THE WARM-UP RING The Official News of the Jumping Committee July 2016, Volume 12, Issue 6 LETTER FROM THE CHAIR IN THIS ISSUE If you know a rider who deserves to be nominated for a Jump Canada Bursary, please go to www.equestrian.ca/sport/ Canadian Show Jumping Team jumping/programs for more information as Named for 2016 Rio Olympic well as application forms. This program can Games make a real financial difference to young riders who may be struggling with the cost of competing at the higher levels of our Young Guns! Profiling Chris Surbey sport. The young riders who are achieving this Canadian Show Jumping Athletes type of success are offered another leg- Announced for Developing Rider up thanks to Jump Canada’s Developing Tour Rider Tour. Aimed at giving young riders valuable competition and team experience, the Developing Rider Tour will take four New Jumping Committee of riders to a CSI3* competition in Bratislava, Michelle C. Dunn Equestrian Canada Announced Slovakia. The following week, they will make Summer is now in full swing along with our their senior team debut in the Nations’ Cup busy show season here in Canada. From competition at CSIO3* Samorin, Slovakia. Attention Officials! coast to coast, competitions of all sizes are This type of international experience is showcasing our Canadian talent. invaluable for the next generation of riders hoping to earn their way on to Canada’s top Canadian Athletes Named for North The Olympics in Rio are looming large, with show jumping squad in the future. American Junior and Young Rider the Canadian Olympic Committee having Championships made its official team announcement on As the Jumping Committee of Equestrian July 14. Congratulations to Yann Candele, Canada, we believe strongly in supporting Tiffany Foster, Eric Lamaze, Amy Millar our riders all the way from the lower levels Canadian Success Stories and traveling alternate Kara Chad for being of competition right on through to the elite chosen for Rio. I’m sure you will join me levels of our sport. in wishing our riders the very best in their Longines World Rider Rankings efforts to capture a medal and earn a place I wish all of you great success in achieving on the podium for Canada. your equestrian goals this season. Enjoy Acknowledgments your four-legged friends! For our future podium athletes, one of Jump Canada’s most successful undertakings is the Bursary program. This program is offered to athletes aged 14 to 21 riding in hunter, jumper, or equitation while still pursuing their studies in high school, college, or university. Five bursaries of $2,000 each are awarded to those nominees who demonstrate their Pamela Law commitment and dedication to both their Jumping Committee education and to equestrian sport. They must be able to showcase their academic and equestrian achievements along with their future goals in both. Financial need is also taken into consideration. JULY 2016 THE WARM-UP RING 1 Starting Gate Communications Jason Ransom, COC Yann Candele and First Choice 15 Tiffany Foster and Tripple X III Cealy Tetley Starting Gate Communications Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 Amy Millar and Heros CANADIAN Show JUMPING TEAM NAMED for 2016 RIO OLYMPIC Games The following athletes have been named Eric Lamaze, 48, of Schomberg, ON CHEF D’EQUIPE: to the team that will represent Canada Fine Lady 5 Mark Laskin of Langley, BC in show jumping competition at the 2016 2003 bay Hanoverian mare Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. by Forsyth x Drosselklang II COMPETITION SCHEDULE: Owner: Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Friday, August 12 – Horse Inspection Yann Candele, 45, of Caledon, ON Pines Stable First Choice 15 Sunday, August 14 – First Qualifier 2003 bay Hessen gelding Amy Millar, 39, of Perth, ON by For Keeps x Angard Heros Tuesday, August 16 – Team competition – Owner: Watermark Group 2007 bay Belgian Warmblood gelding First Round by Canadian River x Clinton Wednesday, August 17 – Team competition Tiffany Foster, 32, North Vancouver, BC Owner: AMMO Investments – Second Round Tripple X III 2002 dark bay Anglo European stallion RESERVE: Friday, August 19 – Individual Final by Namelus R x Cantango Kara Chad, 20, of Calgary, AB Owner: Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Bellinda Follow all of the action on the official Pines Stable 2006 bay Dutch Warmblood mare website of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, by Namelus R x Hors la Loi II www.rio2016.com. Owner: Stone Ridge Farms Ltd. JULY 2016 THE WARM-UP RING 2 Young GUNS! PROFILING CHRIS SURBEY by Lauren Fisher “When I made the transition to Jill’s barn, that is where I started