Ottawa, ON—Canadian rider Leslie Reid competed at the Del Mar CDI3* held April 24-27, 2008, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California.

The competition was an official qualifier for the US Olympic Selection Trials and as a result a number of top US Olympic contenders, including Olympians Debbie McDonald, Steffen Peters, Susan Blink and Leslie Morse, were seeking qualifying scores.

With 12 entries in the Grand Prix class, Reid, a Canadian Olympian from Langley, BC, rode Patricia Hatch’s Orion, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Jazz, to an eighth place finish with a score of 66.042%. The pair then earned a 65.920%, which was good for a fifth place finish, in the Grand Prix Speciale.

The last stop on the California dressage circuit for Reid and Orion again highlighted the remarkable progress Orion has made in his first year competing in the Grand Prix division in CDI competition.

“I thought it was the best test he has done,” noted Reid. “I am really blessed. He keeps getting better at each show.”

The international judging panel at Del Mar CDI3* competition included Canada’s own Elizabeth McMullen (FEI O), as well as Janine Rohr-Cicurel  (FEI I—ARG), Mary Robins (FEI C—NZL), Jane Weatherwax (FEI I—USA) and Gary Rockwell (FEI O—USA).

Also competing the same weekend in the Saumur CDI3* in Saumur, FRA, was Canadian Olympian Evi Strasser. Strasser, of St-Adele, QC, rode her young upcoming FEI horse Action Tyme, an eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Aktuell x Aleksander) who placed 11 out of 27 entries in the Prix St. Georges (65.350%) and 16 out of 24 entries in the Intermediaire I (65.300%). In the Grand Prix Freestyle, Strasser rode Quantum Tyme to a score of 64.680% and sixth place.

The international judging panel at Saumur CDI3* competition included Peter Engel (FEI I—GER), Karin Kruger  (FEI I—DEN), Jean-Pierre Tuloup (FEI C—FRA), Claire Bardon de Cardenal (FEI I—FRA), Evi Eisenhardt (FEI O – GER), Barnabas Mandi (FEI O – HUN), Jan Peeters (FEI O – NED) and Freddy Leyman (FEI O—BEL).