These generous annual grants were established and named in honour of Country Yucca, a pony with a huge heart and personality ridden by Nick Holmes-Smith, who later went on to represent Canada in Eventing at the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympics.
This year’s recipients – who were all named to the 2025 Eventing High Performance Development Squad – are:
- Kyle Morton – 22, Cobourg, Ontario (residing in Hamburg, Germany)
- Emma McHugh – 21, Beaconsfield, QC (based in Virginia and Florida)
- Gabrielle Shank – 23, Sturgeon County, AB
- Mégane Sauvé – 24, Saint-Paul, QC
Kyle Morton spent 2025 campaigning Shannondale Gambit, his striking grey 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse, at the CCI2*/3*/4* level in Europe. “This grant is incredible,” he said. “To be supported by a federation such as Equestrian Canada, who has always been behind me throughout my career, is second to none. Next season I plan to travel to Ireland for the U25 World Championships in Millstreet, so this grant will be immensely valuable in getting me there!”
Emma McHugh had a busy summer in Canada and the U.S. competing her 2* horses Ricochet, Imperial and Quality Explosion. She remarked, “I’m incredibly grateful to the Canadian Eventing High Performance Advisory Group, and especially to Nick Holmes-Smith, for generously supporting Young Riders like me through the Country Yucca Travel Grant. Making it in this sport is extremely challenging financially, and receiving this grant means so much. As a Young Rider working hard to represent Canada at the highest level, this support makes a huge difference. I’ll be putting these funds straight toward my upcoming FEI competitions.”
Alberta native Gabrielle Shank covered a lot of miles this summer, from Washington to Florida, with her 3* horse Billy, a 12-year-old ISH gelding. She recently received Rider of the Year honours from the Alberta Horse Trials Association, while Billy earned Horse of the Year. Regarding the Country Yucca grant, she noted, “Receiving this bursary truly means the world to me. As a western Canadian rider working toward the upper levels of eventing, opportunities to compete and train at the FEI level are limited, and support like this makes a meaningful difference. This funding allows me to continue developing my partnership with my horse, Billy, as we work toward the CCI3-L and progress toward Advanced in 2026. It will directly support our winter training and competition plan in Ocala, as well as our return to Rebecca Farm, two key steps in achieving our long-term goals.”
She added, “Balancing high-performance riding with my post-secondary studies can be challenging, and this bursary helps relieve some of the financial pressure so I can stay focused on improving, learning, and representing the Canadian Eventing U25 Development Team to the best of my ability. I’m incredibly grateful for this support and excited for the season ahead.”
This summer, Mégane Sauvé moved her 3* partner Nuance, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare, up to the 4* level at Bromont in August. “Receiving the U25 Country Yucca Travel Bursary not only means financial support for next year, but also that the hard work and effort poured into the sport are coming back around,” said the eventer. “Huge thank-you to the Eventing High Performance Advisory Group and Nick Holmes-Smith for putting this grant together. As a U25 athlete trying to build a career in eventing out of a childhood dream, I am very grateful to have been chosen to receive this grant.”
Country Yucca represented the resilience of a true cross-country athlete; the pony loved cross-country and he was hard to miss with his signature bald face and four white socks. Some might have thought Yucca was too small to jump the more advanced fences, but he quickly proved otherwise.
Over the years, his rider, Nick Holmes-Smith, has mentored and influenced many Canadian eventers, including several riders who have gone on to wear the maple leaf. Bruce Mandeville, Rebecca Howard, and Michael Winter have all been fortunate to have worked with Nick on their road to representing Team Canada.
Holmes-Smith explained, “In the 1970s to early 1990s, as an eventing competitor I struggled to afford the costs of travelling and competing. I am now very happy to be able to help today’s riders with their financial challenges.”
Rebecca Howard, Technical Advisor and chef d’équipe of Canadian Eventing High Performance, said. “The Country Yucca grants are an example of influence coming full circle. Nick and Yucca symbolize the tenacity and ‘get-it-done’ attitude required of our Canadian athletes operating in a small sport in a very large country. Pushing boundaries is in his DNA. These grants showcase eventing and horses as a life-long endeavour and the impact of those who paved the way for others. This is an investment in our sports future, providing developing riders access to more competitions, training opportunities and exposure to ‘the next level’.”
