Canada Team Members

Meet Canada Team Member Robert Gielen

Rider: Robert Gielen 
Residence: Flesherton, Ontario, Canada 
Age: 68 
Horse: Morebangforyourbuck (Doran x Steal a Kiss), 9yo gelding, owned by Robert  Grooms: Misha Green and Sylvia Gillies 

• Tryon will be Robert's third time riding for Canada, with two successful WEG completions in 2008 Malaysia and 2010 Kentucky. 
• This rider/horse team finished 8th at the Test Event, World Equestrian Games, Tryon 2018. 
• It has been a four year journey for Robert to qualify Bang for this event. Bang has 1700 AERC miles -- 35 starts and 35 completions. 
• Robert has 10,810 AERC endurance miles, 365 limited distance miles, and 450 miles of foreign completions. 

Robert wrote, "I have been asked, 'Why Ride FEI?' There is no greater honor than riding for your country. Yes, it is expensive and, yes, controversial at times, but the level of competition and veterinary judging is of the highest standard. You are selected to ride with the best horses in the world. The riders are here based on merit." 

He added, "I hope ride day is awesome. I wish all AERC and International competitors and their horses a safe day . . . and I hope I stay on! Happy Trails from Bob and Bang" 

Meet Canada Team Member Kimberley Woolley

Rider: Kimberley Woolley 
Equine: Schakka Khan (Sambors Destiny X Champress Moniet), her 12-year-old Arabian mare 
Residence: Finch, Ontario, Canada 
Age: 52 
Grooms: Mike Merriam & Denise Blanchet 
Crew: Dr. Ingrid Bill, Pat Kuffner and Ruth Sturley 

• If selected to the Team, this will be Kim’s first time competing as an athlete at the World Equestrian Games. 
• She was selected as the Coach/Technical Advisor for the Canadian Endurance Team–West for the 2009 Kentucky Test Event and as the Head Coach/Technical Advisor for the Canadian Endurance Team for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. 
• Kim has been competing in distance riding since 1986, and has logged over 1,200 miles in AERC endurance events and many more in OCTRA distance events and FEI endurance events. 
• Kim and Schakka Khan competed as a member of Canada Team B at the 2015 NAETC in Millbrook, Ontario, placing 14th. 
• Kim and Schakka Khan were the third highest internationally ranked Canadian combination in 2017 
• Kim was selected by Equestrian Canada to compete in the Tryon Test event for 2018 WEG riding Lily Creek Stetson. 
• Kim and Schakka Khan have one top-five and one top-ten finish in CEI3* events, and one top-five and one top-ten finish in CEI2* events in 2017 & 2018 

Kim works full-time as an information technology consultant, and along with her husband, Mike Merriam, runs the family farm (Roadapple Ranch) and a local food store/restaurant in Cornwall, Ontario (Marrow & Spice). Kim is an Equestrian Canada Certified Competition Coach, Coach Developer & Technical Delegate as well as an FEI certified Endurance Judge, Technical Delegate and Steward.

Meet Canada Team Member Wendy MacCoubrey 

Rider: Wendy MacCoubrey 
Residence: St. Justine de Newton, Quebec 
Age: 51 
Equine: Black Barts Lolita, Wendy's homebred 1/2 Arab/1/2 Standardbred 9-year-old mare (CAHR #1A07224) 

• Wendy, an AERC member since 1999, has 6,080 AERC endurance miles, 580 LD miles and 330 foreign endurance miles 
• She and Black Barts Lolita have 575 endurance and 100 LD miles together 
• The rider/horse team placed second and earned BC at the March 2 Fun in the Sun 75 
• Wendy and Lolita placed in the top 10 at the 2017 Coates Creek Challenge 100 and the 2017 Broxton Bridge Plantation 100 
• At the Tryon Test Event, Wendy and Lolita we finished ninth—the second North American combination to cross the finish line 

Meet Canada Team Member Tracy Vollman, Traveling Reserve Combination

Tracy Vollman and RA Karim
Residence: Regina, Saskatchewan 
Age: Tracy turns 49 on WEG endurance ride day! 
Equine: RA Karim, Tracy's 16-year-old Arabian gelding (CAHR 47127) 

• Tracy has 2,590 AERC endurance miles, 730 limited distance miles, and 275 foreign miles 
• Karim has a total of 1,735 endurance and 355 LD miles; with Tracy he has 1,510/330 
• This is Tracy and Karim's seventh season competing as a team 
• The pair placed fifth at the 2018 Broxton Bridge: USA SE FEI Fundraiser 100 and sixth at the 2018 Bellis Summer Sizzler 100 

Tracy wrote: "I’ve been riding endurance for 7 years, the last 4 have been at the FEI level. I was on Team Canada West for NAETC 2016 and this will be my first WEG attendance. In 2016 I also completed Tevis—the first 100 mile ride for both my 16-year-old gelding, RA Karim, and me. My main riding partner is my daughter, Lexi, who is a Young Rider, and #1 crew guy and fan is my husband Kelly. My paid jobs are as a seamstress and a NICU registered nurse, but I’d rather be riding!!"