I went down in flames this Sunday. I managed to upset both the FEI, and Spruce Meadows. Normally the highlight of my year, Sunday’s Grand Prix is when I get to be backstage with the horses and riders and see all the action up close. Well, the FEI stewards had another idea. I was chewed out for being in the warm-up ring, chewed out for being by the in-gate, chewed out for talking to people. Listen, I understand and respect the etiquette. I never talk to a rider when they are walking the course, in the warm-up ring, or preparing to enter for their round. I will ask for a comment after their rou ..read more

With world number one show jumper, Henrik von Eckermann, Spruce Meadows, September 2022 Last year I wrote a piece in early January about my ‘new year, new you’ mentality and goals for the upcoming year. Here, I reflect on what I learned - and plans for 2023. I discussed the importance of emotional regulation and how it relates to riding. I alluded to mental health goals. Basically, I didn’t want to keep losing my shit on my kids on a regular basis. I would never do this to a horse but I’ve done the equivalent to my children. I joined the Holistic Psychologist. I learned that my difficulties ..read more

The richest purse in show jumping takes place every September at Spruce Meadows in Calgary: The 3-million-dollar CP International Grand Prix, presented by Rolex. While all other Rolex Majors take place in Europe, the epicenter of equestrian sport, Spruce Meadows is set amid the rolling foothills of the Albertan Rocky Mountains. It’s an area better known for cows and cowboys than warmblood horses and tall-booted riders. This year, 2022, Germany’s Daniel Deusser won the Grand Prix with his spectacular Belgian Warmblood mare, Killer Queen VDM. Deusser credited his success to his horse. “I know K ..read more

I’m working on a feature piece on show jumping I’ll be pitching to major publications. In the meantime, read my Globe and Mail story here ..read more

Charlise Casas and Mustique VZ, July 10. Copyright Spruce Meadows Media/Jack Cusano Northwestern University student Charlise Casas won the CSI 2* $75,000 Lafarge Grand Prix on the final day of the summer series at Spruce Meadows, July 10. Casas bested coach Kent Farrington, the twelfth ranked rider in the world, in a narrow jump-off. “I told him I’d beat him one day,” Casas said. Both Casas and Chicago-native Farrington rode clear in the first round over a series of jumps around 5 feet tall designed to test a horse’s ability to jump carefully and swiftly, leaving all the fences standing. Farr ..read more

Aachen Cathedral built in 805 AD Have Aachen dreams? I’m working on a travel piece with everything you need to know to take a trip to the mecca of equestrian sport: Aachen, Germany. The perfect start-of-summer holiday for fans of equestrian sport - with plenty to do for non-horsey companions, including a superb spa and one of the most ancient cathedrals in Europe. Aachen is highly walkable, boasts mild weather, and is off the tourist trail. Easy access to a train station will take you to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Dusseldorf within a pleasant few hours. Enjoy great food, beautiful platzls and f ..read more

WEG Team Canada: Mario Deslauriers, Beth Underhill, Amy Millar, Tiffany Foster, Erynn Ballard, with chef d’equipe Eric Lamaze. Well. Things got REAL this week at the National. It was busy, and it was hard. It felt like moving up from the 1.10m division to the 1.45m. I found myself learning real sports journalism through the school of hard knocks. But how else do you learn? Even though I’m in the Media Centre, I’m not given a lot of information and I have to learn everything on the fly. I’m found myself attending my first press conferences with no idea what they are like and what I’m supposed ..read more

I wrote this in February, but didn’t publish it. I suppose I didn’t want to jinx the early progress I had begun to make with my mental health. Now, I am ready to share this piece. It’s a beautiful sunny and warm day here in Calgary. A chinook has blown in, changing our -20 temperatures to a balmy +13 degrees Celsius. My husband and son have gone skiing, I stayed home with our youngest. He’s having a play date with a neighbour and I can hear them having fun together in the basement. I’m happy. I’ve been marveling about this lately, because until recently I hadn’t felt happy for a long time. It ..read more

By Victor Sobrevals Tumblr Victor Sobrevals is taking over the Blog today with his thoughts about breeding show jumping horses. I think Victor raises some excellent points, bringing a rather masculine perspective to a topic that can laden with emotion. If you want more Victor, check out his feature here as well as his thoughts on amateur vs. professional designations in show jumping. How many of you have had the dream of breeding a foal from your horse? Maybe just breed for fun to see what comes out? Whether you have a mare or stallion, I get it - the love and affection you have for that anim ..read more

Eric Lamaze, pictured with the author at Time Faults Pub, Spruce Meadows, Calgary On March 31st, 2022, Eric Lamaze declared his official retirement from show jumping competition, fully stepping into his new role as Chef d’ Equipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team. I’ve been following Eric Lamaze’s career since Cagney, his top mount in the nineties (proof). Cagney was an Irish-bred horse who was donated to the Canadian Equestrian Team by Eddie Creed, Eric Lamaze’s mentor. (Fun fact: Cagney lived to be 34 years old!) I remember the heartbreak of the 2000s, when he was banned from two Olympic Ga ..read more