The Canadian Show Jumping Team is in the lead as they head to Xalapa, Mexico May 7-11, 2014 for the second qualifier of the North America, Central America and Caribbean League Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Series.

The Canadian Team competing in the CSIO 4* $80,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ will be comprised of the following riders and horses:

• Kara Chad (Calgary, AB) will ride Alberto II, Stone Ridge Farms’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding
• Ian Millar (Perth, ON) will ride Star Power, Team Works’ 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding
• Jonathon Millar (Perth, ON) will ride Calvin Klein, Millar Brooke Farm’s 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding
• Chris Sorensen (Caledon, ON) will ride Bobby, Britland Hughes and Christian Sorensen’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

“Qualifying for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup finals in Barcelona is one of the primary goals for our team this year and competing at Xalapa is an important part of the qualifying process. We are very lucky to have Ian Millar riding in the anchor position for us” stated Mark Laskin, Chef d’Equipe. “There is no one who better understands the importance of answering the call to ride for our jumping team than Ian. On one hand we have one rider who has ridden more times for Canada than anyone else, and on the other hand we have a new member to our senior team.”

This will be Chad’s first CSIO Nations Cup Team performance and she will receive her Team Canada jacket sponsored by Frantisi Inc., a long-time sponsor of the Canadian Show Jumping Team.

Laskin continued, “Kara Chad has long been identified as one of our “rising stars” and I know she is excited to not only be making her team debut, but also to be riding on a team with Captain Canada. Our other riders, Jonathon Millar and Chris Sorensen bring consistency and professionalism to the team, they are both riders we can always count on. I am confident this team will have a great result in Mexico and hopefully extend the lead in our league for the Furusiyya Nations Cup Jumping Series.”

The Team is supported by Chef d’Equipe, Mark Laskin, Team Manager, Karen Hendry-Ouellette, and Stable Manager, Darren Roberts.

The third and final qualifier in this series will be held at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB June 12 – 15, with the Furusiyya Nations Cup Final, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, October 9 – 12, 2014.

Click here to learn more about Xalapa Veracruz, Mexico and the competition venue.