THE RIDER SEPTEMBER 2010 HILLS OF HEADWATERS SPOTLIGHT /11 Armstrong Farm


“Always in The Ribbons” A profile on Ruth Armstrong: One of Headwaters’ own.


Orangeville, Ontario – Armstrong Farm of 1st line Mono, continues to stay front and center on the ribbon podium. Ruth is a successful and active show jumper and eventer. Ruth has just returned from 3 weeks jumping in the USA with 3 of her stallions. Ilian de Taute placed in the money in 4 of the 6 GP entered and VDL Ulando H and P.S. I love you were successful in the 1.40m . Armstrong Farm continues its suc- cesses & accomplish- ments from its breeding program to the show ring. Ruth and Morley Armstrong, owners and operators of Armstrong Farm, saw their hard work come to fruition with numerous accolades earned in the last few years. Armstrong Farm remains at the top of its game. Ruth Armstrong was named the Leading Lady Rider by the Ontario Horse Trials Association (OHTA) 2 years in a row. One of her many mounts, Urban Legend, topped the OHTA Open Preliminary year-end standings and, for the second year in a row, received the OHTA Leading Thoroughbred Award. Ruth also won the 2009 YEH champi- onships open division with Malanoche and was 4th & 7th with two young horses which sub- sequently sold south of the border


One of Armstrong Farm’s top breeding stal- lions, Frenchman, was third overall in the OHTA Open Preliminary stand- ings. Two young breeding stallions also enjoyed great success in the com- petitive arena with VDL Ulando finishing as the runner-up in the Open division of the Young Event Horse Champi- onship while P.S. I Love You placed third in the Five-Year-Old division. Whether she was riding one of her proven stal- lions, a young home-bred, or a catch ride for another owner, Armstrong was rarely out of the ribbons. The young stallions have continued their lessons


The Selle Francais


Excerpts provided by Armstrong Farms & animal-world.com


The Selle Francais, pronounced “Sell-fron-SAY,” is an important sad- dle horse from France, whose history is long and complex. It is a successful combination of several distinct breeds, receiving important qualities from each utilized. These include early crossings of the heavy Norman Warhorse in the 1700’s with later infusions of equine blood from Egypt, Austria, and Asia at the beginning of the 1800’s, to finally the addition of Norfolk Trotter blood in the mid 1800’s. It has a mixture of calvary horse, saddle horse, and a fine car- riage horse in its making. Named a breed in 1958, the first stud book for the Selle Francais was published in 1965.


Ruth Armstrong, pictured here riding Frenchman, was named the Leading Lady Rider by the Ontario Horse Trials Association two years in a row. Frenchman, the only son of Le Tot de Semilly standing in North America, is one of Armstrong Farm’s flagship stallions.


and are now successful show jumpers and even- ters.Ulando having just won an event and a jumper class back to back.


Armstrong Farm always has a selection of quality warmbloods for sale from babies to expe- rienced show horses all backed & trained by Ruth.


Ruth Armstrong, whose love of equestrian sport was cultivated in her native Great Britain, has competed internation- ally in both show jumping and eventing. In addition to being an active com- petitor and level 2 jump- ing coach, her Armstrong Farm has gained a reputa- tion for its breeding pro- gram, which features proven Selle Francais bloodlines that have pro- duced talented young stock that excels in all three Olympic disciplines. Armstrong Farm pro- duces approximately 10 foals each season through its breeding program. Ruth trains these young prospects and, every spring, debuts a new crop of talented youngsters in the show arena


Bred by Armstrong Farm, P.S. I Love You, a son of Ilian de Taute, became the first Canadi- an-bred stallion to enter the Selle Francais stud book as an approved stal- lion. The two French


judges, E.G. Sarl and J.E Camenen, who traveled to Canada to conduct the approval process were impressed by P.S. I Love You’s overall type, con- formation, temperament and incredible scope, and awarded him Elite status. One year earlier, P.S. I Love You topped a field of 18 horses presented at the Canadian National Stallion Licensing. Ilian de Taute and Frenchman progeny both now have offspring in the interna- tional arena in both dres- sage, eventing and show jumping. “Its very satisfy- ing and exciting to see your hopes and dreams fulfilled in the breeding arena the BLUP and the ISO index of the boys is indicative of successful offspring but the proof of the pudding is in the eat- ing “! said Armstrong Although Armstrong trains regularly with Canadian Olympian Garry Roque, she has the opportunity to spend the winters training in Florida with a string of horses, including ‘the boys’. There, she was working with Jonathon and Jen- nifer of Holling Eventing. Ruth’s years of expe- rience make her an excel- lent horsewoman and a pleasure to coach,” said top American eventing competitor, Jonathon Holling, who has bred one of his own mares to


