Eventing Canada - High Performance Summit

Apparently there was just a “summit” to review and strengthen the high performance program.

According to the press release:

Following the emergence of a number of different perspectives, opinions and concerns raised by the eventing community, Equine Canada (EC) initiated an extensive third-party review of the Eventing High Performance Program.

Were some of those concerns perhaps the ones expressed in
this thread from July 2015, titled “Eventing Canada - your take”?

If they were, I am suspect about some of the participants in the summit. The press release is vague and doesn’t mention much about what was discussed or concluded. It says that, “Changes to the high performance program will be implemented based on the recommendations from the summit, and announced by November 2015.”

All I will say is was or was not that the most vague least informative press release you have ever read… :wink: :wink:

Yes, it was. The selected quotes from the participants were also (I suggest) purposely vague.

By the time anything is implemented isn’t it getting a bit close to Rio, re the need for a stronger high performance plan in advance of the 2016 OG in Rio?

You’d think so… most of the qualifying will have been already done this year. The short/long lists usually come out in Dec. or Jan. based on 2015 results. And training (invitations) is generally based on the lists, coach preference, geography, and let’s face it, who you know.

EC hasn’t yet put out its qualifying and selection criteria for Rio yet, though.

They already have the team decided it likely decided. Canada is mirroring the old US ways of picking the regulars regardless of the horse they have or how many unsuccessful events they have done in the past year. There are a few regulars I would be happy to support and a few others I hope get passed to allow some of the riders who go it alone but are talented - to have a chance.

You are probably right, Jealoushe.

So, without stating who you’d support or not (unless you want to), who do you think EC has already picked for Rio? These are my guesses, mostly taken from the 2015 short/long list:

Definites
Jessica Phoenix

Waylon Roberts (I’m putting him on due to his presence at the summit)

Peter Barry (same)

Maybes
Holly Jacks-Smither (attendance at summit - new kid on the block - will need a good showing this spring to counteract her XC penalty at Aachen)

Rebecca Howard (overall she’s had more good results at top 4* than anyone else, but she’s also had some blips)

Mike Winter (he’s in Britain, looks like at last two Advanced horses this year and possibly another for next year)

Selena O’Hanlon (lots of past experience but hasn’t had top placings lately)

Kathryn Robinson (overseas experience, enough money for a bit of a string, but her poor Pan Ams might push her out)

Hawley Bennett, if she gets a horse and a good 3* result this spring

Nos (These are total guesses, and maybe these particular riders don’t have 3* horses at the moment anyway)

Kyle Carter (his outspokenness about the Pan Ams selection might hurt him)

James Atkinson

Diana Burnett

Rachel McDonough (was short listed from 2014 Rolex result, came 10th Bromont this summer, but don’t see any more results for this horse)

I agree with most of the above.

Rachel is at Galway this weekend.
Hawley I dont think will have a horse in time.
Peter Barry tends to have quite a few TE’s or E’s to his name lately.
Rebecca is a strong candidate.
Kathryn, she’s not consistent enough.
I think Holly’s got a good chance as well.

If we’re being really honest, Canada doesn’t have a ton of depth and ever fewer horse/rider pairs that will be ready to seriously compete in 2016. We have more choices now than a few years ago, but A LOT will come down to soundness in the spring/summer.

I’d expect to see:

  • Jessie & Pavarotti (or another horse that is qualified and relatively competitive in dressage),
  • Selena & Foxwood High (has had some XC blips at the 4* level in the last year or two, but improved dressage and good 3* results in the spring should serve him well)
  • Rebecca Howard & Riddle Master (last weekend aside, they are an extremely reliable pair with a good record)

IMO the fourth spot is more up in the air. Waylon Roberts has some nice horses at the 3* level, as does Colleen Loach. Peter Barry has a number of nice horses, but has too many TEs to be a top pick in my book unless we are short on other horses. Kyle has two nice horses, as well, and should be considered. There are some other rides with nice horses at the 3* level but who aren’t quite as competitive (yet) - Rachel McDonough, Holly Jacks, James Atkinson, Kathryn Robinson, Diana Burnett, etc.

If the ‘top 3’ stay sound, I think the 4th spot will really depend on spring form. If we have some unsound horses or riders, that will also mix things up.

While I definitely think spring form should be considered when picking the team, I don’t think its unreasonable to be identifying the likely Rio horses/riders at an early stage.

Peter has some lovely 2* horses but unfortunately at the moment doesn’t have a 3* horse :frowning: Canadian horses currently qualified by obtaining an MER at a CCI3 or 4* are (just by my count feel free to add/edit)
Rebecca Howard Riddle Master
Selena O’Hanlon Foxwood High
Waylon Roberts Kelcyn Cognac Bill Owen hasn’t done a CCI yet but presumably will in the spring
Jessica could theoretically (hopefully!) have 4 qualified after Galway but currently doesn’t have any as she fell at Rolex and Jersey and was obviously unable to compete at Bromont or complete at Fair Hill.
Holly Jacks
Colleen Loach
Cody Sturgess
Rachel - not currently qualified but at Galway so fingers crossed

I’m not sure of Mike Winter/Kathrine Robinson/Lindsay Trainsel’s qualification status? Will investigate. Hawley very sadly doesn’t have anything currently at the level things would have to move quite quickly if she were to have a Rio horse but I’m not trying to be negative only realistic would love to see her on a team again!
Who am I missing…

Lisa Marie Fergusson could be a dark horse. She won her first CIC3* years ago and has had a string of bad luck ever since, interrupted by a 3rd place finish at her first CCI3* at Galway a few years back.

