48/ JULY 2012 THE RIDER Our Canadian Olympic Team DRESSAGE


JACQUELINE BROOKS Birthdate: September 15, 1967 Birthplace: Edmon- ton, Alberta Hometown: Cedar Valley, Ontario


After graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 1990, Jacqueline Brooks attended the Pan Am Games in Havana, Cuba as a groom for Canadian Ashley Holzer. This


experience became the determining factor in her choice of an equestrian career.


The following year, Finnegan, an Oldenburg gelding, was purchased by Brooks in Germany as a two year old. The duo would later go on to com- pete in the Swarovski Canadian League World Cup Final in 2002 and 2003. With her 2003 Pan Amer- ican Games team silver medal mount Gran Gesto, Brooks enjoyed considerable success starting with their Grand Prix debut in early 2004 which quali- fied them for the Canadian Olympic Trials. In 2006, Brooks and Gran Gesto earned a place on Canada’s World Equestrian Games team and traveled to Europe for preparatory training and competition. They enjoyed impressive results competing in lead-up competitions including sec- ond place in the Freestyle at CDI3*Pompadour, France.


In April 2007, Jacqueline and Gran Gesto were awarded a wild card spot from the FEI to rep- resent Canada at the World Cup Finals. This was the first appearance for Brooks at the World Cup Finals after a number of years competing at the Canadian World Cup League Finals.


Jacqueline and Gran Gesto were members of


Canada’s 2008 Olympic Games Team after an impressive winter competition season in Florida with a win in the Palm Beach Derby CDI-W Grand Prix Special and a double second place behind team mate Ashley Holzer at the Wellington CDI3*. After a successful Olympics for the Canadian Dressage Team with Gran Gesto, Jacqueline began to search for a more advanced horse to train to Grand Prix. She found that horse when she pur- chased D Niro a Swedish Warmblood (D Day by Alitalia) in March 2011.


Based on their impressive scores in CDI com- petitions, Jacqueline and D Niro were nominated in June 2012 to the Canadian Equestrian Team for Dressage at the London Olympic Games. HORSE D Niro - 1999 Swedish Warmblood gelding Owner: Brookhaven Dressage Inc.


DAVID MARCUS Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska Birthdate: August 28, 1980 Hometown: Campbellville, Ontario Born in Omaha, Nebraska, David Marcus began riding at the age of seven, having spent years watching his mother ride. Although he competed in eventing and show jumping growing up, it was the highly technical discipline of dressage that cap- tured his attention. In 1996, he made a decision to take the sport to the next level, heading north of the border to Canada to train with Olympic-level coaches while also pursuing his university educa- tion.


Success followed, and David represented the United States in five North American Young Rid- ers’ Championships, winning silver and bronze medals as well as the Captain Andrew B. De Szi- nay Sportsmanship Award. In 2008, David com- peted at the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I level aboard Wolkensong, culminating in the Reserve Advanced Champion title at the Blainville Summer Classic in Blainville, Quebec, and the Advanced Champion title at the CNE Classic in Toronto, Ontario.


At the end of 2011, David officially became a Canadian citizen, and immediately began repre- senting his new home country successfully at the Grand Prix level with Chrevi’s Capital and Don Kontes. In his Canadian Team debut at the 2012 CDIO3* Wellington Dressage Nations’ Cup in Wellington, Florida, David and Chrevi’s Capital proudly wore the maple leaf, scoring a win for Canada.


ASHLEY HOLZER Birthdate: October 10th, 1963 Birthplace: Toronto Ontario Hometown: New York, NY


Ashley Holzer is one of Canada’s most suc- cessful international dressage riders.


She began riding at age 13, receiving instruc- tion from Canadian and West German riding schools. Ashley first entered the Grand Prix ring while training in Canada in the early 1980s,and participated in the selection trials for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Riding Reipo, Ashley was a member of the bronze medal winning Canadian Dressage Team at the 1988 Olympic Games held in Soeul, Korea.