really moving up,” Surbey said of his progression. “I had jumped up to 1.40m here and there, but she really took me to that next level. She always made sure I had something to ride. I got lots of experience riding some of her up-and-coming young horses, and I was exposed to a lot of the training process that I had not seen before.” Surbey was working for Henselwood when she represented Canada at the 2012 London Olympic Games and had the opportunity to watch the progression of her Olympic mount, George, from the time the horse arrived at the farm as a seven-year- old. Witnessing first-hand Henselwood’s process of taking a young horse all the way up to the Olympic level was inspiring for Surbey as he set out on his own career path. Spruce Meadows Media Services As he struck out on his own, Surbey took a job back in his hometown of Calgary for Chris Surbey hoists the trophy with Byron Neiles of Enbridge following his win in the $125,000 Enbridge Classic Derby on the final day of the CSI5* Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ tournament. a short time before moving to Europe to look for new opportunities. Not long after, he was approached by Spruce Meadows Chris Surbey grew up in Calgary, AB, Surbey always had an interest in horses, to ride full-time. Surbey took the job two watching the world’s best horses and riders but it was not until the age of 11 when he years ago, and the position has offered him compete at Spruce Meadows. Two years started taking lessons at a local stable that opportunities that many riders dream of. ago, he was hired as a professional rider his interest in the sport was piqued. From a Surbey has the ride on several talented, at the world-renowned venue and, in July, young age, he knew that he wanted to jump internationally successful horses, and had his biggest career win to date in one of like the riders he had grown up admiring at spends his days training at one of the most North America’s most coveted events. Spruce Meadows, and Surbey has worked celebrated equestrian venues in the world. hard to make his dreams of competing at Riding Linda Southern-Heathcott’s the top levels come true. “I love it,” Surbey smiled. “The job is mostly Quetchup de la Roque, Surbey was riding and training. We have a pretty big victorious in the $125,000 Enbridge Classic “I started taking lessons once a week, team of riders at Spruce Meadows. At the Derby to close out the CSI5* Spruce which turned into twice a week, which moment there are five of us, so we all help Meadows ‘North American’ Tournament, turned into half-leasing a horse, and away each other out. Kelly Koss-Brix and I are presented by Rolex. To earn the biggest we went,” recalled Surbey, now 29. “It was a on the more experienced end of the team win of his career, Surbey completed a slippery slope.” so part of our responsibility, apart from rarely seen clear round over the demanding riding our own horses, is to help the others natural course featuring a steep bank Surbey’s biggest influence from the bring their horses along. We have a good and the dreaded devil’s dyke. The track beginning was Calgary-based trainer mix with a lot of nice young horses, some has been the same for the last 26 years, Gaia Parker, with whom he rode for more experienced horses that are going and out 650 total attempts, Surbey and many years before moving east to attend in the bigger divisions, and everything in Quetchup de la Roque were only the 20th the University of Ottawa. While earning between.” pair to ever produce a clear round. a degree in Finance, Surbey rode with Canadian Olympic team silver medalist Jill While the day-to-day operations are After an unforgettable conclusion to the Henselwood. When he was 20 years old, at home in Calgary, Surbey had the Spruce Meadows Summer Series on home Surbey was a member of the three-person opportunity to travel for the first time to turf, Surbey now travels abroad to make team from Alberta that earned the silver Wellington, FL, to compete against many another major dream come true. He has medal at the 2007 North American FEI of the world’s best at the 2016 Winter been named to his first Nations’ Cup team Junior and Young Rider Championships. Equestrian Festival (WEF). representing Canada, and will compete for Upon graduation, he gave up his amateur his country on the developing rider tour in status and began working for Henselwood “I was fortunate that I got to spend my Slovakia at the end of July. as a professional. winter in Wellington, which was a really JULY 2016 THE WARM-UP RING 3 great experience,” said Surbey. “I had never even been there to Starting Gate Communications watch it, so that was quite something.