The Canadian Eventing team put in strong team and individual performances on Day 9 at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games to win team gold and individual bronze medals.

Following the first two days of competition, Canadians Michael Winter (riding El Mundo), Colleen Loach (riding FE Golden Eye), Lindsay Traisnel (riding Bacyrouge), and Karl Slezak (riding Hot Bobo) were in third place behind the United States and Brazil. On the final day during the jumping test, the Canadians took over the lead with just .1 penalty points separating them from the second-placed Americans. The Canadian Eventing Team last won the Pan American eventing gold medal in 1991.

Both Canada and Brazil are now qualified for team eventing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The United States team is already qualified after winning the silver medal at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships.

Traisnel of Maidstone, ON riding 12-year-old gelding Bacyrouge, moved up from seventh place in dressage, to fifth place in cross country, and to third place in show jumping to also win the bronze medal in the Individual eventing competition.

“We call him Dreamy in the barn. He definitely is. I’ve had him for eight years and we’ve got a great partnership,” Traisnel shared after the medal ceremony. Of the Olympic qualification, she said, “That was our main goal coming here to get Canada qualified for the Olympics. We are so happy to have accomplished that”.