Belinda Trussell is the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix Champion

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2026 Canadian Dressage Championships

Belinda Trussell has been named the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix dressage champion following the conclusion of the Eastern and Western Championships.

Equestrian Canada (EC) announced the overall 2026 National Dressage and Para Dressage Champions and Reserve Champions. With the results from both divisions brought together, the national titles recognize horse-and-rider partnerships across levels, from developing athletes to experienced international competitors.

Now in their second year since returning in 2025 after a 25-year hiatus, the Championships continue to give Canadian dressage and para dressage athletes a national goal to work toward throughout the season. The Eastern Championships were held in Bécancour, Quebec, October 1–4, and the Western Championships at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia, October 9–11.

Trussell is Medium and Big Tour Champion

Two-time Canadian Olympian Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON, won the overall Medium Tour Open championship with Quincy and the Big Tour Open championship with Diamanten Dave.

Trussell represented Canada at the Athens 2004 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games and helped the Canadian dressage team earn silver at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

“I think it’s wonderful to have the National Championships back,” said Trussell. “We need something to aspire to and goals to work toward. It gives juniors, adult amateurs and professionals a reason to compete throughout the summer, and it helps develop our sport across the country.” She also praised the care taken by the organizers to make qualified riders feel that reaching the Championships was an achievement in itself.

Quincy, a nine-year-old mare (by Quantensprung x De Niro) owned by Susan Zucker, is in her first year competing at Medium Tour. The pair produced their best Intermediaire II test to date at the Championships.

“She has so much talent, but she also has her own opinions,” Trussell said. “It’s important that I listen to her. When I do that and ride her well, she really performs.”

Diamanten Dave, a 12-year old Hanoverian (by Don Index x Harvard) whom Trussell co-owns with Regan White and Ann Sutherland, followed a more gradual path to Grand Prix.

“He’s such a sweet horse and he tries so hard,” she said. “He needed a little more time to learn the levels, and I didn’t want to push him too quickly. To have him come out at his first Championships and win is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Eleonore Elstone is the 2026 Canadian Para Grade V Champion

Experienced Canadian para dressage athlete Eleonore Elstone of Langley, BC, earned the overall Grade V Grand Prix championship with Szecrecy HP. The pair had represented Canada at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, in August, where they competed in the Grade V Grand Prix A and B tests.

“I was excited to compete at Nationals West for the second time since the competition was revived,” Elstone said. “Szecrecy felt well rested after Aachen, and my goal was to improve our performance in the ring. We still had some of the same challenges in the Grand Prix A, but the Grand Prix B was more fluent, relaxed and accurate, and that was reflected in the judges’ comments and scores.”

Elstone also commended the Western organizers for their professionalism in navigating unexpected challenges, and spoke of the sadness shared by competitors following the transport accident involving horses travelling to the event. “There was an air of sadness, compassion, and empathy for the people who lost their horses, and it was lovely that the proceeds of the Red and White fundraiser were donated to the owners of the horses lost.”

FEI Level Champions

FEI CHILDREN
Champion - Isla Grant (ON) & Wonder Woman
Reserve Champion - Estella Gosniak (BC) & Impact

FEI JUNIOR
Champion - Adélia Gauthier (QC) & Fayette DDS
Reserve Champion - Léa Landreville Cloutier (QC) & Juweel of Litchy MFS

FEI YOUNG RIDER
Champion - Alison Campbell-Wright (BC) & Vintage
Reserve Champion - Annika Krieng (MB) &Francis XI

FEI U25
Champion - Brooke Mancusi (QC) & Kalisto Sollenburg

FEI SMALL TOUR AMATEUR
Champion - Valerie Maks (BC) & Fruhlingsstern
Reserve Champion - Juliette C. Barolet (QC) & Freud

FEI SMALL TOUR OPEN
Champion - Tom Dvorak (ON) & Feinrich
Reserve Champion - Pia Virginia Fortmuller (AB) &Fireball

FEI MEDIUM TOUR OPEN
Champion - Belinda Trussell (ON) & Quincy
Reserve Champion - Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (QC) & Viva Vivaldi

FEI BIG TOUR AMATEUR
Champion - Linda Houweling (BC) & Dos Amigos OLD

FEI BIG TOUR OPEN
Champion - Belinda Trussell (ON) & Diamanten Dave
Reserve Champion - Erin Silo (BC) & Jett

PARA DRESSAGE GRADE I GRAND PRIX
Champion - Alexandra Vadnais (QC) & Alaska du Fjord

PARA DRESSAGE GRADE III GRAND PRIX
Champion - Ella Gieselmann (BC) & Hendrix

PARA DRESSAGE GRADE IV INTERMEDIATE
Champion - Crystal Meier (BC) & Zorano

PARA DRESSAGE GRADE IV GRAND PRIX
Champion - Calla Gross (SK) & Lady Lark
Reserve Champion - Wanda Jamieson (ON) & Gered XXII HCI

PARA DRESSAGE GRADE V GRAND PRIX
Champion - Eleonore Elstone (BC) & Szecrecy HP
Reserve Champion - Natasha James (BC) & Pantera