Wednesday August 14, 2002

FEI Dressage Championhsip of the Americas
Blainville Equestrian Park, Quebec, Canada

Check out the on-line photo album of images by Kathryn Eitutis

Canada and US divide medals evenly at the first FEI regional championship for the Americas.

Dressage history was made at the spectacular Parc Équestre de Blainville on July 17th to 21st, where the continent's newest FEI dressage competition, the Coupe Des Ameriques, was hosted. At a meeting in January of this year, the FEI approved the concept for a dressage championship that would bring together competitors from all over the Americas, and the Coupe Des Ameriques was born.

Its status with the FEI is that of a regional championship, such as the European Championships, though the format is somewhat different, to reflect the demographics of the participating regions. The number of riders per team is just two, making it possible for more countries to compete for team medals. Riders may compete on borrowed horses - another modification to the championship formula that is designed to make participation possible for countries who may not be able to transport or provide horses.

Team medals are awarded on the basis of only one medal per country. Without such a rule, it would be possible for a single country that sends three teams to win all the medals. While this was a testing ground for the Coupe's format, FEI Dressage president Mariette Withages was pleased with the outcome. As president of the ground jury at Blainville, she had an opportunity to see the policy in action. "I must say that I'm rather pleased with the formula."