Ottawa, Ontario – The horse world suffered a major loss last week with the death of Equine Canada senior judge and Federation Equestre International (FEI) veterinarian, Dr. John Gilray, 78, of 100 Mile House, BC, who succumbed to cancer on June 5.
A horse lover from the age of 13, Dr. Gilray graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1954 and practiced equine medicine in Ontario and British Columbia. In the same year, he received his judge’s license from the Canadian Horse Shows Association (CHSA) in hunter, jumper, hack and equitation. Western was added in the sixties after he moved from Toronto to the west coast and became involved in bringing the western division into the CHSA, which had been English only since its inception.
As chairman of Zone 5 of the CHSA, a position he held for 10 years, John was instrumental in bringing the CHSA into the umbrella organization of the Canadian Equestrian Federation (CEF) in order to satisfy the federal government’s demand for a national equine sports body which would then qualify for membership in Sport Canada and receive funding as an Olympic discipline. He served as a vice-president of the CEF for a number of years, eventually resigning to make way for new blood in the CEF and other activities for himself.
Other activities included chairing the Northwest International Horse Show in Vancouver for 13 years. This show became the leading indoor, all-breed and performance show in Western Canada. Eventually, due to rising costs and inadequate facilities, it was replaced by major outdoor shows in British Columbia and Alberta.
As his children matured and became interested in riding, he renewed his membership in the Canadian Pony Club, was appointed Visiting Commissioner and helped to form three new clubs in the Fraser Valley to accommodate the children of the horse owners that were moving out of Vancouver and into the Valley.
Inspired by his years of fox hunting with the Toronto and North York Hunt, hunting was always his first love. In 1963, he was able to gain enough local support to establish the Fraser Valley Hunt and was appointed its first Master. He served in this capacity for 15 years.
In 2004, Dr. Gilray was honoured with two very special awards. First, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair made him an Honorary Veterinarian in recognition of his 50 years of volunteer service to the Royal Horse Show, both on the Ring Committee and as an FEI veterinarian; and second, Horse Council British Columbia presented him with their first Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding service to the horse industry of British Columbia.
Dr. Gilray will be greatly missed by friends in the equestrian world all across the country. Equine Canada extends sincere condolences to his family.
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