Dressage-News

OTTAWA, Ontario, Aug. 3–Equine Canada has received 14 applications from “highly qualified individuals” for the post of Dressage Technical Advisor/Chef d’Equipe.

The applications will be evaluated by a five-member hiring panel that will conduct preliminary interviews this month. The post has been vacant since the London Olympics last summer.

A short list of candidates will be identified for a second interview before a final selection is made by the panel that consists of Sarah Bradley, Dressage Canada Chair; Jacqueline Brooks, Athlete Representative; Michael Horgan, Chair of Finance and Fundraising Committee; Equine Canada CEO, Jean-Christophe Gandubert and Christine Peters, Equine Canada Dressage Manager.

“The number and quality of applicants is very encouraging and shows how much Dressage Canada’s high performance summit has contributed to re-energize and refocus its key partners and stakeholders,” Jean-Christophe Gandubert said. “The involvement of several leaders within dressage, including the riders, has been critical and with the hiring of a new Technical Advisor/Chef d’Équipe, the opportunity for change and our commitment toward excellence is really starting to become a reality.”

The successful candidate will lead Canada through next year’s World Equestrian Games, the 2015 Pan American Games and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Although residency in North America was preferred it was not a requirement.

A major issue will be to qualify a team for the Rio Olympics. Under a format proposed by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) qualification opportunities for nations in the Americas–both North and South–have been reduced from recent Games.

The top four teams at next year’s World Equestrian Games will earn a berth at Rio, but only one instead of two in past from the Pan American Games that will be held in Toronto, adding additional pressure for the home team if Canada does not not finish high enough at the WEG.

The contracted position starts Sept. 1, 2013.