Brittany Fraser, Megan Lane, Esther Mortimer and Jacqueline Brooks Headline Dressage at the Royal

The $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge, returns to highlight the 2017 Royal Horse Show on Wednesday and Thursday, November 8 and 9, as part of the 95th annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair running from November 3 through 12 in Toronto, ON.

Canadian Olympian Megan Lane of Collingwood, ON, returns to defend her title in the Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, won last year riding her long-time mount, Caravella.

“It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to compete at The Royal,” said Lane following her 2016 victory.  “For that dream to come true with a partner like Caravella is pretty surreal to me.  I am so thankful for the fans who come to the Royal Horse Show to support Canadian dressage and I love competing at The Royal.  There is no place like home.”

Lane will face stiff competition from her 2015 Pan American Games silver medal teammate, Brittney Fraser of New Glasgow, NS, who recently won the Grand Prix Freestyle riding All In at the CDI-W Dressage at Devon in Devon, PA, at the end of September.  Two-time Pan American Games competitor, Ester Mortimer, will represent Guatemala while two-time Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, ON, will maintain her record of competing in every edition of the Royal Invitational Dressage Cup since its inception.

The $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge, is comprised of a Grand Prix on Wednesday afternoon and the ever-popular Grand Prix Freestyle, featuring required movements choreographed to music of the riders’ choice, on Thursday evening.

“The Royal Horse Show offers a diverse selection of horse sport disciplines and so many fans are enthralled with the elegance of dressage competition,” said Charlie Johnstone, Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.  “The Royal Invitational Dressage Cup is always a spectator-favourite and this year will be no different with some of the most talented dressage riders in Canada in attendance.”

Royal Horse Show VIP subscriptions, group, and individual tickets are now on sale and are expected to sell-out on multiple nights during the Royal Horse Show.  To purchase tickets, click here .

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit www.royalfair.org/horseshow . For a behind-the-scenes look at the Royal Horse Show, follow The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on Facebook, @royalhorseshow on Twitter and @theroyalfair on Instagram.  Tag the Royal Horse Show using #RAWF17, #royalfever, #FEIWorldCup, #Longines, and #RideToParis.