THE RIDER SEPTEMBER 2010 HILLS OF HEADWATERS SPOTLIGHT /9 Photography by Ballini


Ever since he was a teenag- er, Andrew has been seeing the world in light and shadow. After graduating from Humber Col- lege, he has gained valuable experience in many facets of photography. From weddings to rock bands, journalism to com- mercial, Andrew has opened himself to all that the world of photography has to offer. Then, after moving from Toronto to Georgetown, he met an eventer, and his passion for capturing just the right moment blossomed into a whole new field.


Canadian Equestrian Community Loses Canadian Olympian Walter Pady


Tour in 1954. With his horse Slow Motion, Walter placed among the top riders during stops in England, Ireland, Holland and Belgium with Canadians James Elder, L. T. McGuinness and Shirley Prosser (Thomas).


Since 2003, Andrew has been covering Horse Trials all over Ontario and into Quebec and the US. From such high pro- file events as the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event to small school- ing shows, he can be found every weekend from May to October wherever horses are found, with camera in hand. Through rain, or blazing sun, or sleet, or even snow, his strong work ethic keep him shooting as long as people keep riding. Through the years, Andrew has developed the skills required to capture the most chal- lenging (and often frustrating) photo subjects; the power and beauty of the equine.


Walter’s contributions to show jumping continued after his competitive career had ended. He was the chairman of the Jumping Team for the Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) and in the 1980s, he volunteered as the chair of the CET.


Photo by Andrew Ballini Profile: Ross Millar By Mallory Hendry.


Ross Millar started out in the horse industry through his business of building cowboy boots. He met people in the horse industry and started going to rodeos, and he was hooked. Pretty soon Ross went from making Western boots for others to wear, to wearing them him- self.


went to Dodge and built it.” It was designed and built in 1998, and since then has been a big attraction.


“We’ve had a wonderful go of it,” Ross says. “I’m proud to say it’s grown every year. It started at six, this year it was at 15 plus. We’re also proud that we do the Toronto Royal Winter Fair.” In the 25 years Ross has been involved with horses, he’s been far from


then Ross has been involved in a lot of big events in the horse com- munity. He came up with the concept for Dodge Rodeo and in his words “put it together,


Since


Ottawa, Ontario—The Canadian equestrian community is saddened to learn of the loss of 1952 Helsin- ki Olympian and former Chair of the Canadian Equestrian Team, Walter Pady, of Rosemont, ON, following a tragic car accident. When he was still a student, Walter was identified as a talented equestrian during the 1952 pre- Olympic Three-Day Trials and chosen as one of the five riders who would be sent from Canada to Helsinki, Finland as members of Canada’s first Olympic Three- day Event Team, along with Tommy Gayford, Larry McGuin- ness, Stewart Treviranus and John Rumble, where Walter was an alternate rider for the team. When his interests switched to international show jumping, Walter was also named to Cana- da’s first European Show Jumping


Angus, Ian and Bryan (Heather); his stepsons, Jacques (Sue) and Palmer (Melissa); his siblings Eleanor, Jack (Audrey) and David (Sandra); his grandchildren, Den- nis, Marsha, Devon, Alex and Owen; and his step-grandchildren, Corson and Carly.


“Walter was one of the founding leaders of Canadian equestrianism, and one of the great figures of our sport. Our hearts go out to Jane and to his family,” said Equine Canada CEO, Akaash Maharaj. “Although we will miss him terribly, we take comfort in the knowledge that his legacy will live on through his formative influence on the Cana- dian Equestrian Team and Canadi- an equestrian culture itself.” “Walter was such a great friend to the broad equestrian community. Among other things, his interests included show jump- ing, eventing and fox hunting,” said Terrance ‘Torchy’ Millar, chef d’équipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team. “He was a great leader for our jumping team for many years. Those of us who had the privilege to know him will miss him greatly.”


Walter leaves behind his wife Jane and his children, Michelle,


A celebration of Walter’s life will take place in September. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice Dufferin and condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com. Equine Canada would like to extend its deepest sympathies to Walter’s family and friends.


About Equine Canada


Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism. A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competi- tion; the national voice for recre- ational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry. Equine Canada is recognised by the Gov- ernment of Canada, the Interna- tional Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organi- sation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.


Profile: Peter Scott Gray


Born in Paget, Bermuda, Peter Gray attended the Univer- sity of Guelph and became a Canadian citizen in 1995. Peter competed in three Olympic Games representing Bermuda, including the 1980 Alternate Olympics held in Fontainebleau, France, Los Angeles and Seoul. He was an individual bronze medalist at the 1987 Pan Ameri- can Games, and also competed at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm. In addi- tion, Peter has successfully com- pleted the CCI**** Badminton and Burghley Three Day Events in England.


alone in his passion for them. From his early collaborations to heading important events like Can-Am, Ross now has his whole family involved. With five horses on ten acres in the Headwater Hills, Ross’ wife Catherine barrel races and his son Shawn steer wrestles.


With a background in sports mar- keting, Ross transferred his skills to the world of equestrian events and started an event managing group. The Dodge Rodeo Tour is one of his biggest clients, and they’re also involved with the Can-Am show. Ross may share managing duties of Can-Am with the Rodeo Management Group but the creative process is all his. For his second year as organizer, Ross has a sim- ple plan to ensure another successful event.


Ross Millar at the Orangeville Rodeo. Photo by The Rider


“I’m going to continue to expand,” he says. “I want to bring in all the dif- ferent breeds of the horse world.”


Riding for Canada, he was the first alternate for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and in 2005, enjoyed a strong placing at the CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Balladeer Ted to earn Long List status. Peter was a member of the Canadian National Team Long List for 2009. He was also the National Coach of the Canadian Three Day Event Team from 1995 to 2000.


So what is he working on


now? Peter currently competes on COLLO 5 in Grand Prix dressage, is the provincial coach for the Ontario Young Riders team and a sought-after coach and clinician in jumping, dres- sage and equitation “Besides my event horse La Boheme Z and my dressage horse Collo 5, I have two young project horses I am working on at the moment. I am also going into my second year as show manager for four horse trials in Ocala, Florida which requires much of my office time at the moment.” When asked about Excep-


tional students, he replies “I have been lucky to have had many talented students pass through my barn, many had aspirations to ride at the Interna- tional level; my job was easy when they had talent and were goal oriented. Mike Winter, Ali- son Springer, Jonathan Holling, Jonathan Elliot, Leahona Row- land are all successful Interna- tional riders now. There are a couple of super talented individ- uals in my Young Rider pro- gramme at the moment.


When asked to name his all time favourite horses, he replies “All time favourite, was Newport on whom I cam- paigned extensively in Europe and competed at Badminton and the World Equestrian games in Stockholme Sweden. He was


uine horse I have ever compet- ed, such a trier. – But Collo 5 is a close second!


Peter has owned and oper- ated Stonehill Farm in Orangeville, Ontario for the past 3 years after 10 years at a Prangeville area farm. He shares his home with his partner Paul Delbrook and an adorable 8- month-old weimeraner puppy named Max!


Peter gets enormous plea- sure working at the farm; “I have been renovating the old bank barn for 2 years and it is finally completed; the old stone barns have so much history and charm. The house and schooling rings will be next.”


formerly the processional ride of the president of Argentina, Gen- eral L Galtieri. He was show jumped a little in the army before I purchased him at auc- tion. He was truly the most gen-


When asked what he likes most about the Hills of Headwa- ters area, he muses “ The hills, views, tranquility, proximity to the airport and Toronto (so I can make my yearly trek there!) and a strong sense of community.”


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