Equestrian Canada (EC) has officially named the athletes who will represent the maple leaf in para dressage and vaulting at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, August 11-23, 2026. Show jumping, dressage and eventing were announced earlier, click here for the details.
The Canadian para dressage team will be:
Eleonore Elstone (Langley, BC)
Horse: Szecrecy HP
Groom: Lisa Schultz
Owners: Rachel Blaney and Joshua Carlsen
Laura Hall (Ladysmith, BC)
Horse: Istrano
Groom: Katharine MacKenzie
Owners: Laura and Andrew Hall
Jody Schloss (Toronto, ON)
Horse: El Colorado
Groom: Karis van Essen
Owner: Jody Schloss
Roberta (Bert) Sheffield (Lincolnshire, UK)
Horse: Nardando
Groom: Annie Wright
Owner: Jolanda Brugman
The Team will be supported by:
Clive Milkins, Chef d’Équipe
Dr. Alan Manning, Veterinarian
Christine Peters, Team Manager
Taylor Campbell, Team Physio
The Canadian vaulting team will be:
Vaulting Individuals
Averill Saunders (Sundre, AB)
Horse: Bold Statement
Lunger: Rob de Bruin
Groom: Remi Jérôme Vanlerberghe
Owner: Averill Saunders
Megan Leeper (Strathmore, AB)
Horse: Zorro
Lunger: Angelique Vick
Groom: Jeanine Van Der Sluijs
Owners: Angelique Vick and Jeanine Van Der Sluijs
Charlotte Axani (Grande Prairie, AB)
Horse: Lightning Jack 12
Lunger: Thordis Thormahlen
Groom: Verena Chemnitz
Owner: Thordis Thormahlen
Talmage Conrad (Lethbridge, AB)
Horse: San Felice Z
Lunger: Christina Ender
Groom: Laura Peters
Owner: RVV Equus e.V.
Vaulting Pas de Deux
Megan Leeper & Katherine Van Den Bosch
Home Towns: Strathmore AB, Olds AB
Horse: Zorro
Lunger: Angelique Vick
Groom: Jeanine Van Der Sluijs
Owners: Angelique Vick & Jeanine Van Der Sluijs
Katelyn Foss & Jacynda Row
Home Towns: Langley, BC and Edmonton, AB
Horse: Gozer
Lunger: Christina Ender
Groom: Paul Nehaus
Owner: RVV Equus e.V.
The Team will be supported by:
Jessica Bentzen, Chef d’Équipe
Gabe Aniello, Team Assistant
What is particularly interesting about these two teams is that they hold both our youngest (Katherine Van Den Bosch, 17, vaulting pas de deux) and our oldest (Eleonore Elstone, 74, para dressage) Team Canada athletes competing at these World Championships, emphasizing the unique accessibility of equestrian sport across the board. Not only do men and women compete on full equal footing in all equestrian sport, but young and old compete side by side at every level.
Elstone, who grew up riding as a child in Germany before emigrating to Canada in 1974, is the epitome of the expression “Age is but a number!”. Having ridden jumpers in the National horse shows at Aachen in the 1970’s, Elstone jumped into the equestrian community in Canada, having coached the dressage Young Rider team multiple times as well as sitting on the EC coaching committee. With the support of owner Rachel Blaney, she has had the ride on Szecrecy, a 2019 Pinto-Friesian Sport horse since 2023. They have been competing with the Aachen World Championships in mind since then, slowly and steadily moving onto the development squad and up through the levels.
“Riding has always been my passion,” she commented. “Since my injury that passion shifted from jumpers to dressage, but I have never really thought of myself as a ‘para rider’, riding and horses have always been a part of my life. It’s my every day, and I am fortunate it’s still my passion to teach and coach and train.
“Riding has also been my way to stay physically fit,” she continued. “As it’s a non weight-bearing activity, I can go to the gym but I can’t do very much on my feet. Being on a horse allows me to stay physically active and fit without the limitations I have being on the ground.”
“Congratulations to every athlete, horse, owner and support team member selected to represent Canada in Aachen,” remarked James Hood, High Performance Director at EC and Chef de Mission for the Championships. “Earning a place on a World Championship team is the result of years of hard work, commitment and outstanding performances, and everyone involved should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished. We look forward to seeing this team continue to build on that momentum as they prepare to compete against the very best in the world.”
EC’s national teams are supported by our Official Horse Transporter, Ecclestone Horse Transport; our Official Equine Nutrition Partner Mad Barn, and Official Suppliers LeMieux, Ogilvy Equestrian Inc. and Talisman Equine.
Hosted on the hallowed grounds of the Aachen Soers, the Aachener-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV) has organized the world’s largest equestrian events since 1898. The 2026 FEI World Championships mark a historic “welcome home” to the venue, exactly 20 years after Aachen hosted the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Each summer, the Aachen welcomes over 350,000 spectators for the World Equestrian Festival (CHIO Aachen), featuring five traditional disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Four-In-Hand Driving and Vaulting. For this summer’s World Championships, Para Dressage will also be included.
For more information or to purchase tickets or VIP tables, visit www.aachen2026.com. You can follow Team Canada during the 2026 World Championships for free on CBC Gem and ClipMyHorse TV.
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