Ottawa, Ontario – October 20, 2003 - The Canadian Eventing Team is preparing for success at the 2003 Pan American Eventing Championships to be held October 22-26 during the CCIO*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event in Fair Hill, Maryland.

Canada will enter one team comprised of four horse/rider combinations as well as up to four individual combinations in the Pan American Eventing Championship division. Countries not already qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, will be looking to earn their Olympic berth at Fair Hill.

The Canadian horse/rider combinations that have met qualifying criteria for the Pan American Eventing Championships are, in alphabetical order:

Canada enjoyed a strong showing at the recent Morven Park Horse Trials held October 3-5 in Leesburg, VA. Mandeville and Larissa, a 14-year-old Canadian-bred Trakehner mare owned by Franz and Elke Hollenbach, won the Advanced Division I.

Mandeville and Larissa have enjoyed an illustrious international career together, having successfully completed the 1999 Pan American Games, 2000 Olympic Games and 2002 World Equestrian Games. Bennett and Livingstone, her 13-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding, placed third in the Advanced Division II. The pair successfully completed the challenging CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event earlier this year and, in 2002, mastered the CCI*** Fox Hall Cup.

All riders qualified for the Pan American Eventing Championships will participate in a seven-day training camp held October 14-20 at Morven Park with International Technical Advisor Jim Wofford, a two-time Olympic silver medallist and Pan Am gold medallist, before heading to the Pan American Eventing Championships.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Eventing Team include Abbott Laboratories, Bayer Healthcare, Boogaloo Brushing Boots, Can-Pro Horse Equipment (Bahr’s Saddlery), E.W. Tack, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Merial Canada Inc., and Phoenix Performance Products. The Canadian Eventing Team extends its appreciation to all sponsors and patrons who are paramount to the Team’s success.