News and Events
Diana & Manny are Selected to the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) Roster
Diana along with 8 others Canadian Eventers has been selected to the Canadian Eventing Squad for the World Equestrian Games, being held September 30-October 3, 2010 in Lexington Kentucky. The WEG Squad will participate in training sessions and preparatory competitions throughout the summer leading up to the final training camp, which will take place in September prior to the Games. The final team of up to 6 rider/horse combinations and alternates will be named in September. We'll keep you posted! More than 60 participating nations are expected at these games.
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Please view our Competition Results
Diana's 2010 Rolex Kentucky Wrap Up
My week started at a rather high stress level, with Manny having popped a massive abscess the previous Saturday!!! Needless to say with the VERY hard work of groom, Sandra Andresen, vet, Dr. Ober, and farrier Randy, we got him sound, happy and through the first jog. So, the first opportunity to sit on him since Friday was the Tuesday before the first jog. All that being said, I was quite pleased with my dressage test. We had a couple of errors keeping us just out of the 40's, but he was very rideable and he let me ask a little more of him then usual.....thank you Manny! After walking the XC course I was feeling as though it was a 'soft' 4 star, although I did not let myself believe that until it was over! The footing was amazing and the flow was great. Manny was around the course, actually galloping on a long rein at times....that was a first!! He handled the jumps great and for the most part answered all the right questions. He did scare a few, leaving out a stride at the head of the lake and 2 at the other corner question! All in all, it was the most fun I have had on him across country; he made the course feel like nothing.
The show jumping for me was my disappointing phase. We had been jumping so well all year, I had greater expectations. Unlike most horses, on day three of a four star event, Manny is still full of running! After watching the course ride, I was feeling good about going in there. Horses were touching lots of rails with not many coming down. We hit one that deserved to come down, and 'touched' 2 others that maybe with some better luck would have stayed up!
No matter what, there is a great feeling about being at and riding at the Kentucky horse park!! Manny is now enjoying some down time with his friends and still full of energy looking forward to getting back to work! He will come back to work in a couple of weeks. The plan is for him to compete at Millbrook, Richland, and the AEC's. Then hopefully onto the WEGs. Beyond 2010 my sights are set on the Pan American games with my 7 year old, Shigatzi in 2011 and the Olympics in 2012 where I hope to have 3 horses qualified.
Big thanks to: David O'Connor for all his help support, and knowledge, Graeme Thom for everything, Sandra Andresen for doing the best job ever of keeping Manny beautiful, happy, and sound. Thanks also to all the people at home that make it possible for me to do this and for their amazing support. And obviously a special thanks to all my sponsors. None of this would not be possible without their sponsorship. The support from all the people around me is overwhelming and much appreciated. SO THANK YOU TO ALL THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE!
2010 News - "Made In Canada: Diana Burnett and Her Horses"
Read more about Diana and her Canadian born and bred horses in Eventing E-News, article by Karen Robinson. Now we have just another reason to support Diana as our favourite equestrian athlete as she competes at events such as Rolex, to the World Equestrian Games and then on to the 2012 Olympics. Go Canada Go!
2009 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Photo Courtesy DK Events
Diana and Manny competed in the 2009 Royal Agricultural Fair Indoor Eventing and finished in 6th place! Special thanks go out to Don Good and Good Crop Services for making indoor eventing possible for both riders and spectators to enjoy and for being such a great supporter of this sport. Thanks also to all supporters and friends who enjoyed the show either live on on-line. Manny was fantastic, he jumped really well and made it so much fun to ride.
2009 News - Burghley Horse Trials - Exciting and Successful
Photo Courtesy of Henry Bucklow
Diana and Manny have successfully completed their first overseas competition at Burghley Horse Trials - Three Day Event held in the United Kingdom from September 3 - 6, 2009: a most-revered and most-difficult eventing test. Indications of the magnitude of this event were 150,000 spectators in attendance, in comparison to Rolex wherein there were 40,000.
Eighty competitors competed after the first horse inspection. Diana was Canada's top placed rider on Manny standing in 38th place with a score of 56.8 after dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Final results record 33 horse and rider combinations were either eliminated, withdrawn or retired. Diana and Manny happily concluded the event in 48th place and are thankful for groom Sandra Andresen who travelled and worked with Diana and Manny to make this event another huge success. In addition, David O'Connor, International Technical Delegate, and Dr. Christiana Ober, Canadian Team veterinarian, were supporting Diana's efforts. Thanks also to Graeme Thom and Deb Furnas for EVERYTHING and a very special thanks to Paul Burnett (Diana's dad), John and Nadia Lennox (Manny's Owners) for being SO supportive and making it all possible! Many many thanks to you all!
2009 News - Manny Named Omega Alpha Canadian Event Horse of the Month
The Canadian Eventing Committee has named Manny as Omega Alpha Canadian Event Horse of the Month for July. Read all about it in Eventing News! - Manny Event Horse for the month of July!
2009 News - Diana Burnett Top Canadian at Maui Jim Horse Trials
Diana and Manny, earned a top five finish at the 2009 Maui Jim Horse Trials CIC 3*, held July 9-12, 2009, in Wayne, Illinois, USA. Read all about it in Eventing News! - Diana Burnett Top Canadian at Maui Jim
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event 2009
Diana and Manny took on the challenge of competition at Rolex, the only four star event in North America. The weather was hot and beautiful and just over 40,000 people watched as 3 riders withdrew, 1 retired and 7 were eliminated. Manny was eager to do his job every step of the way pulling hard on Cross-country, but raring to go and keeping Diana working every step of the way. Congratulations to John and Nadia Lennox, Manny's owners, on another of Manny's successes.
Special thanks to groom extraordinaire, Sandra Andresen who worked diligently and relentlessly in the heat of the day and night to care for Manny at the Rolex event. Many thanks to all who were able to enjoy the show, and cheer Diana on in Kentucky, and also to those who cheered for her, from home. Special thanks to Diana's sponsors and supporters who have contributed to this next step, in the future of many successes. To compete at Rolex and simply to finish puts rider and horse in select and elite company.
2008 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Photo Courtesy DK Events
Diana and Manny competed in the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Indoor Eventing Exhibition, sponsored by Good Crop Services Ltd., held on November 10th and 11th of 2008. This competition is by invitation only and is an opportunity for many to enjoy eventing, but in an indoor environment. Manny and Diana enjoyed their indoor eventing experience immensely. We hope you enjoyed the show too.
2008 Olympics
As an alternate for the 2008 Olympics, Diana and Manny set off to Virginia on July 1st, 2008 for 1 week of training. Then, following a preparatory outing at the Florida Horse Park, in Ocala, Florida, July 12-13th the Olympic Team and Diana (as alternate) participated in a Training Camp and Pre-Export Quarantine in Ocala, Florida, USA. This was a great training opportunity for all horses and riders alike.
Upcoming Events
2012 Olympic Games, England
Diana plans on having Manny, Shigatzi and Wild T’Mater qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in England. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympics since 1912 and Diana hopes to represent Canada in these 2012 Olympic Games.