The international competition at the Ottawa Dressage Festival got underway Friday at Wesley Clover Parks. Even for this “off year” with no major team events, the field of entrants is disappointingly small, with the exception of the Small Tour division.

​With 10 competitors, the CDI1* Prix St. Georges was the largest class of the day, and offered a sneak peek the future of Canadian dressage. Olympians Belinda Trussell, Brittany Fraser Beaulieu and Camille Carier Bergeron all showcased their rising stars, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see one or more of these horses on Team Canada in years to come.

​Trussell won the class aboard Suzy Zucker’s 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Quincy (Quantensprung x De Niro), with 70.637. Just a fraction of a point behind with 70.442 was Fraser-Beaulieu, riding Deer Ridge Equestrian’s Viva Vivaldi (Vivaldi x Weltmeyer). Carier Bergeron rounded out the top three, scoring 69.412 on her own gelding MSJ Fürst Zonik (Fürstenball x Zonik).

The PSG class not only had the highest number of entries, it had the highest scores of the day as well. Overall, scores were on the low side in the remaining CDI and CPEDI classes. While results often improve over the course of a multi-day show as horses get accustomed to the venue and riders’ first-day nerves dissipate, Friday’s results from Ottawa seem to mirror a general trend of lower scores seen this year at CDIs in Florida and Europe.

The Ottawa Dressage Festival CDI, CPEDI and National show continues through Sunday, with results available at equestrian-hub.com.

​FRIDAY CDI / CPEDI RESULTS
CDI1* FEI Prix St. Georges
1. Belinda Trussell - Quincy - 70.637% (Canada)
2. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu - Viva Vivaldi - 70.441%(Canada)
3. Camille Carier Bergeron - MSJ Fürst Zonik - 69.412%(Canada)
4. Daniel Kehres - Rockstar 1 - 67.108% (Canada)
5. Camille Carier Bergeron - Pilegardens Dreamer - 66.765% (Canada)
6. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu - Medoc - 65.588% (Canada)
7. Marie-Pierre Carignan - Iggy B - 65.441% (Canada)
8. Brooke Mancusi - Kalisto Sollenburg - 64.412%(Canada)
9. Julie Laforge - Bobby - 63.186% (Canada)
10. Justin Ridgewell - Alchemist - 61.274% (Canada)

CDI2* FEI Intermediate A
1. James Irwin - Flirtfaktor S - 63.480% (Canada)
2. Simone Williams - Herdeiro Santana - 61.863%(Canada)

CDIJ FEI Junior Team
1. Léa Landreville Cloutier - Guus - 60.151% (Canada)

CDIY FEI Young Riders Team
1. Anna Swackhammer - Fabienna GV - 64.412%(Canada)

CDIU25 FEI Intermediate II
1. Brooke Mancusi - Dejohn Ymas - 61.716% (Canada)

CDI3* FEI Grand Prix
1. Jacqueline Brooks - Te Amo Q O S - 60.152% (Canada)
2. Julie Laforge - Dooley 17 - 60.065% (Canada)

CPEDI3* FEI Para Grand Prix A - Grade V
EL Natasha James - Pantera - (Canada)

CPEDI2* FEI Para Intermediate A - Grade V
1. Madison Lawson - Laguna - 66.607%(Canada)

CPEDI3* FEI Para Grand Prix A - Grade IV
1. Wanda Jamieson - Gerard XXII HCI - 61.528% (Canada)
2. Joelle Trudeau - Sinclair - 58.704% (Canada)

CPEDI3* FEI Para Grand Prix A - Grade II
1. Sharon Buffitt - L’Etoile - 63.564%(Canada)

CPEDI3* FEI Para Grand Prix A - Grade I
1. Alexandra Vadnais - Alaska du Fjord - 63.542%(Canada)
2. Jody Schloss - El Colorado - 62.778% (Canada)


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CDI season officially got underway in Canada last weekend with a CDI / CPEDI in Calgary, organized by Tilted Tiara Dressage. A small but committed group of competitors took advantage of the only international dressage co petition scheduled for Western Canada in 2025.

