Tag Archives: Royal Horse Show

2015 Royal Horse Show Opens in One Week

Yann Candele. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, Ontario – With one week to go before the opening of the 2015 Royal Horse Show, tickets are selling fast. Held as part of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair from November 6 to 15 at Exhibition Place, the Royal Horse Show welcomes hundreds of competitors to Toronto, ON for the final event of the Canadian competition season.

In a true celebration of the many disciplines in equestrian sport, the Royal Horse Show gets underway with the thrilling $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge on Friday and Saturday evenings, November 6 and 7. This innovative competition combines the exhilaration of negotiating natural cross-country obstacles as well as traditional show jumping fences in an indoor setting. Top-ranked U.S. competitor Buck Davidson will be making his Royal debut alongside TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games team bronze medalists Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC, Jessica Phoenix of Uxbridge, ON, and Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON.

The stakes are also high in the $100,000 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championships, held in a two-phase format on opening weekend, November 6 and 7. Ten-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion Ian Millar of Perth, ON will be back to defend his title with a new mount, Teddy du Bosquetiau, but faces stiff competition from the likes of Mac Cone of King City, ON, Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, and four-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion Yann Candele of Caledon, ON.

International show jumping competition is highlighted by the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto on Wednesday, November 11, held as part of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League. Six nations will be represented – Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States – as riders battle for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“I always look forward to getting points at The Royal,” said Nicola Philippaerts, who will represent Belgium alongside his twin brother, Olivier, for the fourth consecutive year. “For us, it is always interesting to try and earn points in North America, in addition to riding in Europe. It has worked out well every year so far! The Royal is a very nice show with a lot of tradition, and it fits well in the program we have developed.”

The artistry of dressage will be highlighted in Thursday night’s Royal Invitational Dressage Cup, presented by Butternut Ridge. Canadian Olympians Jacqueline Brooks, Christilot Boylen, Evi Strasser, and Belinda Trussell will go head-to-head in the popular freestyle competition, which sees required movements choreographed to the music of their choice.

Friday, November 13, will showcase both sport and entertainment with the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open, as well as an exhibition by Cavallo Equestrian Arts. The product of seven generations of entertainment professionals and show producers, Cavallo Equestrian Arts has performed its theatrical celebration of the age-old relationship between horses and humans to rave reviews throughout North America.

A perennial favourite, the $75,000 Big Ben International Challenge, presented by Hudson’s Bay Company, will close out the 2015 Royal Horse Show on Saturday night, November 14.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show.

To purchase Royal Horse Show tickets, please visit Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131553/986584.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Jump Media
Cell: (613) 292-5439
jward@jumpmediallc.com

Top Riders Ready for International Show Jumping Competition at 2015 Royal Horse Show

Two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward, pictured riding Rothchild, will be back to defend his grand prix title at the 2015 Royal Horse Show. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, Ontario – Downtown Toronto will host some of the world’s most decorated equestrian athletes – both two-legged and four – during the 2015 Royal Horse Show, which runs November 6 to 15 as part of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Exhibition Place. International show jumpers from five different countries will converge in Toronto for top-level competition, highlighted by the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto as part of the newly founded FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League.

Show jumping action kicks off at the national level with the $100,000 Greenhawk Canadian Show Jumping Championships during opening weekend, November 6 and 7. Twenty-five Canadian riders, including Olympians Lisa Carlsen, Mac Cone, Jill Henselwood, Beth Underhill and defending champion Ian Millar, will vie for the coveted national title.

The highlight event of the international division takes place Wednesday, November 12, when the Royal Horse Show hosts the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto. One of only four Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping events to be held on Canadian soil, the competition is a qualifying event for the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Goteborg, Sweden.

Friday, November 13 will showcase the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open, while Saturday afternoon brings family-friendly fun with horses and dogs teaming up for the $15,000 International Canine/Equine Challenge, presented by The Toronto Star. The 2015 Royal Horse Show closes out with the $75,000 Big Ben International Challenge, presented by Hudson’s Bay Company, on Saturday night, November 14.

Eight riders from the United States have been invited to travel to the Royal Horse Show. Most notably, two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, NY is eyeing his third win in a row in Wednesday night’s featured grand prix event. Ward has won the grand prix at the Royal Horse Show six times and is the defending champion from both 2013 and 2014.

“The Royal is a first-class, traditional event in a beautiful city,” said Ward, who recently claimed the individual gold medal riding Rothchild at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games. “The Royal always has a packed house, making the atmosphere great. You need an experienced horse that handles that situation well.”

