As the largest combined indoor agriculture fair and international equestrian competition in the world, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is always a thrill. For dressage fans, the 2025 edition offers extra excitement.
Building on the success of last year’s CDI3* Grand Prix classes – the first time competitive dressage was held at the Royal in more than a decade – organizers this year have received approval from the FEI to hold Canada’s only CDI-W competition. That means riders will have the opportunity to earn points toward qualifying for the FEI Dressage World Cup Final, along with a share of the $35,000 purse.
Eight riders will compete in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle on Monday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 11. Entries are open to qualified athletes from all federations and selections will be made based on the current FEI World Dressage Rankings. While Canadians will enjoy the rare opportunity to earn World Cup qualifying points at home, the event is expected to attract an international field.
This prestigious dressage competition has been more than a year in the planning. Event organizers must apply to the FEI the year previous to the date they would like to hold the event, ensuring it follows the FEI protocols and rules for prize money, invitation system (where applicable) and scheduling. This is in addition to meeting the FEI’s minimum KERS (Key Event Requirements) which covers such items as venue and stabling, access to fresh water, horse inspections, biosecurity and emergency response preparedness. Based on the success of 2024’s Royal CDI, organizers are confident in their ability to host a successful CDI-W.
“We are thrilled to support the dressage community in Canada and look forward to putting on the very best event possible,” says Royal Agricultural Winter Fair CEO Cyrus Cooper. “The Royal is proud to support the Olympic sport of dressage and is invested in helping drive participation by bringing Dressage to a wider audience in an atmosphere and venue like no other in Canada.”
As a member of the event organizing committee and an accomplished grand prix rider herself, Julie Laforge of Schomberg, Ontario, knows better than most what a step forward this event represents for the sport in Canada, and what it means to Canadian athletes to compete at the Royal.
“In my opinion, the Royal has the chance to be one of the world’s top indoor dressage shows like Frankfurt and Olympia. It is the only CDI-W held in Canada and is one of very few North American venues which give the horse-and-rider combinations the same atmosphere that they need to compete at the indoor World Cup Final,” she says. “Europeans have so many opportunities to compete in indoor shows, which gives them an advantage. This is something the Royal can offer to our top Canadian athletes and hopefully some exciting international combinations as well.”
Canadian grand prix competitor Tina Irwin, who has appeared in many dressage classes and demonstration events at the Royal over the years, remarks, “It’s very exciting to have the Royal Winter Fair offering a World Cup Qualifier this fall! It’s a fantastic opportunity for our horses and athletes to earn World Cup points at home here in Canada and have the chance to compete at this high-end indoor competition.”
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