James Irwin Awarded the 2026 Brosda Olympic Bursary

Dressage

Canada

On behalf of the Brosda family, Equestrian Canada (EC) is honoured to facilitate support for the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund through the Horsepower Foundation – a fundraising program created by EC, in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Foundation, to inspire and support Canadians to embrace lifelong participation in equestrian activities.

The Brosda family, members of the Dressage High Performance Advisory Group, along with a representative of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, met to review the applications received for the 2026 Brosda Bursary.

Jaimey Irwin

The 2026 Brosda Olympic Bursary has been awarded to James (Jaimey) Irwin, a successful international Grand Prix dressage rider and EC High Performance 1 coach who runs Stoney Lake Equestrian along with his wife and fellow dressage rider Tina Busse-Irwin.

James was born in Peterborough, Ontario, and began riding at the age of six. He sampled many disciplines before finally focusing on dressage at the age of 16. He competed very successfully at the Young Rider level, and broke into the CDI Grand Prix ranks in 2008 with Devon, and later campaigned Lindor's Finest, with the pair representing Canada at the World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2013. His next stable star was Donegal V, who won international classes in Wellington, Florida and was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning Nations Cup team. Unfortunately, he lost the 18-year-old gelding to colic last spring.

In 2023, James debuted Flirtfaktor S, a striking chestnut Hanoverian gelding he calls, “a very talented up-and-coming gelding that I found when he was four years old, and is owned by myself and my wife Tina Irwin. He is now 10 and is showing great promise for the future at the Grand Prix level. Flirtfaktor is now my main focus towards my Olympic dream.” James and Flirtfaktor won their last four Intermediate classes together and have been named to the 2026 National Team B Squad. At the Canadian Dressage Championships, the pair earned personal-best scores and took the overall Canadian Medium Tour Championship.

Over the years, James and Tina have also generously given back to the sport through a youth bursary, hosting clinics and discussion round tables, and donating lessons to fundraisers.

Training in Germany

James decided to skip his annual trip to Wellington, Florida, and is currently in Germany, where he plans to spend three months competing with Flirtfaktor and training with Germany Olympian Helen Langehanenberg. “I feel that this venture is the best possible scenario for me to receive coaching from one of the world’s best, and get invaluable European competition experience,” he explains.

"These key elements are what I feel will put us on the best path towards success, with the end goal of helping to boost Canada on the world stage again by being part of the Canadian Olympic Dressage Team.”

With Brosda Bursary funds, James is looking forward to continuing to compete and further develop Flirtfaktor through the Grand Prix level with the goal of representing Canada on the international stage.

“The funds from the Brosda Bursary would greatly help me to pursue my Olympic dream and continue to develop my horse and myself, with some of the best training that dressage has to offer.”

In her letter of support, fellow competitor Lori Bell wrote, "As a coach and rider, James has exuded empathy, deep affection, and most importantly, clear respect for the horses he works with... I feel that James demonstrates the exemplary professionalism, an outstanding moral and ethical compass, and the passion needed in the sport of dressage to carry Élisabeth's and her family's hopes and dreams into the future."