With a mix of veterans and prospects, both human and equine, the Canadian Para-Dressage Team won top team honours at the Del-Mar, California, CPEDI3* held March 10–13, 2011.
With the top three combined scores from the Team test and Individual Championship test for Canadian team members Lauren Barwick, Ashley Gowanlock, Eleonore Elstone and Stephanie Ross, the Canadians handily came out on top with a score of 198.921. Second place went to the American Team with a score of 185.922.
Canada’s individual gold and silver medalist from the 2008 Paralympic Games, Barwick of Aldergrove, BC, won first and second in all three tests in Grade II. Riding her new 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, Ferdonia 2, Barwick was first with 71.032% in the Team test, and second with Equine Canada’s nine-year-old Oldenburg mare, Off to Paris, scoring 70.079%. In the Individual Championship Test, Barwick was first with Off To Paris with 72.698% and second with Ferdonia 2, scoring 70.317%. In the Freestyle, Barwick easily won riding Ferdonia 2 with 75.167%, which was also the high score of the CPEDI3* competition. With Off To Paris, Barwick finished with 73.333% for second.
“I worked with Ferdonia for only three weeks and Paris for two weeks leading up to the show. I went in not expecting anything but to have a great learning experience for the both of them, and a chance to get to know them in a high-pressure environment. They were both amazing,” said Barwick. “They are both very different and will make me a better rider for it. Andrea Taylor has helped me with both of them. She has given me a vision of how each needs to proceed in their development for success.”
Barwick added, “Thank you so much to Own the Podium for allowing Equine Canada to take the next step in developing our sport and allowing us every chance possible for repeat gold medal results. Also a big thank you to Parelli Natural Horsemanship for their sponsorship, which allowed me to have a second fantastic horse and all the tools and support necessary to make this journey a smooth one.”
Gowanlock, of Surrey, BC, rode her 2010 World Equestrian Games mount Donnymaskell, Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding to fourth place in the 1b Team test with 60.152%. The pair moved up one place to third in the Individual Championship test to score 64.130%. In the Freestyle, Donnymaskell and Gowanlock moved up again to second with 66.917%.
In Grade 4, Langley, BC, native Elstone won the Team Test (65.208%) and the Individual Championship test (67.903%) riding Donatello, Elizabeth Trenchard’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding. She placed second in both tests, earning 65.052% in the Team and 66.075% in the Individual Championship Test, with Why Not G, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Elstone and Kelleigh Kulscar. Riding Why Not G, Elstone won the Grade 4 Freestyle with 71.917% and placed second with Donatello (65.208%).
At her first international para-dressage competition, Ross of Langley, BC, swept Grade 3 by winning the tests in all three classes riding Wiesenblute, her 16-year-old Hanoverian mare. Ross scored 60.679% in the Team, 60.667% in the Individual Championship and 65.833% in the Freestyle.
Jody Schloss of Toronto, ON also rode her new horse Inspector Rebus, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to victory in all three of her tests. The pair earned 61.667% in the Team Test, 66.417% in the Individual Championship test and 66.500% in the Freestyle.
“I was really pleased with how each of the five riders competed. Each one improved on their previous day’s test. We have new horse and rider combinations and it was exciting to see them figure out how to work together,” noted National Team Coach, Andrea Taylor. “The depth of talent is growing rapidly with better riding and very good horses. The scores were reflective of that. We are all fully focused on the 2012 Paralympics in London.”
Complete details for the CPEDI3* Del Mar may be found at http://www.dressageevents.com/.
Canada’s Para-equestrian athletes have had tremendous international success over the past number of years, helping to propel the discipline into the spotlight. The Canadian Para-equestrian athletes are well positioned leading up to the 2012 Paralympic Games, where they will be striving for performance excellence.
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