The Fédération Equestre Internationale suspended Canadian Grand Prix dressage riders Evi Strasser and Tanya Strasser-Shostak this month while it continues investigating allegations of horse abuse affecting several horses. The two are also listed as “not in good standing” on the Equestrian Canada website.
Strasser and her daughter Strasser-Shostak were first provisionally suspended by Equestrian Canada on Feb. 17 following allegations of horse abuse brought to EC. The FEI reciprocated EC’s suspension one day later, issuing its own provisional suspension.
In response to their temporary suspension, Strasser and Strasser-Shostak issued a statement on the Good Tyme Stables Facebook page on Feb. 19.
“Recently, an unsupported allegation was received by Equestrian Canada from a past employee of Good Tyme Stables, who had been previously terminated from employment several years ago for her unprofessional and improper conduct.
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“Since 2018, that former employee, who claims to be a competitor of ours, has engaged in a campaign of libel and slander against us, requiring us to send two cease and desist letters to that person in 2020 and 2023. Unfortunately, this person has now decided to escalate her attacks upon us, by making a complaint to Equestrian Canada for allegations arising in 2017. We strongly deny the allegations by this disgruntled ex-employee. We are defending this matter vigorously, through our legal counsel. As our friends and equestrian community members know, defending such allegations is a difficult and sometimes lengthy process. We appreciate the kind words of support we have received, and continue to receive, as we work through this difficult time.”
In May, Strasser and Strasser-Shostak asked the international Court of Arbitration for Sport for an urgent application to lift the suspension so that they could continue to show at CDIs in an effort to earn a spot on the Canadian Olympic team, and CAS lifted the suspension on a temporary basis. The two continued to show the rest of the season, most recently competing at the CDI3* at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, held Nov. 1-10.
On Nov. 12 the CAS order was annulled, and the FEI’s provisional suspension was automatically reinstated.
Strasser and Strasser-Shostak operate Good Tyme Stables out of Sainte-Adèle, Quebec. Strasser, 60, is a veteran of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (Germany), and Strasser-Shostak, 29, is a five-time FEI North American Youth Championships veteran, where she earned two bronze medals and a silver.
