Canadian Dressage Riders Rank High in World Standings

Ottawa, ONâ€”Dressage Canada is pleased to announce that five Canadian dressage riders are ranked in the top 85 in the Federation Equestre International (FEI) World Dressage Rankings from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2008.

The top Canadian in the rankings is Olympian Ashley Holzer, a current resident of New York, NY, who is currently in ninth place, with 1742 points. Holzer and her mount Pop Art, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Amsterdam x Cabochon) owned by Ian and Moreen Nicoll and Rusty Holzer, had a thrilling winter competitive season in Florida this year. The duo won the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at CDI 3*â€“Y/J Zada WEF Dressage Classic in March and at CDI-W/Y Palm Beach Dressage Derby at the end of February. They also won both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Speciale at the CDI-W Gold Coast Opener in January.

â€œI am thrilled to be ranked ninth in the world amongst such great horses and riders,â€ noted Holzer, who has just been selected to represent Canada in dressage at the 2008 Olympics which will make her a triple Olympian.

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Sitting in 48th spot, with 1405 points, is Jacqueline Brooks from Mount Albert, ON. Riding her Grand Prix mount Gran Gesto (Grannox x Goldstern), an 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch, Brooks placed second in the Grand Prix and won the Grand Prix Speciale at CDI-W/Y Palm Beach Dressage Derby and finished in second, just behind Holzer, in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI 3*â€“Y/J Zada WEF Dressage Classic in March. Brooks and Gran Gesto also won both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI-W Toronto in August 2007.

Multiple Olympian Christilot Boylen, originally from Toronto, ON, and now living in Rottingen, Germany, is currently ranked 68th in the world with 1323 points. With her mount Gachino (Gardez x China Town), a 14-year-old Baden-Wurttemberger gelding, owned by Pedro Hermosilla and Boylen, she placed fourth in the Grand Prix and won the Grand Prix Speciale at CDI3* Weikersdorf, held October 2007 in Austria. In the third week of the CDI3* Sunshine Tour held March 13â€“16, 2008, in Vejer de la Frontera, ESP, Boylen and Gachino placed fifth in the Grand Prix, eighth in the Grand Prix Speciale and finished third place in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

In 78th place, with 1292 points, is Evi Strasser of Sainte-Adele, QC. Riding her long-time partner Quantum Tyme, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Quattro x Argentinius), Strasser won the Grand Prix and finished third in the Grand Prix Speciale at the CDI 3* La Mandria in Italy in April 2008. In September 2007, the pair placed fourth in the Grand Prix and third in the Grand Prix Speciale at the CDI Saumur in France.

Olympian Leslie Reid rounds out the top five Canadian riders in 85th spot with 1248 points. Reid, riding Orion, Patricia Hatch’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Jazz x Consul), , has earned a fourth place in the Grand Prix and a third place finish in the Grand Prix Speciale at Dressage Affaire CDI3* held March 2008 in Del Mar, California. In April, the pair place second in both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3* held in Rancho Murieta, California making it a memorable first season for Orion at international Grand Prix level.

â€œThis is a very exciting year for Canadian dressage as we head into the Olympic Games,â€ remarked Kerri McGregor, Chair of Dressage Canada. â€œTo have such strong world standings from our Canadian athletes makes it even more so as Canada prepares for Hong Kong.â€

The World Dressage Rankings, calculated by the FEI, are based on percentages scored at international competitions under FEI rules. The scores obtained in a maximum of eight tests per year count in the standings. The complete standing may be seen at http://www.fei.org/Disciplines/Dressage/Results/Documents/D_rankings_89.pdf.