Grants named for Nick Holmes-Smith's Olympic partner will help Nadia Sabot, Mégane Sauvé, Saffron Klotz and Kyle Morton pursue international goals in 2027
Ottawa, ON November 12, 2026 — The Equestrian Canada Eventing High Performance Advisory Group (HPAG) is pleased to announce the four recipients of the 2026 Country Yucca Eventing Travel Grants for U25 Athletes: Nadia Sabot, Mégane Sauvé, Saffron Klotz and Kyle Morton.
The Country Yucca grants help event riders aged 25 and under gain competitive experience outside their home region, across North America or overseas. Each recipient receives $5,000 CAD, which can be put toward travel expenses related to their competitive goals. Up to four athletes are selected each year.
"It is wonderful to have Nick's generosity and vision in recognizing the importance of investing in the next generation of Canadian Eventing athletes," said Rebecca Howard, Eventing Technical Advisor. "We saw an increased number of applicants this year, which is a real reflection of the ambition and commitment of our Under-25 riders. Support such as the Country Yucca grants makes a meaningful difference, helping these athletes access valuable competition opportunities as they continue to develop, gain experience and pursue their ambitions in high-performance sport. We are incredibly fortunate for his investment in the future of Canadian Eventing."
The 2026 recipients
Nadia Sabot grew up riding in Ontario and is now based in Ireland, where she has immersed herself in the Irish eventing industry under the guidance of coach Ian Cassells, a five-star Irish event rider. In 2026 she finished 14th in the CCI2*-L at Ballindenisk International with Sportsfield Supreme and made her first trip to England, jumping clear across country with him in the six-year-old CCI2* at Cornbury International Horse Trials. Sabot's major goal for 2027 is the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d'Angers, France.
"I am incredibly grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Country Yucca U25 Travel Grant," said Sabot. "This support will make a meaningful difference in helping me access key competitions for my horses, and work towards my goal of competing at Le Lion d'Angers in 2027. I am very thankful to the committee for investing in my development and helping me take the next steps toward my long term ambitions in eventing."
Mégane Sauvé of Québec is a full-time working student in Jessica Phoenix's program and is in her final year on the U25 development squad. In 2026 she placed ninth in the CCI4*-S at Ocala and won at Grandview with Nuance, the 2025 ACCC-Q Québec-bred Eventing Horse of the Year. She also produced her younger mare Secretly to the Intermediate level. Sauvé is now working toward qualifying for Canada's B squad in 2027.
"This grant will allow my horses and I to keep training and competing at our best," said Sauvé. “It means a lot to have this kind of support from our high performance group. I will keep up the work in 2027 to achieve my goal of going from the U25 squad to the senior team.”
Saffron Klotz moved from Ottawa to Uxbridge, Ontario, to become a working student with Kendal Lehari while continuing her university studies. A three-time veteran of the North American Youth Championships with individual and team medals, and a former FIS ski racer, Klotz had a breakthrough 2026 season with Ballingowan Clarity ("Peanut"), finishing second in the CCI2*-S at Bromont and successfully stepping up to Intermediate. In 2027 she aims to represent Canada at the inaugural FEI Pan American Eventing Championship (Championship of the Americas) and at the North American Youth Championships at the CCI3*-S level.
"I'm so grateful to the Equestrian Canada Eventing High Performance Advisory Group for selecting me as a recipient of this year's U25 Country Yucca Grant," said Klotz. "It not only shows that the years of hard work and determination I've put in have paid off, but it also gives me a real sense of confidence in myself and my horse for the future. I'm super excited to put this support towards representing Canada on the international stage in 2027!"
Kyle Morton receives the Country Yucca grant for the second time. Based in Germany, Morton competes a string of four horses on the European circuit. In 2026 he placed 13th in the CCI4*-S at Strzegom, eighth in the CCI3*-S at Luhmühlen, and represented Canada at the FEI Eventing U25 World Championship at Millstreet, Ireland. He will open his 2027 season in Montelibretti, Italy, as he works toward B squad selection and a bid for the 2027 Pan American Games.
"I feel incredibly honoured to have been chosen to receive the Country Yucca Grant for a second year!" said Morton. "This grant will help me to pursue my goals of the Pan-American Games at the end of 2027, and help me to advance all my horses in their careers!"
About Country Yucca
The grants are named after Country Yucca, a pony with a huge heart and personality ridden by Nick Holmes-Smith, who represented Canada at the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games as a member of the Canadian Eventing Team. Known for his bald face and four white socks, Yucca loved cross-country, and though some thought him too small for the bigger fences, he quickly proved the skeptics wrong. Nick and Yucca galloped together across the southern Okanagan in British Columbia and throughout North America.
Holmes-Smith has influenced generations of Canadian event riders and has long championed the development of horses and riders, including several who went on to represent Team Canada, among them Bruce Mandeville, Rebecca Howard and Michael Winter.
Source: Equestrian Canada