Naima Moreira Laliberté Awarded 2019 Orion Cup

Dressage

Canada

Naima Moreira Laliberté of Outremont, QC, has been awarded the 2019 Orion Cup after consistently achieving incredible scores at the Under 25 (U25) level.

Presented to a promising Canadian dressage athlete in the process of transitioning from the Young Rider level to Grand Prix, the Orion Cup was created in memory of one of Canada’s most well-known equine dressage stars.

Open to Canadian dressage riders aged 16 to 25, the award is presented to the rider with the highest average of three scores from the U25 Grand Prix level. Scores obtained at CDI-level competitions receive a 1% bonus. The program encourages young athletes to focus on training and planning at an elite level, with tangible goals and confidence.

It comes as no surprise that Moreira Laliberté secured the 2019 title, as she is the only Canadian currently sitting in the FEI Dressage World Youth Ranking – U25 top ten, holding seventh place as of Nov. 1, 2019. Her impressive total qualifying average of 71.413% was earned aboard I Do Kiss (French Kiss x Donnerfly), a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion owned by KML Sàrl.

“It feels amazing to receive this award,” said Moreira Laliberté. “I am so proud of I Do Kiss’ accomplishments, he is a true warrior. I thank my coach, Ashley Holzer, who believed and guided us though this journey, and of course my family and support team.”

Moreira Laliberté’s first qualifying score came on Feb. 21 during the Welcome Back to WF II at White Fences Equestrian Center in Loxahatchee, FL. There, the judges awarded her and I Do Kiss a score of 70.692%. On April 20, Moreira Laliberté received her next qualifying score of 71.205%, plus the 1% CDI bonus, at the Tryon Spring Dressage 1 CDI 3* in Mill Spring, NC. She clinched the Orion Cup one month later, scoring 70.342% with a second 1% CDI bonus at the Ottawa Dressage Festival in Ottawa, ON, on May 18.

“Congratulations Naima and I Do Kiss for your incredible season and winning the 2019 Orion Cup Championship,” said Pia Fortmuller, who established the Orion Cup in 2016. “Naima’s success is both an incredible achievement in the Canadian rankings, and also on the international level, as Naima and Kiss are ranked seventh overall in the FEI U25 world rankings. Amazing!”

Fortmuller continued, “It has been very special journey to watch Naima move up all the way from her very successful Junior and Young Rider years to the U25, and then this year, the big step to the senior team. This was a very big year for Naima, who not only successfully competed at the U25 level, but also very successfully represented Canada at this year’s Pan American Games with her horse, Statesman. Naima’s very impressive path really shows what an important and helpful step the U25 Grand Prix is and it’s so exciting to see our young Canadian stars becoming strong international competitors! Keep up the great work Naima, you are an inspiration.”

Orion (Jazz x Consul), a 1996 Dutch Warmblood gelding, was an Olympic Team horse for Canada and was trained to the advanced level by Fortmuller’s former coach, Leslie Reid, who rode Orion at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2009, Fortmuller took over the ride on this incredibly talented horse. The pair would go on to compete at the Grand Prix level, culminating with their selection as the reserve combination for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Sadly, Orion died at the start of 2014. His passing was a devastating loss to Fortmuller and her family, as well as the Canadian Dressage Team.

The Orion Cup pays tribute to this very special horse. Just as Orion was instrumental to the start of Fortmuller’s Grand Prix career, this award provides other talented Canadian dressage athletes with a leg-up in the sport.