O Canada - Developing Combination Training Session
Other than the fact that snow is still looking possible for this area (OMG!), the Developing Combination Training Session held at the gorgeos facility of Robyn and Tony Eames and their daughter, Olympian, Belinda Trussell, has gone beautifully. Trust me when I say that Canada will have no shortage of Gold Medal hopefuls for the Pan American Games next year! There are many fantastic up-and-coming prospects as well as quite a few very seasoned past team riders who will ensure top results for the country.
Just as exciting is the fact that among the Pan Am hopefuls, I have seen at least 4 combinations which have “World Class for 2012″ written all over them! Naturally, while I certainly don’t mind having these great horses and riders on a team for the small tour next year, I spent just as much time training for their future Grand Prix careers, knowing that Canada will be strong enough to field multiple Gold Medal winning teams for the Pan American Games, and I want horses ready to win major international Grand Prix competitions not to hold back from doping so.
I truly hope that this will be the last time the Pan Am’s will be contested at the Prix St. Georges/ Intermediaire 1 levels as this continent must be pushed to step up to the plate and compete at the Grand Prix level like most of the rest of the world. At the very least, there should be a Pan American Small Tour Championships as well as a Grand Prix Championships with only those performing in the Grand Prix being allowed to use their placings to earn a spot in the Olympics the following year. The way it works now is ridiculous and truly does not serve anyone or any country’s best interest in the long-run.
Cheers!
RD
lita dove — April 28, 2010 @ 9:16 am
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Egg-zackly!
lita dove — April 28, 2010 @ 9:18 am
well, I quoted Robert, so here goes:
There should be a Pan American Small Tour Championships as well as a Grand Prix Championships with only those performing in the Grand Prix being allowed to use their placings to earn a spot in the Olympics the following year.
Yes, this is how it should be.
So silly to have combinations compete at small tour to secure a spot the following year at GP.
Barbara — April 29, 2010 @ 8:16 pm
Hi Robert,
I was at the clinic all three days and loved it. What positive energy you brought to the whole experience. With so much fantastic advice to share, my favorite had to be you telling riders over and over again “Praise the horse. Make a fuss”.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm with all of us. It was worth bundling up for three cold days!
Alison — April 30, 2010 @ 10:35 am
coming to the west coast?????
Christine — April 30, 2010 @ 7:05 pm
West Coast would be awesome!!