Bromont, Canada – July 25, 2019 – Leslie Howard (USA) and her mount Donna Speciale did not give their fellow competitors a chance at the opening $36,100 CAP Open Welcome CSI 3* class, presented by the town of Bromont at the Olympic Equestrian Park.

Twenty-nine horse-rider pairs took part in the opening event sanctioned by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). The course by FEI 4* designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) was a real challenge: with 12 obstacles for 15 efforts, including three double combinations, as well as a series of technical turns, where only 8 pairs made it to the jump-off.

The fastest in the first round, Andrew Kocher (USA), who made it to the second round with both mounts, got 8 penalty points with Abelone O.T. Lowlands Z, his eight-year-old Zangersheide mare, giving Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Farrel (Cardento 933 x B-Estelle) the chance to establish the time to beat with a clear round in 37.63 seconds. The following pairs were unable to do better. It was time for Leslie Burr-Howard (USA) and Donna Speciale to go for the win in the $36,100 CAD Open Welcome CSI 3*.

The American and the 11-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood mare (Cavalier x Concorde), owned by Laure Sudreau-Rippe & Peter Howard. An experienced rider known for her speed, she rushed forward with her mount, prancing and dancing around the turns with skill, overcoming the challenges on the course’s challenges. The duo took the lead with a perfect round in an unbelievably fast time of 34.72 seconds, leaving their competitors no room to shave off time.