Ottawa, Ontario—The equestrian community is saddened to learn oft he loss of Barbara Kemp, who passed away February 23, 2009, just four days shy of her 95th birthday. For more than 75 years, Barbara, one of Canada’s leading horsewomen, has influenced equestrian sport in a number of areas. She was a competitor, judge, official, Pony Club supporter and competition organizer.
In 1916 at the age of two, Barbara’s riding career started on a donkey in England where her father was stationed with the Canadian Army. In the spring of 1919, the Kemp family returned to Montreal, and, although they did not own horses, Barbara and her sister, Pamela (Dillingham), were always encouraged to ride.
From 1930 to 1960, Barbara competed in the hack, equitation, hunter and jumper divisions, and also enjoyed cross-country hunter trials. Her passion for eventing was always at the forefront, and Barbara rode up to the Advanced level on two different horses.
In 1951 Barbara was invited to Europe to train at the Spanish Riding School, and she went on to work with other trainers in Europe and competed at various events.
When she returned to Canada that summer, Barbara began building cross-country courses and built at least one a year until 1976 when she designed and built the 1976 Olympic three day event cross course in Bromont, Quebec. She was the first woman in the history of the Olympics to design the cross country course.
Barbara was also a licenced hunter and jumper judge. She was listed as a senior judge in 15 disciplines, and she held FEI status as a dressage and three day event judge, a steward and course designer. She was the technical delegate at the 1979 European Young Riders’ Three Day Event Championship and a steward at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. She judged at the 1986 World Dressage Championships in Cedar Valley, ON, and has officiated at the 1984 Olympic Games, the 1978 World Three Day Event Championships, seven North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships and the 1993 European Young Riders’ Eventing Championships.
She served on many national and provincial committees and helped establish national rules and tests for the sport of dressage in Canada. She was the chair of the Dressage Canada (National Dressage Committee) Officials Committee for six years.
“From Pony Club to Grand Prix, Barbara Kemp had tremendous influence on dressage in Canada,” said Sue Rothgeb, chair of Dressage Canada. “An FEI Judge and Steward and also chair of the National Dressage Officials Committee, she worked tirelessly to make sure that Canada had good dressage judges. She was my teacher and mentor and is largely responsible for where I am today.”
Barbara was also a recipient of Equine Canada’s most prestigious honour, the Equine Canada Gold Medal award.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday April 4, 2009, at St. James Anglican Church at 642 Main Road, Hudson, QC.
Equine Canada would like to extend its deepest sympathies to Barbara’s family and friends.
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