The Eloquent Equine | Special No. 6 - The Royal 2014

A VISUAL LOOK AT

THE SIGHTS, THE SOUNDS, & MOST IMPORTANTLY ... THE HORSES

The

Eloquent Equine Special No. 6, RAWF 2014 The Eloquent Equine • 1

CONTENTS FROM THE BLOG 06 Best Booths Buyers Guide

Our top three favourite vendors

18 The “Hickstead” Cup

Remembering a great horse with

38 The Heavy Horses

This is what real horsepower looks

like

from the fair

BEHIND THE SCENES 08 Rodeo Sunday

Fun and action from Sunday’s

Royal Rodeo hosted by Ross Millar and Amber Marshall

14 Guy McLean

Renowned Australian

horseman Guy McLean in exhibition at the Royal

a great night of tough show jumping competition

22 Dancing Horses

The second phase of the Royal

Invitational Dressage Cup, the Freestyle

28 The Gambler’s Choice

Would you chance the Joker?

32 The “Weston” Canadian Open

International show jumping

continues at the 2014 Royal Fair

42 The Harness Classes

Take a step back in time with these classes

48 The “Big Ben” Challenge

The closing night of International

show jumping at the Royal

UNTIL NEXT YEAR 49 Our Congratulations

To the horses and riders that

worked year round to qualify for

the fair

Editor’s Desk Hello there! Welcome to our third annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Special Edition.

We love covering the Royal, and hope you really enjoy the issue we have in store for you this issue. This year with thought we’d change things up enough, and provide you with a truly sensory experience of the fair, jam packed with photo and video content to give you a real experience of the fair.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, or Royal, has been around since 1922, and is a long standing family tradition for many. The fair serves as the culmination of a long year of competition, and an opportunity for horses and riders to showcase their skills against some of the best.

Editor In Chief

From the young riders to the international competitors, the Royal brings top competitors from across the disciplines of Show jumping, Dressage, and Eventing all into on venue in the heart of Toronto.

Allyson Lowe

On top of all the great equestrian competition held within the Fair’s 10 day run, there is a ton of other activities to entertain any member of your family. From a range of shopping vendors (equestrian and non-equestrian) to agricultural shows (cows, goats, sheep, chickens, and more!), there really is a ton of stuff to see.

Krista Rivet

Social Media Manager

Feature Writer Tia Culley

General Inquiries info@theeloquentequine.com

The fair is also a great time to bond with friends, enjoy some equestrian events, and in our case get a chance to meet with readers and businesses!

Submissions

So the Royal may be over for another year, but we hope we are able to stir some fond memories in those who attended, and show a great side to those who did not get a chance to attend with this great visual issue.

Advertising Inquiries

Enjoy!

On the Cover Darragh Kenny (Ireland) aboard Gatsby take the Pandora fence in the $50,000 “Weston” Canadian Open during the evening Royal Horse Show Performance on November 14, 2014.

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FROM THE

BLOG

Best Booths Buyers Guide One of the best parts of the Royal Fair is the endless rows of vendors. Its all your equestrian shopping needs, all on one convenient locations. From brands you love, to some you may never have come across, you’ll likely find everything you need to equip yourself and your horse.

We shared the top booths we thought we’d share, and here are our top 3 favourite Royal vendors. The fair may be over, but you can still check out all the great products these brands have to offer!

1. MY BARN CHILD My Barn Child Royal guaranteed to have everything you need to fully accessorize your wardrobe and get your shiny on. They carry a range of sparkly accessories for all your bling needs. MBC also be launched a new line of apparel products at the Royal which are surely not to be missed.

2. OGILVY EQUESTRIAN Ogilvy Equestrian has all your saddle pad needs. From their classic and baby pads to their memory foam half pads, they have a range of products (in a range of styles and colours for each discipline) to match all your #ROOTD needs. Pick a pad to match your style and really colour co-ordinate your riding wardrobe, and make your horse super fashion forward.

