DECEMBER 2017 THE RIDER /47 Mathilde Blais Tétreault Awarded 2017 Orion Cup
Ottawa, ON, Nov. 22, 2017 – Equestrian Canada (EC) has awarded Mathilde Blais Tétreault of Montreal, QC with the 2017 Orion Cup in light of her success as an up- and-coming elite dressage athlete. Presented to a promis-
ing dressage athlete in the process of
transitioning
from the Young Rider level to Grand Prix, the Orion Cup was created in memory of one of Canada’s most well-known equine dressage stars. “I feel very honoured to
win the Orion Cup and want to thank Pia and Dagmar Fortmuller for creating this award in memory of a very special horse,” said Blais Tétreault, who was pre- sented with a cash prize of $1,000 to be used toward her competitive goals in dressage, as well as a com- memorative jacket and cooler. “It’s been a wonder- ful year with Utah and this award is a great way to fin- ish the 2017 season.” Open to Canadian dres-
sage riders aged 16 to 25, the award is presented to the rider with the highest aver-
age of three scores from the Under 25 (U25) Grand Prix level. Scores obtained at CDI-level competitions re- ceive a 1% bonus. The pro- gram encourages young athletes to focus on training and planning at an elite level, with tangible goals and confidence. Blais Tétreault earned
the coveted title for 2017 after achieving a total quali- fying average of 68.039% at the CDI-U25 Grand Prix level with her horse, Utah (Jazz x Landwind II B), a 16-year-old Dutch Warm- blood gelding. The duo’s first qualify-
ing score of 65.907% came along with a third place fin- ish in the CDI-U25 Grand Prix in February during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival
(AGDF) score in
Wellington, FL. A win at Wellington followed in March, providing a second qualifying
of
68.279%. Blais Tétreault then traveled to Europe, where a second-place finish with Utah in Crozet, FRA in August produced a third qualifying
score of 66.930%. With all of Blais
Mathilde Blais Tétreault from Montreal, QC was honoured with the Orion Cup for her successful transition up to the Under 25 Dressage Grand Prix level aboard Utah during the 2017 season. PHOTO CREDIT – Susan J. Stickle
Tétreault’s scores being earned at CDI-level compe- titions, she was awarded a 1% bonus per score. “I would like to con-
gratulate Mathilde on all of her huge success this year,” said Pia Fortmuller, who es- tablished the Orion Cup in 2016. “She has had such a strong season with her part-
ner Utah. Our equine part- ners are the heart of our sport and it means the world to me that Orion’s legacy can help another aspiring talent on their journey.” Orion (Jazz x Consul), a
1996 Dutch Warmblood gelding, was an Olympic Team horse for Canada and was trained to the advanced
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level by Fortmuller’s former coach, Leslie Reid, who rode Orion at the 2008 Bei- jing Olympic Games. 2009, muller
In
Fort- took
over the ride on this incredibly talented horse. The pair would
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go on to compete at the Grand Prix level, culminat- ing with their selection as the reserve combination for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Sadly, Orion died at the start of 2014. His pass- ing was a devastating loss to Fortmuller and her family, as well as the Canadian Dressage Team. The Orion Cup pays
tribute to this very special horse. Just as Orion was in- strumental to the start of Fortmuller’s grand prix ca- reer, this award provides other talented Canadian dressage athletes with a leg- up in the sport. “I am so excited to pass
on this award to Mathilde Blais Tétreault,” said Fort- muller. “She is such a tal- ented rider with such a bright future ahead of her, and I don’t think it will be long until we see Mathilde competing successfully on the international Grand Prix
scene. The step up from Young Riders to Grand Prix is a big one and it is so im- portant that goals and pro- grams exist to help our young talents continue to rise to the top.” Blais Tétreault has now
turned her focus to the 2018 season, in which she’ll take a new horse through the small tour with sights set on the 2019 Pan American Games. With Utah’s task of bringing Blais Tétreault up the levels complete, he will now partner with Tétreault’s younger sister, Laurence. “Laurence will compete
with Utah in the U25 divi- sion for the 2018 season and the rest of his career,” ex- plained Blais Tétreault. “I wish them the best and I’m very excited for their fu- ture.” For more information
about the Orion Cup, visit
www.equestrian.ca/sport/dr essage/awards.
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