The horse she’s currently riding has not been consistent, but a good result at Galway this fall and further results in the spring could see her added to the list.

[QUOTE=Blugal;8379032]
Lisa Marie Fergusson could be a dark horse. She won her first CIC3* years ago and has had a string of bad luck ever since, interrupted by a 3rd place finish at her first CCI3* at Galway a few years back.

The horse she’s currently riding has not been consistent, but a good result at Galway this fall and further results in the spring could see her added to the list.[/QUOTE]

Good point !

[QUOTE=Bzzy18;8378899]
Peter has some lovely 2* horses but unfortunately at the moment doesn’t have a 3* horse :frowning: Canadian horses currently qualified by obtaining an MER at a CCI3 or 4* are (just by my count feel free to add/edit)
Rebecca Howard Riddle Master
Selena O’Hanlon Foxwood High
Waylon Roberts Kelcyn Cognac Bill Owen hasn’t done a CCI yet but presumably will in the spring
Jessica could theoretically (hopefully!) have 4 qualified after Galway but currently doesn’t have any as she fell at Rolex and Jersey and was obviously unable to compete at Bromont or complete at Fair Hill.
Holly Jacks
Colleen Loach
Cody Sturgess
Rachel - not currently qualified but at Galway so fingers crossed

I’m not sure of Mike Winter/Kathrine Robinson/Lindsay Trainsel’s qualification status? Will investigate. Hawley very sadly doesn’t have anything currently at the level things would have to move quite quickly if she were to have a Rio horse but I’m not trying to be negative only realistic would love to see her on a team again!
Who am I missing…[/QUOTE]

This is why we need more support to those doing well at the 1* and 2* level. These are so many talented riders at that level that juts don’t have the support to break into the 3/4*

Anyone know why Pavarotti was withdrawn from Fairhill? Is he already qualified for Rio?? It’s really too bad that Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch doesn’t have an upper-level horse. She’s such a terrific rider.

Pavarotti has had a question mark beside his name for a while now. Despite a clutch clear XC at WEG 2014, he has an awful lot of letters in his FEI record at 3/4* level.

[QUOTE=Blugal;8380382]
Pavarotti has had a question mark beside his name for a while now. Despite a clutch clear XC at WEG 2014, he has an awful lot of letters in his FEI record at 3/4* level.[/QUOTE]

For 2015, Pavarotti did not complete a single Advanced or 3* event. Jessica withdrew him from Rolex and Fair Hill after dressage, and fell off him on cross country at Plantation Field. She did state she would be taking him to Galway, but at the jogs she presented A Little Romance (not listed on entries until yesterday) instead of him.

I don’t know Canada’s Olympic qualifying rules, but it’s very, very likely that any horse headed to the Olympics will need a CCI at the 3* or 4* level in 2015 or 2016. So he is not currently qualified.

I would have to say to save his legs? I think we know he’s a great candidate.

Its not just recent letters in his FEI record, its since 2011, looks like he just doesn’t need to be run a lot like other people do.

I think the biggest job for him is dressage ring exposure at the bigger events.

[QUOTE=Divine Comedy;8380556]

I don’t know Canada’s Olympic qualifying rules, but it’s very, very likely that any horse headed to the Olympics will need a CCI at the 3* or 4* level in 2015 or 2016. So he is not currently qualified.[/QUOTE]

From the FEI Olympic guidelines All Horses/Athletes who take part in the 2016 Olympic Games Eventing Competitions must achieve the following minimum eligibility requirements as a combination by obtaining “FEI qualifying results” in the following level of Competition which take place from 1 January 2015 until 19 June 2016 included:

  • 1 qualifying result at a CCI 4*, or
  • 1 qualifying result in a CCI 3* AND 1 qualifying result in a CIC 3*

True to form Equine Canada has not published any specific requirements as far as I know :frowning:

i just can’t believe it’s to save his legs. I know he was wanted for Pan Ams this year. But really, if the horse is a 4* horse, then he ought to be aimed at 3/4* competitions, Advanced horse trials, etc.

Wouldn’t you think Jessica would want to be more competitive at the Olympics next year? She has usually put in great rounds for Canada on teams - but finishing in the middle of the field. Improving his dressage isn’t the only thing that will make a great finish. Finishing Advanced and 3/4* competitions will.

I hate this culture (and perhaps this is NOT what JP is doing) of “saving” the horse for a big competition 18 months+ out. Others have tried this, and it doesn’t really work usually - it backfires.

I’m sorry for making this speculation, but I wonder if he is not the soundest horse, which is the mean way of saying “saving his legs”.

Jessica has had great success and I do wish her all the best.

And it doesn’t matter how much you ‘save his legs’ if he never gets qualified. This applies to not only him, but horses like Shamwari and Manoir de Carneville.