Little Bromont Building the FEI Riders of the Future
Following the overwhelming success of last weekend’s MARS Bromont CCI4* at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, Sue Ockendon and her team ran a second major event this weekend focused on developing the next generation of FEI/international horses and riders.
Four countries were represented at Petit or Little Bromont Saturday and Sunday June 14/15 (Canada, USA, Ukraine and Colombia) across multiple levels: FEI CCI1*, EV110, EV100, EV90 and EV85; as well as the “I Can Event” (ICE) hybrid/combinée program at the 45, 60, 70 and 75cm height. The ICE divisions include a dressage test, followed by a jumping course consisting of a mix of cross-country fences and show-jumps, in an arena setting designed to introduce riders to the sport.
Widely recognized for her work championing young riders, and known for “doing things the right way”, event director Sue Ockendon doesn’t hesitate when asked about running Little Bromont just days after putting on the biggest international three-day event in the country:
“These riders (and young horses) are our future,” she said. “It’s the grassroots of our (eventing) sport. Running here at Bromont is what we have to do to get them ready to jump around courses at the upper FEI levels on the world stage.
“We had a great competition this weekend with riders from all over, and each year we run this event it gets better and better. Little Bromont is for the future of eventing because we keep it up to height and up to standards. I’m also encouraged by the growth of the “I Can Event” series and would love to see it eventually run on our grass, instead of in a show ring, to give them a feel for the real thing. It’s a great program and it’s wonderful to see the interest grow.”
Read more:
Welcome | Welcome – Bromont Horse Trials
