2/ APRIL 2023 THE RIDER


Nations’ Cup Continued from Page 1


lights with Gakhir, a 12- year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Spartacus TN x VDL Indorado) owned by Ilan Ferder and Esperanza Imports LLC. Deslauriers, 58, pro-


duced a faultless perform- ance for Canada with two


clear rounds aboard Emer- son, owned by Wishing Well Farm LLC, in the horse’s first Nations’ Cup appear- ance. Deslauriers and the 11-year-old Belgian Warm- blood gelding (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Berlin) were one of only two horse-rider combinations to jump dou- ble clear over the track set by U.S. course designer An- thony D’Ambrosio with the


other belonging to Brazil’s Fabio Leivas da Costa aboard Ilex. Having added nothing


to the eight faults collected in the first round, Canada moved into top spot after Belgium was eliminated and Brazil and Ireland both added faults in the second round. With the win already secured, there was no need for Canada’s anchor rider


Underhill, 60, of Mulmur, ON, to return with Nikka van den Bisschop, a 10- year-old Belgian Warm- blood mare (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) owned by Rein Family LLC. “It was a win that our


team needed badly, I would say,” said Millar. “These four riders and four horses really delivered. The second round had to be executed with precision, and that’s exactly what they did. It un- derscores how strong our team was that Beth didn’t have to go in the second round – the other three rid- ers nailed it. It’s not so often that the anchor gets a free ride.”


The win marked


Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, and Hamilton, owned by The Hamilton Group. Photo by Starting Gate Communications


Canada’s seventh victory in the Nations’ Cup in Welling- ton, FL, since the team event was first held at the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2002. Finishing behind Canada in second place was Brazil with a total of 16 faults followed by Ireland, also on 16 faults but with a slower combined time. Mexico took fourth with 17 faults while the United States was fifth with 32 faults. Australia was sixth with 32 faults in a slower combined time, Great Britain seventh with 42 faults, and the early leaders, Belgium, failed to finish after both Jos Verlooy and Zoe Conter were eliminated at the wall at fence nine. Ar- gentina, Chile,


and


Venezuela failed to make the cut for round two, which featured the top eight teams. “These riders have


Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, and Gakhir, owned by Ilan Ferder and Esperanza Imports LLC. Photo by Starting Gate Communications


been my teammates on nu- merous occasions in the past,” said Millar, 76, who retired from international competition in 2019. “They know me as a rider and now they know me as a chef. They were so easy to work


with and so receptive to any ideas or suggestions. The word synergy comes to mind. “It was fun to see it


from the other side,” con- cluded Millar. “For almost 50 years, I was one of the riders. I always appreciated the chefs and how much they cared and how much


they supported us. Tonight, I feel part of this winning team and it’s a great feeling! I’m so proud to be the chef of our Canadian team. I al- ways said that if I ever did it, I would only do it for Canada. I’ve been offered the position by other coun- tries, but I always said I would only do it for Canada,


if ever. And here we are.” Competition in the


CSIO4* Winter Equestrian Festival Week 8 concludes on Sunday, March 5, with the $226,000 JTWG Inc. Grand Prix. For more infor- mation, including full re- sults,


https://wellingtoninterna- tional.com.


visit


Mario Deslauriers of New York, NY, delivered two clear rounds riding Emerson, owned by Wishing Well Farm LLC. Photo by Starting Gate Communications


Beth Underhill of Mulmur, ON, and Nikka van den Bisschop, owned by Rein Family LLC. Photo by Starting Gate Communications


MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Returns as Title and Presenting Sponsor of the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event 2023


BROMONT, QC - March 27, 2023 - Bromont Horse Trials is proud and ex- cited to once again welcome MARS EQUESTRIAN™ as title sponsor of the MARS Bromont CCI4* taking place June 8-11, 2023 in Bromont, Quebec. “We are honored MARS EQUES-


TRIAN has chosen to continue its sup- port of Bromont and international eventing for another season,” said event organizer Sue Ockendon. “Being a Pan American Games year and heading into an Olympic year, our competitions will be vital to the plans of North American competitors and team selectors. Having the ongoing support of MARS EQUES- TRIAN allows us to continue improving the event and offer increased prize money to our competitors.” Widely considered one of the most


prestigious three-day events in North America, and the only Canadian event offering the penultimate CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S divisions of eventing competi- tion, athletes will compete for $25,000 in prize money and awards offered by the generous sponsors of the MARS Bromont Three Day Event. “We are thrilled to continue our


eventing in North America” said Brid- gett McIntosh, PhD, Director of MARS EQUESTRIAN “Through this partner- ship we can continue to share Mars, In- corporated’s diverse portfolio of Confectionary, Petcare, Horsecare and Veterinary products and services to an international audience.” The MARS EQUESTRIAN spon-


sorship of Bromont Horse Trials is one of many touchpoints illustrating Mars’ multi-generational impact on equestrian sports and the equine industry as a whole. Going back to the 1930s, the founders of Mars, Incorporated, Frank and Ethel V. Mars, established a renowned Thoroughbred breeding and racing stable in Pulaski, Tennessee. They named the property Milky Way Farm, in honor of their best-selling candy bar, and followed up by naming their new SNICKERS® Bar after one of the family’s beloved horses. A decade later, their long-shot Gallahadion carried the Mars silks into the winner’s circle at the 1940 Kentucky Derby. Today, the Mars family and business alike share a passion for horses and equestrian sports. Often described as an equestrian


support of the Bromont Horse Trials and triathlon, eventing features three sepa-


Thursday/Friday, the exciting and spec- tator-friendly cross-country will take place Saturday and the event will con- clude Sunday with the show jumping phase, to determine the overall winners. CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and


CCI2*-L divisions will be offered at this year’s June event as well as U25 sec- tions in both two and three star levels. Renowned course designer Derek Di- Grazia (CA, USA), course designer for the Tokyo Olympics and some of the biggest three-day events in the world will be back at Bromont for 2023, to de- sign the courses set amid the challenging terrain, with the help of Canada’s Jay Hambly.


Five-time Pan-Am Games medalist and Canadian Olympian, Jessica Phoenix of Can- nington, ON, rode Wabbit as part of the sil- ver-medal Canadian team in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ at Bromont in Au- gust, 2022. © Cealy Tetley


rate phases of competition with the same horse and rider pair completing each phase together. The opening phase, dressage, will be held over


About the MARS Bromont Three Day Event


Bromont, which has featured top


competitions for four decades, will be welcoming some of the best horse-and- rider combinations from all over world across three competitions this summer. Located in the beautiful village of Bromont, Quebec, the spectator-friendly venue is within easy driving distance of Montreal, Quebec and Burlington Ver- mont. For more information please visit


www.bromonthorsetrials.com. About MARS EQUESTRIAN™ MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Spon-


sorship, funded by Mars, Incorporated is the link between these iconic brands and the equestrian community. For genera- tions, Mars has celebrated a rich eques- trian heritage, and through purposeful partnerships, MARS EQUESTRIAN Sponsorship is committed to the sport and building an enduring legacy. From world-class competitions across all equestrian disciplines, to stewarding the power of horses on society and sustain- ability, the MARS EQUESTRIAN Brand is dedicated to our purpose to im- prove the lives of horses, pets, and the people who love them. For more infor- mation please visit www.marseques- trian.com and follow them at @marsequestrian. The Bromont Horse Trials are


made possible in part through a contri- bution from Sport Canada. The Bromont organizing committee also wishes to thank the Government of Quebec, and the City of Bromont for their support.


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