Dressage Canada is pleased to announce the dates for the inaugural Canadian Fortnight event which will celebrate, develop and support our talented Canadian athletes while also providing education and networking opportunities for officials, owners, sponsors and dressage enthusiasts. The inaugural Fortnight event has been scheduled for January 19th – February 2nd, 2014, in Wellington, Palm Beach Florida.
Featured Fortnight events:
Sunday, January 19th, 2014
Welcome Party – Invitation Only Event
Thursday, January 23rd – Sunday, January 26th,
2014 – CDI-W/1*/U25/Y/J/P – Wellington, FL
Sunday, January 26th, 2014
Canadian Celebration Cook-Off Fundraiser – Open Invitation Event (Ticket Purchase Required)
Venue locations for the above events will be announced when confirmed.
Educational opportunities currently being planned:
* Listen to commentary directly from FEI officials, FEI riders and industry experts as they evaluate performances;
* Educational and panel discussions with industry experts form the fields of officiating, sport psychology, nutrition, fitness, veterinary research and treatment;
* A behind the scenes look at our Canadian riders as they train and prepare for competition.
Further information will be released regarding VIP seating , discounts on hotel rates and tickets for the CDI-W Freestyle Gala;
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to visit the “Winter Equestrian Capital of the World” and experience top international dressage competition with some of the best equestrian athletes from across the Globe as they strive to qualify and represent their country at the 2014 World Equestrian Games scheduled for Normandy, France in August.
Many Fortnight events will be held at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) show grounds, which is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage venues. Currently, the venue consists of four arenas that are equal in quality to those at the 2012 and 2008 Olympic Games, several hundred stadium seats around the main ring and 200 permanent horse stalls. A Patrons Club overlooks the main competition arena and a raised courtyard at the center of the show grounds provides a panoramic view of the entire facility. The facility also boasts one of the world’s largest covered arenas at 360 by 210 feet (110 x 64 meters), and a VIP club overlooking the main competition arena.
The Adequan GDF for 2014 has increased prize money by more than 42% from 2013, which results in total prize money to more than $450,000 (CDI5* – $120,000, CDI4* – $110,000, three World Cup events each with $50,000, Nations Cup $35,000 and additional purses for FEI classes such as small tour, Under-25, Young, Junior and Pony Riders).
The CDI schedule for 2014:
* Jan. 8-12, 2014 CDI-W/1*/U25/Y/J/P
* Jan. 16-19, 2014 CDI1*/U25/Y/J/P
* Jan. 22-26, 2014 CDI-W/1*/U25/Y/J/P
* Feb. 5-9, 2014 CDI4*/3*/1*/U25/Y/J/P
* Feb. 18-23, 2014 CDIO3*/3*/1*/U25/Y/J/P
* March 12-16, 2014 CDI-W/1*/U25/Y/J/P
* March 26-30, 2014 CDI5*/3*/1*/U25/Y/J/P/YH
For those interested in experiencing some hunter, jumper competition during the Canadian Fortnight, the dressage grounds adjoin a beautiful grass jumping derby field which is all part of the sprawling Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) that attracts thousands of horses from about three dozen countries for jumper and hunter competitions. Over the years, the season has expanded from a few weeks in winter to a six day per week competition schedule that runs from fall through spring, centered around the Winter Equestrian Festival and its $6 million in prize money.
The Canadian Fortnight is being organized for everyone. Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on the chance to support our athletes and gain valuable insight which will help you to perfect your personal performance.
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