Elite Canadian dressage competitor Karen Pavicic has been chosen co-chair of the Dressage Canada Athletes' Council. The objective of the council is to represent the views of elite athletes within Dressage Canada. The council membership will consist of short and long listed athletes.
“Our primary objective in this role is to represent the riders, and to establish a chain of collaborative communication between the Dressage Canada Committee and advanced level dressage riders,” says Pavicic of British Columbia on behalf of herself and co-chair Chris von Martels of Ontario. “We are optimistic that through regular and collaborative interactions we can enhance the working relationship between Canadian riders and the sport's governing bodies, resulting in mutually aligned goals, and clearly defined pathways through which to achieve them.”
The selection follows her recent success with London Z at the Southlands Riding Club Spring Dressage show where before a panel of three FEI judges the pair won all three of their classes: Prix St. Georges, 67.5%; Prix St. Georges, 69.4%; and Intermediaire I, 68.7%. London Z is an eight-year-old Zangersheide, owned by Pavicic and Lynda Hol, and is available for sponsorship.
With London Z and her nine-year-old Prix St. Georges horse Don Daiquiri (owned by Pavicic with Jayne Essig), Pavicic trains with Dirk Glitz of Pleasanton, Ca., USA.
Pavicic has also begun training with the Dressage Canada’s technical leader Markus Gribbe who will make his second trip to British Columbia in June to work with Pavicic and other potential Pan American Games and Olympic Team riders. As part of Canada’s high performance program, the technical leader position was created to assist not only in identifying talented athletes (both human and equine), but also in creating a system to support and compliment their competitive goals.
Pavicic is a Canadian NCCP Level III certified dressage coach who has represented her country at international levels for two decades including as a member of the Canadian 2007 Silver Medal Pan American Games team. This year she has been long listed by Equine Canada in recognition of their success in 2010.
The Southland show also brought Pavicic two first places and a second with Fabrizio, a five year old Hanoverian owned by Beverely and Andy Bennett of British Columbia. Bred by Patricia Close, Fabrizio scored 65.8%, 68.0% and 70.5% in First Level tests, scores similar to his successes on the winter California circuit with Pavicic.
Photo courtesy: Pavicic
Related Links
Canada's Karen Pavicic Makes a Successful Tour of California
Markus Gribbe Appointed Technical Leader of Dressage Canada's High Performance Program