Little Bromont, Big Futures

Following the overwhelming success of last weekend’s MARS Bromont CCI4* at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, Sue Ockendon and her team ran a second major event this weekend focused on developing the next generation of FEI/international horses and riders.

Four countries were represented at Petit or Little Bromont Saturday and Sunday June 14/15 (Canada, USA, Ukraine and Colombia) across multiple levels: FEI CCI1*, EV110, EV100, EV90 and EV85; as well as the “I Can Event” (ICE) hybrid/combinée program at the 45, 60, 70 and 75cm height. The ICE divisions include a dressage test, followed by a jumping course consisting of a mix of cross-country fences and show-jumps, in an arena setting designed to introduce riders to the sport.

Widely recognized for her work championing young riders, and known for “doing things the right way”, event director Sue Ockendon doesn’t hesitate when asked about running Little Bromont just days after putting on the biggest international three-day event in the country:

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“These riders (and young horses) are our future,” she said. “It’s the grassroots of our (eventing) sport. Running here at Bromont is what we have to do to get them ready to jump around courses at the upper FEI levels on the world stage.

“We had a great competition this weekend with riders from all over, and each year we run this event it gets better and better. Little Bromont is for the future of eventing because we keep it up to height and up to standards. I’m also encouraged by the growth of the “I Can Event” series and would love to see it eventually run on our grass, instead of in a show ring, to give them a feel for the real thing. It’s a great program and it’s wonderful to see the interest grow.”

The FEI CCI1* saw the top three places hold their positions through all three phases: Saturday’s dressage and show jumping, followed by Sunday’s cross-country. Lindsay Beer-Drury of Springwater, ON, rode Catherston Tick Tock to the win, finishing on their dressage score of 26.7. Luciene Claudel of Richelieu, Quebec, added just 1.2 time penalties on cross-country to finish in second on 29.9 and Susana Tezanos Moreno of St. Eustache, Quebec, finished third on Clover, also on their dressage score of 30.3.

In the EV110, Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, captured the win with License to Chill, adding just 1.2 time penalties cross-country to finish on a final score of 37. Kimberley Bégin of Ste. Marthe, QC, took second and third with Victory Cents and Ultimate Legacy, just behind on 38.8 and 41.2 respectively.

For the complete list of results visit EventEntries.com.

Two special awards were given out Sunday, honouring lifetime achievement in the sport, and celebrating young Canadian riders at the U18 level. Created in memory of Mary Anne and Guy Laframboise, the Laframboise Family Legacy Awards are in the second of their initial three-year program. Mary Anne Laframboise and Sue Ockendon worked tirelessly and often side-by-side to improve opportunities for youth, coaching education and certification; and they spearheaded unprecedented growth in the number and quality of competitions, eventing training stables and Young Rider teams representing Canada. They were both passionately devoted to supporting and developing young rider athletes, as well as the breeding of event horses.

At the MARS Bromont CCI, the Laframboise Family Legacy Award recognized the highest placed U25 rider; and at Little Bromont, recognized the highest placed Canadian U18 rider in the core divisions, as well as honouring an outstanding individual (or individuals) who made a significant contribution to the sport of eventing in Canada.

A group of people during a presentation at Bromont.

Lucy Davis, 2024 inaugural recipient Sue Ockendon, Lysel and Yves Landry, and Lorraine Laframboise. (MCD photo)

Lysel and her husband Yves Landry, embraced the equestrian world in the early days of eventing in Canada. They have devoted their lives to horses and sport based out of their Écurie la Crinière farm in Napierville, QC.

With a nursing degree as a model for the care and nurturing of horses and humans in the sport and on her farm, Lysel has represented local and Quebec interests in equestrian sport as a committee member, competition organizer, farm owner, and wife and mother to international riders Yves and Isabelle respectively.

Yves, a Canadian Eventing High Performance Coach with a Bachelor of Physical Education, has been a member of the Canadian Eventing team, competing for Canada at the Pan American Games, Burghley and the then Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Together, Lysel and Yves have produced many successful sport horses with their breeding program and stallions.

Thank you Lysel and Yves for your passion and commitment to excellence in eventing in Canada.

The Canadian U18 award was earned by Catherine Latreille of Montreal, with her horse RS Morocco. They won the EV90-A division, finishing on their dressage score of 27.5. Catherine, a busy student who took the weekend away to compete, had already gone back to studying for exams tomorrow, but close family friend Gerrie Hoffman of Sutton, QC, accepted the cooler, prize and cheque on her behalf.

Competitors eager to experience all Bromont has to offer, can enter August Bromont CCI August 15-17, with FEI CCI4*-S through CCI1* and Team Challenge (EV100/110 to be confirmed) and is an excellent opportunity for developing horses and riders. Entries are open now, for the Omnibus click HERE.

Plan to join us in June of 2026 for the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympic Games, when the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park played host to the equestrian events to great success.

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