The Ottawa Dressage Festival (ODF) is Canada’s largest dressage festival. It runs each year for four days, from Thursday to Sunday at Wesley Clover Parks. If you love horses, regardless of whether you are a horse rider, a horse owner or not … this Festival is fun for everyone. And, it’s free! And, dog-friendly!

“The Jog” takes place in the afternoon on opening day (Thursday) 

The Jog is an inspection of the horses by a panel of judges and veterinarians to ensure that each horse that’s competing in an internationally-sanctioned dressage competition is sound (“sound” means making sure the horse isn’t lame or ill) and ready.

Each horse and rider enter the ring and the horse is given a ‘once-over’ by the judges and veterinarians. Then the horse and rider jog down the ring along a specified path, turn around at the end and return to the start, all the while being closely observed by the judges and vets.

Photos: Geri Porteous Photography

Dressage is equine ballet … Pleasure Pairs will have you seeing double!

Dressage is hard (even though the horses and riders make it look easy)! It requires horse and rider to be in sync in body and spirit, performing choreographed movements with power, poise and grace.

Imagine not only performing precise, controlled movements at exact spots around the ring, but coordinating all of that with another horse and rider. Pleasure Pairs is power, poise and grace, doubled!

Here is a sample of a well matched pair photographed on Opening Day.

ODF 2024 served as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games 

I’ve lived in Ottawa my whole life and to this day I still consider it to be a big “little city”. So it’s always so cool for me to see world class athletes competing in our “local” (to me) competitions.

One of these world class athletes that I’d like to highlight is Paralympian Jody Schloss and her horse El Colorado, who not only competed at ODF 2024 but went on to represent Canada and compete in the Para Dressage Grand Prix A at the 2024 Paris Olympics!

Jody has also been named to Equestrian Canada’s National Team Program’s National Squad for Para Dressage for 2025. I hope to see Jody and El Colorado again at ODF 2025. They have a beautiful partnership and it’s a pleasure to watch them compete together.

All photos: Geri Porteous Photography

Highlighting the talented para-dressage riders at ODF 2024

For this year’s post on the Ottawa Dressage Festival, I’d particularly like to highlight the immensely talented para-dressage riders. Para-dressage offers competitive dressage opportunities for riders with disabilities.

A para-dressage rider is an equestrian athlete with a physical or visual impairment. Riders communicate the required movements (for the test) to their horses by subtle movements in their body and slight shifts in their weight. Adaptive equipment, such as connecting rein bars and the use of voice, can help reinforce communication.

Competitors are judged on the accuracy, quality and artistic expression of their riding. 

Riders are classified within five grades. The grades indicate a different impact of impairment and activity limitation on their ability to ride. By assigning grades, this ensures that riders are competing as fairly as possible against others of a similar disability. The difficulty of the tests increases with the Grade:

• Grade I athletes perform tests at a walk

• Grades II and III can walk and trot

• Grades IV and V perform tests at a walk, trot, canter and do lateral work.

Below are photos of each of the Canadian para dressage riders that competed in ODF 2024, as well as a couple of American riders that made the trip up to Ottawa.

Also included is Karis Van Essen, who was awarded 2024 Para Dressage Coach of the year, and Jamie-Anne Goodfellow, Program Coordinator, Para-Dressage, Equestrian Canada. Congratulations, Karis!

All photos: Geri Porteous Photography

Riders, scenes and moments from the four day event …

The Ottawa Dressage Festival welcomes riders of all ages and skills, from junior riders and young competitors, including Rising Stars (riders 18 years and younger), to seasoned athletes who have represented Canada on the international stage. You can see young talents destined to become future champions alongside award-winning riders, all in one location.

Here are some of my favourite scenes from the 4 days.

If you competed in ODF 2024 and would like to see if I photographed your ride, please contact me. I took thousands of photos; these are just a small sample of what I captured.

All photos: Geri Porteous Photography

The Ottawa Dressage Festival would not run without the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers

Planning for the Festival starts months in advance. And, during the four days of the competition, volunteers invest long hours to ensure everything runs smoothly. I’d like to recognize the immense contribution of the entire volunteer team, many of whom return year after year. Their continued involvement is a testament to their commitment and also to the collaborative and enjoyable environment cultivated by the Board of Directors, which plays a crucial role in attracting volunteers and participants alike. These shared efforts culminate in a successful event that makes Ottawa proud.

If you’re looking for something to do on a beautiful Spring day, I encourage you to stop by ODF 2025, taking place May 29 - June 1, 2025.

If you are competing in ODF 2025 and would like me to photograph any of your tests (I’m one of the official photographers), please fill out the contact form (ODF 2025 tab in the Navigation menu) so we can add you to our schedule.