Ilian de Taute. “She has used her wealth of experi- ence to collect and breed an extraordinary string of breeding stallions and competition horses. Roque added, “Ruth had another great season and continues to grow her string. She has some super new prospects and next year will be very exciting.”


Armstrong Farm is a true family affair. While Ruth is in the competitive spotlight, her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel Mor- ley Armstrong, works tirelessly behind the scenes. Their ten year-old daughter, Tiffany, has also been bitten by the eventing bug and has started her competitive career.


Today the Selle Francais breed exemplifies the definition of a sport horse. They range in height from 15.2 HH to about 17 HH with an attractive head and long neck, often with slop- ing shoulders. The chest is deep and the body is long. A powerful mover, the Selle Francais is fast, bold, athletic and blessed with good bone and muscle. Best known as a exceptional show jumper, the breed also does equally well in the cross country field, eventing as well as making an excel- lent hunter or dressage horse. Good natured, intelli- gent and trainable, with a willing disposition, this horse is an excellent mount for amateur riders in many disciplines. Their patient, forgiving, and kind tempera- ment also makes them a good choice for a lesson horse for adults and children alike.


A careful breeding pro- gram consistently places Selle Francais horses in the top ranks of international


On any day, Ruth wears many hats. In her “down” time, she plays guitar and is a singer songwriter, mom, wife, coach, and rider. All this plus her duties as a stal- lion manager who runs a busy breeding & collec- tion facility for Arm- strong Farm stallions and external stallions and spe- cializes in preparing stal- lions and young horses for the show ring.


For more informa- tion, please visit www.armstrongfarm.com or e-mail armstrong.farm@sympa- tico.ca.


The Erin Fair Turns 60 Years Old By Jennifer Girvin.


Celebrating its 160th Anniver- sary in 2010, the Erin Fall Fair is known far and wide as “Ontario’s Preview to the Royal” due to so many prize winners from Erin also being successful at the Royal Agri- cultural Winter Fair in Toronto. The fair is held yearly on Thanksgiving Weekend and features attractions for all ages.


The fair has an interesting histo-


ry. Prior to 1857, the location of the Erin Fall Fair is unknown. Records started in 1857 list Erin, Hillsburgh, Ospringe and Bristol (later known as Brisbane) as hosts of the event. Around 1866, the present day fair grounds were acquired by the Agri- cultural Society (a free lease and land purchase by Ag Society members). Horses have been a part of the fair since the beginning when local farm- ers would bring their livestock together for friendly competition.


Today, livestock and equine shows run daily and each night the track comes to life with the roar of the truck pull, tractor pull and demo- lition derby (Friday, Saturday and Sunday consecutively). And every fair goer MUST try the World Famous Erin Fall Fair Apple Dumpling. New at the fair this is Equine Erin, a tent featuring display booths, equine products for sale and a demonstration ring. For more information visit www.erinfair.ca.


competition. Success stories include the 1999 World Cup of Show Jump- ing, where Selle Francais, Baloubet du Roulet won for the second year in a row. In 1998, the gelding, Twist du Valon was “AGA horse of the year” in the USA.


Selle Francais horses have also competed on the Olympic show jumping teams of many countries. In Atlanta in 1996, the Belgian regis- tered individual gold medal winner, Jus de Pomme, carried 100% French blood in his veins. The Selle Francais gelding, Rhum IV, ridden by Michael Matz, helped achieve the silver medal for the United States and Alexandra Lederman, riding Rochet M (Jalisco B) for France, was the individual show jumping bronze medalist. At the 2002 World Equestrian Games, the Selle Francais dominated the podium with the Team Gold Medal in Show Jumping, Team Silver Medal in Eventing, Individual Gold Medal in Eventing, Team Gold Medal in Endurance, and Individual Bronze Medal for Endurance.


Selle Francais, Ilian De Taute owned by Armstrong Farms, Photo by Clix


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