Equine Canada and the entire Canadian Equestrian Team would like to extend heartfelt condolences to Sue and Ariel Grange and everyone at Lothlorien on the passing of their legendary show jumper, In Style.
The striking bay Holsteiner gelding (Acord II x Lord) was humanely euthanized on September 27 at the age of 20, following four wonderful years of retirement. His final days were filled with time out in the field with his ‘girls’ and the occasional leisurely hack with his loving owner.
Imported by the Granges in 2003 from Holland, In Style will always be remembered as the mount who carried famed Canadian equestrian Ian Millar to the fulfillment of his Olympic dreams. Having already proved theirs was a successful partnership, the duo laid down the clutch ride at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to secure Team Canada’s silver medal – the first team medal in show jumping in 40 years.
A year earlier, they had been instrumental in Canada’s team silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, where In Style and Millar also finished fourth individually.
During his impressive career, In Style became a fixture on the Canadian Equestrian Team. Always a fan favourite, he made five Nations’ Cup appearances, helping lead Canada to victory in four of them. Other career highlights included three World Cup Qualifier victories, a win in the $200,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows, and two Canadian National Championships (2004 and 2006).
An injury during the 2009 season sidelined In Style, but after a year off and a full recovery, he triumphantly returned to the ring with Millar in 2011, where he continued to add more impressive finishes to his already extraordinary resume. That would be the pair’s final season together, as In Style was retired to Lothlorien after giving so much to Millar and the entire Canadian Equestrian Team.
In Style was truly a remarkable horse, and one that will sorely be missed by the entire equestrian community. He will forever be remembered as the horse whose incredible scope was only exceeded by his even greater will to win.
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