Equine Canada and Para-Equestrian Canada are pleased to announce that Andrea Taylor, of Langley, B.C., has been awarded the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award in recognition of her achievements at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014.
As the national team coach of Canadian Para-Dressage Team, Taylor coached Lauren Barwick to individual silver and bronze medal finishes at the Games, riding Off to Paris, Equine Canada’s 13-year-old Oldenburg mare.
Taylor is a seasoned international dressage competitor who became involved in Para-Dressage when she donated her own Grand Prix horse, Dior, to Barwick to ride at the 2004 Paralympic Games. Named as a national team coach since 2007, Taylor has become an integral part of the ongoing success of the Canadian para-dressage program and team, which currently is ranked sixth in the world.
Taylor has coached many successful riders, including adult amateurs, junior and young riders. As an athlete, Taylor competed internationally at the Grand Prix level with Dior. In 1989, she was a member of the gold medal team and won the individual gold medal at the North American Young Riders Championships. She has been a short and long-listed rider with the Canadian dressage team, and in 2000, Taylor represented Canada at the International Dressage Derby in Sydney, AUS, where she won the team bronze medal and was named Leading Foreign Rider.
“I am really proud to accept this award on behalf of the whole Canadian Team — especially my fellow Team coach, Mary Longden,” said Taylor, who had to be NCCP certified to be eligible for the award. “It takes a hard-working, focused group of people to help the team members to do their job — in this instance, win — at the world level.
“I love coaching and trying to figure just what each horse and rider combo needs to be able to be the best at their level. It takes commitment from both sides and that is what we had at these Games. Lauren and Off to Paris’ huge success in France made me proud to be a coach and one of many supporters in this fantastic sport called dressage,” added Taylor.
“Being awarded her second Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award is a testament to Andrea’s dedication to a pursuit of excellence with her athletes,” said Kalie McKenna, Equine Canada Manager Coaching. “As a certified Level 3 coach, Equine Canada is proud to have her as an ambassador of our coaching program and look forward to seeing what Andrea and her athletes accomplish next.”
Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards were awarded at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala, which took place in Ottawa on Friday, November 7, 2014.
These yearly prestigious awards recognize coaches whose athletes have excelled at world championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games, and at the Special Olympics World Games.
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