Equestrian Canada (EC) and the EC High Performance Advisory Group, Eventing (HPAG) are pleased to announce Rebecca Howard as the new Technical Advisor (TA) for Canada’s national eventing team. The Canadian Olympic event rider, coach, and advisor is expanding her role with the eventing high performance program on the road to Paris 2024.
Working collaboratively with EC, the HPAG, the Provincial Horse Trials Associations and Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Organizations, the position is multi-faceted with the objective of winning major games’ medals and developing high performance sport programs for eventing in Canada. The focus will be on supporting the existing high performance athletes, coaches and trainers and the development of programs to help advance Canadian riders on the world stage.
Howard has competed for Canada at two Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games as well as at the big European and North American courses with impressive results.
Having steadily climbed the FEI World Rankings in her riding career, Howard competed at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games where she finished 23rd in the individual event with Riddle Master (Rodero x Eyes to Rule). A year later she helped Canada win team silver at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara where she finished sixth individually with Roquefort (Jackson x Aram).
She was EC’s Equestrian of the Year in 2013 and her 10th place finish aboard Riddle Master at the 2016 Rio Olympics made her the top female rider there.
Howard’s equestrian exposure began in south-central BC, which at the time was home to National Team influencers Nick Holmes Smith, Joni Lynn Peters and Robin Hahn. Pursuing “working student”, Pony Club and Young Rider milestones to their fullest, she moved herself to the eastern USA.
After a decade in the states, and now a decade in the UK, she has earned a trail of working connections with the best in the world. Rebecca is based out of Woodlands Farm in Wiltshire England, where she is currently developing a group of younger horses.
Now a member of the HPAG, Rebecca served as a UK-based selector and then as Team Chef d’ Equipe at the 2022 World Championships in Patroni. She will continue as chef for the Canadians through to the Pan American Games this year in Santiago, Chile.
“We are thrilled to have Rebecca joining in an increased capacity with the eventing team,” said James Hood, EC’s Director, High Performance. “She has shared her passion and dedication for the sport in her role with the HPAG so far and on the ground in Pratoni and the recent training camps and clinics she has helped organize for the team. We are looking forward to her expertise and enthusiasm continuing to support the great things that are happening in Canadian eventing all the way to Paris.”
Howard will have the opportunity to make her mark on the Canadian landscape working with both the National Team Program developing our current and future athletes, but also the provision and planning for major games and Nations Cup programming.
“Last year was a steep learning curve but one that I thoroughly enjoyed as we as a HPAG committee along with Equestrian Canada worked to get the team to Pratoni,” expressed Howard. “Now with that as a platform to bounce from, I am excited to continue – and to be working closely with our riders and help to keep Canadian eventing moving in a positive, competitive trajectory.”
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