Ottawa, ON, August 2, 2022 – Equestrian Canada is proud to announce the eventing team selection to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Championships from September 14 – 25, 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.

The following members of the Canadian Eventing team will represent the maple leaf at the quadrennial equestrian event in September (in alphabetical order):

• Hawley Awad, JollyBo
• Holly Jacks, Candy King
• Colleen Loach, Vermont
• Karl Slezak, Fernhill Wishes
• Michael Winter, El Mundo

Non-travelling reserves:

• Dana Cooke, FE Mississippi
• Lisa Marie Fergusson, Honor Me

“The Eventing High Performance Advisory Group (HPAG) is excited to be sending a full slate of five horse & rider combinations to Pratoni,” shared HPAG co-chairs Emily Gilbert and Greg Paull. “We will be up against strong international teams all vying for a coveted qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. We feel confident that we’re sending the best team possible in order to achieve our mandate of earning one of those spots. Bring on the competition!”

The Canadian Eventing team will have a mix of veteran and newcomers to the FEI World Championships. Awad will be competing in her fourth FEI World Championships, Loach and Fergusson in their second championships and Jacks, Slezak, Winter and Cooke entering their first such competition. Awad, Loach and Winter are also two-time Olympians in their equestrian careers.

Canada’s best result at the FEI World Championships is ninth place in the individual event in Lexington, KY, in 2010, while earning a silver medal in the team event that same year.

“Equestrian Canada is pleased with the selections of our Canadian Eventing Team and we are looking forward to a strong representation in Italy,” said James Hood, EC’s Director of High Performance. “With selections now complete, the athletes can work on any gaps and prepare to represent Canada in Pratoni this September.”

Held just under 50 kilometres southeast of Rome in Pratoni del Vivaro, the FEI will be hosting a major championship in Italy’s capital city for the second time. The ‘Impianto Sportivo Equestre di Rocca di Papa – Pratoni del Vivaro’, is one of the most famous multidisciplinary equestrian facilities in the world, having played host to the 1960 Olympics, 1998 World Equestrian Games and many other international and European championships.

The Canadian Eventing team will be supported by Team Leader James Hood, Team Manager Fleur Tipton, and Chef D’Équipe Rebbeca Howard.

The HPAG, EC and the entire team would like to thank all of the generous donors for their support as well as the help from the equestrian community to rally together to make this possible. The Pratoni, Let’s Go! Campaign was successful in raising enough funds to help our Canadian Eventing team to travel and compete at the FEI World Championships in Pratoni, ITA. Let’s Go Team Canada!

For more information on the FEI World Championships – Pratoni, please click here

For media inquiries contact EC Director, Marketing and Communications, Melanie McLearon, mmclearon@equestrian.ca.

About Equestrian Canada
Equestrian Canada (EC) is the national governing body for equestrian sport and industry in Canada, with a mandate to represent, promote and advance all equine and equestrian interests. With over 15,000 sport licence holders, 11 provincial/territorial sport organization partners and 10+ national equine affiliate organizations, EC is a significant contributor to the social, physical, emotional and economic wellbeing of the equestrian industry across Canada. EC thanks the Government of Canada for their financial support.