36/ JUNE 2023 THE RIDER Roberta Sheffield named Owner of the Year Roberta Sheffield has


been named the 2022 owner of the year in recognition of her investment in, hard work and dedication to her 14-year-old Para dressage Gelderlander mare Fairuza. Sheffield purchased and then single-handedly devel- oped the young mare from an apprehensive, unhandled six-year-old to a top com- petitor in the international Para dressage ring. This award


recognizes


Sheffield’s remarkable de- votion to her horse’s healthy and welfare, training, and the pair’s success throughout the 2022 season. The Owner of the Year Award was


Roberta Sheffield. Photo Credit: Silke A. Rottermann


created to recognize the dedication, commitment, and support owners pro- vide in order to ensure Canadian ath- letes have access to world-class horses. This award is presented to an owner, individual, or group who has progressed equestrian sport by invest- ing toward, breeding, or supporting a horse in competition at the national or international level. The Canadian Paralympian’s jour-


ney with Fairuza began in 2015. While others saw an unhandled driving bred horse with little aptitude for dressage, Sheffield saw potential. “I saw a strik- ing horse with heaps of charisma, a strong, powerful body and a really good movement mechanic. What I didn’t know at the time was how in- credible her work ethic is and how her driving breeding means she’s a natural team player. The long-eared, roman-


nosed, big-footed horse has risen to every challenge she’s met,” Sheffield said.


Wholeheartedly committing to


Fairuza’s development, Sheffield took on the challenge of training the young mare herself. “I do a lot of ground- work. I like to develop the horses’ emotional stability and develop the partnership with them, so they trust me, so when I come to ride, they are much more looking to me for what to do with a strange situation of having someone on their back than running away from it,” Sheffield said of her approach to training. While some may consider her un-


conventional, “Wonky” has proven to be an ideal match for Sheffield. The mare’s height and width support Sheffield’s hips, and the biomechanics of her movement suit Sheffield’s pelvis - ideal qualities in a para horse. Her thorough, patient training process


HAY AND MORE


allowed Wonky to grow into the reliable and thoughtful mount


that


Sheffield needed. Just three short


years later, the pair made their FEI debut finishing second with an impressive score of 68.912. The pair have gone on to represent Canada in 42 FEI tests, in- cluding performances at the Herning World Cham- pionships, and the Tokyo Paralympic Games where they set a Canadian record.


With Sheffield currently the highest-


ranked Canadian at 4th place in the FEI global Para dressage rankings, the duo’s success is a testament to Sheffield’s training and the strength of their partnership. Despite facing challenges, to-


gether they achieved their personal goals at the 2022 World Champi- onships. Wonky had fallen ill just be- fore the competition, but Sheffield prioritized her horse’s health, delaying their trip to Herning and sacrificing their training. Thanks to that decision and a strong support team, Wonky re- covered in time to compete, and the duo finished in the top five with a score of 70.882. With their 2022 season behind


them, Sheffield has set their sights on the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. When asked about their future Sheffield said, “Nothing is a foregone conclusion, and we are as hungry for it as ever.”


Buckingham named Horse of the Year Buckingham (Dantos name,


HBC x L’Esprit), a nine- year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Cawthra Burns has been named the 2022 Horse of the Year. This award was created in 2019 to recognize a horse that has had an exceptional perform- ance year. This meaningful award focuses specifically on the performances within a one-year timeframe rather than the long-established celebrity or iconic perform- ance status of the horse of a lifetime. Buckingham or his barn “Hammy”, has


sported numerous Com- bined Hunter and 3’6 Ama- teur Owner championships and multiple Canadian Hunter Derby wins. In 2022, he was the year end provincial champion and nationally in the Combines 3’6 Amateur Owners and the Canadian Hunter Derby series. At the Royal, he won the Champion of the Com- bined Division and received the Killer Tom award for the high score of 90. It was his first year stepping up to 3’6 and he did it both with pro- fessionals and his amateur owner. He also captured the combined working hunter championship at the Royal.


Buckingham. Photo Credit: Andrew Ryback Buckingham is known


to be kind, loving, athletic and naturally talented. He has a playful character and is a barn favourite. Burns and Hammy have been part- nered for four years and the pair have had a strong bond from the beginning that con- tinues today. “Every time I am sitting on Hammy’s back waiting to go through that ingate, it is the best feel- ing in the world,” said Burns. Two of her proudest moments so far include, “walking into the Coliseum for the Prince of Thieves award for the Derbies and the Killer Tom Award for the high score at the Royal.”


Winning Horse of the


Year is a wonderful feeling for the King City, ON, na- tive. “This is such a huge honour, I never imagined this award would go to a hunter, let alone mine!” She said. “I am so blessed to own and ride such an in- credible animal.” The ‘Buck’ does not


stop here! The pair started their 2023 season at WEC Ocala, where Buckingham tricoloured all three weeks they were


competing.


Burns’ plan is to continue with the Amateur Owners and Derbies and according to her, “Maybe, share him a little with my daughters!”


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