Ashley represented Canada in the first World Equestrian Games in Stockholm in 1990 and also in Jerez, Spain in 2002 and Aachen Germany, in 2006 and the World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1989 and Las Vegas in 2009. She also won team gold at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, and team silver at the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo.


In 2008 Ashley was the highest placed Cana-


Based on his strong 2012 performances, David and Chrevi’s Capital were nominated to the Canadian Equestrian Team for Dressage at the London Olympic Games. HORSE


Chrevi’s Capital - 2000 dark bay Danish Warm- blood gelding Owner: Deborah Kinzinger


DIANE CREECH


Content courtesy of Starting Gate Communications Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia Birthdate: February 4, 1963 Hometown: Caistor Centre, Ontario


Diane Creech was born in the United States but moved to Germany at the age of two. She began riding as a teenager when she started taking care of the horses for a veterinarian. After four years of ‘doing time’ in business management, Diane decided to fulfill her dream of working with horses and spent the next three years achieving her German Bereiter. On Christmas Eve in 1989, Diane arrived in Canada in her quest to see the world but never left, instead establishing herself as


dian dressage rider at the Beijing Olympics finish- ing 12th. In October 2008, Ashley achieved an incredible seventh ranking in the FEI World Dres- sage Ranking list. As a result of her many accom- plishments, Ashley was awarded Equine Canada Equestrian of the year in 2009.


Ashley and Pop Art represented Canada at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and once again were the highest placing Canadian combination, finishing in eighth place individually in the Freestyle competition.


In the fall of 2011, Ashley and her new mount, Breaking Dawn, debuted in Grand Prix level competition. Their success continued in 2012 season and they were subsequently nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee as to the 2012 Olympic team. Pop Art was also nominated as her reserve horse.


Ashley and her husband, Rusty, own Riverdale Equestrian Centre in New York City, New York. They have two children, Emma and Harry. Although now an American citizen, Ashley plans to continue to ride for Canada which she has represented in three Olympics. HORSES


Breaking Dawn - 2001 Bay KWPN gelding Owner: Ashley Holzer and P.J. Rizvi Pop Art - 1997 Dutch Warmblood gelding Owner: Moreen Nicoll and Rusty Holzer


EVENTING


a dressage trainer. Her business is based at the farm of Mr. Ferdinand Haupt in Haegersville, Ontario, who imports and breeds the sales horses that Diane trains and shows. In addition, Diane shows several quality horses owned by Douglas and Louise Leatherdale of Leatherdale Farms, based in Minnesota. The Leatherdale’s purchased Wiona, a states premium Hanoverian mare by Weltmeyer, that Diane started under saddle and trained up the grand prix level. In 2007, their part- nership resulted in a medal for Canada when Diana and Wiona were members of the team that claimed the Silver at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Having also shown throughout Europe, Wiona was retired in 2011 and now enjoys her role as a broodmare.


Devon L, a Hanoverian gelding by De Niro, was foaled at Leatherdale Farms. Diane has been his sole trainer and, after earning the 2005 Canadi- an FEI Five-Year-Old Championship title, the pair represented Canada at the 2006 World Young Horse Breeding Championships in Verden, Ger- many. The trip marked Diane’s first visit to Ger- many since she left in 1989. In 2009, Diane and Devon L made their Grand Prix debut and have since enjoyed top placings around the globe. Based on their impressive scores in CDI com- petitions, Diane and Devon L were nominated in June 2012 to the Canadian Equestrian Team for Dressage at the London Olympic Games as the first alternate. Diane has two children, Patrick and Vanessa. HORSE Devon L - 2000 chestnut Hanoverian gelding Owner: Louise and Douglas Leatherdale, Leatherdale Farms


PIA FORTMULLER Birthdate: March 28, 1985 Birthplace: Han- nover, Germany Hometown: DeWin- ton, AB


