Canadian Eventing Announces New Athlete Development Initiative
The Equine Canada Canadian Eventing Committee has announced the Athlete Development Program, Eventing - No Boundaries, the Eventing Talent Identification Program for 2014. Eventing - No Boundaries is a new initiative that will set guidelines to determine how to find and further develop talent within the pool of Canadian Eventing athletes.
The following 10 eventing competitions have been targeted for talent identification in 2014: April 9-13 CCI Ocala Three Day Event, Ocala FL, USA May 16-19 CCI Mustang Powder Three Day Event & Horse Trials, Chase, BC June 5-8 CCI Bromont Three Day Event, Bromont, QC July 12-13 Will O' Wind Horse Trials, Orangeville, ON July 23-27 CCI Rebecca Farm Three Day Event & Horse Trials, Kalispel, MT, USA August 30-31 Dreamcrest Horse Trials, Port Perry, ON August 21-24 Richland Park Horse Trials, MI, USA September 3-5 Aspen Farm Horse Trials, WA, USA October 16-19 CCI Mid South Three Day Event & Horse Trials, Lexington KY, USA October 31-November 2 CCI Galway Three Day Event & Horse Trials, Temecula, CA, USA
The following individuals have been recruited and have confirmed their participation as 2014 Talent Scout/Spotter Team. These include all senior national team selectors:
Sandra Donnelly
Juliet Graham
Peter Gray
Martha Griggs
Jay Hambly
Grit High
Jenn Holling
Lynne Larsen
Mark Nelson
Kelly Plitz
Robert Stevenson
Edie Tarves
Members of the Scout/Spotter team will be present at all competitions stated above. All members of the team participate on a volunteer basis. Scout/Spotters will be on course and will make recommendations to the Eventing - No Boundaries Working Group on riders and/or horses who demonstrate possible potential.
"Eventing - No Boundaries is a very exciting initiative created by our Athlete Development Committee with a vision to identifying future talent for our Canadian Eventing Team. After identifying talented horse/rider combinations across Canada, the long term goal is to assist these athletes through education, coaching and financial assistance," said Canadian Eventing Committee Chair, Peter Gray. "We are excited that this program will help create future international champions and help evolve the sport across Canada."
The goals of the Eventing-No Boundaries initiative include talent identification, increase participation, create quality athlete opportunities and coach recognition, and becoming an integral aspect of the Long Term Equestrian Development pathway. The initiative is being implemented in stages with talent identification as the first important component.