World number three ranked eventing rider, USA’s Boyd Martin on course with Chiraz at the 2023 MARS Bromont CCI.
Martin will bring horses for the CCI2*, 3* and 4*-L next week. © Cealy Tetley Photo
With just a few hours until entries close, Bromont Horse Trials is excited to announce just a few of the top local and international riders entered to compete at the MARS Bromont CCI4* taking place June 6-9, 2024 at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park.
Widely considered one of the most prestigious and longest-running three-day events in North America, athletes will compete for $25,000 in prize money and awards offered by the generous sponsors of the MARS Bromont Three Day Event.
Local Olympian Colleen Loach (Dunham, QC) has been a Canadian team member since 2015. She participated in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon (2018) as well as winning bronze at two Pan-American Games (Toronto and Lima.) Loach has entered FE Golden Eye in the CCI4*-S.
“Bromont is one of my favourite competitions and not just because it’s so close to home!” says Loach. “Bromont’s charm is its low-key, top class atmosphere in a beautiful setting. The rolling terrain makes for excellent cross-country, designed by one of the best in the world, Derek Di Grazia.”
Canadian Olympic rider Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC, on course with FE Golden Eye
at the 2023 MARS Bromont CCI. © Michelle Dunn Photo
Fellow Canadian teammates Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON (5-time Pan-Am medalist and Canadian Olympian) and Lindsay Traisnel of Windsor, ON (team gold and individual bronze at the 2023 Pan-American Games) join Loach on the current list of entries. Phoenix has three of her top horses entered in the CCI4*-S: Fluorescent Adolescent, Freedom GS and Watson GS. Traisnel is bringing her long-time partner Bacyrouge — or “Dreamy” as he’s known at home.
World number three ranked eventing rider and three-time Olympian, Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA), will be one of the busiest riders next week, with horses entered in the CCI2*, 3* and 4*-L. Martin recently finished in second and fourth at the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and will be looking to go one better here in Bromont.
2023 MARS Bromont CCI4*-L winners Phillip Dutton (USA) and Azure. © Michelle Dunn Photo
America’s Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) has competed in every Olympic Games since 1996, winning team gold with Australia in 1996 and 2000, and as a member of the U.S. team in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, winning individual bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He has competed in seven FEI World Equestrian Games, representing the U.S. for the first time in 2006. Dutton also won the CCI4*-L at Bromont in 2023 riding Azure.
This year he’s bringing an up-and-coming young horse, Kassiopea Preziosa to contest the CCI2*-L. Joining her father will be young rider Olivia Dutton, who is taking part in the MARS Bromont Rising educational program with Sea of Clouds. Following their recent top-20 finish in the CCI4*-S in Kentucky, they will be attempting their first CCI4*-L, the penultimate level of international competition.
Making it truly international is Lucienne Bellissimo (GBR) competing in the CCI4*-L with Dyri.
Lucienne Belissimo will represent Great Britain in Bromont with Dyri, shown here
at the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S in Kentucky. © Allison Pezzack for Michelle Dunn Photo
New this year is the addition of fun, family-friendly canine activities starting at 3:00pm Saturday, June 8. The Monteregie Agility Club will be performing demos including agility, frisbee and freestyle; there will be a dog parade; and special guests Canada’s international Cani-Cross medalists Sandra Lallier and Daniel Lusignan will also be part of the action. Best of all, your own dog is welcome (on a leash) to come be part of the fun.
Also new this year are the introduction of special awards in memory of Mary Anne and Guy Laframboise, whose Farm of the Mountain training centre served eventers and equestrian sport in Canada for nearly 50 years. The Laframboise Family Legacy Awards will be given out to the highest placed U25 rider from any division at the MARS Bromont CCI, and to the highest placed U18 Canadian rider at Petit/Little Bromont the following weekend. There will also be an individual award of excellence presented annually at the MARS Bromont CCI to someone who has made a significant life commitment to enriching the sport of eventing.
Everyone will love the addition of fun canine activities including agility, a dog parade
and Cani-Cross demonstrations, beginning at 3:00pm Saturday, June 8. © Tom von Kapherr Photo
If you are not able to be here in Bromont, all the action will be broadcast free on the new official YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/@BromontEventing starting with the first horse inspection at 3:00pm EST Wednesday, June 5. The livestream will also be simulcast on the RNS Video Media channel as well as for free on Horse & Country TV.
The opening phase, dressage, will be held over Thursday/Friday (June 6/7), the exciting and spectator-friendly cross-country will take place Saturday, June 8, and the event will conclude Sunday, June 9 with the show jumping phase, to determine the overall winners. Daily general admission and parking are completely free each day.
Renowned course designer Derek DiGrazia (USA), course designer for the Tokyo Olympics and some of the biggest three-day events in the world will be back at Bromont for 2024, to design the courses set amid the challenging terrain, with the help of Canada’s Jay Hambly.
