Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
The Canadian eventing team for the forthcoming FEI World Championships for Eventing at Pratoni del Vivaro (September 14-18) has been released today, and it’s arguably among the strongest Canadian teams we’ve seen in recent memory. Though we don’t yet know which of the five named horses and riders will take the four team berths, and which will come forward as an individual, we can expect to divulge that information closer to the competition itself.
The named horses and riders are as follows:
- Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo – eighteen-year-old British-bred Sport Horse mare (Jumbo x Polly Coldunnell, by Danzig Connection), owned by the Jolly Syndicate LLC and the rider.
- Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King – twelve-year-old British-bred Sport Horse gelding (Grafenstolz x Eye Candy, by Moothyeb), owned by the Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership.
- Colleen Loach and Vermont – ten-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Van Helsing x Hauptstutbuch Hollywood, by Heraldik), owned by Peter Barry.
- Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes – thirteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Chacoa x KEC Galway Bay, by Gildawn Diamond), owned by Kirk Hoppner and the rider.
- Mike Winter and El Mundo – thirteen-year-old KWPN gelding (Numero Uno x Calvaro’s Bria Z, by Calvaro F.C.), owned by Jonathan Nelson, Emma Winter and the rider.
The non-travelling reserves for the team are:
- Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi – twelve-year-old Württemburg mare (Cassini II x Liastra, by Legaat), owned by the FE Mississippi Syndicate LLC.
- Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me – sixteen-year-old Welsh Sport Horse gelding (Brynarian Brenin x Dream Contessa, breeding unknown), owned by the rider.
Canada will be fighting for a top seven finish at the World Championships, which would secure them a team spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics — a goal that’s very much at the forefront of the squad’s collective mind after a disappointing previous Olympic cycle saw them fail to qualify for Tokyo. There’ll be plenty of fighting to do in Pratoni, but we have high hopes for this exciting line-up.
If you’re looking for all the latest information on Pratoni, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide that’s chock full of the latest coverage, team announcements, and much more.
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