Ottawa, Ontario – Brenda Minor of Erin, ON has been approved by the FEI and was added to the FEI list of International Candidate ‘C’ Dressage Judge as of January 1, 2007.

A life-long riding enthusiast, Minor began taking dressage lessons at the age of 18, and has been impassioned with dressage ever since. Minor credits FEI ‘I’ level dressage judge Lorraine MacDonald with encouraging her to get involved in judging. After beginning her journey up the judging ranks, by 1995 Minor had reached the Equine Canada Senior Status and could be found officiating at many dressage competitions across Canada.

“I can’t believe that something that started with those ten dressage lessons so many years ago has resulted in my being where I am today,” commented Minor.

Minor fulfilled the stringent criteria set by the FEI in order to obtain her FEI ‘C’ status. Candidates are required to not only fulfill the National Federation requirements and be recommended for promotion by the National Federation’s Dressage Committee, but also fulfill criteria set out by the FEI. Minor competed at the Grand Prix level, obtaining the required scores and has judged well over 100 Grand Prix riders at Equine Canada and United States Dressage Federation sanctioned shows during the past five years.

In addition, Minor has assisted other FEI judges at international events, and has attended and been assessed at the requisite FEI clinics. Minor reflected that having renowned judges Stephen Clarke (FEI O – Great Britain) and Elizabeth McMullen (FEI O – Canada) as her FEI testing clinicians was a bonus.

“They are both very encouraging clinicians and make the testing component much easier to accomplish,” commented Minor. “I’ve also had tremendous support from other Canadian and International FEI judges and many show organizers. I feel extremely fortunate and honoured to join the rank of FEI judges.”

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