Dana in the News | Dana Cooke

Cooke helps Canada win silver at Pan Am Games

By Ian Webster - Merritt Herald Published: November 01, 2011

While she may not be wearing a medal around her neck, Merritt’s Dana Cooke played an integral role in Canada’s outstanding three-day eventing performance at the recently-concluded Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Cooke, 24, was a groom in Mexico for Canadian equestrian team member Rebecca Howard from Salmon Arm. Howard placed sixth overall out of a field of 49 riders, and helped Canada win the silver medal in team competition between 10 countries from North, Central and South America. The United States took the gold.

While the Pan American Games officially ran from October 14 - 30, Cooke’s Mexican odyssey started substantially earlier with a one-week training camp in Florida beginning October 9.

“We had two horses down there,” stated Cooke on her blog, “Roquefort (Rocky) and Riddle Master (Rupert). Rocky was Rebecca’s mount for the Pan Am Games (PAG). Each day we had a team jog, followed by lessons, team building and figuring out how to get all of Rebecca’s and Rocky’s stuff into three trunks. It was kind of like playing a game of Tetris!”

After a required quarantine period for all competition horses, the Canadian team flew directly from Florida to Mexico.

Dana Gives Back to BC Young Riders

One of the instructors at the three-day riding clinic at the Dot Ranch this past weekend was 23-year-old Dana Cooke.

Born and raised in the Nicola Valley, Cooke currently makes her home outside Norwood, North Carolina where she is living her dream: training and working as the assistant equestrian director of The Fork, one of the most prestigious riding facilities in North America.

news_article_1 Cooke began her riding career locally through involvement in Pony Club, before moving onto participation in the Young Riders of B.C. program. One of her influential instructors during her developmental years was Lynne Larsen. This past weekend’s clinic was an opportunity for Cooke to give back to Larsen, and to the program that provided her with her early opportunities.

“I gave two talks to the youngsters,” said Cooke. “They were primarily about my life, and my journey from Merritt, B.C. to where I am now in North Carolina.”

Cooke had many memorable experiences from her past to share with her captivated audience. As well, she spoke of some of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in her future.

“My main horse, “Indy”, is recovering from an injury right now,” related Cooke, “so I haven’t been competing myself this spring. At the moment, I’m focusing on grooming for Canadian team rider Rebecca Howard. She just finished competing at Rolex [Kentucky] and Bromont [Quebec]. In August, I will be traveling with her to England for the Burghley Horse Trials, and then to Mexico in October for the Pan American Games.”

Asked if she might be grooming for Howard at the London 2012 Olympics should the Salmon Arm rider be selected to Canada’s team, Cooke responded with a broad smile, “Yes! That’s the plan!”

In the meantime, Cooke has many duties and responsibilities to take care of back at The Fork, as well as the on-going rehabilitation of Indy - a process that takes both time and patience.

“He’s just back walking under saddle. We just take it one step at a time. You’ve got to learn to accept and love the process. If you don’t, then when these things happen, you don’t have the strength to keep going.”

As for her world in general, Cooke concluded, “Life is very busy. But busy’s good!”

Article and Photo by Ian Webster