Below are results from the CDI and CPEDI classes. For National results from Tilted Tiara visit equestrian-hub.com.

​Friday, May 23
CDI2* - Intermediate B
1. Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar - Iko - 61.784% (Canada)
2. Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar - Gaga - 60.622% (Canada)

CDICh - Children Preliminary Competition B
1. Gwendolyn Joinson - Blind Date At - 65.197% (Canada)

CDIJ - Junior Team Competition
1. Imogen Hawes - Knights Cavollo Dolce - 64.788%(Canada)
2. Alison Campbell-Wright - Slapstick - 60.667% (Canada)
3. Petra Soderstrom - Redena - 56.515% (Canada)

CDIAm - Prix St-Georges
1. Linda Houweling - Senzation DC - 63.000% (Canada)

CDI1* - Prix St-Georges
1. Carol Hall - Fürst Faxe - 63.529% (Canada)

CDI3* Grand Prix
1. Brittney Simpson - Kartsevo Goldfinch - 65.848%(Canada)

CPEDI2* - Para Intermediate A V
1. Eleonore Elstone - Szecrecy HP - 67.797% (Canada)
2. Elexis Ortlieb - Shanghai - 64.464% (Canada)

CPEDI3* - Para Grand Prix A IV
1. Laura Hall - Istrano - 66.944% (Canada)

​Saturday, May 24
CDI2* - Intermediate II
1. Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar - Iko - 60.912% (Canada)
2. Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar - Gaga - 57.176% (Canada)

CDICh - Children Team Competition
1. Gwendolyn Joinson - Blind Date At - 67.125% (Canada)

CDIJ - Junior Individual Competition
1. Imogen Hawes - Knights Cavollo Dolce - 65.059%(Canada)
2. Alison Campbell-Wright - Slapstick - 63.382% (Canada)
3. Petra Soderstrom - Redena - 56.323% (Canada)

CDIAm - Intermediate I
1. Linda Houweling - Senzation DC - 65.529% (Canada)

CDI1* - Intermediate I
1. Carol Hall - Fürst Faxe - 64.470% (Canada)

CDI3* - Grand Prix Special
1. Brittney Simpson - Kartsevo Goldfinch - 65.192%(Canada)

CPEDI2* - Para Intermediate B V
1. Eleonore Elstone - Szecrecy HP - 69.091% (Canada)
2. Elexis Ortlieb - Shanghai - 63.889% (Canada)

CPEDI3* - Para Grand Prix B IV
1. Laura Hall - Istrano - 65.901% (Canada)

​Sunday, May 25
CDICh - Children Individual Competition
1. Gwendolyn Joinson - Blind Date At - 63.449% (Canada)

CDIJ - Junior Freestyle
1. Imogen Hawes - Knights Cavollo Dolce - 68.025%(Canada)
2. Alison Campbell-Wright - Slapstick - 67.345% (Canada)

CDIAm - Intermediate I Freestyle
1. Linda Houweling - Senzation DC - 67.830% (Canada)

CPEDI2* - Para Intermediate Freestyle V
1. Eleonore Elstone - Szecrecy HP - 70.767% (Canada)
2. Elexis Ortlieb - Shanghai - 64.033% (Canada)

CPEDI3* - Para Grand Prix Freestyle IV
1. Laura Hall - Istrano - 72.417% (Canada)

Ontario is up next, with the Ottawa Dressage Festival national show, CDI and CPEDI running May 29 - June 1


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- From Terra Nova Equestrian Center press release

While most Canadian snowbirds have already landed back home for the summer, Naïma Moriera Laliberté’s decision to stay for the CDI Myakka City held at TerraNova Equestrian Center proved to be a good one. She rode her 12-year-old gelding Inspire to victory in the CDI3* Grand Prix with a 68.891%.

The win marked Moreira Laliberté and Inspire’s first international grand prix victory since stepping up to the level at TerraNova’s April CDI a year ago. Inspire’s test featured many sevens and 7.5s, with an eight given for the extended canter, the two-time changes, the flying change between the pirouettes, and the final halt. The only glitch came in one of the piaffes, which was costly as the movement carries a double coefficient.
“He really tried hard in there,” said the 28-year-old. “Of course, there are so many things I want to improve, and I always try and go mistake free. It is going to be achievable; I just need to run him. I consider him still a green horse and he still needs to learn the routine and get confidence and experience in there — he hasn’t done much at this level yet.
“I’ve had him since he was three and I’m very proud that he became a grand prix horse and there is so much more in there for the future. I’ve been training with Ashley Holzer, who was here today to support us, which I am grateful for, as well as Jordi Domingo in Europe,” continued Moreira Laliberté, who was excited to return to TerraNova to compete. “It’s a great venue. The facility is amazing, the footing is beautiful, and the stables are brand new. I love the mats in the stalls, and I think the horses like it too. It’s always nice to come back here.”

Moreira Laliberté often spends summers on the other side of the Atlantic, in Spain with Jordi Domingo, but has opted to stay in Canada this time round.
“This year, I’m going to go back to my hometown Montreal,” she said. “This is a bit of an off year [with no major championship shows], so we’re going to enjoy spending a bit more time at home.”
Before Moreira Laliberté heads north, she will contest the Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday, May 3. It will be Inspire’s first freestyle at the level, and he will perform to his stablemate Statesman’s music, as he does not yet have his own.

With files from Caledon Dressage press release
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Caledon Dressage, organizers of the largest dressage show series in Canada, regretfully announce the cancellation of the CDI competition scheduled for Rockwood, Ont. from July 10-13. All four National shows planned for 2025 will proceed as scheduled.

A number of factors were weighed in reaching this difficult decision, including the scheduling of a CDI in Quebec on the same dates, the current economic uncertainties, and the absence of a title sponsor.

“Although we are disappointed, as we recognize the importance of CDI events being held close to home, our priority remains to do what is best for grassroots dressage and our members,” says Caledon Dressage president Andrew Woodley. “Caledon Dressage is a not-for-profit organization and hosting a CDI is a large economic investment that, without adequate sponsorship, would fall on the club to carry. Although we greatly appreciate the many sponsors, new and returning, who have come forward for 2025, our fundraising goals have fallen short of a level we are comfortable with to proceed with our July CDI. The only fiscally responsible decision is to concentrate on delivering a high-quality National show series in 2025.”

The organization looks forward to a robust show season at Angelstone Events for 2025 and is diligently working to secure title sponsorship for a 2026 CDI. Sponsorship inquiries can be directed to Maya Markowski at [email protected] or Katia Belanger at [email protected].
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The four national shows at Angelstone Events in Rockwood are scheduled for:
June 13-15
July 11-13
August 8-10
September 12-14

Four Canadian CDIs remain on the FEI calendar for 2025:
May 23-25 Anderson Ranch, Calgary, AB
May 29-June 1 Ottawa Dressage Festival
July 11-13 , QC
August 28-31 Bromont, QC
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Exciting news for BC native Alexandra Duncan, who has acquired Hitmaker (Wynton x Cabochon) as a World Cup hopeful for next year.

​Bred in the Netherlands, the 2012 KWPN stallion has been competed at Grand Prix internationally since 2023 by Dutch rider Jennifer Sekreve. He is expected to arrive in the USA next week after being purchased by Duncan and her husband Arturo Rubio, and will join Duncan’s other two stallions Mckenzy JHI and Elantic at their Florida home base.

​”I’m very excited; this is the horse of a lifetime. I chose him for his classic movement and type,” Duncan says. “I am thankful for the connection from Hylke de Braven and Stephen Passchier, who put Hitmaker and I together.”
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Canadian Olympian Brittany Fraser Beaulieu has taken over the reins on three horses owned by Deer Ridge Equestrian. Based in Loretto, Ontario and Wellington, Florida, Deer Ridge parted ways with their longtime trainer Megan Lane last year as she decided to focus on her burgeoning career as a pilot. In the summer and fall of 2024, American Tina Konyot campaigned several Deer ridge horses, however the relationship did not last.

Fraser-Beaulieu plans to compete three Deer Ridge horses in Florida this winter: Viva Vivaldi (Vivaldi x Weltmeyer), Furst Foundation (Foundation x De Niro), and Nalin (Negro x Zack).

