Sable Giesler competing at an Equestrian event in Unionville, Pennsylvania. PHOTO SUBMITTED.
UNIONVILLE, PA – Sable Giesler and Evil Munchkin blazed around Plantation Field International Horse Trials CIC** cross-country course to 11th place as the top placed Canadian pair out of the field of 83 starters at the September 21st, event.
Starting the weekend with an accurate and steady dressage test, 19 year old Giesler of Powassan and her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding were in a tie for 39th with 54.2 penalty points. This pair excels in the jumping phases and with a clear show jumping round they easily managed to keep the poles in the cups when over a third of the field failed. A gruelling cross-country course over hilly terrain took its toll and only 16 riders were able to make the time including Giesler and Evil Munchkin catapulting them up the leaderboard.
North American riders in Canada and the United States are curently in the hunt for a spot on their respective teams for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. Each nation will send four riders to the games next July. Giesler has the 2015 Pan Am Games in her sights and she needs to perform consistently and finish as the top Canadian at the coming competitions over the next few months.
Previously, the Pan Am Games as a 2* Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competition was a stepping stone to give less experienced international riders a chance to compete for their country at a major games. This venue often gave younger riders an opportunity to prepare for the Olympics (3*) and the World Equestrian Games (4*). The FEI is the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The FEI rules have changed and the opportunity for two nations to earn Olypmpic team qualifications at the Pan AM Games has been reduced to one for the first time in history.
Unfortunately, Canada and the United States did not secure an Olympic qualification at the World Equestrian Games this past August. The significance of the Pan Am Games has changed and now both nations will be sending their top riders and horses to secure the coveted Olympic team qualification.
“After Canada and the United States did not qualify a team for the Olympics at the World Equestrian Games in August, I knew that my chances to earn a spot on the team became a little more difficult," Giesler said in a release.
"Both nations will not hesitate to send three-star and four-star combinations to this two-star competition. I know that Evil Munchkin is one of the top two-star horses in North America and I believe we can do better in dressage than we did this past weekend. We have our work cut out for us, but I will continue to work for a spot on the team until they make the final decision.”
Giesler will be heading to Fairhill International in Elkton, Maryland to compete in the CCI2* October 16th to 19th, and this will be their last competition for 2014.
She will then head to Florida to train with Canadian team coach Clayton Fredericks to prepare for the winter season in the southern United States. She will continue competing there on the international circuit into the spring aiming for one of four spots on Canada’s 2015 Eventing Team for the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Submitted to BayToday.ca
