Show jumping is a relatively new sport in Canada but it’s seeing serious growth.
The Calnash Ag Event Centre’s indoor arena is an ideal location for this type of show jumping, which is one reason Pacific Equine Sport out of Calgary makes use of its space.
The company’s partners are made up of Caroline and Peter Grant as well as Joe Rycroft who host these show jumping events for customers. They host three events at the ag event centre for show jumpers of all levels.
Developing riders and horses get first hand experience at these events, explains Caroline, adding that the events are more educational than competitive. Caroline says they want customers to leave with more confidence and to be prepared for larger venues and competitions.
Western Canada has seen some growth in this sport.
“It’s huge in Europe. It’s actually the number one sport in Sweden,” explained Caroline.
“We’re definitely building on our community. We have a lot of imported horses that have come from Europe,” she explained of the earlier days of show jumping in Canada.
There’s new, local breeding farms, which have helped enhance the sport.
The weekend also had a stallion showcase April 7 with riders and horses taking on bigger jumps. That showcase falls in line with the company’s goal to create a greater awareness of the sport and its breeders.
Canada’s show jumping athletes are representing the country well around the globe, says Caroline. She says at many different events, Canadian riders are walking away with medals.
There were 171 entries for riders and horses at the weekend event.