In the dressage world, progress typically unfolds in slow, incremental stages. It is uncommon for an athlete to transition rapidly from grassroots participation to national prominence. In 2025, Canadian junior dressage rider Charlotte Lyras of London, Ontario did just that, charging from entry-level competition to the upper ranks of FEI junior dressage within a single season.
At age 15, in her first full FEI Junior season, Charlotte concluded 2025 as the top-ranked FEI Junior Freestyle rider in Canada and finished fourth overall nationally in the FEI Junior standings. Previously, Charlotte’s competitive experience was limited to Bronze Training Level tests aboard leased or loaned horses and her decision to move up was both ambitious and intentional, aligning with long-term goals she had set for herself early.
Charlotte began riding at age three, competing in Arabian leadline classes. She gained early show experience in the hunter ring with her first pony, Eddy. At age ten, she discovered dressage after watching a Grand Prix freestyle, and from that point forward, her focus has been entirely on the sport. “I chose dressage because I’ve always loved how everything is done so quietly and seamlessly and how it allows a horse and rider to create such a deep connection together,” explained the young rider, who also noted that of all the equine dressage stars in the world, the late Valegro would have been her dream choice to ride.
Charlotte was first coached by Michelle Ottiger, who introduced her to dressage and helped solidify her passion for the sport. For the past two years she has been training with Savannah Rijk of Mussennist Dressage in Mossley, ON, taking advantage of Savannah’s positive, natural, and approachable teaching style that has helped Charlotte elevate her skills to the next level.
Charlotte got her feet wet in Training tests at Bronze shows beginning in 2023 with Sandor, Sirocco RB, and Topaz. A key component of Charlotte’s upward transition involved securing an appropriate equine partner, so she and her mother, Shannyn, leased Balthasar (‘Dino’), a KWPN gelding owned by Allie Schmidt. An experienced schoolmaster. Dino became instrumental in accelerating Charlotte’s technical understanding and competitive success. During the 2025 season, Charlotte and Dino delivered solid rides, particularly in the freestyle arena while performing to a Phil Collins medley.
Charlotte with her new prospect, Vila.
Looking ahead, Charlotte recently acquired an exciting young prospect she is developing with long-term goals in mind while remaining active in Gold level competition. Vilasini RB (‘Vila’) is a three-and-a-half-year-old Oldenburg mare by Vilancio (Vitalis/Lancet) out of Sunny (Sandro’s Heir/Dormello). Shannyn said, “We contemplated buying in Europe, but the import fees were so expensive that we ended up focusing our search in Canada. As luck would have it, Vila was a mare that was bred by our farrier, Russell Brenneman, who runs a successful breeding farm in southwestern Ontario.” Fresh from 60 days of training off the farm, “We rode her twice, vetted her, and moved forward with the purchase,” said Shannyn. “We brought her home and surprised Charlotte when she came to the barn for a riding lesson” which prompted some “big tears,” according to her mom.
Said Charlotte, “My 2026 goals for competition are to ride in the FEI four-year-old division and likely some Gold level Training or First Level, depending on how the training comes along this winter. I’m looking forward to receiving honest feedback from our performances and work to perform to the best of our ability.”
To support this next stage of development, Charlotte, like many up-and-coming athletes, is currently seeking sponsorship partnerships. More information is available on her website, and Charlotte can be followed via Instagram at @charlottel_dressage.
Charlotte and her mother have also co-authored a memoir about the journey. Riding For Gold examines the broader context of elite junior sport, including financial demands, performance pressure, self-doubt, and the persistence required to progress. Targeted toward riders and parents, it offers an unvarnished view of the junior equestrian pathway and is available on Amazon.
The Latest
