The Canadian Eventing Team is preparing to send a full squad to the 2022 FEI World Championships, September 14-25, 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Holly Jacks and Candy King will be joining Hawley Awad and JollyBo, Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes, and Michael Winter and El Mundo. (Colleen Loach has withdrawn Vermont due to a lameness issue; no announcement has been made as to whether one of the alternatives, Dana Cooke/Mississippi or Lisa Marie Fergusson/Honor Me will be riding in their place.)
Holly Jacks and Candy King, a 2010 gelding by Granfenstoltz out of Eye Candy owned in partnership with The Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership, has been produced by Jacks at her Holly Jacks Eventing bases in Erin, Ontario and Ocala, Florida, since he was imported as a six-year-old. Highlights of 2022 include finishing 8th in the Advanced at Rocking Horse, 9th in the Red Hills International CCI4-S, 15th in the CCI4-S at the LRK3DE, and 8th in the Tryon International Spring CCI4-L.
Being selected for the Canadian Eventing Team for the 2022 FEI World Championships is an honour for Jacks and the result of years of hard work. “I’m humbled to represent my country with such an exceptional group of teammates,” she said. “I look forward to traveling with our team to Italy and interacting with top riders from throughout the world. This is a crucial moment in our qualification toward a bid for the 2024 summer Olympics in France!”
For riders based in Canada, the road to the Olympics presents more challenges than their USA-based counterparts. Canadian riders choose to relocate to warmer climates within the United States for the winter months, or travel abroad to access training and competitions. Karl Slezak and Mike Winter have both been based in the UK in their lead-up to the World Championships.
Equestrian sport in Canada, and especially eventing, does not get the same level of attention as it does in the United States, so funding challenges exist. “Canada is known for ice hockey, so we need to work hard to raise awareness of equestrian sport in order to find owners and raise funds to develop an Olympic team. I’ve had to sell a lot of other horses in order to develop one to the World Championship level.” said Holly. “Ownership in Canada is different, it’s a boutique experience because we usually don’t operate with the same volume of horses in our program. Our owners get more personal attention at our facilities and up close at the FEI level events ‒ that is why my owners have encouraged me to seize this moment to draw attention to the benefits of supporting Team Canada.”
Canada’s new High Performance Advisory Group has worked tirelessly over the past three months to attract big donors to support the team. Co-chaired by Emily Gilbert and Greg Paull, this grassroots crew of volunteers has raised a remarkable $250,000 for the team in a short period of time to fund the trip to Europe.
“Eventing in Canada was in a challenging place 12 months ago and this amazing group of volunteers has done an incredible job pulling together a program for us,” said Holly. “I can’t thank the HPAG and our donors enough. We aspire to make this a world-class program and coming up with the funds to send a full team to the World Championships is a fabulous start. This group of volunteers has an amazing vision for our team and country.”
To donate to the Canadian High Performance Team, please visit here and select Horse Power Fund – Eventing.
Holly’s own efforts include an online auction fundraiser with some great items from riding lessons and clinics to golf lessons to tack and apparel to physical therapy sessions ‒ access it here to bid.
On August 23rd, Jacks began her journey to Great Meadow International for her last competition with Candy King leading up to the World Championship. The horses will fly from JFK to Liege, Belgium on September 2nd. The team will be based 20 minutes from Pratoni, Italy for 10 days of training before the World Championships commence on September 12, 2022. The Canadian Eventing team will be supported by Team Leader James Hood, Team Manager Fleur Tipton, and Chef D’Équipe Rebbeca Howard.
~ with files from Lisa Thomas
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