Source:  News Release/Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for PMG Inc.

Talented Mother-Daughter Pair Prepares
Pas de Deux for Challenge of the Americas

Wellington, FL - The Challenge of the Americas unfailingly draws top riders from around the world, and this year's duo from Canada is no exception. The accomplished mother-daughter pair of Evi Strasser, an Olympian dressage rider and a longtime Canadian National Team member, and Tanya Strasser-Shostak, an up-and-coming Young Rider, will perform a pas de deux at the March 9 event.

Both mother and daughter support the Challenge of the Americas in its effort to raise funds for breast cancer research. "It's for a very good cause, for breast cancer fundraising," Strasser said. "I want to support that and be part of it."

Evi Strasser and Action Tyme at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival's Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W

"It's such a good cause and it's something that's affected everybody, or someone that we've known," Strasser-Shostak added.

The pair is choreographing a test that will showcase the best qualities of the two horses they choose for the event. Strasser plans to ride her Grand Prix horse, Action Tyme, while 17-year-old Strasser-Shostak has yet to decide between Dancing Tyme and the Karen Soupcoff-owned Ruby Tyme. Strasser-Shostak, who will take on the challenging task of fitting music to the test, is enjoying her involvement in all aspects of the planning and preparation.

Tanya Strasser-Shostak and Dancing Tyme at the 2013 Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge

"I'm looking forward to riding whatever horse I'm going to be riding," she said. "I'm excited to be working on the choreography with my mom, and I'm looking forward to hopefully making the music properly, because it's something that really interests me. I just think the whole experience is really good."

With their extensive competitive experience, the mother-daughter duo fit right in among the renowned international riders who gather at Challenge of the Americas to support breast cancer research and put on a show for spectators. Evi Strasser has been among Canada's top dressage competitors for the past two decades. Born in Germany, she moved to Canada in 1988 and founded Good Tyme Stables in 1994. She represented Canada at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, riding Lavinia.

In 2003, Strasser helped secure a team Silver Medal for Canada at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, where she also finished eighth individually with Quantum Tyme. She and Quantum Tyme earned the highest result for a Canadian pair at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and also competed at the 2005 and 2007 World Cup Finals. Strasser has often been selected as the alternate for Canada's teams at such major events as the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. She continues to compete at the highest levels of the sport and collected many top results on the international circuit in 2011 and 2012.

Evi Strasser smiles at the crowd after a Grand Prix test with Action Tyme

Strasser's influence on the dressage world extends beyond her own impressive competitive results. She specializes in training young horses up to the Grand Prix level, and several of the horses she's worked with have gone on to make their marks on the international dressage scene. Hiscox Artemis was the most recent of a number of graduates of Strasser's program to compete at the Olympic Games. Strasser trained Hiscox Artemis through to the World Cup before selling him, and, with rider Richard Davison, he was chosen as the British team's individual entry for the 2012 Olympics in London. He also finished fourth in the 2012 World Cup Final.

Strasser-Shostak has already compiled an impressive record and appears poised for another successful show season in 2013. She was the youngest competitor in the Young Rider division at the 2012 FEI North American Young Rider Dressage Championships (NAYRC), where she collected a team Bronze Medal and finished eighth individually on Dancing Tyme. She also rode Dancing Tyme to several top-three finishes in the Young Rider divisions. With Ruby Tyme, she earned top placings in the Junior divisions, including several wins at CDI competitions in West Palm Beach.

Strasser and Strasser-Shostak are in South Florida for the winter competitive season, training and campaigning several of their horses. Strasser-Shostak hopes to return to NAYRC and will try to qualify for the Young Rider World Cup in Europe, while Strasser is taking her time preparing new Grand Prix mount Action Tyme for the international scene.

Tanya Strasser-Shostak and Dancing Tyme with Noreen O'Sullivan at the 2013 Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge

Strasser-Shostak is looking forward to making her Challenge of the Americas debut after watching her mother perform previously. "I think it's pretty neat that we can do this one together," she said. "I used to watch it when I was younger, and my mom participated a couple of years ago in it. It's something I grew up watching and now I get to be a part of it, and it's great."

"Most of the time, you see older people do it and it's good, I think, that there's someone a bit younger also in it," she continued, noting that breast cancer research is an important cause for her generation to support as well.

Strasser, who has ridden at The Challenge of the Americas in previous years, enjoys the event's electric atmosphere and devotion to the cause. "It's always amazing," she said. "It's always a great turnout. They always do a fantastic job organizing it and really emphasize the reason for why it's done. Lots and lots of people are supporting it."

"It's always a lot of fun to do this with your daughter, and it is always a lot of excitement," Strasser added. "We really enjoy working together and figuring out what we're going to do with this and how we're going to present it. (Show organizers) thought it was a good routine because it's mother and daughter, and we're doing this for breast cancer."

"I think it's just a fantastic job by all," Strasser concluded. "I really enjoy doing it."

For more information about the Strassers, visit their website at www.goodtymestables.com.

To learn more about The Challenge of The Americas, log onto www.challengeoftheamericas.com.

To buy tickets, contact Mary Ross at (561) 433-0988 or email her at Anglot@aol.com.

Like COTA on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/ChallengeOfTheAmericas.

Evi Strasser and Action Tyme execute a canter pirouette in the Grand Prix CDI-W at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival's Florida Dressage Classic

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