It all started in rural Alberta when a 10-year-old Cynthia Crook stole her brothers’ horse, braided up a bailer twine harness from photos, hooked the mare up to an old stone boat and away they went! Fast forward to today and the long-time competitor, coach, trainer, and volunteer is the Combined Driving Achievement Award winner for 2021.
The Award Program recognizes drivers at all levels that have consistently performed to a high standard at Equestrian Canada (EC), or Provincial and Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) recognized combined driving events.
“I’m very excited to receive this award, I encourage all of those interested in driving to be a part of this great program,” said Crook who hails from Parkland County, just outside Edmonton, Alberta. “Remember, ‘small medium and large, we drive them all!’ Work hard to practice dressage, as it is the roots to good cones and amazing marathon. I love the challenge of it all.”
Crook’s Partbred Connemara gelding ‘Solaz’ was her first partner in combined driving. The duo competed in many events together winning their first training level event and then jumped to preliminary.
Cynthia Crook and her husband Byron with Solaz
Photo Credit: Kevin Flynn
“We did driving trials around Alberta, the 70 Mile House in British Columbia, competed in Spruce Meadows in the Battle of the Breeds, travelled with six rigs and seven horses from Alberta to compete in the Manitoba Birds Hill event, Shady Oaks, Clay Station in California and the Inavale show in Oregon – winning many prizes along the way,” explained Crook.
Cynthia Crook and Kestrel competing in a water obstacle
Photo Credit: Kevin Flynn
Then two weeks prior to his ninth birthday, Solaz unexpectedly passed away due to a brain aneurism in a very scary event. Heartbroken, Crook almost gave up driving. She looked out into the field and turned to Solaz’s half sister, Kestrel, a Warmblood and Welsh Cob cross. While she waited on Kestrel, Crook switched her focus to driving pairs. After she tried out two different ponies that did not seem interested in competing, she purchased a pair of Welsh ponies – Brikka and Bailey. While Crook admits to having learned an extensive amount while driving pairs, was happy to return to driving with Kestrel this year. “We have started off on an amazing path,” said Crook. “With great training and winning lots of ribbons!”
One of the greatest things she loves about driving is doing the sport with her husband. “We walk the cones together, then we walk the marathon obstacles, and make plans how to drive it all,” said Crook. “We laugh, stay on course and he reminds me he is a unionized navigator, telling me where to go – we have fun together!”
“I am very happy to hear that Cynthia has achieved this award” said Patty Carley, Chair of EC’s Driving Committee. “She is a consummate horsewoman who has been an outstanding competitor, mentor, organizer, trainer of talented horses, and supporter of driving in Alberta for decades.”
The Combined Driving Achievement Awards
The EC Combined Driving Achievement Awards are designed to recognize drivers at all levels of competition, training through Advanced/FEI, who have consistently achieved excellent results. Any sport license holder may apply for an award as soon as they have met the high standard of achievement for a given level at three separate events. Not only do you need a great dressage score and no penalties (except time) on marathon, but you must also have a double clear round in cones, no balls down, and no time penalties. You would need to save a photo or copy of the signed and dated scoresheets from your events, apply on-line or through the mail. Details are on the website https://www.equestrian.ca/sport/driving/awards
The EC Combined Driving Achievement Awards are designed to recognize drivers at all levels of competition, training through Advanced/FEI, who have consistently achieved excellent results. Any sport license holder may apply for an award as soon as they have met the high standard of achievement for a given level at three separate events. Not only do you need a great dressage score and no penalties (except time) on marathon, but you must also have a double clear round in cones, no balls down, and no time penalties. You would need to save a photo or copy of the signed and dated scoresheets from your events, apply on-line or through the mail. Details are on the website www.equestrian.ca/sport/driving/awards