Caledon Equestrian Park Hosts 2007 Pan
American Games Selection Trials
Palgrave, Ontario --- The Caledon Equestrian Park will host the 2007 Pan
American Games Selection Trials for both dressage and show jumping.
The Pan American Games Selection Trials for show jumping will be organized by
Equestrian Management Group (EMG) and will take place during its Caledon
National tournament held May 16-20. Two weeks later, from June 1-3,
Barbara Mitchell and John Taylor of CornerStone will organize the Selection
Trials for dressage. This marks the first time that the Caledon Equestrian
Park will host Selection Trials for two different equestrian disciplines in the
same year. The 2007 Pan American Games take place in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, from July 14 to 29 and will include the equestrian disciplines of
dressage, show jumping and three day eventing.
The Caledon National show jumping tournament will see over 1,000 horses
competing. A handful of those, representing the very best in the country,
will contest two Selection Trials - the $20,000 Alliance Homes Open Welcome on
Friday, May 18, and the $50,000 Caledon National Grand Prix on Sunday, May 20.
The results will help determine the five members of the Canadian Show Jumping
Team.
While many visitors to the Caledon Equestrian Park are familiar with the show
jumping events, dressage might be new to some. Often referred to as
'ballet on horseback', riders subtly guide their horses through a series of
required technical movements. The most compelling dressage competition is
the 'freestyle' where the required movements are choreographed to music.
The top eight horse-rider combinations from across Canada will contest the
Selection Trials for dressage, featuring $6,000 in prize money generously
sponsored by Schlesse Saddlery Services, who is also the official saddlers of
the event. Seven judges, licensed by the International Equestrian
Federation (FEI) and representing such nations as Argentina, Canada, Peru and
the United States, will determine the outcome.
Held over all three days of competition, the Selection Trials for dressage
culminate with the Musical Freestyles on Sunday, June 3. A Fundraising
Reception will also be held on Sunday afternoon to benefit the Canadian Dressage
Team that, at the last Pan American Games held in 2003 in Santo Domingo, claimed
Individual Gold and Team Silver Medals.
"The Caledon Equestrian Park has hosted Selection Trials for show jumping
numerous times in the past, but what makes this year unique is that we are
hosting the Trials for both dressage and show jumping," noted Craig
Collins, Managing Partner of EMG, who recently oversaw a $100,000 investment
made in the footing at the Caledon Equestrian Park, including in the Grand Prix
ring and schooling area. "With free admission, we hope that everyone
in the community comes out to support Canada's top equestrian athletes."
For more information on the show jumping tournament, please visit the EMG
website at www.equiman.com.
For more information on the dressage competition, including class times, please
visit the CornerStone website at www.cornerstonefarms.com.
Located north of Toronto, the Caledon Equestrian Park hosts more than 20
equestrian events each year, including eight major show jumping tournaments.
