Canadian Reining Committee Announces WEG Team Riders

Ottawa, ON—The Equine Canada Canadian Reining Committee (CRC) is pleased to announce the Canadian Reining Team for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) to be held in Lexington, KY September 25—October 10, 2010.  

The following riders were chosen after the head-to-head selection trial held at the West Coast Classic CRI 1* in Chilliwack, BC:
Rider -  Home Town

• Lisa Coulter    Kelowna, BC / Pilot Point, TX
• Duane Latimer   Bienfait, SK / Ardmore, OK
• Shawna Sapergia  Cochrane, AB
• Vernon Sapergia   Cochrane, AB

Coulter will be riding Western Whiz, a seven-year-old Quarter Horse gelding owned by Robert Thompson. Coulter represented Canada at the 2009 Reining Kentucky Cup CRI 4* held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, where she won individual and team silver.

Latimer, the current FEI Reining World Champion, will be looking to defend his title riding Dun Playin Tag, Lance Griffin’s Canadian-bred six-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. Latimer also posted the score that secured Canada the team silver medal the 2006 World Championships in Aachen.

Shawna Sapergia, team and individual silver medalist from the 2002 Jerez WEG, will be riding This Chics On Top, a Canadian-bred seven-year-old Quarter Horse mare owned by Outrider Ranch Ltd.  Shawna’s father, Vernon Sapergia, will be making his Canada Reining Team debut at the World Equestrian Games riding Its Wimpys Turn, a six-year-old Canadian-bred Quarter horse mare also owned by Outrider Ranch Ltd.

“Without a doubt, we have four outstanding athletes and horses representing Canada reining at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. We should feel confident that we will have a place on the podium,” said Bob Thompson, chair of the CRC.   “We are very lucky to have such a strong, talented and experienced team, and we are looking forward to an exciting and tough competition,” added Chef d’équipe, Wendy Dyer.

For additional information on the CRC and its programs, including selection criteria, please visit the Equine Canada website at www.equinecanada.ca or e-mail reining@equinecanada.ca.

About the Canadian Reining Committee
The Canadian Reining Committee is the discipline committee of Equine Canada that is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of reining programs in Canada. The Canadian Reining Committee's objective is to foster the growth of reining and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels.

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.