Dec. 2015 Issue_ August 2013a 2015-11-23 5:17 PM Page 29 DECEMBER 2015 THE RIDER /29


Belinda Trussell Tops $20,000 Invitational Dressage Cup at 2015 Royal Horse Show®


November 12, 2015 – Toronto, Ontario – Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, won the $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge, on Thursday night, November 12, at the Royal Horse Show®, held as part of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in downtown Toronto, ON.


TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games in July, Trussell and Anton returned to the competition arena to win in front of a home crowd. With a tech- nical program highlighted by a difficult one-handed piaffe-pirouette, the pair earned the top score of 77% from a panel of international judges to earn the title. “Anton was great!” said Trussell of the 15-


year-old German-bred gelding owned by her moth- er, Robyn Eames, and her husband, Mark Trussell. “He was very electric, but he was with me. It was so much fun!” Having competed in front of a hometown


Hot off a team silver medal appearance at the


impressed in her Royal Invitational Cup debut, and used pow- erful and dramatic music to highlight her Freestyle perfor- mance. Riding Fabian J.S., a 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Maria Simpson, Wilkins earned a score of 73.375% to finish as the runner-up. Canadian Olympian and 2013 Royal Invitational Cup competitor David Marcus flew in from Wellington, FL, to coach Wilkins at the Royal Horse


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crowd at the Pan American Games, Trussell was thrilled to once again perform in Toronto. It also marked her second appearance at the Royal Horse Show®, having last competed in 2003 with Royan. “I always want to win, and I really wanted to


support the sport of dressage at The Royal,” said Trussell, 44. “Being a medalist and being in front of a home crowd was important to me, and it felt really great!” Trussell was especially thrilled to be riding


Anton, as the horse has returned to the sport fol- lowing a two and a half year break due to a bone lesion. She explained, “My veterinarian, Dr. Usha Knabe, brought him back for me. He is better than ever! At 15, he is reaching his prime.” As the winner, Trussell was presented with the


Butternut Ridge Trophy, generously sponsored by Deborah Kinzinger Miculinic. “To have Deb Kinzinger and Butternut Ridge


supporting our sport is huge,” said Trussell, who is now aiming for a berth at the 2016 Rio Olympics with Anton. “They are making it exciting for us to come and compete.” Leah Wilkins, 28, of Amaranth, ON,


Section 2 INSIDE


Belinda Trussell ................................29 Erynn Ballard ....................................31 Canadian Eventing............................32 Tapestry Girth ...................................33 Queen Margaret’s School..................34 Jockey Club News.............................34 Beth Underhill...................................35 Canadian Pony Club..........................36 Nicola Philippaerts............................37 Para Equestrian News .......................38 Lauren Barwick.................................39 Harlequin Books ...............................39 Rising Stars .......................................40 Horse Listening.................................41 Equestrian Dreams............................42 Allison Waller...................................43 McKee-Pownall ................................43 Retired Racehorse Makeover............44 What’s Up Doc?................................45 Endurance Canada.............................45 Classifieds, Directories................46-51 Fitness ...............................................50 New OEF Benefits ............................50 Real Estate.........................................52 The Story of Figaro...........................52 Jump Canada Hall of Fame...............53 OCTRA News...................................54


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