Bianca.jpgQuébec, Québec – Cavalor Canada sponsored rider Bianca Lafontaine enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime when she spent a week training in Belgium with top-ranked show jumping athlete Ludo Philippaerts.

Lafontaine, 19, of Beaconsfield, QC, spent one week at the end of April working and riding with Philippaerts at his training center in Gruitrode, Belgium. A four-time Olympian, Philippaerts has represented Belgium in three World Championships and 11 World Cup Finals.

“I rode eight horses a day and helped out around the barn,” explained Lafontaine of her experience. “Ludo gave me lessons, which was the best part. I was star struck! It was a lot of fun, and I would definitely do it again.”

As to how the experience benefited her as a rider, Lafontaine says, “I am not as good on the flat as I should be, so Ludo helped me with that. You have to be good on the flat to do well at the jumps, and riding eight horses a day helped me to improve on the flat just in the short time that I was there.”

Lafontaine has competed as a member of the junior team at the past two North American Young Riders’ Championships and is hoping to compete this year as a member of the senior team with Artan as well as at the contest the National Talent Squad Finals held during the 2008 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto in November. Lafontaine is also developing Ramicor, and hopes to show the horse in the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Horse Division.

“Cavalor Canada is committed to the development of the next generation of equestrian athletes,” said Francis Berger, General Manager of Cavalor Canada. “Having the opportunity to train with Ludo Philippaerts and experience the European methods first-hand is an invaluable experience for Bianca’s development as a rider.”


 

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