Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The final chance for teams to nab qualification for next year’s Paris Olympics will come at next month’s Pan American Games, set to take place in Santiago, Chile from October 26–29 — and two lucky nations will get the nod. Generally speaking, we’ve seen the US contingent rely on this as a chance to nab that crucial spot, but this year, they come into the Games’s CCI3*-L competition from a more developmental perspective, with their Olympic ticket well and truly booked with a silver medal finish at Pratoni’s World Championships last year.
That makes the two frontrunners for these spots, arguably, the Brazilian and Canadian teams, though in love, war, and eventing, nothing is ever set in stone — after all, Australia and Japan looked the certs for the two spots at the Millstreet qualifier earlier this year, but China came from behind to swoop in and push Japan out of the running, so this’ll be another week of competition well worth watching.
We’ve already seen the team named by the Brazilian front — and it’s a pretty darn solid one, all things considered — and we’ve seen the US reveal theirs, too. Today, though, it’s the turn of our neighbours to the north, who have dropped a smoking hot team including this year’s Kentucky CCI4*-S winner in superstar mare Hot Bobo.
The named horses and riders are as follows:
- Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye – Eleven-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Goldfever 3 x Cascade, by Contendro 1). Owned by Peter Barry, Amanda Bernhard, and the rider. Groomed by Brooke Massie.
- Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo – Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Arkansas x unknown dam). Owned by Katlyn Hewson and the rider. Groomed by Amber Wavryk.
- Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge – Twelve-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia, by Clyde de la Combe). Owned by Patricia Pearce. Groomed by Jade MacInnes.
- Michael Winter and El Mundo – Fourteen-year-old KWPN gelding (Numero Uno x Calvaro’s Bria Z, by Calvaro FC). Owned by Jonathon Nelson, Emma Winter, and the rider. Groomed by Amy Ferris.
Equestrian Canada has also named two reserves in case any of the aforementioned partnerships are unable to make the trip. These are:
First Reserve: Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS – Eleven-year-old Oldenburg mare (Humble GS x Friedel GS, by Fidertanz). Owned by Charlotte Schickedanz. Groomed by Lisa Barry.
Second Reserve: Dana Cooke and Quatro – Nine-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Quaterstern x Elina, by Coriograph B). Owned by Kingfisher Park. Groomed by Tara Gakstatter.
