Local rider to represent Canada
at World Equestrian Games
by Tracey Coveart/The Scugog Standard

Local equestrian Michele Mueller and her horse Amistad are one jump closer to their Olympic dream. After returning home from spring competition in the United States, Michele had been waiting anxiously for the call that would put her on the Canadian Team for the World Equestrian Games this fall. It came two weeks ago, and the Scugog Island resident will be heading to Kentucky in September for the biggest ride of her life.

“I was quite excited,” said Michele, a three-day eventer who competes in dressage (often described as ballet on horseback), stadium show jumping and cross country. “I had to stop and think about it for a bit before it sank in!”

Nine members have been named to the Canadian team, but the decision as to which four members will ride and which five will attend as alternates will not be made until after the American Eventing Championships (AECs) in in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, in mid-September, a mandatory event for all WEG competitors.

Right now, Michele is concentrating on finishing well in her next rounds of advanced level competition: Witt’s End in Mansfield and Richland Park in Michigan in August.

She’ll head to Aiken, South Carolina, 10 days before the AECs and then to WEG training camp in O’Cala, Florida. She’ll be there for almost two weeks, then leave for Kentucky on Sept. 24 to attend the opening ceremonies on Sept. 25. The games themselves run for three days, Friday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 2.

“Whether I’m riding or an alternate will depend on my performance from now until then,” said Michele. “I’m just keeping my horse going and working. He’s had his time off. I’ll start doing some conditioning work with him and building him back up - not that he’s lost much condition in three weeks.”

Michele had a taste of Kentucky at the Rolex Kentucy Three Day Event, which ran April 28 to May 1, on the same course as the WEGs - without the fences. “It was sort of a pre-trial run for the WEGs.”

Amistad, said Michele, “was absolutely phenomenal. He ran that track and didn’t put a foot wrong. I don’t think I had a single fence that I though, “Oops, that could have been better.’”

The horse did trip and stumble once in the water, “but he kept his stride. We had a handful of time faults, but I didn’t want to take a chance and push him too hard. He had lots of energy left.”

Michele’s plan was just to end up with a respectable score in her first four-star competition. She ended up placing in the top 10, in tenth place out of some 53 starters.

“The Canadian contingent was awesome,” she said. “We had nine entered - which was the most ever at the Rolex - and four placed in the top 10; seven in the top 20.”

With her husband Bill, Michele owns Cedar Valley Stables on Scugog Island. A popular riding instructor in her own right, Michele’s quest for the 2010 Olympic games in London, England, began with a fundraiser on the Island several months ago.

“We were hoping for maybe 40 items for the silent auction,” said Michele. “We got more than 100! My dressage coach raised $2,000 doing clinics and in one afternoon we raised $13,000. And that was just horsey people and their friends and family. We haven’t even approached any businesses.”

She likely won’t have to. Now that the word is out about her WEG selection, the phone is ringing off the hook with sponsorship offers.

“It hadn’t even been a week and sponsors were stepping up and sending us logo wear,” said Bill, who still can’t believe the response. “It’s been pretty busy.”

Master Feeds is offering sponsorship - “We’re getting together for a presentation and we’ll know more about that,” said Bill - and Sunderland Feeds, Michele’s main sponsored, has upped its level of support.

And just last week, Schleese Sadderly donated two new saddles that are custom-fitted to Amistad’s body.

“Michele was out in the new dressage saddle the other day,” said Bill, “and she can feel a difference in the way he moves. At this level, it can mean the difference between a seven on one movement or an eight or nine. That’s a big difference.”

Schleese also left behind a jumping saddle so she can try that one out, too. “They’d like her riding in both their saddles at the WEGs,” said Bill.

It’s a lot of attention for a small-town girl, but Michele could get used to it.

Especially the love she’s getting from her fans. ‘Mueller Miles’ are being sold at the stable and at www.cedarvalleystables.ca and michelemuellereventing.com to help get rider and horse to the next summer Olympic Games in 2012. It’s 5,650 kilometres from Port Perry to London, England, and kilometres cost $10 each.

“We’ve already sold 500,” said Bill - $5,000 toward Michele’s Olympic dream, which won’t come cheap. Bill estimates it will cost between $70,000 and $100,000 to get Michele and Amistad across the pond.

As for her generous sponsors and supporters, Michele couldn’t be more grateful. “Some people donate a lot, but buying a kilometre is something even students can do,” said Michele. “It makes it easier for everybody and we’re constantly getting money in. A little here and a little there and it starts to grow.”

Michele is hoping to organize a Meet and Greet before she heads stateside for the WEGs, so people who don’t know her can get a look at the rider beneath the helmet.

And she’s trying to keep her excitement in check. There’s a lot of fences left to jump before she’ll find out her fate at the WEGs. “The news took a while to settle in. Now I’m to have to wait and see.” And ride like her Olympic dreams depend on it.