Karl Slezak
Karl Slezak began riding at the age of seven, and achieved his ‘A’ level with the Canadian Pony Club. At the age of 16, he became interested in eventing and began working with Canadian Olympian Garry Roque.
Having competed at the 2002 North American Young Riders’ Championship, Karl completed several two and three-star events, including the 2004 CCI*** Fox Hall Cup where he fi nished 17th, highlighted by a strong dressage test and a clear cross-country jumping round. Karl’s top mount is Private Ryan, a Dutch Warmblood gelding purchased by Garry as a fi ve-year-old. Karl has ridden the mischievous gelding from his fi rst competition to the three-star level, and hopes to qualify for a spot on the Canadian Eventing Team headed to the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.
In addition to Private Ryan, Karl is also riding John Rumble’s Foxwood Spencer, with whom he won the Advanced division of the Red Hills Horse Trials, and Janette Leask’s Rather Well, a stallion he has been working with for six years. He also has two intermediate level horses, Patricia Fitzgerald’s Braveheart, and Don Good’s Irish gelding, Showdown.
While Karl’s riding and teaching schedule does not allow him much spare time, he does enjoy skiing and fishing.