Para Dressage National Team Member Calla Gross Awarded 2024 Bridging the Gap Training Bursary.
19-year-old Calla Gross of Saskatoon, SK has been selected as the successful recipient of the 2024 Bridging the Gap Training Bursary with five-time Paralympian Lauren Barwick.
Barwick is excited to welcome Gross to her training facility in Ocala, Florida, “I’ve been given so many opportunities over the years to represent my country,” said the Paralympian. “I’m looking forward to developing riders to make a stronger group of athletes to pull from for the senior international team — It’s just a small way to be able to give back.”
Gross and her horse Calibre SR, a 19-year-old Trakehner gelding have been training together since 2019. In 2021 the pair started competing in Para Dressage locally as well as virtually in the Equestrian Canada (EC) video competition series, where they have won High Point Champion several times. Their recent performance results in Edmonton, AB have landed them on EC’s Canadian Talent ID team.
On top of her dedication to para-equestrian, Gross is also a full-time student at the University of Alberta pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science, with her sights set on law school in four years. In January 2024, she started training with EC Competition Coach Lois Girard in Alberta.
“Calla and her horse moved to Rycor Equestrian Centre in December 2023. They have been a positive addition to my program,” said Girard. “In that short time, I have observed that Calla is truly a dedicated horse owner and rider. She visits Geo daily and is invested in his care and welfare. Calla is a hardworking student, even when lessons are tough, she always stays positive and keeps an open mind. Calla has some serious goals for the future, and I am honoured to be a part of her journey.”
The aspiring Paralympian started riding at a therapeutic riding center at the age of three to improve her strength and mobility, which had been impacted by cerebral palsy. At the outset, Gross faced challenges, lacking the ability to sit up unaided on a horse. Over time her grit, positive attitude and hard work have helped her grow into a successful Para-Equestrian athlete.
“The first time I met Calla, I was impressed with her determination to overcome all her physical challenges,” said EC’s Para-Dressage Technical Advisor Clive Milkins. “I have coached Calla many times since that first meeting. I have watched her leave the sessions, learn from the experience, and improve her own performance. She’s prepared to learn, listen, and pay attention to both the welfare of the horse and the improvement of her own knowledge.”
This upcoming 2024 season, the young athlete will be showing in Alberta, focusing on improving marks on the Grade IV Para-Dressage Intermediate tests in hopes to qualify for CPEDIs. She is thrilled with the opportunity to attend two weeks of training with Barwick and to further develop her overall high-performance skill set.
“I am over the moon for the opportunity to work with Lauren Barwick. She’s an incredible athlete and I admire her skill and dedication,” said Gross. “It’s a dream of mine to have this experience. I haven’t had many opportunities to seek out the advice and skill of other para-athletes. Now, I’ll get to train with a Paralympian who has had the experience of managing their own disability while working with horses. I’m very interested to learn and grow from this unique experience.”
Canada’s most decorated athlete joined forces with EC to develop the next generation of Canadian Para-Dressage athletes. Along with the $5,000 bursary, Gross receives two weeks of private training with Barwick in Ocala, Florida, accommodations, and horse board.
“Previous recipients have greatly benefited from the experience and continue to thrive from the mentorship working with Lauren,” Milkins explained. “Many thanks for her continuing support in mentoring and assisting the development of our less experienced athletes.”
For more information on the ‘Bridging the Gap’ Training Bursary, click here.