The newly-renovated Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park opened its doors for the first show of the season, and Ian Millar wasted no time posting the first grand prix victory. The 10-time Olympian hailing from Perth, ON, won the $35,000 CSI2* RAM Equestrian Grand Prix riding Dixson on Sunday, May 18, for owners Sue and Aerial Grange at the site of equestrian events for the 2015 Pan American Games.
A total of nine horses found their way to clear rounds over the first-round track set by Germany’s Werner Deeg to qualify for the jump-off. Three riders, including Canadian Olympic team silver medalist Jill Henselwood, incurred one time fault for exceeding the 71-second time allowed.
Conor Swail of Ireland, who had won Friday’s $35,000 CSI2* Alberta Premium Open Welcome with Lansdowne, was first to return, posting a time of 44.52 seconds with the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Guidam x Wolfgang). His lead would be short-lived, however, as Millar navigated the track in a blistering fast time of 43.51 seconds with Dixson, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Olisco). Five more horses would follow, including Swail with his second ride, Martha Louise. The pair was on target to take the win with a time of 42.73, but a rail down three from home put paid to their chances of victory.