Canadian Endurance Riders at WEG

September 16, 2002 — After a dark, stormy, and muddy 7a.m. start, 148 horse
and rider combinations competed in the discipline of Endurance the World
Equestrian Games (WEG), in Jerez, Spain, on Sept, 16, 2002.

A team of five riders, Karen Badger of Grand Prairie, AB, Eve Comrie of
Athabasca, AB, Christy Janzen of Spruce Grove, AB, Kerri Lynn Raven,
originally of Fergus, ON, and Yvette Vinton of Simcoe, ON, represented
Canada. Due to the cost of horse transport to the Games, all the
Canadian endurance riders leased horses from various parts of Europe
expect for Raven, who brought a horse with her from France.

The Endurance course was 160.3 km in length, and consisted of five
separate loops that all returned to the same recovery/veterinary area.
The first loop was 40.4 km, the second was 37.9, the third was 24.2, the
fourth was 38.5, and the final loop was 19.3. When each horse returned
to the recovery area after each loop, it is cooled and it’s pulse is
checked and then the horse is presented to the veterinary inspection.
The horse must show complete soundness and physical recovery before it
is allowed to continue to the next loop.

Badger’s horse lost a shoe during the first loop and after the shoe was
re-fitted, the horse was not sound to continue, and Vinton’s mount did
not demonstrate sufficient recovery after the first loop and was also
eliminated. After the second loop, Raven and Janzen were not allowed to
continue due to their horses being lame.

Canada’s last hope was with Comrie. Her horse passed the inspection
after the third loop, but there are start inspections before the fourth
and fifth loops to insure the health of the animals. During the start
inspection for the fourth loop, Comrie’s horse was eliminated for
elevated pulse after a short trot in hand that indicated unsatisfactory
recovery.

“Our Team was very proud to ride at this level,” noted Badger.
“Endurance competition does not get any better than the World Equestrian
Games.”

“It was an extremely nice course and it was too bad about the weather,”
remarked Raven, who now rides and trains endurance horses in France.
“During the first loop, the mud was very deep and our horses were having
difficulty getting their footing. The storm was so bad at times it was
like rain hitting a plowed field.”

The Canadian Equestrian Team is a group of top Canadian riders chosen to
represent Canada at international competitions including the Olympic,
Pan-American and World Equestrian Games. Depending on the competition,
the Team may be comprised of one or more of the seven FEI recognized
disciplines; show jumping, dressage, three day eventing, reining,
endurance, driving, and vaulting.

For the 2002 World Equestrian Games, Canada is represented by full
dressage, endurance, eventing, reining, and show jumping teams and five
individual vaulting competitors. For full results please visit
www.jerez2002weg.com, and for additional information about the Canadian
Equestrian Team, visit www.equinecanada.ca.

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