The Canadian dressage community lost a key member with the sudden passing of coach, trainer, mentor, and rider Neil Ishoy on Nov. 4th, at the age of 56.
Born in Weston, ON, Ishoy began his international competitive career as an eventer, representing Canada at the 1980 Alternate Olympics in Fontainebleu, France, and the 1982 World Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany.
After a 17-year hiatus from competition, he switched to his first love, dressage, with great success, sweeping the grand prix classes at Dressage at Devon in 2001 aboard the grey Oldenburg gelding Andiamo Tyme. That same autumn the pair won the Swarovski Canadian League Dressage World Cup at the Royal Horse Show, scoring 74.40% in the Grand Prix Freestyle and earning a berth at the 2002 World Cup Finals in ‘s Hertogenbosch, NED. Unfortunately, Ishoy was unable to attend because the horse was recovering from a knee injury.
In addition to competing, Ishoy was dedicated to supporting the dressage industry in Canada, running Ishoy Enterprises, a dressage training and sales business in Binbrook, ON, with his wife and fellow Canadian Olympian, Cindy Ishoy.
Ishoy will be deeply missed by his wife, Cindy, a member of the bronze medal Canadian Dressage Team at the 1988 Olympics, children Kahla and Zack, parents Buck and Molly, brother Mark, friends, and a multitude of people whose lives he touched.
A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Equine Guelph (www.equineguelph.ca). Online condolences can be posted at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.
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