Eleonore Elstone Birthdate: May 15, 1952 Birthplace: Duesseldorf, Germany Hometown: Langley, BC Coach: Leslie Reid National Coach: Andrea Taylor

Eleonore Elstone began riding ponies at the age of seven in her native Germany, and by age 12 she was riding competitively. She rode in all three Olympic disciplines - dressage, eventing, and show jumping – in the German Young Rider Championships. In 1974, she immigrated to the interior of B.C., where she continued to pursue competitive riding. Only after a riding accident in 1979 did she focus entirely on dressage.

Elstone was long-listed several times on the Canadian Dressage team with different horses, though her commitment to the sport extended beyond just competing. As a level III coach, Elstone actively trained horses and riders to the Young Rider level in dressage and several of her students competed at NAYRC.

Elstone first began competing in the sport of Para-Dressage in 2006 at the CPEDI4* Pacific Rim competition held in Langley, B.C. She successfully won each of her classes, and carried on to represent Canada at the World Para-Dressage Championships the following year. These successes qualified Elstone and her horse Lutke to compete at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Hong Kong, allowing her to accomplish a lifelong goal of participating at a Paralympic Games.   

Based in Langley, B.C., Elstone is spending the season training and competing Semke and Lutke at Pacific County Stables. She is also a Level III Dressage Coach and is actively teaching dressage.

Her current riding goals are to qualify for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, as well as the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. While training, riding and coaching remain her primary pursuits, Elstone is also a member of the Dressage Canada coaching committee.

 

HORSE(S)

•    Why Not G-2003 bay KWPN gelding (owned by Kelleigh Kulscar and Eleonore Elstone
•    Rapido Ridge - 1998 Bay Dutch Warmblood (owned by C. Schellenberg)
•    Lutke - 2001 Black Friesian stallion (owned by Dr. T. Bianco)
•    Semke - 2000 Black Friesian (owned by Dr. T. Bianco)
•    Flowervale Metallic – 2000 Bay Warmblood gelding (owned by Danielle Fraillon)
•    Maverick – 1994 bay Dutch Warmblood gelding (owned by Johan Rockx and T.A. Rockx-Zavitz)
•    Ofensa – 1995 grey Spanish bred mare (owned by Johan Rockx & Penny Rockx-Zavitz)