Canadian Dressage Team Meets Obstacles at World Equestrian Games

Just two of Canada’s four-member dressage team will be competing at the World Equestrian Games, which runs August 21 – September 3, in Aachen, Germany.

New York, USA resident Ashley Holzer and Evi Strasser of Sainte-Adele, QC will be competing as individuals in the Grand Prix test on Wednesday, August 23. As individuals, their starting order is influenced by their world ranking, and both are competing on the preferred second day of the Grand Prix.

Holzer and Gambol, the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion she co-owns with Dr. Diane Fellows will take center stage at 11:30 am Central European Summer Time (CEST). Strasser is set to compete at 11:50 am CEST, partnered with her 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Quantum Tyme.

A minimum of three horses is required in order for a country to compete as a team. Team members Cindy Ishoy of Binbrook, ON and Jacqueline Brooks of King City, ON were both forced to withdraw their mounts prior to the opening of the Games, after both horses suffered minor injuries that made them unable to compete.

“They (the injuries) happened at an inconvenient time. Both horses are improving but are not good enough to compete,” explained Team Canada Veterinarian Alan Young, DVM.

Brooks’ mount, the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Gran Gesto, owned by Brinc Ltd. and Anne Welch, was withdrawn after developing a small abscess in his hoof. Young explained Ishoy’s 12-year-old Baden-Wurttemberger gelding, Proton’s injury would be “similar to a rotator cuff injury in a baseball player. Uncomfortable, but certainly not career ending unless over stressed.”

Holzer has been on Canadian Olympic, Pan Am and World Championship teams since the early 1980’s. She voiced great disappointment for Brooks and Ishoy, as well as her own sorrow that there is now no team. However, at the same time she has hopes to finish in the top thirty in the Grand Prix, which will allow her to go forward to the individual competition in the Grand Prix Speciale.

“Both Ashley and Evi are professionals and although they are disappointed, they are looking ahead to the competition,” commented Chef d’Équipe Kim Goodyear. “It is really bad luck. I feel sorry for the riders. They have all been together for eight weeks as a team and every one is feeling the disappointment.”

Holzer and Strasser had the opportunity to ride their horses in the main stadium on August 21, and both horses went well. “Gambol was nice and relaxed, but at the same time he was up and very forward,” reported Holzer after the ride. “I’m thrilled with how he is going. He is showing more experience.”

“Ashley and Evi did well (in competition) in Austria,” commented Team Coach Norbert van Laak. “I am really pleased (with the training program).It started well and all of the horses have progressed.”

The Germans, by far the strongest team historically in the sport of dressage and the current defending World Champions, suffered a blow of their own when Isabell Werth’s exciting new mount Warum Nicht suffered an injury to his pastern bone and had to be withdrawn. Werth will be riding her second horse, Satchmo. The Dutch team, presided over by reigning Olympic and World Cup champion Anky van Grunsven on Salinero, will be sure to give the Germans a run for the gold, as will a strong US team.

The dressage competition at this sixth WEG will distinguish itself as being the biggest ever, with eighteen teams, 33 countries, and 90 horses. It will also be a precedent-setting event in that individual medals will be awarded after both the Grand Prix Speciale and the Freestyle, with scores for each medal coming only from those respective tests.

Held every four years, the 2006 edition of the World Equestrian Games features 800 competitors from seven different disciplines vying for the title of World Champion. The Games got off to a glorious start on Sunday, August 20, with the opening ceremonies. Performing for over 30,000 spectators were 1000 human and 350 equine participants, with much drama, pomp and circumstance, combined with displays of the Germans’ supreme mastery of horsemanship. An anticipated 500,000 visitors are expected to attend the Games.  For full schedule, results and information, please visit the World Equestrian Games website, www.aachen2006.de.

For more news and information on Canada’s WEG Teams, please visit www.canadianequestrianteam.ca.

About Dressage Canada

Dressage Canada, as a committee of Equine Canada, is the National governing body for Dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada's objective is to foster the growth of Dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials’ education and programs, rules & qualifying criteria, sport development, publications & awards. For more information about Dressage Canada email info@dressagecanada.org or visit us online at www.dressagecanada.org