Canadian Eventing Names Eventing Team for the 2010 World Equestrian Games

Ottawa, ON — The Canadian Eventing High Performance Committee is pleased to announce the members of the Canadian Eventing Team who will compete in the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, September 30–October 3, 2010.  Selected according to the qualification thresholds and selection procedure, six rider/ horse combinations have been named to the Team.
Named to the Team (in alphabetical order) are:
Rider, Hometown     Horse     Owner

• Hawley Bennett-Awad, Langley, BC   Gin & Juice, 2000 brown American Thoroughbred    Rider & Linda Paine        
• Kyle Carter, Calgary, AB  Madison Park, 1998 bay American Thoroughbred     Rider & Jennifer Carter
• Rebecca Howard, Salmon Arm, BC    Riddle Master, 2001 bay Canadian Sport Horse   Caroline Bazley   
• Selena O’Hanlon, Elgin, ON   Colombo, 1994 bay Swedish Warmblood    Elaine & Michael Davies
• Jessica Phoenix, Uxbridge ON   Exponential, 1998 bay Canadian thoroughbred   Rider
• Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch,   Summerland, BC    Port Authority, 1998 bay Canadian-bred Selle Français  Rider & Patricia Bosch              

In addition to selecting the Canadian Eventing Team members, at the discretion of the selectors, the committee announced an accompanying list of horse/rider combinations to serve as alternates/substitutes for the World Equestrian Games Eventing Team.  If for any reason one of selected horse/rider combinations is unable to compete at the WEG, then it may be possible, although subject to strict regulations, to replace them with a named substitute to the team.

Named as alternates (in alphabetical order) are:
Rider, Hometown  Horse    Owner

• Diana Burnett, Blackstock, ON   Manny, 2000 bay Canadian Thoroughbred cross    Rider & Eventing Canada!
• Ian Roberts, Port Perry, ON   Napalm,  1996 grey  Irish Sport Horse   Rider,  Kelly Plitz & Tracey  Newman

For rider biographies, please visit the Equine Canada web site at www.equinecanada.ca.    

Michelle Mueller of Port Perry, ON and Julie-Anna Pring’s Amistad, who were named to the WEG Squad in June, unfortunately withdrew from the selection process due to an injury to the horse, which prevented the pair sufficient time to prepare for the Games.

“It was an extremely difficult decision to select the top six,” said High Performance Chair, Grit High. “All of the squad members have shown through their performances that they deserved the opportunity to represent Canada at the Games.”  

The team and alternates will participate in a final training camp in Ocala, FL from September 14 – 23 prior to their departure for Lexington.

The team trains under the leadership of David O’Connor, International Technical Advisor.  Eventing Chef d’équipe, Graeme Thom; stable manager, Debbie Furnas; team veterinarian, Dr. Christiana Ober; and team farrier, Randy Pawlak, will accompany and provide support to the team throughout the Games.

The Canadian Eventing Committee is grateful to Sport Canada, Podium Canada and all of its sponsors, supporters, suppliers and friends for their continued support of the Canadian Eventing Team in its quest for excellence at the 2010 World Equestrian Games.  

The Olympic sport of eventing encompasses three separate tests: dressage, cross-country and show jumping held consecutively. Each test ridden by the rider and horse in combination is scored individually but added together for the final results. The rider/horse combination with the fewest number of penalty points over the three days wins the competition.  

At the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the team and individual competitions will run concurrently.  Each eligible nation may compete three or four rider/horse combinations in the team competition (with the best three scores to count towards the final classification) plus one or two combinations in the individual competition. Nations which are unable to field a team may send one or two rider/horse combinations to compete in the individual competition.

Schedule for the World Equestrian Games Eventing Competition:

• Thursday, September 30  Dressage Day 1
• Friday, October 1   Dressage Day 2                                            
• Saturday, October 2  Cross Country    
• Sunday, October 3  Show Jumping   Medal Ceremony — Team and Individual                                  

For specific times and competition details and results consult the Organizing Committee website www.alltechfeigames.com or the FEI web site www.horsesport.org.

About Canadian Eventing
Canadian Eventing is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for the sport of eventing in Canada from the grassroots to the international level. The Canadian Eventing Committee is comprised of 12 members, including two rider representatives elected by the Elite Riders Association. Directed by the strategic plan for eventing, all eventing activities are administered by this committee via six sub-committees with the support of eventing manager based at the Equine Canada office in Ottawa. The national team athletes and program, led by International Technical Advisor David O’Connor, are monitored by the High Performance Committee. For more information about Canadian Eventing, visit www.equinecanada.ca—Sport—Eventing.

About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism.  A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry.  Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca