Welcome back Leonie!

After a 16-year hiatus, Canada's Leonie Brammall made a triumphant return to Grand Prix  CDI competition at the CDI Olomouc in Czechia. Riding her homebred partner Cricket BD, Leonie placed second in the GP with a total score of 66.935% and rode to victory in the Special on a total score of 68.872%.

Leonie, now 59, has lived and trained in Germany since the age of 18, and is a highly sought-after clinician in Europe. She has represented Canada at the North American Young Riders Championships, World Equestrian Games, and the Olympics. She was named to both the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1996 Games in Atlanta, however was not able to compete in 1992 due to a health issue with her legendary mare Gilbona. 

​Will we see Leonie vying for a spot on Canada's 2024 Olympic dressage team? In an interview with Eurodressage she said, "Time will tell if a Paris team spot is a realistic idea or not. Every other horse I have brought up to Grand Prix the last years was always sold. We bred Cricket ourselves and we’re finally in position to be able to keep him and maybe have for me have one last Olympics."

Leonie Brammall and Cricket BD at the 2023 CDI Olomouc. Photo: Petra Kerschbaum / Eurodressage