3. THE TACK SHOPPE OF COLLINGWOOD

Click

to read the full article

This is the tack shop that will no doubt have everything needed to spice up your riding (and everyday) wardrobe. From apparel to boots to accessories, the Tack Shoppe has all you could ever want to keep all your #OOTD and #(R)OOTD needs fun and fashionable. They carry a range of popular brands for horses and riders.

Photo | Heritage Court War Horse Memorial Sculpture

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ONTARIO TOYOTA DEALERS RODEO I

t’s always a full house on Royal Rodeo Sunday, an afternoon show packed with high paced action, great exhibitions, and some good old fashioned family fun. The Ontario Toyota Dealers Rodeo is a staple of opening weekend at the fair and pits some of the top cowboys and cowgirls from across Canada and the United States against each other in thrilling competition.

For an added competitive edge, Rodeo hosts Ross Millar and CBC Heartland’s Amber Marshall divide the competitors and audience members into two teams, “Royal” and “Rodeo”. Every cowboy and cowgirl who took top honors in their competition earned points for their team, and audience members were encouraged to encourage their team member’s, as loudly as possible.

Rodeo highlights included the rush and excitement of the women’s speed events, barrel racing and poll bending, paired with the intensity of the sports of bull riding, bareback, and saddle bronc.

The afternoon show also featured a thrilling trick riding exhibition, and the amazing talents of Australian horseman Guy McLean.

Thrills, chills, and a few spills, and a good amount of family fun with the ever popular Rodeo Sunday at the Royal

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From the skills of Australian Horseman Guy McLean, to the thrills and chills of pole bending and bull riding - the Royal Rodeo was jam packed.

Facing (top): CBC Heartland’s Amber Marshall, aboard Blue, was host of the event alongside Ross Millar Facing (bottom): Guy McLean makes his entrance aboard his youngest team member, Lightning

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WWW.

GUY MCLEAN One man, four horses, amazing things.

G

uy McLean, alongside his horses Pride, Sequel, Hope, Spinabbey, and Lightning (Guy’s youngest team member, who made the occasional guest appearance) wowed audiences numerous times over the ten days of the 2014 Royal. Performing in the Ricoh as well as the President’s Choice Animal theatre there was ample opportunity to see this lot in action.

Guy McLean is an Australian horseman, renowned for horsemanship and ever entertaining equine performances. He and his horses travel the world, entertaining audiences wherever they go.

At the Royal Guy demonstrated his skills as a horseman, the skills of his horses, and his quick wit. Mixing complex horsemanship, liberty work, and humour he kept audiences in awe, and no two performances were exactly the same. From driving his horses at liberty like wild brumbies across the Ricoh turf to using them as barrels in his mock barrel race, audiences couldn’t help but be entertained. He even demonstrated how Spinabbey, his Austrian stock horse, could hold his own in all the disciplines, showing his ability to jump, canter (backwards!), gallop, and flying lead change his way across the arena over and over again.

One of his most memorable moments would have to be his regular show closer, in which he steered three horses (one ridden, two at liberty) over another on the ground. Then, if that wasn’t enough, he promptly stood atop two of his horses and cracked his bull whips (probably not something you should try at home).

Now there’s a serious horseman. One who not only loves his horses, but has every ounce of their trust, so much so that he can put them in their most vulnerable position (in front of a packed – and noisy – audience) with absolute ease.

During the evening performance on Friday he also gave a touching narrative performance, a poem he called “Snowy River legend”, based off a true story. Telling (and sometimes re-enacting) the story that truly illustrates the bond and love Australian Stockman share with their horses, all while working his own horses during the narration.

Click

to see exclusive video of Guy McLean reciting “Snowy River Legend”

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O

fficially renamed following Hickstead’s tragic death, 2014 marked the third year that the “Hickstead” FEI World Cup took place.

