Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day Weekend

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo are on a roll with a 4th place finish in 4*-L at Tryon

Fresh off their impressive victory in the CCI4*-S in Kentucky on April 30, the Canadian duo of Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo continue on their hot streak (pun intended), finishing in fourth place in the CCI4*-L at the Tryon Spring International, presented by Fairfax & Favor, in Tryon, North Carolina.

Focused and feeling fancy, the pair turned out and showed up to continue the streak and won best dressed in their division. 

Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day Weekend

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo win best dressed in the CCI4*-L
Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman Photo

After being accepted in the jog, Slezak, a native of Caledon East, ON, and his beloved 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Hot Bobo (VDL Arkansas x Taneys Leader), began the competition on a dressage score of 33.0. This put them in seventh place heading into phase two against a field of 18 athlete and horse combinations in the cross. 

Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day Weekend

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo
Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman Photo

The pair made quick work of cross country, with an elapsed time of 10:05, moving them up to fourth place. On the final day, with no rails down for the top three over the show jumping course designed by Marc Donavan, they held on to fourth place with one fault and finished on a 37.0.

For more information on the Tryon Spring International, please click here

Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day WeekendLeonie Bramall back in the ring with homebred Cricket BD in Czechia

After a sixteen-year hiatus, Canadian veteran Dressage athlete Leonie Bramall represented the maple leaf in the second edition of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) CDI3* Olomouc event at the Equine Sports Center, just under 100 kilometres southwest of Ostrava, CZE from May 11 – 14.

Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day Weekend

Leonie Bramall and Cricket BD
Photo Credit: Josef Malinovský

The 59-year-old Bramall, who resides in Isernhagen, GER, aboard Cricket BD (Charmeur x Don Frederico), an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding she homebred and co-owns with ZG Bramall-Dusche GbR, finished in fourth place with a score of 66.935% in the CDI3* Grand Prix on May 12.

The two-time Canadian Olympian and Cricket then danced to the top of the leaderboard two days later, posting a score of 68.872% in the CDI3* Grand Prix Special. Bramall was pleased with their finish in a field of nine athlete and horse combinations from seven countries. After such a long break from her last Grand Prix appearance, it’s clear how advantageous experience and the right horse can bring about results.

For more information on the CDI 3* Olomouc event, please click here

Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day WeekendAli Ramsay takes her Third FEI win in CSI3* Kentucky Spring Classic

2022 Canadian Show Jumping Champions Ali Ramsay and her 12-year-old Zangersheide mare Bonita VH Keizershof Z (Bustique x For Pleasure) came to win under the Friday night lights in the 1.45m CSI3* at the 2023 Kentucky Spring Horse Show on May 12.

Weekend Highlights May 12-14: Canadians in Tryon, Kentucky and the Czech Republic during Mother’s Day Weekend

Ali Ramsay and Bonita VH Keizershof Z
Photo Credit: Shawn McMillen Photography

In a field of 54 entries starting in the $37,000 Kentucky Spring Classic, Ramsay of Victoria, BC, along with her long-time partner Bonita were one of fifteen combinations to jump clear over Brazilian Guilherme Jorge’s strategic track. With the tight time allowed in the first night class held at the famous Rolex Stadium, only nine combinations made the cut off to head into the jump off.

The pair rode flawlessly and ended in a time of 42.42 to secure their third win in FEI-rated competition. Just behind them in second place, was fellow Canadian Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, with her own 14-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding Excellent B (Berlin x Heartbreaker), who finished the jump off in a time of 42.57.

For more information of the Kentucky Horse Show, please click here.