The Mars Equestrian Bromont CCI Three-Day Event organizing committee are delighted to announce the selection of the following horse-and-rider combinations for the inaugural Bromont Rising Program:

Ariel Aharoni – Dutch Times
Woods Baughman – Contendro
Bradley Champagne – Wallaroo W
Gabby Dickerson – Governor SGS
Renee Kalkman – Flame Eternal or Qupid
Ema Klugman – Bendigo or Joker’s Win
Ashlynn Meuchel – Emporium
Mike Pendleton – Steady Eddie
Greta Schwickert – FE Charles Owen

Each of the above riders will receive a grant of $3,000 Canadian. In addition, the following horse and rider combinations have been selected as alternates and, in addition to participating in the full training program, will receive free entries:

Shelby Brost – Crimson
Emily Lehman – Martial Arts
Emma Lomangino – Riot Act
Brooke Massie – Serendipity
Maxine Preston – Shannondale Magnum
April Simmonds – Blyth’s Centurion FE

“We had an unexpectedly large number of excellent candidates from both the U.S. and Canada,” said Kerry Milliken, one of the selectors and a former Olympic bronze medalist. “Peter Gray and I were very impressed with the quality of the applicants and their earnestness. Many of these riders could only make it to Bromont with the financial assistance that this program is providing. It’s a great idea. I hope that other venues will follow Bromont’s lead here.”

“The expense involved in getting to a world-class FEI event can be staggering,” Gray added. “I applaud the Bromont Organizing Committee for hatching this program. There is a deep pool of unrecognized talent out there, and many of these riders just need some financial help to realize their potential.”

The Bromont Rising program also has a new patron—Mars Equestrian, the title sponsor of the three-day event. “We are very pleased to be part of this new program,” said Geoff Galant, vice president of Mars Equestrian. “It is so important to help these younger riders achieve their potential. We are proud to help these riders who are the future of this sport and the next generation of high-performance competitors.”

Doug Payne, who recently finished fifth overall at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and is reserve CCI5*-L national champion, will be coaching the squad on the training days leading up to the event along with Milliken and Gray.

Boyd Martin and Jessica Phoenix will be the featured speakers for the program. In addition to mounted training sessions, the program will have an instructional component that will include a session on conformation and soundness, presented by Milliken. There will also be a seminar on sponsorship of riders from the owners’ perspective.