The field was full for Wednesday night’s competition, with another packed house in the Ricoh. There were 21 riders total looking for a chance to score the top prize. Top names included Canada’s Ian Millar aboard Star Power, U.S. rider McLain Ward aboard Rothchild, Ireland’s Conor Swail aboard Ariana, and American rider Beezie Madden aboard Cortes ‘C’. The course was designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, with 13 fences, two of which were combinations, and a total time allowed of 77 seconds.

The course looked to be challenging, with a triple bar to mark the start, numerous oxers, and a double and a triple combination.

Nine riders made it to the jump off, four of them went clear. The top spots were separated by seconds of time, and American rider McLain Ward ultimately took the victory with a time jump-off time of 34.85.

TOP HONOURS 1st

McLain Ward (pictured right) Rothchild

2. Todd Minikus Quality Girl

3. Francois Mathy

D’atlantique Royal The Eloquent Equine • 19

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W

hile it may not carry the thrills and spills of the Royal Rodeo, or the fast paced action of the International show jumping competitions, the Royal Invitational Dressage Cup is a chance for some of Canada’s top Dressage riders to not only strut their stuff in the show ring, but give the public a look at the power, precision, and partnership of Grand Prix Dressage. Four Canadian riders took each took their turn showcasing the awesome skill level of their horses through perfectly timed and precise movements during Thursday nights Grand Prix Freestyle.

Each rider had a stellar performance, showcasing their skills as riders, the technical precision of their mounts, and the ability to bring it all together in a moving performance to music.

The Dressage Freestyle is not your average Dressage test. Here the music plays as big a part as a horse and rider’s ability to execute the high level movements of the Grand Prix. Properly selected and timed music has the ability to enhance the performance, as each footfall of the horse, as each movement of the gait, falls perfectly in tune with each beat of their selected score.

It’s what takes beautiful movements of horse and rider to a new level of sass, or serenades us and makes us emote with the strong sounds of a classic instrumental piece. It can be an exciting or emotional roller coaster, you can feel yourself drawn into each and every movement, each test becoming a work of art.

TOP HONOURS 1st

Jacqueline Brooks (73.750%) D Niro

2. Karen Pavicic (73.167%) Don Daiquiri

3. Jill Irving (70.458%) Pop Art

4. Brittany Fraser (69.625%) Countess

Pictured (left) | Riders Jacqueline Brooks, Karen Pavicic, and Brittany Fraser receive their awards in the $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup Freestyle The Eloquent Equine • 23

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While she placed second in the freestyle competition, with two solid rides over the Grand Prix test and GP Freestyle portions of the competition, Karen Pavicic (facing page, left image) aboard Don Daiquiri took the overall title for the Royal Invitation Dressage cup. Her performance also earned her the Neckermanann Pracht Trophy.

On top of the dynamic and beautiful freestyles showcased during the second phase of the Royal Dressage Invitation, dressage night at the Royal opened with a fun and informative exhibition led by renowned Grand Prix Dressage rider Ashley Holzer. Some of Canada’s top rising Dressage stars, including Tanya Strasser-Shostak (facing page, right image), helped show the audience a range of movements they would see in the freestyle. Other riders featured in the exhibition were Denielle Gallagher and Lindsay Kellock.

Click

to see video of Karen Pavicic’s Freestyle.

Pictured (right,below) | Jill Irving and Pop Art

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F

ifty seconds on the clock, twelve fences to choose from, no set course and only two rules: once a fence is down its out, and each jump can only be jumped twice. Every rider gets a chance at the Joker, and top points take top honours.

It’s the $34,000 MNP International Top Score Challenge, better known as the “Gambler’s Choice” and one of the Royal’s most edge of your seat competitions.

Each fence on course is given a different point allowance, and each rider gets to choose the course they think most likely to score the most points and lead them to victory.

Its a class where tight corners and spur of the moment change of plans are common, and you never really know what is going to happen next.

To cap it all off, riders get a chance at the Joker, a chance for 200 extra points if they clear it -- or a 200 point deduction if they knock down the rail. This years Joker was a skinny vertical, styled like the downtown Toronto skyline, complete with a CN tower shaped standard. Most riders took the fence, many were successful ... some were not.

