint-Lazare, QC, and Major Chase (Irish Parkway Caraway Finn x Grey Major), a Thoroughbred gelding owned by Janice Clinton, finished in fourth place. The pair posted a score of 33.8 in dressage to start the weekend, knocked over two gates in show jumping to move back to 11th place and a score of 41.8. The duo then posted a 10.0 in cross-country to move into the top five with a final score of 51.8.
Brooke Massie and Major Chase
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, earned the victory in the CCI2*-S aboard her own Tugce (Domherr x Chico’s Boy), an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare. In a near flawless performance, Phoenix started out the competition on a solid dressage score of 29.9, then made fast work of show jumping and cross country to finish on their dressage score and the victory.
Jessica Phoenix and Tugce
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
For full information and results on the CCI-S Bromont, please click here.