Pia started to ride as soon as she was able to walk because according to Pia’s mother, Dag- mar Fortmuller, rid- ing was just as important as walking. As Pia grew up her passion for horses continued to grow


and riding became a serious part of Pia’s life. Although she has competed in various disciplines such as hunter, jumper and eventing, she decided to focus her training on dressage, finding it to be the most interesting and challenging for her. In 2006, Pia claimed the individual and team gold medals at the CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) in Lex- ington, VA, piloting her mother, Dagmar Fort- muller’s Hanoverian mare, Donagna. Throughout her junior and young riders’ career, Pia trained full time with Leslie Reid in British Columbia. Upon completion her BA degree at Simon Fraser Univer- sity, Pia made the decision to give her dressage career her full attention and dedication. In 2009, Pia and her horses moved to Ger- many, where she now lives, works and trains towards her dream of representing Canada interna- tionally. Pia and her mount Orion received the privilege of being able to start at the 2011 German Master’s in Stuttgart, and she plans to continue showing in Europe.


Fortmuller is also an Equine Canada level 1


Coach. Although horses are Pia’s number one passion, she also loves snowboarding, especially the adrenaline rush of cruising down the slopes through deep untouched powder. Sometimes, when that adrenaline rush is not enough, sky diving is also one of Pia’s favorite hobbies. HORSE Orion - 1996 Chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding Owner: Pia Fortmuller


HAWLEY BENNETT-AWAD Birthplace: Langley, British Columbia Birthdate: May 6, 1977 Hometown: Langley, British Columbia Hawley Bennett-Awad was a member of Canada’s Silver Medal Team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky and placed 17th individually.


In 2003, Hawley first represented Canada aboard Livingstone at the Pan American Eventing Cham- pionships in Fair Hill, Maryland where the Team also won a Silver Medal. Since then she has become a solid member of the Canadian Eventing Team.


In 2004, her Olympic dream was realized when she and Livingstone represented Canada in Athens, Greece. The pair continued to amass inter- national experience and placed 15th at the 2005 World Cup in Sweden, completed the 2007 CCI**** Badminton in England and, in 2008, completed the CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event for the fourth time.


Following Livingstone’s retirement, Hawley has continued to excel with Gin & Juice, who was her winning partner at the 2009 CCI*** Bromont Three Day Event. In 2010, the pair delivered an impressive performance at the CCI**** Rolex Three Day Event, finishing ninth and securing a spot on the WEG Team where they were instru-


Continued on Page 49


PETER BARRY Birthplace: Koln, Germany Birthdate: June 17, 1956 Hometown: Dunham, Quebec


Peter Barry was born in Koln, Germany, and has lived in Europe, Canada and the United States in addition to travelling extensively in South East Asia.


Despite taking up the sport later in his adult life, Peter has excelled quickly and placed well with a number of horses. His current Advanced level horse, Kilrodan Abbott, was purchased from Ireland in 2007. The pair has established an effec- tive partnership, ending the 2010 season with an impressive fourth place finish at the CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event. Based on this performance they were named to the 2011 Canadi- an Eventing Team Short List.


Peter owns and operates Maplehill Farm in the eastern townships of Quebec, located 20 min- utes from the site of the annual Bromont Three Day Event and the equestrian portion of the 1976 Olympic Games. Peter has established his own breeding program by crossing proven eventing mares carrying top English bloodlines with interna- tional caliber thoroughbred and warmblood stal- lions. The fruits of his breeding program are pay- ing off with progeny competing up to the Interme- diate level this year.


In June 2012, Peter and Kilrodan Abbott were nominated to the Canadian Equestrian Team for Eventing at the London Olympic Games. This will be Peter’s first major games experience with the Team.


Peter and his wife, Susan, have two children, Dylan, and Alexandra. He is coached by Phillip Dutton. HORSE


Kilrodan Abbott - 1999 bay Irish Sport Horse Gelding by Clover Brigade Owner: Peter, Susan and Dylan Barry


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