Canadian Olympian Evi Strasser has concluded the 2008 equestrian year with much success. Most recently she finished eleventh in the Grand Prix Kur to Music at the World Cup Qualifier in London, Great Britain.
Better known as the Olympia Horse Show, the CDI-W London served as the third World Cup Qualifier event for the Western European World Cup Dressage League.
Aboard her 13-year old Oldenburg gelding Quantum Tyme (by Quattro B x Argentinus), Strasser rode her old Lion King freestyle and scored 69,350% in the Kur, a great result considering they had the disadvantage of being the first combination into the ring.
"Olympia was absolutely fantastic. Quantum felt super and I'm sure I will get even higher scores in the future. He's in top form, totally concentrated on me and careless of what's happening around him. He's so willing to perform," said an enthusiastic Strasser. "It was also great to see Foto Tyme compete there. I sold him to last year as a rising Grand Prix horse to the Countess of Derby and John Dodd and Richard Davison is now showing him. He's been renamed Artemis and finished sixth in the kur. Hopefully he'll be a team horse for Britain at next year's European Championships."
Strasser has pulled herself up to a sixth provisional place with 29 points in the Western European League Standing. The Canadian rider has chosen to earn her World Cup points in the Western and Central European League to to secure an entry in the 2009 World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas, U.S.A. April 15-19, 2009. Her points will be transferred to the North American League ranking at the end of the season.
"We've been working hard to improve and be more consistent. I really feel Quantum is gaining strength and confidence in the ring and we are now much more tuned into each other," Strasser admitted. "I'm excited about having a new freestyle made by Cees Slings for Las Vegas. He's such a knowledgeable kur composer and has created all of Anky van Grunsven's winning freestyles. Everyone remembers Anky's music and can sing along to it and that's the goal of a good kur. It has to capture the audience and the judges!"
Canadian Evi Strasser splits her time training and competing in Europe and Canada. Her home base is Good Tyme Stables in St. Adele, Quebec, but the last two years she has been splitting her time between the two continents. During the 2008-2009 World Cup season, Evi will be staying at her German base in Möhnesee, Germany, where she is renting stalls in Norbert Van Laak's equestrian facility.
With two Good Tyme horses placing in the top twelve at the London World Cup Qualifier, Strasser has proven hat she has an outstanding eye for international caliber horses. She competed both Quantum Tyme and Foto Tyme in the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses before taking them to FEI level.
"I prefer to buy young horses at the auctions in Germany, because they are pre-selected on quality," Evi explains. "I train them to FEI level myself and only sell if they go the right home."
Evi currently has a superb collection of young horses and FEI level stars for sale at Good Tyme Stables in Canada and Germany, including her Prix St Georges horse Action Tyme (by Argentinus) which she has shown in the 2008 Sunshine Tour in Spain.
"It has been a very busy, but great year for me," Strasser confessed. "I'm really looking forward to 2009 to show my youngsters and qualify Quantum for Las Vegas. I want to wish my friends, clients and competitors a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful 2009."
Visit Evi Strasser's Good Tyme Stables atwww.goodtymestables.com. Evi can be reached at: +49 160 946 23121
Photos courtesy: Dirk Caremans
Related Links
Scores 2008 CDI-W London
Evi Strasser's Foto Tyme Sold to Be Richard Davison's New Ride
Evi Strasser, 2005 Dressage Canada Owner of the Year
Evi Strasser Having the "Tyme" of her Life