Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu Doubles Up on Personal Bests at 2020 CDI 5* Wellington

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2020 CDI Wellington

Canadian WEG team rider Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and her equine partner of ten years, All In, nailed two personal best scores at the 2020 CDI 5* in Wellington, Florida, 18 - 23 February 2020. These marks have pushed her into a virtual number one seat for Canadian Olympic team selection.

Fraser-Beaulieu has represented Canada on two occasions: the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2018 World Equestrian Games, but now the ultimate prize and dream of every ambitious equestrian athlete is at stake: Olympics.

Besting Standing Records

Brittany's partner in crime is the 15-year old Dutch warmblood gelding All In (by Tango x Damiro) who has shown remakarble and presented himself as a mature Grand Prix horse in the 5* arena, executing the most difficult movement with tremendous ease.

"I am thrilled with how the 5* went this past weekend. All In was in top form and felt better than ever," Brittany told Eurodressage. "He was with me every step of the way though both tests. I felt like I had a great amount of power but also a softness throughout my test. The special is a great test for him, I think it really shows his highlights. Being such a big horse he can extend and collect his gate very well. The passage, trot extensions and my canter tour were highlights this past weekend."

The pair smashed their standing Grand Prix record of 71.957% (achieved exactly two years ago at the 2018 CDI 4* Wellington), setting their new bar at 73.674%. It placed them third. Two days later, a score of 73.447% in the Grand Prix Special put them in second place and broke their previous GP Special best of 72.319%, collected at the 2018 CDI Ottawa.

"Having scored two personal best in such an important year is really exciting. Tokyo is not that far away and I feel this weekend really directed me on the right path to achieving the scores I was hoping to have," Brittany stated.

Plus One

In 2019 Fraser's life took a highly anticipated change when she welcomed her first child, Theo, with husband Marc Beaulieu into the family. Brittany competed at the 2019 Global Dressage Festival pregnant, after which a baby break followed. She returned to the international arena at the 2019 CDI Devon in September.

Brittany pushed herself to get fit and back into the saddle as fast as possible.

"After I gave birth to our son Theo in June I was back in the saddle three weeks later," she said. "At times it was definitely a challenge, but I was so eager to get back training, I really pushed myself to get back into shape."

In reflecting upon how motherhood has changed her vision on life and her dressage career, Brittany said, "Of course my life is different now, but I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband, parents and parent in-law to help out with Theo while I am working and competing. I have a lot of young talented students coming up the pipe line so this is an exciting time for me not only as a rider, but as a coach."

Target Tokyo

Brittany and All In second with a personal best
in the GP Special at the 5* in Wellington

After Devon, Brittany took All In down to Florida for some intensive training in preparation of the 2020 Global Dressage Festival in Wellington with Tokyo as a clear target.

"All In has been training really well at home with Ashley and I," said Brittany. "I arrived in Florida end of October to start training with Ashley before the season started and it has really paid off. We have been working on strengthening the piaffe and passage and fine tuning the small details that can really boost your score."

Brittany and All In have competed in three CDI's in Wellington, so far, and are aiming to ride in the CDIO Nations Cup and possibly the last CDI-W of the season there.

"I am not sure what my plan will be after Florida, but I have to show once after April to be fully qualified for the Olympics," she added.

By doubling up on her personal bests at the 5* in Wellington last weekend, Fraser-Beaulieu holds the best cards in hand for a ticket to Tokyo and she will be going "all in".