Spotlight on Demo Rider: Tom Dvorak

Tom Dvorak was born in Germany and began riding as a child. Little did his family know at that time that his passion would take him around the globe with an illustrious Dressage career.

In 1982, his family relocated to Canada, where Tom became a member of the Silver medal winning Canadian Young Riders' team. In 1990, Tom represented Canada at the World Equestrian Game sin Stockholm on his horse, World Cup. In 1993, Tom and Assanti were members of the Gold Medal Team at the North American Dressage Championships, and later qualified to represent Canada at the 1996 World Cup in Los Angeles. That same year, Tom and World Cup were named to the team representing Canada at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the end of 1997, Tom won another World Cup Qualifier at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair aboard Clearly Canadian, and the team went on to represent Canada at the 1998 World Cup Finals in Goteborg, Sweden.

The past decade has been another series of accomplishments in the Dressage world. In 2001, Tom competed at the World Breeders Championsips in Verden, Germany, aboard the 5-year-old Fortissimo, placing 17th overall. In 2002, Tom and Lenz were part of the Silver Medal Team at the Cup of the Americas, claiming the Individual Bronze medal. In 2004, Tom teamed up with Ashley Holzer and riding Beaumarchais and Westside Lady, won the Can Am Team Challenge at Devon. In 2007, Tom and Beaumarchais were named to the team representing Canada at the Pan American Games in Rio, bringing home the Silver Team Medal and placing 4th individually.

Tom and his wife, Ellen, call Hillsburgh, Ontario, home. Tom trains out of Gilbrea Stables, owned by Alex Wilson. Look for Tom doing Dressage demos aboard Steeped in Luck in conjunction with the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games Demonstrations.