“I’m grateful to Deer Ridge for this very exciting opportunity,” she says. These are top quality horses, showing a lot of talent for the Grand Prix. I look forward to getting to know them better, and going down centre line with each of them when we feel they are ready.”

As many of the world’s top young stallions are gathered at Vechta for the Oldenburg licensing this week, three Canadian-owned entries are in the field.

​Vicky Lavoie of Nexolia Dressage has two candidates:

• ​#47 For Romance x Diamond Hit x Landadel, bred in Germany by Dr. Rolfe Peter Schulze
• #77 So Perfect x Temptation x Sandro Hit, bred in Denmark by Hanne Hertzberg Lena und Ulrik Kristensen

Camille Carier-Bergeron of Les Ecuries Elegance has entry #49 Franklin x Bellissimo M x Swarovski, bred in Germany by Pieter Rieckmann.

The stallions will be presented in the triangle and at liberty in January 16 and 17, with the selection of the winning stallions taking place on January 18th. Live streaming coverage is provided by Clip My Horse.

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Merry Christmas to me! This year my gift was having my Facebook and Instagram accounts hacked and disabled a few days ago. This affects my personal and Canadian Dressage News accounts, if you’re wondering why I’ve disappeared from social media. Instagram is apparently gone permanently with no recourse; I am working on getting my Facebook back. So if you don’t hear from me for a while, my apologies.

In the meantime, it’s come to my attention that a well-known bully has been making a flurry of bizarre posts and false claims about me on her Dressage Hub Official (DHO) Facebook page. My policy has long been to ignore her unless she posts something so egregious it must be addressed, so I’ll take a moment to correct some allegations.

1. I am not the person behind the “Dressage Hub Exposed” Facebook page, nor am I involved in it in any way other than as an occasional commenter. The person who started the page has publicly confirmed multiple times that they are not me, and not even Canadian. If any more confirmation were needed, the fact the Dressage Hub Exposed Facebook page still exists despite all my Facebook pages being disabled, is proof.

Happy new year! It’s off to a bit of a bumpy start for me as my Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked and disabled a few days ago. This affected my personal and Canadian Dressage News accounts, if you’re wondering why I disappeared from social media. I am rebuilding them from scratch and starting over.

In the meantime, it’s come to my attention that a well-known bully turned self-proclaimed welfare advocate has gone back to her old bullying ways, making a series of bizarre posts and false claims about me on her Facebook page. My policy has long been to ignore her unless she posts something so egregious it must be addressed, so I’ll take a moment to clarify here, since of course she won’t allow me to post the truth on her page.

1. I am not the person behind the “Dressage Hub Exposed” Facebook page, nor am I involved in it in any way other than as an occasional commenter. The person who started the page has publicly confirmed multiple times that they are not me. If any more confirmation were needed, the fact the Dressage Hub Exposed Facebook page still exists despite all my Facebook pages being disabled, is proof.

Despite knowing this, the bully has chosen to continue these lies. I am considering legal action as several of her comments go beyond harassment to defamation, which is illegal. So for that reason I will not be addressing the issue any further publicly.

2. Canadian Dressage News is a hobby, not a business. It isn’t monetized in any way and generates no revenue. It’s something I’ve done for fun, in order to shine a positive light on the hard work of Canada’s many talented riders, coaches, owners, officials, volunteers, and more.

3. I’m not an upper level rider, nor have I ever claimed to be. I’ve always been clear that I’m just a regular, middle-aged, overweight, adult amateur who restarted riding in my 40s after a 20 year break. I’ve never claimed to be an expert, a trainer, a coach, or a skilled rider; I just enjoy promoting the achievements of those Canadians who are.

I’d like to continue doing that and am working to rebuild the Canadian Dressage News accounts. One way or another, I’ll see you all in the new year.

Equestrian Canada has announced the dressage and para-dressage combinations named to its national team program for 2025. Athletes named to the talent ID, development, and national squads are eligible for a number of benefits and support to assist with training and competitions.

Congratulations to all!