TOP HONOURS 1st

Francois Mathy (pictured right) Ornellaia

2. Conor Swail Arista

3. Darragh Kenny

Prof De La Roque

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T

he $50,000 “Weston” Canadian Open, which took place on Friday night (November 14th) was the second last evening show jumping performance at the 2014 Royal Winter Fair.

Like the rest of the week’s competitions, the course was designed by Guilherme Jorge (BRA) and saw a field of 20 International riders competing for top honors.

The course was set a 1.5 m, with 12 fences total and a time allowed of 75 seconds. The course boasted a number of oxers, as well as one double and one triple combination. It was a one round speed class, so the fastest score and least amount of faults took the top prize.

American rider Beezie Madden, aboard Belgian Warmblood mare Coral Reef Via Volo came first with a time of 58.42.

TOP HONOURS 1st

Beezie Madden (pictured left) Coral Reef Via Volo

2. Francois Mathy Ornellaia

3. Laura Kraut Cedric

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H

arnesses clank, horseshoes clack off the concrete horse palace floor, horses snort and shuffle in place. This is the awesome might of the heavy horses. Spectators line the aisle ways outside the Ricoh chute for a chance to see these massive horses moving forward, packing their immense frames down what suddenly seems a very narrow doorway.

The building echoes with their hoof steps as the driver gets the go ahead to drive them through. From the six horse hitch and down, the heavy horses are a must see at the Royal Winter Fair.

These horses are raw horsepower at its finest. Belgians, Clydesdales, and Percherons in gleaming harnesses, shined to the point of sparkling, all hitched to carriages that gleam in the light case down from overhead fluorescents. This is a sight your are not likely to see anywhere else.

This is real horsepower. The kind humankind used to fully rely on.

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I

t is a window into an age where horses served as the primary mode of transportation. Shining carts and road coaches with harnesses that glisten to absolute perfection. Some days you simply feel as if you’ve gone back in time, other times your cheering along as the judge shouts “show your ponies�, and regardless of the class the ring is filled with perfectly spotless horses and ponies, and drivers that are immaculately dressed.

The harness horse classes at the Royal Agricultural Winter fair cover a range of styles and breeds, and often open many of the evening performances in the Ricoh Coliseum.

From the Hackney and roadster ponies to the Green Meadows classes, its the best of equine driving all in one location.

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T

he final round of international show jumping competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the Big Ben challenge always caters to a sold out crowd - standing room only. Here top riders from across the world compete for a chance at the last big prize. Its always a challenging course, meant to test riders and their mounts, and thrill the audiences who eagerly anticipate and silently cheer on their favourites.

Named in honour of Ian Millar’s legendary mount, Big Ben, this competition is always a hit at the fair.

The field for Saturday night’s competition consisted of 21 riders, including legends like Ian Millar and Beezie Madden.

Like many of the international show jumping competitions throughout the week, the course was designed by Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge, and wasn’t going to be an easy ride for the riders competing.

Only seven riders survived the first round and made it to the jump off, where Nicola Philippaerts -- the third rider to take the course -- took the early lead with a clear round and a time of 36.90. It was a good ride, and a score that held up as the remaining riders took the course. Only one other rider, Beat Mandli, went clear but with a time of 42.76, Nicola remained in the lead and ultimately took the victory.

It was a thrilling ride, and tight right the very end as all the riders fought for top honours, and it proved to be a great end to the international competitions occurring at the 2014 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

TOP HONOURS 1st

Nicola Philippaerts Challenge Vd Begijnakker

2. Beat Mandli

ZaZa Harvey

3. Todd Minikus Quality Girl

Congratulations To the horses and riders who worked hard all year to qualify to compete at the 2014 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. It is your passion for the sport, and your drive to excel that helps to inspire other equestrians to strive to be the best that they can be, in hopes that they too may have their chance to compete and be part of such a long standing tradition.

Best of luck for the upcoming show season!

Less than a year to go until the 2015 Royal season!

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