Canadian Eventing Gets Back at It With Will O’ Wind H.T.

To set a good example, even Will O’ Wind’s Canadian moose, beaver and Mountie were wearing masks! Photos by Sarah Roberts.

Equine Canada’s pause on competitions expired at the end of June, and Will O’Wind H.T. got the season back up and running over the July 4-5 weekend. Hosted by Ann and Geoff Morgan, the Ontario venue, which hosted cross country for the 2015 Pan American Games, ran Pre-Entry through FEI CCI3*-S divisions and was well attended by eventers who were happy to be back in the game.

We hear that the event ran safely under the protocols laid out by Equine Canada and local Public Health requirements, with terrific cooperation from all riders, grooms, coaches, volunteers and officials. From the event:

“Thanks everyone for helping us make the first event of the 2020 season a success. We had to limit the number of competitors and support staff in order to minimize the number of people in the warm-up rings, walking courses etc. Everyone co-operated, and we did not hear a single complaint about the rules or restrictions. Directors of the OEA were invited to be on site to remind all members about new rules and to support the organising committee. Thanks for the help.

“Despite having to follow Public Health and EC rules and guidelines, most competitors accepted the lack of prizes and ribbons gracefully. Hopefully we will soon be back to normal, with full blown award ceremonies and pageantry.”

Thanks, Ann and Geoff Morgan, for your dedication to the sport. And to Sarah Roberts for keeping EN in the loop!

The CCI3*-S was won by Colleen Loach with her 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 2018 Tryon WEG partner Qorry Blue D’Argouges, a 16-year-old Selle Français (Mr Blue x Hardie du Bourg, by Count Ivor) owned by Peter Barry. They were second after dressage and posted a clear show jumping and the second fastest cross country time in the division to win on a final score of 34.9. Colleen was also second with FE Golden Eye (36.2) and 4th with Vermont (38.4). Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King took the third place spot (38.3).

CCI2*-S winner Jess Phoenix had a very busy weekend. She had seven horses in the CCI2*-S and claimed six of the top eight spots in the division. Freedom GS, an 8-year-old Canadian-bred mare owned by Charlotte Schickedanz, was 3rd after dressage, moved to 2nd after show jumping and then up one more spot into the lead after cross country to finish on a score of 26.8. She was 2nd with Mighty Mouse, 4th with Virginia GS, 5th with Isla GS, 6th with Eric GS, and 8th with Tugce, and 16th with Shaitani. In the CCI3*-S, Jess also had Bentley’s Best (5th), Humble GS (7th), Watson GS (8th), Pavarotti (9th), Bogue Sound (10th) and Wabbit (11th). That’s 13 horses across two FEI divisions and nary a cross country jump penalty among them — very impressive!

View complete final results here.

Photographer Teresa Mae Finnerty was out in the field capturing all the action, all available here.

Lots of great photos available both candid and action shots, from https://www.facebook.com/teresamaefinnertyfoto 

The last of the candids and volunteers that happened to be within camera distance….

Posted by Teresa Mae Finnerty Photography on Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Two more Canadian events, Grandview Horse Trials and Glenarden Horse Trials, have stepped up to run events this month. Best of luck to all!

Go Eventing.