N E W S

Bonny and Pikardi to compete at WEG!!! 

Email From Equine Canada Received by Bonny August 6, 2010: 

Dear Bonny:

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate you and Pikardi on your successful qualification and selection to the Canadian Dressage Team heading to the 2010 World Equestrian Games,  September 25th - October 2nd, in Lexington, KY.   The balance of the Canadian team members are:

  • Ashley Holzer - Pop Art
  • Belinda Trussell - Anton
  • Victoria Winter - Proton
The following will act as support for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, please feel free to contact any of these members with questions or concerns you might have leading up to the games:

Chef d'Equipe - Gwynne Rooke 

Assistant Chef - Gina Smith 

Coach - Robert Dover 

Vet - Dr. Geoff Vernon 

Team Manager - Christine Peters 


2010 WEG Declared Rider Standings at July 16 2010:
1) Ashley Holtzer and Pop Art 72.329% average
2) Belinda Trussel and Anton 69.596% average
3) Bonny Bonnello and Pikardi 66.936% average
4) Victoria Winter and Proton 66.745% average

NEW!!!  June 6, 2010:  Canadian Team is doing extremely well in Europe!!  Congratulations to Ashley Holtzer and Pop Art winning the Grand Prix Freestyle at Lingen!!  Also, to the rest of the team for their amazing scores and efforts!! Go Team Canada Go!! 

April 21, 2010 - BONNY AND PIKARDI ~ SCORE THEIR FIRST 70%!!!!! (see below)
 
 The 2010 Kentucky Cup CDI 3* is a competition that Bonny Bonnello will never forget. Today Bonny and Pikardi earned their second personal best of the competition. This time with a score of 70.292% in the Grand Prix Special and a second place finish. Bonny is now the third Canadian rider to score over 70% at the Grand Prix this season leading up to the World Equestrian Games. Three of the five FEI judges had Bonny in first place, and if not for a mistake at the end of the test, Bonny would have won the Grand Prix Special. Congratulations to Bonny – we are all so proud of you and Pikardi.
 
Bonny is now sitting in 3rd on the list to Europe, so she is off to Europe on 
the 10th of May! She is flying from Toronto, with Belinda Trussell. She will 
be leaving Kentucky with Pikkers on Friday April 23 to go to OakCrest Stables in Ontario. 

 April 20, 2010 - BONNY AND PIKARDI ~ ON THE ROAD TO EUROPE!  (see below)

Bonny Bonnello and the Canadian Warmblood gelding, Pikardi, earned a score of 68.638% at the Kentucky Cup CDI 3* today. This was a personal best for Bonny and Pikardi. This is the pair’s second score over 66% leaving them in serious contention for a spot on the Canadian European Tour. The purpose of the European Tour is to gain exposure and recognition by international judges and to increase the exposure to international competitive experiences for targeted horse/rider combinations in preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. There will be a maximum of six Canadian riders selected, and each must have achieved two scores over 66% in the 2010 show season.

In a recent interview with Robert Dover, the Canadian Dressage Technical Advisor, he indicated that even before he saw Bonny ride last December in Calgary, Alberta, he knew that she was a great rider. Most of the training prior to her trip to Florida this winter was on her own with this horse. Now that she is training in Florida, a lot has happened in a very short time and the road has not been easy for Bonny. It is just now that she is coming into a place where the harmony in the test and the talent of the rider and the horse will come out. No matter what happens with Bonny, Robert believes that she is one of the flagship riders that we want in Canada. She is not only a rider and trainer with immense talent but in order to produce a stronger National training program, she is one of our Olympians that we need to be involved in that program.