Indoor Eventing and Dressage Highlight the 2016 Royal Horse Show

The $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge and the $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge, return to highlight the 2016 Royal Horse Show, held from November 4 to 13 as part of the 94th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, in Toronto, Canada.

Headlined by reigning Olympic Champion Michael Jung of Germany, the $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings, November 4 and 5, during opening weekend of the Royal Horse Show.  The $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge, takes center stage on Wednesday and Thursday, November 9 and 10.  Staying true to its multi-disciplinary roots, the CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show showcases many facets of horse sport.

“The Royal is a celebration of all aspects of agriculture and horse sport,” said Charlie Johnstone, Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.  “We are proud to showcase so many exciting disciplines of equestrian sport to the local Toronto community as well as the fans, some of whom travel great distances to attend The Royal.  Our exciting line-up of competitors promises that 2016 will be better than ever.”

The Horseware Eventing Challenge combines the exhilaration of jumping natural cross-country obstacles as well as traditional show jumping fences in a thrilling and innovative indoor setting.  Jung, a two-time Olympic Eventing Champion, will take on Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix, a seasoned competitor in the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge.  Joining Phoenix in flying the Canadian flag will be Lindsay Beer, Diana Burnett, Dasha Ivandaeva, Holly Jacks, Kendal Lehari, Rachel McDonough, Selena O’Hanlon, and Karl Slezak.

The $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge, is comprised of the Grand Prix on Wednesday afternoon and the ever-popular Grand Prix Freestyle set to music of the riders’ choice on Thursday evening.  Megan Lane, who represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will be joined by Christilot Boylen, Brittney Fraser, and Jacqueline Brooks, who has not missed competing in the Royal Invitational Dressage Cup since its inception.

In addition to indoor eventing and dressage competition, Canadian show jumping talent will be on display in the $100,000 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championship on November 4 and 5, featuring tracks set by course designer Bernardo Cabral of Portugal.  International show jumping competition is highlighted by the $130,500 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto on Wednesday evening, November 9, a qualifying event for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Omaha, Nebraska.

Tickets are selling fast for all events at the Royal Horse show and can be purchased by visiting royalfair.org or ticketmaster.ca.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, visit royalfair.org/horse-show.  A complete horse show schedule can be accessed here.

About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show running from November 4-13, 2016, at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto.  For competition schedules, live webcasting, results, and to purchase tickets, visit www.royalfair.org.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.