This year, Ward plans to defend his title riding HH Azur, an up-and-coming superstar owned by Double H Farm. The pair recently competed at the mare’s first indoor event at the Los Angeles Masters, where Ward characterized her performance as “phenomenal”, and Ward is confident in their chances at the Royal Horse Show.

“The presence of FEI competition in North America has been transforming over the last few years and it’s in a better place now,” said Ward of the Royal Horse Show’s inclusion in the new Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League. “It’s always an asset to have more World Cup qualifiers, and this league has certainly been competitive.”

Ward will be joined at the Royal Horse Show by fellow Americans Georgina Bloomberg, Leslie Howard, Charlie Jacobs, Reed Kessler, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and Todd Minikus.

Rounding out the international field participating at the Royal Horse Show will be eight riders representing Belgium, Colombia, Ireland and New Zealand. Coming off a recent string of impressive wins, Ireland’s Conor Swail will return to the Royal Horse Show as a hot favourite.

“The Royal has always been a lucky show for me,” said Swail. “Every time I go there I have good success, but I also love the prestige and the huge crowds that come with the show. It’s extremely fun.”

Dermott Lennon will join Swail in representing Ireland. Twins Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts and Francois Mathy Jr. will represent Belgium, while Daniel Bluman and Roberto Teran will be flying the Colombian flag. New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley will be making his Royal Horse Show debut.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show.

To purchase Royal Horse Show tickets, please visit Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131553/986584.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

About The Royal
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. The 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Jump Media
Cell: (613) 292-5439
jward@jumpmediallc.com

Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge Returns to the Royal Horse Show

Tik Maynard and Good Times emerged victorious in last year’s Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge. Photo © Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, Ontario – The thrilling Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge will once again be part of a world-class line-up of equestrian sport and entertainment as the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, returns to downtown Toronto from November 6 to 17.

One of the most highly-anticipated events at the Royal Horse Show, the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge will be held on opening weekend, Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. Offering $20,000 in prize money, the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge combines the exhilaration of jumping natural cross-country obstacles as well as traditional show jumping fences in an indoor setting.

This year’s event will feature some of the biggest names in the sport, including three members of Canada’s bronze medal team at the recent TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games. Colleen Loach, individual silver medalist Jessica Phoenix, and Waylon Roberts have all confirmed their attendance, as have fellow Canadian Karl Slezak and veteran United States Equestrian Team member, Buck Davidson.

Currently ranked the number two rider in North America, Davidson has never competed at the Royal Horse Show before, and immediately accepted the invitation to contest the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge.

“I’ve heard great things about the show being top-class in every way,” said Davidson, a two-time World Equestrian Games competitor (2010 and 2014). “I try to go to as many places as I can to showcase eventing, and also to bring the sport to a different audience. I’m lucky to have owners that let me do that. The Royal is another way to spread the word about eventing and if I can play a small part, I’m happy to do it.”

While Davidson may be making his Royal debut, his prior experience with indoor eventing in general has him well-prepared for the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge.

“Indoor eventing always seems to look easier that it ends up riding,” said Davidson, 39. “To put cross-country jumps in a ring and add the elements of closeness and fans is tricky, but very exciting to watch. From an event horse’s perspective, they have to jump and turn quickly indoors when they are used to big, long, galloping strides out on cross-country. You need a horse with the experience to deal with the space and the crowd, and to keep their focus on their job.”

Jessica Phoenix. Photo © Starting Gate Communications.
Jessica Phoenix. Photo © Starting Gate Communications

Jessica Phoenix, who claimed the individual silver medal and led the Canadian Eventing Team to bronze at the recent Pan Am Games, is a regular competitor at the Royal Horse Show.

“What’s most unique about indoor eventing is that it is really a different sport altogether,” said Phoenix of Cannington, ON. “Our horses are brave enough to do cross-country, but to do it in a completely new atmosphere is another test altogether. It’s educational for the riders to put our horses in a new setting and see how they react.”

For Phoenix, it’s not just the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge that is unique at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The Royal also serves as a special opportunity for Phoenix and her husband, Joel, to compete together at the same event.

“I show horses, and my husband shows dairy cattle!” laughed Phoenix, 31. “We rarely get to do both and be together at the same event.”

Designing the courses for this year’s Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge will be Great Britain’s Mark Phillips. As the course designer at some of the world’s most prestigious three day events, Phillips will create a course of solid, rugged cross-country obstacles such as walls, hedges and banks, mixed with delicate stadium fences.

Over two nights of exhilarating competition against the clock, penalties are accumulated and, at the end, the rider with the lowest score will be declared the winner of the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/horse-show.

To purchase Royal Horse Show tickets, please visit Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131553/986584.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

About The Royal

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. The 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Jump Media
Cell: (613) 292-5439
jward@jumpmediallc.com