August 3, 2023 
Canadian Olympic event rider, coach, and advisor Rebecca Howard has expanded her role with the eventing high performance program on the road to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
As a veteran competitor at two Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, and Pan American Games, Rebecca Howard brings a wealth of championship experience to her new role as Team Technical Advisor with the Equestrian Canada EC High Performance Advisory Group, Eventing (HPAG).
In her new role, Howard will focus on supporting existing high-performance athletes, coaches, and trainers, while also developing programs to advance Canadian riders on the world stage. Howard will work with the National Team Program to develop current and future athletes, while also helping to provision and plan for major games and Nations Cup programming.
“We are thrilled to have Rebecca joining in an increased capacity with the eventing team,” said James Hood, EC’s Director, High Performance.
“She has shared her passion and dedication for the sport in her role with the HPAG so far and on the ground [at the 2022 World Championships in Patroni], and the recent training camps and clinics she has helped organize for the team. We are looking forward to her expertise and enthusiasm continuing to support the great things that are happening in Canadian eventing all the way to Paris.”
Having steadily climbed the FEI World Rankings in her own career, Howard competed at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, finishing 23rd Individually with Riddle Master. One year later, she helped Canada to a Team silver medal at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, finishing sixth individually with Roquefort.
Originally from south-central BC, Howard grew up riding with national team influencers Nick Holmes Smith, Joni Lynn Peters, and Robin Hahn. Following a junior career spent in Pony Club, as a working student, and competing in Young Riders, she moved to the Eastern U.S. There, she worked and trained for 10 years, followed by another decade in the U.K., earning a trail of connections with some of the best in the world.
In 2013, Howard was named EC’s Equestrian of the Year. In 2016, she was named the top female rider at the Rio Olympic Games thanks to her 10th place finish with Riddle Master.
Howard currently bases out of Woodlands Farm in Wiltshire, England, where she is developing a string of young horses. Now a member of the HPAG, Rebecca previously served as a UK-based selector and then as Team Chef d’ Equipe at the Patroni World Championships. She will continue as chef for the Canadians through to the Pan American Games this fall in Santiago, Chile.
“Last year was a steep learning curve, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed as we as a HPAG committee along with Equestrian Canada worked to get the team to Pratoni,” expressed Howard. “Now, with that as a platform to bounce from, I am excited to continue—and to be working closely with our riders and help to keep Canadian eventing moving in a positive, competitive trajectory.”
