Tanya Shevchenko of Neuanlage, SK, has been selected as the successful recipient of the 2022 Bridging the Gap Training Bursary with five-time Paralympian Lauren Barwick. “This is a very exciting move in the development of Para-Dressage in Canada,” said Equestrian Canada (EC)’s Para-Dressage Technical Advisor Clive Milkins. “Tanya was chosen from a very strong cohort.”

Barwick is excited to welcome Shevchenko to her training facility in Ocala, Florida, “I’ve been given so many opportunities over the years to represent my country,” said the Paralympian. “I’m looking forward to developing riders to make a stronger group of athletes to pull from for the senior international team — It’s just a small way to be able to give back.”

Shevchenko and her horse Apollo, a 24-year-old Friesian gelding, have set high goals to reach the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. The duo has been lessoning twice a week on a six-day training program, as well participating in the FEI classes in the EC Para video competitions. They performed well in gold shows across the prairies throughout 2021, which helped land her a place on the National Team.

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