Our six riders have qualified by competing at CDI Ws in North America.
There will be six competitors in the Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music. Two from the United States and four from Canada. For the Freestyle to Music, each competitor has chosen their own music and choreography and will include a number of required elements.
#21 JACQUELINE BROOKS riding Balmoral
Canada
Jacquie is no stranger to The Royal. Balmoral is a 10yr Hannoverian gelding, Canadian born & bred; he was the winner of the North American Breeders Futurity at Devon as a 5 & 6 Year old. Jacquie was a member of the 2003 Pan American Games silver medal team, 2nd reserve for the 2004 Olympics; member of the 2006 World Equestrian Games Team; in 2007 made her debut at the World Cup Final and in 2008 was on the team for the Olympic Games in Hong Kong. This pair has enjoyed another very successful year, winning almost everywhere, finishing with a smash as winners of the prestigious Grand Prix at Devon.
#23 ASHLEY HOLZER riding Popart
Canada
Ashley has long been a leading dressage rider in Canada, having been a member of the 1998 Olympic Bronze Medal Team in Seoul. She and Pop Art, an 11 year old Dutch Warmblood were members of the Canadian Dressage Team in Hong Kong last year, qualifying for the Freestyle, and finishing 13th. This year they continued their success with a 5th place finish at the World Cup and 5th at the CDI5* Exquis World Dressage Masters in England. Ashley and her husband Rusty, own Riverdale Equestrian Centre in New York where they live with their two children.
#20 HEATHER MASON riding Respekt
United States
Heather is from Tewksbury, New Jersey. She and Respekt, an 11 year old Dutch gelding, have been partners since Heather imported him as a 3 year old. During the past eight years they have accumulate numbers regional and national titles, including champions at the 2009 Begt Ljungquist Championships. Heather is also a Dressage Judge, and owner of Flying Change Farm.
#24 DENIELLE GALLAGHER-LEGRIFFON riding Gallaway’s Abrikos
Canada
Denielle grew up competing in Pony Club Eventing. In 2006 a syndicate was formed to purchase Abrikos. Last year was her first time here at The Royal. At Devon this September she and Abrikos were 4th in the Grand Prix and had a personal best score of 68.4 in the Freestyle.
#25 TINA KONYOT riding Calecto V
United States
Calecto V, an 11 year old Danish Warmblood stallion, owned by Tina Konyot and John Brialsen. Partners for the past three years, this was their first season at Grand Prix, competing in Wellington, Palgrave and Saugerties, New York. They were second in the Grand Prix and winners of the Freestyle at Devon. A resident of Stuart, Florida, Tina is planning a move to the Toronto area and looking forward to meeting new friends in Canada.
#26 CHERYL MEISNER riding Paganini
Canada
Hailing from Nova Scotia, Cheryl is riding Paganini, a 12 year old Dutch stallion own by John Risley. Paganini was the best stallion of Holland in 2008, and this year has had first place finishes in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle. Back to back at the Blainville Summer Classic and the Blainville International, as well as the Beaulieu International Classic.
