Belinda Trussell

Birthplace:   Sydney, Australia
Birthdate:   August 27, 1971
Hometown:   Stouffville, Ontario
Occupation:   Full-time athlete
Stable:   Oakcrest
Coach:   Eva Maria Pracht

Born in Sydney, Australia, Belinda Trussell moved spent her childhood living in such exotic countries as Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines, and as nearby as Atlanta Georgia.

It was during a stay in Atlanta when she was six years old, that she first became interested in horses.  There was a small barn in her neighborhood and Belinda would spend her time there riding and grooming her friend's horse, Pixie.

When Belinda was ten years old, her family moved to the Philippines, and she began to ride more seriously.  She took lessons and eventually leased a horse on which she played polo, rode cross-country and jumped.  At thirteen, Belinda returned with her family to Atlanta and began to ride dressage.  It was at this time that she bought her first horse, a six-year-old Trakehener gelding named Sonet.

In 1987, Belinda moved to Toronto, where, coached by Gary Vander Ploeg, she competed at the Young Riders level.  Belinda retained her Australian passport and represented that country in all Young Riders competitions until 1994 when she became a Canadian citizen.

After completing her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Commerce from the University of Toronto in 1994, and attending George Brown College to study Culinary Management, Belinda moved to Germany to train with Christilot Boylen and Udo Lange.  There she competed successfully at the advanced level for two seasons with Dublin, a horse she bought from Gary Vander Ploeg in 1990.

In June 1995, Belinda purchased her first grand prix horse, the 13 year old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Elicard.  In their Grand Prix debut in Germany that September, they placed eighth in a field of 20 horses.

Before returning to Canada in 1996, Belinda bought a young Dutch gelding, Kyros, whom she trained up to Prix St. Georges and sold in 2001.  In 1998, Belinda purchased the 10-year-old gelding, Kiwian, with the help of her coach, Eva-Maria Pracht.  After spending the spring of 1998 training in Germany with Mr. Holga Finken, Belinda and Kiwian returned to Canada to compete at the advanced level.  Kiwian made his Grand Prix debut in the summer of 2002.

In 2002, Belinda was a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain.  Belinda then went on to compete on the Canadian Team at the 2003 European Championships in Hickstead England and helped Canada secure a team berth to the Olympic Games. In 2004, Belinda & Royan II finished 3rd in the Olympic Selection Trials to earn a place on Canada's Olympic Dressage Team heading to Greece.

Belinda currently owns and operates Oakcrest Farms, a distinguished Canadian dressage facility, where she has 19 horses in training.  Belinda lives on the property with her husband Mark Trussell.  In addition to riding, Belinda also enjoys field hockey, ball hockey and rowing, all of which she has played at the varsity level.  She also spends time traveling with her husband and extended family.

Horses

Royan II 
1990 brown Oldenburg gelding
Owner:  Belinda Trussell 

Kiwian 
1988 chestnut Polish Trakehner gelding   
Owner: Belinda Trussell

Hamlet
Owner: Anthony Eames