Jessica PhoenixCanadian Olympian and international ambassador for the sport of eventing:

Who is Jessica Phoenix?•Born in Uxbridge, Ontario

•October 16, 1983 (30 years old)

•Canadian equestrian, Olympian, Canadian equestrian of the year 2012 with numerous other accomplishments in the sport of eventing

What is Eventing?•Only Olympic sport where men and women compete against each other

•3 phases: dressage, cross-country, show jumping

•Lowest amount of penalty points wins

Jessie navigating the show jumping phase Strutting their stuff in the dressage portion

The infamous “Cottesmore Leap”, a massive ditch and wall which requires huge amounts of bravery and athletic ability

on the cross-country phase

•Received a pony for her 1st birthday

•First jumping lesson at age 11 "Honestly when I was 11 years old and I took my first jumping lesson, I loved it and I can remember deciding at that point it was something I wanted to do forever and I always had a dream of representing Canada at the Olympics.“ –J.P

•Started teaching lessons at age 12 in her backyard

•Started eventing in 1995

•Rose through Junior/Young rider competitions

•Attained Business Administration degree from Durham College

•Had a son in 2010 with husband Joel

Jessica’s History...

Taught by the Best•Worked along side many great horseman from a young age

•Developed a great eye for spotting talented youngsters

•Her Olympic horse Exponential is a Canadian bred retired racehorse that Jess found

•He raced under the name War Buckaroo in 44 races out of Woodbine and Fort Erie

•Jess loves Thoroughbreds for their huge heart and natural stamina

Jessie and Exponential getting a lesson from team coach and riding legend David O’Connor

Jessie at Woodbine Racetrack, where she found her Olympic mount

And now for some footage of Jess and Exponential in action! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld0KMpuFiV8

Jessica’s Accomplishments•1998,1999 and 2000-Ontario Young Rider Champion

•1998 to2005- Canadian Olympic Talent Squad

•2006-Canadian National Olympic Team Long List

•2007- Member of Canadian Pan American Team in Brazil

•2008- Named to the Canadian Olympic Team

•2010- World Equestrian Games Squad

•2011- Individual Gold and Team Silver at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Equestrian of the Year

•2012- London Olympic Games, 22nd individually. Only Canadian to complete the event

And MANY more, we’d be here all day if I named them all!

Impacts on Sport in Canada

•Great role model for the younger generation

•Demonstrates sportsmanship, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence

•Always has time to take a picture or talk to a fan

•Gave us hope in a time where Canadian Equestrianism was at an all-time low

•Teaches many clinics to Young Riders to pass along her wealth of knowledge

•Gives back to her community by coaching many students

"Competing and winning gold for Canada has always been my dream. Representing my country at the Pan American Games brought me one step closer! As a profession I teach and train riders and horses allowing me to connect from the grass roots right up to the highest level of competition. I feel that by realizing my own dream I can best help Canadian Equestrians of the future reach theirs!” –J.P

My friends and I meeting Jess at a local event

Jess meeting a fan