Ottawa, Ontario --- Dressage Canada is pleased to announce the rider/horse combinations selected to represent Canada at the CDIO3* Nations' Cup in Wellington, FL, scheduled for April 11 - 14, 2013 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Organized as a test event for the 2015 Pan American Games, the Wellington Nations Cup will see combined teams of Small Tour (Prix St. Georges / Intermediaire 1) and Big Tour (Grand Prix) combinations.

Based on submitted qualifying scores, the following Canadian teams were selected:

 

*    David Marcus / Don Kontes - Big Tour

*    Evi Strasser / Action Tyme - Big Tour

*    Christilot Boylen / Dio Mio - Small Tour

*    Brittany Fraser / All In - Small Tour

*    William Tubman / De La Rosa - Small Tour

*    Maya Markowski / Lumiere - Small Tour

*    Lindsay Kellock / Hunter Douglas Rhapsody - Small Tour

"This will be an interesting competition and a 'test pilot' so to speak for the proposed format of the 2015 Pan American Games," said the Canadian Dressage Team chef d'équipe, Gina Smith. "Since the Pan American Games are a qualifier for the Olympic Games, the idea is to make the Pan American Games more viable and gradually get into Grand Prix competition from the existing Prix St Georges level."

"The CDIO3* in Florida will have mixed teams of Grand Prix and Prix St. Georges horses. The Grand Prix tests will be weighted with an extra 3%. Some teams will send all Prix St. Georges level riders, some will have one at Grand Prix and three Prix St. Georges and some will have two Grand Prix and two Prix St. Georges. It will be interesting to see how it all works out and will give the organizers some good ideas on how to make things run smoothly at the 2015 Games in Toronto," continued Smith.

The international judging panel at CDIO3* Wellington will include Canadian Joan Macartney (4*), Maribel Alonso (MEX 5*), Anne Gribbons (USA 5*), Peter Holler (GER 5*), Linda Zang (USA 5*) and Jayne Ayres (USA 4*).

For additional information on the Wellington Nations' Cup at CDIO3* Wellington, please visit www.equesriansport.com.

Dressage Canada, as a committee of Equine Canada, is the national governing body for dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada's objective is to foster the growth of dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials' education and programs, rules and qualifying criteria, sport development, and publications and awards. For more information about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site or connect with us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dressagecanada or Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/lp8cnd.