Canadian Eventing Names Eventing Team and Individuals for the 2010 World Equestrian Games

Lexington, KY — The Canadian Eventing High Performance Committee is pleased to announce the riders and horses who will compete in team and individual competition at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, September 30–October 3, 2010.  
Named to compete in the Team competition (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
• Selena O’Hanlon, Elgin, ON   Colombo, 1994 bay Swedish Warmblood    Elaine & Michael Davies
• Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, Summerland, BC   Port Authority, 1998 bay Canadian-bred Selle Français   Rider & Patricia Bosch

Named to compete as Individuals

• Rebecca Howard, Salmon Arm, BC  Riddle Master, 2001 bay Canadian Sport Horse  Caroline Bazley
• Jessica Phoenix, Uxbridge ON    Exponential, 1998 bay Canadian thoroughbred    Rider

“We are very fortunate to have six very strong combinations who are training very well,” said the Canadian Eventing Team Chef d’équipe, Graeme Thom. “We look forward to competitive results from all of them. At the end of the day, all six combinations are viewed by us as part of the team.”

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

The team is lead by David O’Connor, International Technical Advisor.  Eventing Chef d’équipe, Graeme Thom; stable manager, Debbie Furnas; team veterinarian, Dr. Christiana Ober; team therapist Jo-Ann Wilson, team farrier, Randy Pawlak and team manager Fleur Tipton 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.

Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc. is the official supplier of joint therapy to the 2010 Canadian Equestrian Team at the World Equestrian Games.