Karl Slezak

Biography

Karl Slezak has been hooked on eventing since he discovered the sport at the age of 15. Since that time, he has become a top trainer of young horses and has been a staple on the Canadian Eventing Team short and long lists. The first horse that Slezak developed from green to the CCI 3* level was Private Ryan, a bay gelding with whom he represented Canada at the 2002 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. Slezak’s next top horse was Foxwood Spencer, and together the duo earned top-five finishes at the 2004 CIC 2* in Port Perry, ON; 2004 CIC 2* in Lexington, VA; and 2006 CIC 3* in Wayne, IL.

In 2008, Slezak skillfully rode two horses to second place finishes in Ocala, FL: Pavarotti (who would go one to become one of the most iconic partners of his eventing teammate, Jessica Phoenix) in the CCI 1* division and Braveheart in the CCI 2* division. The next year, Slezak earned his first FEI win with Charley Farley at the CCI 2* in Bromont, QC. The victories kept on coming at the 2014 CCI 1* in Lexington, KY, with Fernhill Dutch Design; 2016 Poplar Place Horse Trials CIC 2* in Hamilton, GA, with Fernhill Wishes; and 2017 Poplar Place CIC 2* with Fernhill Cascum Marco. Fernhill Wishes has become Slezak’s top horse, and together they made the top five in the CCI 4*-L division of the 2019 Bromont Three-Day Event.

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT KARL

Getting into the sport: Began riding at seven years old… Discovered eventing at age 15…Outside Interests: Owns Wolf Run Farms in Caledon East, ON…