Toronto, ON – The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has announced its line-up of international riders set to compete at the Ricoh Coliseum, November 11-15.

Nearly half the field of show jumpers participated in this summer’s Olympic games in Hong Kong, as did two of the five dressage riders. Three of the four members of the Silver medal-winning Canadian Team will be competing, including Individual Olympic Champion, Canada’s Eric Lamaze, with his Hickstead. It is anticipated Lamaze and Hickstead will compete in the $100,000 CN FEI World Cup Qualifier the evening of Wednesday, November 12. Two members of the American Gold medal-winning team will also be attending, as will Geir Gulliksen of Norway, from their Bronze medal squad.

 

Listed in order by country and discipline: (*denotes 2008 Olympic participation)

Show Jumping: (Jumpers may bring more than one horse, still TBD)

Marie Hecart (FRA)

Geir Gulliksen* (NOR)

Darragh Kerins (IRE)

Harrie Smolders (NED)

Henk Van de Pol (NED)

Ben Maher* (GBR)

Tim Stockdale* (GBR)

Nick Skelton* (GBR)

Michael Whitaker (GBR)

Hillary Dobbs (USA)

Margie Engle (USA)

Lauren Hough (USA)

Laura Kraut* (USA)

Christine McCrea (USA)

Todd Minikus (USA)

McLain Ward* (USA)

Eric Lamaze* (CAN)

Ian Millar* (CAN)

Jill Henselwood* (CAN)

Erynn Ballard (CAN)

Keean White (CAN)

Yann Candele (CAN)

Amy Millar (CAN)

** plus the top two Canadian riders following the completion of opening weekend’s Canadian Show-Jumping Championships Presented by Greenhawk.

 

Dressage:

Ashley Holzer with Pop Art* (CAN)

Jacqueline Brooks with Gran Gesto* (CAN)

Simone Williams with Wunder Ein (CAN)

Denielle Gallagher with Abrikos (CAN)

Tina Busse-Irwin with Amicelli (CAN)

 

 

Show Jumpers are invited into the International Division based on their standings on the Rolex World Rider Rankings List.

 

The FEI World Cup Qualifier for dressage at The Royal is open to competitors from Mexico, the United States and Canada. However, due to a scheduling conflict with a World Cup event on the west coast of the USA, we will have an exclusively Canadian World Cup Qualifier for 2008.

 

In total, over $795,000 in prize money will be awarded during the ten-day Royal Horse Show, $355,000 of that in the International division. The Royal Horse Show is one of the richest and most prestigious indoor equestrian events in the world. For information and complete schedule visit www.royalfair.org.

 

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