Team Nova Scotia captured the silver medal in training level while Team New Brunswick garnered silver in first level and bronze in training level competitions.
Dressage was one part of the Atlantic Equestrian Championships being contested in four equestrian disciplines: dressage, horse trials, jumping and reining. This was the first of the four competitions and was held under the auspices of Dressage P.E.I.
The reining competition will be held Sept. 22-23 during the Sumac Slide at Sumac Farm in Trenton, N.S. The competition returns to P.E.I. Sept. 30 for the horse trials, as part of the Strathgartney Fall Horse Trial in Bonshaw.
The final inter-provincial competition will take place in New Brunswick, Oct. 7-8. Show jumping will take place as a part of the New Brunswick Equestrian Association Bronze Championship show being held at the Princess Louise Park Show Centre in Sussex.
The series of competitions is pivotal in the development of equestrian sports’ next generation of national and international athletes. After declaring their intentions, horse and rider pairs participated in qualifying competitions throughout the spring and summer for places on their respective provincial teams.
At the international level competitions such as Nations Cups, World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games, equestrian athletes must compete as members of their national teams. It is crucial riders gain experience in that milieu at the lower levels where they learn to put the team’s goals and best interests ahead of their individual aspirations.
Results
Results from the Atlantic Canada Dressage Championship:
Training Level
Team
Gold – Prince Edward Island.
Silver – Nova Scotia.
Bronze – New Brunswick.
Individual
Gold – Zowie Johnston riding Twelfth Knight from P.E.I.
Silver – Kerry O’Connor riding Haymish NPF from P.E.I.
Bronze – Alinta MacLeod riding Fintan’s Wing from Nova Scotia.
First Level
Team
Gold – Prince Edward Island
Silver – New Brunswick
Individual
Gold – Haley Greenbank riding Fantango NPF from P.E.I.
Silver – Janet Ferguson riding Vivaldi from P.E.I.
Bronze – Julie Blanchard riding Fantasia from New Brunswick.
