Wondering what’s been happening in the Canadian equestrian community over the past month? Check out the Caught on Camera Photo Gallery to find out!
Event: Red Hills International Horse Trials
Date: March 7-10
Location: Tallahassee, FL
More Info: www.rhht.org
All Photo Credits: Shannon Brinkman
Canadian Olympian Selena O’Hanlon of Kingston, ON, and Foxwood High (“Woody”), John and Judy Rumble’s 16-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding sired by Rio Bronco W, proved they’re at the top of their game by handily winning the CCI 4*-S division to start the 2019 season.
In the CCI 3*-S division, it was Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, who captured the win with Bentley’s Best (Hirtentanz 2 x Eichendorff), a 12-year-old Trakehner owned by The Bentley’s Best Group.
Bacyrouge (Mylord Carthago*hn x Clyde de la Combe), Patricia Pearce’s eight-year-old Selle Français, made light work of the water complex as Lindsay Traisnel of Lakeshore, ON, piloted the bay gelding to a top 10 finish in the CCI 3*-S division.
Katlyn Hewson-Slezak of Minden, ON, flew over the CCI 2*-S jumps with her eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Fernhill Choco Royale (Chacoa x Cavalier Royale).
It was the first international competition for Blyth’s Centurion FE (Cassito x Caribik), the seven-year-old Württemberger gelding that April Simmonds of Uxbridge, ON, co-owns with Blyth Equestrian Inc., but seasoned FEI veteran Simmonds navigated the big grey through the CIC 2*-S cross-country course to a successful finish.
Event: 2019 CDIO 3*/CDIO-U25 Wellington Nations Cup
Date: March 13-15
Location: Wellington, FL
More Info: http://gdf.coth.com
All Photo Credits: Susan J. Stickle
Maple leafs crowded the podium at the CDIO-U25 Nations Cup presented by Diamante Farms. Team Canada 1, comprised of Naima Moreira Laliberté of Outremont, QC, Laurence Blais Tètreault of Montreal, QC, and Tanya Strasser-Shostak of Sainte-Adèle, QC brought home the silver medal. Team Canada 2 athletes, Megan Shea of Toronto, ON, and Vanessa Creech-Terauds of Caistor Centre, ON took bronze.
Moreira Laliberté was riding high after earning a personal best score of 71.706% and topping the leaderboard in the FEI Intermediate II 16-15 test with her horse, I Do Kiss.
Canada’s second silver team medal of the week came in the CDIO 3* FEI Nations Cup, presented by Stillpoint Farm, and was hard-won through the efforts of the Canadian Dressage Team: Jill Irving of Moncton, NB, Tina Irwin of Stouffville, ON, Lindsay Kellock of Wellington, FL, and Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON.
The 2019 competition represented the Nations Cup debut for three of the four horses – Belinda Trussell’s Carlucci (pictured), Jill Irving’s Arthur, and Lindsay Kellock’s Floratina.
Jill Irving provided a hefty boost to Team Canada’s final score. As the sole Canadian challenging the big tour, each of her scores with Arthur earned a bonus of 1.5%.
Paving the way for the Canadian Dressage team were Tina Irwin and Laurencio, who won all three of their small tour classes to help take the team silver and also clinch the individual gold medal.
That’s the smile of a woman who know she’s untouchable! It was the second individual gold for Irwin and Laurencio, who picked up both team and individual gold in the 2017 edition of the Nations Cup in Wellington.
Event: The Carolina International
Date: March 20-24
Location: Raeford, NC
More Info: http://carolinainternationalcic.com
All Photo Credits: Brant Gamma Photos
Last year, Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC and FE Golden Eye (Goldfever x Contendro I), the seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding she co-owns with Amanda Bernhard, placed 20th in the Carolina International CIC 1* division. In 2019, the duo returned with a vengeance to claim a top 10 finish in the CCI 3*-S.
The sprightly 10-year-old Thoroughbred mare, Serendipity (Vibank x Naskra), cracked the CCI 3*-S top 20 with owner and rider, Brooke Massie of Saint-Lazare, QC.
Kyle Carter, a Canadian residing in Sparr, FL, flew into second place in the CCI 2*-S division with Brandon and Savannah Blackstock’s eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Gaillard Lancer (Urlanta x Flemmingh).
Kyle Carter and Gaillard Lancer share a special moment.
Dasha Ivandaeva, who lives in Middleburg, VA, proudly debuted her seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Kingcarra Cooley Diamond (Jack of Diamonds x Coevers Diamond Boy), at the FEI level with their completion of three days of challenging CCI 2*-S competition.