Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to announce the 2024 Dressage and Para Dressage Year-End Award Recipients, as recognized by the Dressage and Para Dressage Committee, for their impressive achievements and contributions to the growth and success of the Canadian equestrian community.
The 2024 recipients are as follows.
2024 EC Dressage Award Recipients
Athlete of the Year – Camille Carier Bergeron
Horse of the Year – Statesman
Owner of the Year – Gilles Bergeron
Youth Athlete of the Year – Kiara Williams-Brown
Volunteer of the Year – Jillian Taylor-Mancusi
2024 EC Para Dressage Award Recipients
Athlete of the Year – Roberta Sheffield
Horse of the Year – Fairuza
Owner of the year – Lucinda Blakiston Houston
Coach of the Year – Karis van Essen
Volunteer of the Year – Robyn Allen
Dressage Athlete of the Year: Camille Carier Bergeron
At time of selection Camille Carier Bergeron was the highest ranked Canadian dressage rider on the FEI World Rankings, she made her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics with her partner, Finnländerin a 14-year-old Oldenburg mare by Fidertanz 2 x Ferna x Donnerhall II and owned by Camille and her father, Gilles Bergeron.
In just their second competition together, in February 2024, Camille and Finnländerin secured victory in the Grand Prix Special at the Global Dressage Festival CDI 3* in Wellington, Florida.
Previously, Camille represented Canada at the Santiago 2023 Pan Am Games, with Sound of Silence 4. Her efforts contributed to Canada winning a team bronze medal and qualifying a full dressage team for the Paris Olympics.
Her most impressive success this season was a Freestyle score of 77.28% at the CDI-W Devon
Naïma Moreira Laliberté with Dressage Horse of the Year Statesman. (Cealy Tetley photo)
Dressage Horse of the Year: Statesman
Statesman (Sandro Hit x Bella Italia x Brentano II) is a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by KML Inc. and Guy Laliberté and competed by Naïma Moreira Laliberté. Statesman is currently ranked 101st in the world and most recently competed with Naima at the CDI3* Toronto this past week achieving an outstanding 75.745% in the freestyle. Statesman and Naima also achieved the highest score for the Canadian team at the Paris Olympic Games this past summer.am competition.
With Naïma, Statesman has twice represented Canada at the Pan American Games. At Lima 2019, they helped Canada win team dressage gold, which qualified Canada for the Tokyo Olympics. At Santiago 2023, the bronze medal won by her and her teammates qualified Canada for team dressage at Paris 2024. They also competed at the FEI World Championships for the first time in 2022.
Statesman’s continuing successes have led to him being recognized as 2024 Dressage Horse of the Year.
Dressage Owner of the Year: Gilles Bergeron
Gilles Bergeron is the proud owner of Finnländerin, the talented 14-year-old Oldenburg chestnut mare who recently competed at the Paris Olympics with his daughter, Camille Carier Bergeron. Currently ranked 118th in the FEI World Rankings, Finnländerin was sired by Fidertanz 2 and is out of the Donnerhall II mare Ferna, a full sister to the Olympic stallion Blue Hors Don Schufro.
In September of 2024, at the CDI-W in Devon, PA, Finnländerin and Camille danced their way to a 77.280% in the Grand Prix freestyle.
Equestrian Canada’s Dressage Committee has named Gilles Bergeron as the 2024 Dressage Owner of the Year.
Dressage Youth Athlete of the Year: Kiara Williams-Brown
Kiara Williams-Brown hails from Ottawa, ON and is a member of Ontario Equestrian’s GRIT (Great Rider Intensive Training) program. Williams-Brown has successfully balanced the demands of attending school full time and training and riding at the FEI Young Rider level through 2024.
A highlight for Kiara this summer, was being selected to represent Canada at the North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for Dressage held in Traverse City, MI. There she earned individual silver and team silver medals. Her consistent top performances have her ranked as the top Canadian athlete on the FEI Young Rider Rankings sitting in 36th place.
Kiara credits her top finishes to Simone Williams, Kiara’s mother and coach. Simone is a successful Grand Prix athlete and NAYC alumni. Queenswood Stables, established by Kiara’s grandparents, is still operated by the family and has given Kiara the opportunity to ride a variety of horses over the years.
