September 8, 2005 – Ottawa, Ontario – Equivents, Inc., is pleased to announce that it will host “Linking The Steps”, a symposium featuring dressage icons Klaus Balkenhol and Debbie McDonald, on October 8 and 9 at the Royal Canadian Riding Academy (formerly York Equestrian Centre) in Cedar Valley, ON.

“Linking The Steps” will present a unique opportunity to explore topics ranging from the selection of a young horse, training from the beginning of a horse’s career through to the Grand Prix, and the essential education of the rider. Riders of all levels will be presented, as will horses and ponies at all stages in their training, ranging from unbroken to those confirmed at Grand Prix.

An Olympic Team Gold Medalist for Germany, Balkenhol is the current coach of the United States Dressage Team, leading it to Silver and Bronze medals at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, respectively. McDonald, who is highly regarded around the world both for her competitive abilities and her high level of sportsmanship, was the top American performer at the past two major games and recently finished third at the hotly contested 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas.

In addition to the knowledge shared by Balkenhol and McDonald, those in attendance will be introduced to Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, a German veterinarian who specializes in the effects of training methods, both physical and mental. His amazing presentation covers both the positive and negative effects that dressage training methods have on the horse.

“With dressage sport swiftly changing and the current unrest about different training methods as well as the ever present judging discussions, I feel it is important that the community has the opportunity to discuss, with experts in the field, the issues being debated,” says Cara Whitham, President of Equivents, Inc. “Klaus and Debbie have some very clear ideas concerning how a true partnership between horse and rider must be built in order to maintain dressage as a true art form. The Symposium promises to be very interesting and educational with lots of discussion, and I encourage breeders, owners and coaches as well as riders to attend.”

In addition to exploring the current dressage trends with the three expert presenters, attendees will also be eligible to win exciting door prizes, including an EcoGold blanket.

Equivents, Inc., an event management company, introduced three new FEI dressage competitions in 2005 in order to allow Canadian athletes access to a high caliber of competition close to home. In addition to her skills as an event manager, Whitham is a highly regarded clinician and is the only judge in the world to hold her ‘O’ status in two disciplines, Dressage and Eventing. She recently judged at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, the 2004 Olympic Games and became the first North American to judge at the European Dressage Championships when they were held in Germany this past July.

To register for the “Linking the Steps” Dressage Symposium or for more information, please visit www.equivents.com and click on ‘Clinics’. Alternatively, you may also e-mail cara@equivents.com or call (613) 692-0097.