Equestrian Canada – Ottawa, ON, Jan. 25, 2018 – Equestrian Canada (EC) and the Brosda family are pleased to announce Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu of Saint-Bruno, QC has been named the inaugural recipient of the $10,000 Brosda Olympic Bursary for 2018. 

“Our daughter, Élisabeth Brosda, became passionate at a very young age and her greatest passion was always horses,” said Marie-France Maisonneuve, Élisabeth’s mother. “After enjoying different disciplines, she began to focus on dressage in 2011. My daughter’s only goal was to reach the Grand Prix level and represent Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games. And then came September 17, 2016… All of a sudden Élisabeth’s life ended after a tragic car collision when she was heading to an equestrian competition.” 

Maisonneuve continued, “Élisabeth has always been an example of determination for us. Therefore, we knew we had to continue Élisabeth’s dream. With the unique support of Equestrian Canada and the Horsepower Foundation, we created the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund with the objective of raising $100,000 in order to give annual bursaries that will support NextGen dressage athletes who share the dreams and goal Élisabeth embodied to represent the Canadian Dressage Team at the 2020 and/or 2024 Olympic Games. Élisabeth would be truly honoured that her idol, Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu is the inaugural recipient.” 

Fraser-Beaulieu received the 2018 bursary after submitting an application outlining her meticulous plans in pursuit of making her Olympic debut. Criteria for the bursary included reporting on international performance results for the previous 12 months, yearly training and competition plans showing proper progress to the Olympic Games, a detailed plan on how the Bursary funds would be used to support development and progression to the Olympic Games, and much more. 

“I am so thankful to receive this bursary, and Élisabeth will always be in my thoughts,” said Fraser-Beaulieu, who was selected as the 2018 recipient after a unanimous vote by the Brosda Olympic Bursary Selection Committee. “Receiving the Brosda Olympic Bursary touches me deeply because I was coaching Élisabeth during the summer she passed. Élisabeth was such a hard-working, dedicated rider who wanted nothing more than to succeed with her riding career.” 

As one of Canada’s top up-and-coming Canadian Equestrian Team dressage athletes, Fraser-Beaulieu first reached the FEI level in 2007, representing Canada at the FEI North American Junior & Rider Championships. From there, she progressed to the Small Tour level with her current top partner, All In (Tango x Damiro), a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she co-owns with her father, Craig Fraser and husband, Marc-Andre Beaulieu. 

In 2015, Fraser-Beaulieu and All In were chosen to represent Canada at the Pan American Games in Toronto, ON, where they helped the Canadian Dressage Team earn the silver medal. Shortly after the Games, the duo moved up to the Grand Prix level, where they have been making their mark. 

In their European debut at the CHIO Aachen, Fraser-Beaulieu and All In picked up a top-10 finish against some of the world’s best international dressage athletes. They wrapped up the season by earning back-to-back wins in the CDI Grand Prix Freestyle in Saugerties and Devon with personal best scores of 75.090% and 75.500%, respectively. 

“I am aiming toward the 2020 Olympics, and would love nothing more than to represent my country with my long-time partner, All In,” said Fraser-Beaulieu, who is also aiming to compete at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina. “I plan to use this very generous bursary for training, or a flight to Europe to expand my competition results and best prepare myself for the Olympics.” 

As the successful candidate for 2018, Fraser-Beaulieu will be an ambassador for the Brosda Olympic Bursary, promoting the Olympic values of excellence, teamwork, leadership and fair play, and sharing her stories and experiences through public speaking engagements and on social media. 

“I am very proud to be an ambassador for the Brosda Olympic Bursary, and I will always try to inspire others to pursue their dreams – whether it’s NAJYRC right through to the Olympics,” said Fraser-Beaulieu. “As we all know, this sport can be very costly, and having this bursary to support Olympic hopefuls is so rewarding.” 

About the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund 

On behalf of the Brosda family, EC is honoured to facilitate support for the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund through the Horsepower Foundation – a fundraising program created by EC, in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Foundation, to inspire and support Canadians to embrace lifelong participation in equestrian activities.  As a lasting legacy in memory of Élisabeth Brosda, funds donated to the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund are directed specifically to the annual Brosda Olympic Bursary. Donations to the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund can be made online at www.equestrian.ca/donate or by cheque. Please make cheques out to the Canadian Olympic Foundation and include Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund in the memo area of the cheque. Cheques can be mailed to: Canadian Olympic Foundation, 21 St. Clair Ave. E., Suite 900, Toronto, ON Canada, M4T 1L9. Tax receipts can be provided for donations over $10.  For more information on the Brosda Olympic Bursary, visit www.equestrian.ca/sport/dressage/athlete-development. – 30 –

PHOTO – Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (pictured aboard All In) of Saint-Bruno, QC was named the 2018 recipient of the $10,000 Brosda Olympic Bursary, offered in memory of the late Élisabeth Brosda, and designed to help NextGen dressage athletes reach their full potential and represent Canada at the Olympic Games.  PHOTO CREDIT – DigiShots