Evi Strasser represented Canada at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and won team dressage silver at the Santo Domingo 2003 Pan American Games.

Two decades have gone since her medal success in the Dominican Republic, but the 58-year-old remains in contention for a place at Santiago 2023 having won bronze at the 2022 DIO Wellington event in the International Equestrian Federation Dressage Nations Cup.

She could be joined on the Canadian team by her daughter Tanya Strasser-Shostak who has enjoyed success in the North American Young Riders Championships and competes on the Grand Prix circuit.

"This is the best Christmas present," said Evi Strasser in a report by Euro Dressage.

"It says we are on track to represent the Maple Leaf for the Pan Am Games-in Chile.

"I'm so excited, so proud and happy.

"We own our horses, which we buy as three-year olds.

"We pay everything ourselves and bring them along to Grand Prix. 

"I'm so happy that all this hard work is paying off.

"There are not many of us left who buy, own, train and ride the horses ourselves without the backing of big sponsors."

The equestrian competition is scheduled to run from October 22 to November 3 at this year’s Pan American Games.

A total of 150 athletes are due to compete in dressage, eventing and jumping with all three disciplines acting as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics.