August 1, 2006 – Cochrane, Alberta – Julia Vysniauskas of Cochrane, AB, will represent Lithuania at the 2006 World Equestrian Games to be held in Aachen, Germany, from August 20 to September 3.

Competing at the World Equestrian Games, equestrian sport's version of the World Championships which are held every four years, will mark a series of 'firsts' for Vysniauskas - it will be her first time competing in a major games, her first time competing in Europe, and the first time Lithuania is represented in dressage at a major championships.

"Honestly, it hasn't quite sunk in yet," said Vysniauskas. "I have never done anything like this before, but it is exciting to know that I have this opportunity. This is what I have been working towards with Syntax for the past five years and now it is all coming true. I won't actually believe it is happening until I am on the plane!"

Syntax, Vysniauskas' equine partner, is a 14-year-old Czechoslovakian Warmblood gelding that she purchased five years ago. In 2003, the pair made their debut at the Grand Prix level, the same level of difficulty that the Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games are contested at, and enjoyed a third place finish in the Canadian League World Cup Final in Toronto. In August of 2005, Vysniauskas, who holds dual citizenship, made the decision to represent Lithuania in international competition and, in her first time competing for Lithuania at the 2005 CDI3* Dressage at Devon, PA, earned an impressive score of 71.00% in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

“Both of my parents are of Lithuanian descent and I still have family that lives there, so it is very special to be able to represent my heritage," says Vysniauskas. "It will be overwhelming to represent Lithuania in an event like this, it is an emotion that is difficult to explain. But to be the first Lithuanian dressage rider in history to compete for them is exciting, and there is a lot of morale support from the Lithuanian Federation. When I go down the centerline, it will be for Lithuania."

In addition to the pressure of competing for her country for the first time, Vysniauskas also faces other obstacles. Unlike other sports where athletes are at their peak from their late teens until their mid-twenties, equestrian is a sport where experience and technical knowledge are considered the greatest assets.

"I will be competing against veterans who have been doing this for years while I will have only just celebrated my 25th birthday," laughs Vysniauskas whose birthday is August 12, eight days before the opening of the World Equestrian Games. "We may not be as experienced as some of the other riders and horses, but we will do our best."

Another thing plaguing Vysniauskas is a severe shoulder injury that requires surgery, but she has delayed the operation until after the World Equestrian Games saying, "I am riding with a lot of discomfort, but I am able to compensate and get through it. Some days are worse than others. Obviously, it would be easier if it wasn't there because it affects everything else, but competing at the World Equestrian Games is an opportunity I am not willing to miss."

Vysniauskas heads to the World Equestrian Games following a successful showing at the CDI3* Blainville Dressage International held June 28 to July 1 in Blainville, QC. There, Vysniauskas earned an impressive score of 70.875% for her technically demanding freestyle program set to Abba music to place second in the Grand Prix Musical Freestyle.

"I was the first competitor in the ring and I wanted to start the show off with a bang! I entered the ring, did my salute, and the skies opened up," laughed Vysniauskas who performed amid a heavy downpour. "But Syntax is a horse that loves an audience - the louder they clapped, the harder he tried. He was on cue, right on the money, during our whole performance, and we received scores of 8 for our passage and piaffe. The experience really helped to build my confidence. And Syntax was so good; he didn't put a single foot wrong. He is a wonderful, kind horse who is willing to please you."

Vysniauskas first found success on the international stage when she placed fourth individually at the 2001 North American Young Riders’ Championship riding Freuden Tanzer. Originally from Cochrane, AB, where her mother operates Kestrel Ridge Farm, Vysniauskas now lives in Guelph, ON, and trains in Cambridge, ON.