2/ JUNE 2017 THE RIDER Ian Millar Continued from Page 1.


with Canada’s Vanessa Mannix. With decades of experience under his belt, Millar sliced and diced his way around the jump-off track, meeting every distance with trade- mark precision. As he cleared the final obstacle and galloped through the timers, the new win- ning time of 34.09 seconds flashed on the scoreboard. “Conor pushed me really


hard, he was fast, but Dixson was right on his game!” said Millar, 70, of the 14-year-old Belgian Warm- blood gelding (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Olisco) owned by Susan and Ariel Grange of Cheltenham, ON. “There was a turn to the pair of verticals where we happened to


Equine Research Fund


Continued from Page 1.


welfare as well as providing support for over 22,000 members of the equine community in Ontario. Ontario Veterinary College


Dean Jeffrey Wichtel says, “The new OEF Member Equine Research Fund will provide stimulus to drive research that stands to improve the overall health and well-being of horses.” Equine Guelph has been disseminating research findings, in the form of lay summaries, and making this information available to all facets of the equine industry since its inception in 2003. “OEF has been a proud sup-


porter in the past of research con-


catch the correct distance and shaved the time off. I know Dix- son well, and he knows me, too. He knows what I’m about to do it almost before I know I’m going to do it. We’re like a married couple.” Millar and Dixson celebrated


their victory in the same arena where they had helped Canada claim the Team Gold medal two years earlier during the 2015 Pan American Games. As the host of equestrian events, the Caledon Equestrian Park now serves as an important legacy to horse sport. “Dixson is starting his Cana-


dian season here at the Caledon Equestrian Park,” said Millar, who spent the winter competing at the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festi- val in Wellington, FL. “He’ll enjoy a rest next week, and then we’re off to Langley, BC, where he’s on


ducted at the University of


Guelph,” says Dr. Jeff Thomason, co-chair of the Equine Guelph re- search committee. “The OEF con- tribution will be applied to the next round of research funding, but 2 re- cently funded projects illustrate the range of possible and practical uses for that contribution.” OVC researcher, Dr. Alex zur


Linden is creating 3-D print outs of equine joints for training vets to use ultrasound to safely guide the nee- dle in joint injections. In the On- tario Agricultural College, Dr. Katrina Merkies is investigating the effects of steaming or soaking hay for horses. Merkies will be study- ing effects including feeding behav- iour and impact on nutrient density. “I commend the Ontario


Equestrian Federation on their ini- tiative in developing this successful


the Nations’ Cup team for Canada. Then it’s over the mountains to Spruce Meadows for the summer series.” Millar had two shots at vic-


tory in the $50,000 CSI2* Jumper Classic, as he also qualified Vitto- rio 8 for the tie-breaker by jump- ing clear over the first-round track set by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Millar has been riding Vittorio 8 for owner Future Ad- ventures for the past year, and the pair was double clear in a time of 36.25 seconds to finish in fifth po- sition. “I’m looking forward to see-


ing what the Spruce Meadows tour will do for him,” said Millar of the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Valentino DDH x Ramiro’s Bube). “He has the technique,


Funding Program to support Equine Guelph’s horse health programs and hope that the example they have set encourages other Provincial Sport Organizations and Breed Associa- tions to take up the challenge and do the same,” says Al Patterson, Equine Guelph Advisory Council co-chair. “Equine Guelph thanks the


OEF and its members for their con- tributions,” says Gayle Ecker, direc- tor of Equine Guelph. “The equine community is bound together by common beliefs and aims when it comes to taking the best possible care of our horses. We welcome all horse associations to consider a similar membership program to be- come involved in the funding equine research which helps horses for life”.


Ian Millar, pictured on Vittorio 8, is presented as the winner of the $50,000 CSI2* Jumping Classic by Kelley Nicholls of Horseware and his daughter, Jillian, on Sunday, May 21, during the CSI2* Caledon Open tournament in Caledon, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


power, he’s careful, modern. He would be a Games horse. He’s just nine now and if he takes the next step over the next year, he is there.” While Millar domi-


nated Sunday’s proceedings followed closely by Swail, another Irishman settled for third. Daniel Coyle, who is 22 of age, guided Cita, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Casall x Pik Ramiro) to a third place finish for owners Susan and Ariel Grange, giv- ing the mother-and-daughter team both the win as well as a third place finish. Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, took fourth place following a


clear jump-off performance in a time of 35.24 seconds riding Carimba B, a nine- year-old Hanoverian mare (Contendro I x For Pleasure) owned by her family’s Look- ing Back Farm. While Swail may have


settled for second in Sun- day’s $50,000 Jumper Clas- sic, it was he who stood alone in the winner’s circle following Friday’s $35,000 CSI2* Open Welcome. The times were close but, in the end, Swail’s time of 39.49 seconds gave him the edge over Coyle, who had stopped the clock in 39.62 riding Cita.


Canadians filled the


next three spots in the plac- ings with Keean White of Rockwood, ON, turning in a time of 41.10 to take third with Carrera v/h Westleven Z, Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, placing fourth with a time of 41.47 riding Count Me In, and Millar and Dix- son rounding out the top five with a time of 42.30 seconds. For more information


on the CSI2* Caledon Na- tional, including full results, as well as a full competition schedule,


please


www.caledonequestrian- park.com.


visit


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