FEBRUARY 2014 THE RIDER /43 In Memoriam - Orion (1996 - 2014)


to the prestigious Vienna Masters in Austria, where they earned a top 10 placing against an elite group of international competitors in the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle and FEI4* Grand Prix classes. They were also invited to compete at the CDIO5* level during the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen in Germany this past July, where once again, Orion demonstrated his incredible talent and heart, taking the pair to ninth place in the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle against some of the best


Print Version Of The


Canadian Horsetrader Magazine Rides Off Into The Sunset


Larkin, Pam Sugden and her husband Kerry Boon- stra, who met his wife, Pam after buying a proper- ty advertised in the ‘Trader”, continue to support the industry as horse and farm owners and are in the process of exploring future options through their Facebook page HorsetraderMag and online at www.horsetradermagazine.com. When asked for a comment about the 25 year ride, Pat, Pam and Kerry said, “we have loved contributing to the horse industry in Ontario and would especially like to thank our dedicated, loyal customers and readers as well as the editor of “The Rider”, Barry Finn for his encouragement, unfailing good humor and assistance over the 25 years we have been in busi- ness. It has been a pleasure.”


zine had moved with Pam to a farm in Elgin Coun- ty and quickly grew in size to 80-100 pages monthly with a distribution of 12,000 copies. Dis- tributed to more than 300 locations across Ontario and the Maritimes with a few copies in Michigan and Ohio, the 25 year old company expanded their publishing venue to include online advertising and readership. By 2011 “Trader” enthusiasts and advertisers could log on to read or print a down- loadable flipbook edition or place ads online as well as “Like” and contribute to the Facebook page at “HorsetraderMag”. Owners of the Canadian Horsetrader, Pat


zine was the creation of Pat Larkin and Pam Sug- den at their hobby farm in Lucan. Both women had production and commercial art experience and a passion for all things ‘horse’. Originally a 16 page ‘pony’ of 5,000 copies, distributed at stables, through other horse enthusiasts and at tack stores, the magazine quickly gained popularity among Ontario’s horse owners and riders. Produced for many years in the back room of the house, pack- aged in the barn and transported on skids in the family’s horse trailer to Purolator, the all-advertis- ing buy and sell magazine grew to a four-color glossy magazine with the help of its loyal advertis- ers and ardent supporters. By 1997, The Canadian Horsetrader Maga-


year-old family operated company and the largest all-advertising horse publication in Canada is the third horse publication to succumb to the pressures in the equine industry in the past few months. First published in April of 1988, the maga-


cease publishing a print version was, “largely in response to a very soft marketplace for horses in Ontario, in part, as a result of the Ontario govern- ment’s decision with regard to horse racing last fall and the trend toward unpaid, online advertising by both business owners and horse enthusiasts. This movement over the past several years has resulted in uncertain advertising revenues for magazines in a climate of skyrocketing production and distribu- tion costs.” The Canadian Horsetrader Magazine – a 25


and daughter team, who are co-founders and remain co-owners of the magazine, decided it was time to move forward toward online publishing and have ‘retired’ the print version. Pam Sugden said that the decision reached to


lished online only with the last print version pub- lished in December of 2013. Patricia Larkin and Pam Sugden, the mother


zine are hanging up their spurs on the print version of their magazine after 25 years in business. As of January 2014 the “Trader” was pub-


Owners of the Canadian Horsetrader Maga-


dressage athletes competing at the elite level (CDI4* and 5*) in Europe over the last year. Most recently the pair attended the CDI3* Zakrzow competition, held in Poland from Nov. 8-10, where they won the Grand Prix before moving on to take second in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Additionally, Fortmuller and Orion travelled


OTTAWA, ON - Equine Canada regretfully reports that 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Orion, beloved partner of Canadian dressage rider Pia Fortmuller, passed away on January 19th. Orion and Fortmuller were the sole Canadian


Orion showed symptoms of colic so I immediately brought him to the vet clinic and although we were first able to stabilize him with med-


this in writing, because it means that I have to accept that my Orion, my teammate, my star, my warrior has passed away. Orion was still in top form right up to his last day and it is a shock to absolutely everyone how suddenly he has left us. “On Saturday January 18th


Pia Fortmüller graciously offered a loving statement regarding the passing of her beloved mount, below is an abridged version: “It is extremely difficult to put


equine dressage athletes in the world. Fortmuller called competing at Aachen “...a dream come true,” and commented that, “It was an honour to be able to dance down the centerline with Orion in Aachen.” In her time of great sadness


asked for one last moment with Orion, and when I looked him in the eye, Orion let me know that his time had come. Anyone who spends so much time with their four legged partner knows that over time a connection can develop so strong


ication, the vet convinced me to leave him in the clinic overnight, simply to monitor his condition. During the night of the 18th I sat with Orion in his stall and while he was munching away at his hay as I sat cross legged in front of him, I truly thought that I would be able to bring Orion back home with me the following day simply because he made such a healthy and sturdy impression. But during the night Orion suffered from another episode of colic and by Sunday, January 19th at 9 am the symptoms had gotten so bad that we proceed- ed with colic surgery. “Before the surgery began I


that words are not needed to communicate. And it was in this moment that I knew that I had to let my teammate, my anchor, go. As I closed my eyes and gave Orion one last kiss I had only one thought that I wanted to share with him, and that is “Thank You”. Thank You Orion, for being the best team- mate anyone could ask for, thank you, for open- ing up a world of possi- bilities for me, and most of all, thank you for showing me that dreams really can come true. “Every time I look


Pia and Orion at Aachen 2013


up at the stars at night my eyes immediately search for the star con- stellation “Orion’ which is distin- guished by “Orion’s Belt” and I know that when I look up there I will find my very own warrior who will forever rest in peace amongst the stars.” Equine Canada offers their sin-


and for anyone wishing to offer condolences please visit her blog or webpage: www.piafortmuller.com http://piavirginia.blogspot.com


cerest condolences to Pia for her loss. Orion will forever be remem- bered by all those who followed his career with admiration and respect. To view Pia’s full statement,


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60