Dressage Volunteer of the Year: Jillian Taylor-Mancusi
Jillian Taylor-Mancusi has attended and supported her daughter, Brooke Mancusi at hundreds of CDI classes from FEI-JR to FEI-U25 over the years. It was a natural fit when Jillian volunteered for the Chef d’Equipe role for the 2024 North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for dressage.
The role of Chef d’Equipe requires juggling a multitude of tasks while assisting coaches, parents and athletes. Days often start early in the barns, ensuring that everyone is set for the day’s events, and end late with Chef meetings and night check. Jillian was praised by members of the Team for fostering team spirit, communication and good humor throughout the event.
In recognition of her tremendous volunteer efforts this season in support of NAYC, Equestrian Canada’s Dressage Committee is honored to present Jillian with the 2024 Dressage Volunteer of the Year Award.
Para Dressage Athlete of the Year: Roberta Sheffield
Roberta Sheffield has been awarded the prestigious title of Para Dressage Athlete of the Year, honoring her exceptional achievements and unwavering determination throughout the season. This marks the second consecutive year that Roberta has received this recognition.
As one of Canada’s top athletes, she consistently ranks among the best in the world. Her recent accomplishments include an impressive 6th place finish at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, and she is currently recognized as the top Canadian athlete in the FEI World Para Dressage Rankings.
Proudly representing Canada since 2013, Sheffield is a three-time Paralympian and a 5th place finisher from the 2022 World Championships.
Demonstrating remarkable perseverance and passion, Sheffield was re-classified this spring, giving her only a few short months to compete in the Grade II tests before the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer.
Over the years, she has ridden nine different horses at the FEI level, including her long-standing partnership with Fairuza.
Para Dressage Horse of the Year: Fairuza
Fairuza, a 15-year-old Gelderlander cross owned and trained by Roberta Sheffield, has gained recognition as the top Canadian horse in Para Dressage. They recently placed an impressive 6th at the Paralympic Games and currently rank first among all Canadian Para Dressage horses in the FEI World Rankings.
Additionally, Fairuza and Roberta delivered a stunning freestyle performance in Paris, earning a score of 73.18. This achievement highlights their exceptional teamwork and ability to execute their routine with precision and artistry. It underscores their individual strengths and significantly contributes to their overall success in the sport. Congratulations to Fairuza and Roberta on this outstanding milestone.
Para Dressage Owner of the Year: Lucinda Blakiston Houston
Lucinda Blakiston Houston from Gortin, Ireland has been recognized as the Para Dressage Owner of the Year.
Lucinda is the proud owner of the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding Happy Feet 3, who was ridden by Canada’s Austen Burns at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Lucinda bought Happy Feet 3 in 2016. She went to her first International with him in 2019 as a Grade V Para Dressage athlete.
With the guidance of her instructors and Happy Feet, she learned the fundamental concepts of dressage. Prior to this, she focused on grassroots riding, including eventing and hunting. Her journey in dressage has been truly remarkable, especially after sharing her horse with another para athlete. Witnessing the growth of both the horse and athlete has enriched her own experience in dressage competitions. This symbiotic relationship has been incredibly rewarding for Lucinda and she hopes that other owners and athletes consider taking a similar path.
Lucinda has made significant contributions to the Canadian Para Dressage team, showcasing her unwavering support for athlete Austen Burns. Through her dedication and passion, she continues to leave a lasting impact on the sport.
Para Dressage Coach of the Year: Karis van Essen
Karis Van Essen is the Para Dressage Coach of the year for 2024.
Karis is not only a coach, but a registered physiotherapist and an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider. She has coached Jody Schloss for 10 years including at two World Championships and two Paralympic Games. Karis exemplifies the principles of athlete development and fair play. She has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to international competition. She creates a safe, fair, and enjoyable environment for equestrian athletes.
Through her dedication and leadership, Karis has made a significant impact on the development of athletes, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the sport.
Para Dressage Volunteer of the Year: Robyn Allen
Robyn Allen was recognized as the Para Dressage Volunteer of the Year for her exceptional contributions to the equestrian community. A registered physiotherapist since 2001, Robyn currently serves as a Director of Operations in the Adaptive Riding industry and incorporates hippotherapy into her practice.
As a valued member of the Para Dressage Committee and the Classification Advisory Group, Robyn shares her expertise and passion for para-equestrianism. She is also a National Para Equestrian Classifier and holds the status of FEI Level 2 Classifier.
Robyn’s dedication to enhancing the lives of athletes through her professional work and volunteer efforts makes her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
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