The Organizing Committee of the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three Day Event are delighted to announce the selection of the following horse and rider combinations for the inaugural Bromont Rising program:
- Ariel Aharoni – Dutch Times
- Woods Baughman – Contendro
- Bradley Champagne – Wallaroo W
- Gabby Dickerson – Governor SGS
- Renee Kalkman – Flame Eternal or Qupid
- Ema Klugman – Bendigo or Joker’s Win
- Ashlynn Meuchel – Emporium
- Mike Pindleton – Steady Eddie
- Greta Schwickert – FE Charles Owen
Each of the above riders will receive a grant of CAN$3000. In addition, the following horse and rider combinations have been selected as alternates and, in addition to participating in the full training program, will receive free entries:
- Shelby Brost — Crimson
- Emily Lehman – Martial Arts
- Emma Lomangino – Riot Act
- Brooke Massie — Serendipity
- Maxine Preston – Shannondale Magnum
- April Simmonds – Blyth’s Centurion FE
“We had an unexpectedly large number of excellent candidates from both the US and Canada,” said Kerry Milliken, one of the selectors and a former Olympic bronze medalist. “Peter Gray and I were very impressed with the quality of the applicants and their earnestness. Many of these riders could only make it to Bromont with the financial assistance that this program is providing. It’s a great idea. I hope that other venues will follow Bromont’s lead here,” said Kerry. Peter Gray added: “The expense involved in getting to a world-class FEI event can be staggering. I applaud the Bromont Organizing Committee for hatching this program. There is a deep pool of unrecognized talent out there, and many of these riders just need some financial help to realize their potential.”
The Bromont Rising program also has a new patron — MARS EQUESTRIAN, the title sponsor of the three-day event. “We are very pleased to be part of this new program,” said Geoff Galant, Vice President of MARS EQUESTRIAN. It is so important to help these younger riders achieve their potential,” said Geoff. “We are proud to help these riders who are the future of this sport and the next generation of high performance competitors.”
Bromont Rising has also announced that Doug Payne, who recently finished fifth overall at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and is Reserve CCI5*-L National Champion, will be coaching the squad on the training days leading up to the event. Doug will be joined by Kerri Milliken and Peter Gray. “We can’t thank Doug enough for doing this,” said Sue Ockendon, head of the Organizing Committee. Peter Gray, himself a former Olympian and renowned clinician who is organizing the program, added: “Having Doug to coach and help these riders prepare is an incredible opportunity. I believe that this program will have a lasting impact on the riders who are participating.”
As previously announced, Boyd Martin and Jessica Phoenix will be the featured speakers for the program. In addition to mounted training sessions, the program will have an instructional component that will include a session on conformation and soundness, presented by Kerri Millikin. There will also be a seminar on sponsorship of riders from the owners’ perspective.
Summarizing, Sue Ockendon said: “I hope that other event organizers see the importance of offering a program like this. The willingness of so many top international riders and clinicians to so generously give their time and effort to bring along these younger riders is inspiring.”