14/ THE RIDER EXTRA APRIL 2010

Three Canadian Para-Equestrians Carry 2010 Paralympic Flame

Ottawa, ON—Para- lympians Lauren Bar- wick of Aldergrove, BC, Karen Brain of Saanich- ton, BC, and Jennifer McKenzie of Maple Ridge were selected as torchbearers for the 2010 Paralympic Games.

The 2010 Para- lympic Torch Relay, presented by the Gov- ernment of Canada, was a 10-day celebration highlighting and sharing the stories of inspira- tional individuals: their achievements, their pas- sions and their courage. The 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay began in Ottawa on March 3rd, 2010 and concluded at the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver to signal the start of the Para- lympic Winter Games on March 12th, 2010. “The torch relay was completely amaz- ing! The high energy, crowd enthusiasm and community appreciation for both the Paralympic Torch relay and each of the torch bearers them- selves was electric. The experience easily com- pared to my first Para- lympic Games Opening Ceremony in Athens when I first walked into the stadium; an over

whelming sense of pride to be Canadian and to be a fellow Paralympic ath- lete filled me complete- ly,” said Brain, who won a bronze medal in para- dressage at the 2004 Paralympic in Athens, GRE. “I am grateful to have been given this opportunity! It was a fabulous reminder of the Paralympic spirit!” “It’s incredible to have been selected to carry the Olympic and Paralympic torch in my home country,” said Barwick, who was the city of Langley’s torch bearer for the 2010 Olympic Games on February 8. “It was once in a life time experi- ence.”

All three athletes were members of the Canadian Equestrian Team at the 2008 Para- lympics in Hong Kong in para-dressage, where Barwick was a double medalist—individual gold and silver. Both Barwick and Brain also represented Canada at the 2004 Paralympic in Athens, Greece.

As official sponsor of the Canadian Para- Equestrian Team, Viter- ra Inc, a global food ingredients company headquartered in Cana-

da, is proud to recognize these paralympians. Viterra operates grain handling and marketing, agri-products and pro- cessing businesses, including custom mills and operations through- out Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand that pro- vide premium quality feed products and nutri- tional advice to the equine industry.

About Viterra

Viterra Inc. pro- vides premium quality ingredients to leading global food manufactur- ers. Headquartered in Canada, the global agribusiness has exten- sive operations across Western Canada, Aus- tralia, and New Zealand, with Adelaide, Australia as the base for Viterra’s Southeast Asian opera- tions. The company’s growing international presence also extends to operations in the United States, and offices in Japan, Singapore, China, India and Switzerland. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit Viterra operates in five interrelated business areas: grain handling and marketing, agri- products, food process- ing, feed products and

Para-Equestrian Canada is the Equine Canada committee responsible for develop- ing programs for ath- letes with a physical dis- ability, and implement- ing the Para-Dressage high performance pro- gram. Para-Equestrian is one of Canada’s most successful international disciplines, achieving an individual gold medal and an individual silver medal at the 2008 Para- lympic Games, as well as two individual bronze medals at the 2004 Para- lympic Games.

About Para-Equestri- an Sport

“Jennifer McKenzie of Maple Ridge was selected as a torchbearer for the 2010 Paralympic Games.” Photo Credit: Jimmy McAree

financial services. Viter- ra’s expertise, close rela- tionships with produc- ers, and superior logisti- cal assets allow the com- pany to consistently meet the needs of the most discerning end-use

customers, helping to fulfill the nutritional needs of people around the world. TSX: VT ASX: VTA

About Para-Equestri- an Canada

Para-Equestrian sport provides riders with a physical disabili- ty the opportunity to compete against other riders with similar abili- ties. Riders are given a “Grade” based on their functional ability, and are judged on their rid- ing skill against other athletes of the same Grade. There are five grades of competitions in dressage, with Grade IA representing the more severely impaired riders, and Grade IV representing the least severely impaired riders. Many Para-Equestrian

Dressage Canada Releases Limited Edition Silk Ties and Scarves

Ottawa, ON—At the Palm Beach Dressage Derby, the Canadian Grand Prix riders all wore the traditional khaki trousers, white shirt and navy blazer, as Canadian riders always do for the official Horse Inspection. But in addi- tion, they sported the

very first Dressage Canada silk ties and scarves, which Dressage Canada will release for sale during the Dressage Canada Hall of Fame Gala in April.

Through the gen- erosity of Joe and Louise Palmer of South Lane Farm, all the Cana-

dian Grand Prix riders were gifted with a scarf or a tie. “I am happy to support our dressage rid- ers,” said Louise Palmer, who is a dres- sage rider and a well known breeder of sport horses for dressage and jumping.

The scarves and ties feature a specially designed logo, digitally printed on the finest silk twill. The scarves are white with navy trim, and the ties are navy with red trim. All the riders were very pleased to receive such lovely items.

Canadian dressage riders with Dressage Canada Technical/Coach Advisor Robert Dover

“Thank you so much for the beautiful scarf! It’s great to see the Canadian Team look like a team,” said Victo- ria Winter.

Gary Vander Ploeg, wearing the Dressage Canada tie, with his horse Cezanne at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI Horse Inspection.

Liz Steacie, High Performance Marketing and Promotions leader was thrilled at the way the riders accepted the scarves and ties. “They all looked so great, and lots of people noticed the scarves especially. I know these are going to be very popular, and our

limited edition will sell out very fast I am sure!” said Steacie, who designed the logo and managed the production of the scarves and ties in conjunction with Mon- soon Canada, of Montre- al.

liz@porcupinehill.com.

Support Canadian

Riders’ WEG Dreams!

There are still a number of WEG ticket packages available. Each package contains tickets directly behind “C” for four dressage events at $875 (CDN) each. Dressage Canada also has a few select hotel rooms available at the official Canadian hotel — the Griffen Gate Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY. This is the same hotel where all the Canadian athletes will be staying. The

room rate is $329/night plus taxes and the hotel rooms are booked for arrival on Sept 26th for seven nights.

For more informa- tion, visit the Dressage Canada website (www.equinecanada.ca/ dressage) and click on the “WEG 2010 Ticket Package Special” adver- tisement.

About Dressage Cana- da

Dressage Canada, as a committee of

Equine Canada, is the National governing body for Dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada’s objective is to foster the growth of Dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and internation- al levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateurs and profes- sionals through the fol- lowing programs: coach- ing education and pro- grams; officials’ educa- tion and programs; rules and qualifying criteria; sport development; and publications and awards. For more information about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site or connect with us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dres- sagecanada or Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/lp8cnd

About Equine Canada

For more informa- tion about Equine Cana- da, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

athletes also compete alongside able-bodied competitors in Equine Canada competitions. At the grass roots level, Para-Equestrian encom- passes a number of dif- ferent disciplines, while the international stream focuses only on Para- Dressage. For more information, please visit www.equinecanada.ca/p ara-equestrian.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is Canada’s national gov- erning body for equestri- anism. A member-driv- en, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Eques- trian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry. Equine Canada is recog- nised by the Govern- ment of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine inter- ests. For more informa- tion about Equine Cana- da, please visit www.equinecanada.ca. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29