Royal Horse Show Opens with Win for Ali Ramsay

Ali Ramsay of Victoria, BC, opened the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 100th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, by winning phase one of the $125,000 Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship on Friday, November 4, in Toronto, ON.

National pride is on the line along with the title of Canadian Show Jumping Champion. Ramsay led the opening phase of competition from start to finish as the first rider on course over the speed track set by Canadian Olympic individual silver medalist Michel Vaillancourt. Laying down a fault-free time to beat of 60.52 seconds riding Bonita vh Keizershof Z, Ramsay simply could not be caught. Susan Horn of Bolton, ON, came the closest with Kirlo van den Bosrand, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Utrillo Z) owned by Kingsfield Farm. She produced the only other clear round in a time of 62.52 seconds. Francois Lamontagne of St. Eustache, QC, and Chanel du Calvaire, his own 14-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare (Luccianno x Kashmir van Schuttershof), completed the top three with one rail for a three-second penalty in the faults-converted format and a resulting total time of 65.67 seconds.

“She felt amazing,” said Ramsay of the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare by Bustique x For Pleasure that she has been partnered with for five years. “She’s usually amazing but I didn’t know what to expect because she’s never been indoors before and it’s quite the atmosphere here. She stepped in, she took it all in, and then she was ready to go.”

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Having competed for $25,000 in prize money during the opening round, riders will return to the Coca-Cola Coliseum in reverse order of standing to tackle the $100,000 Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship – Round 2 on Saturday evening, November 5. Ramsay will switch from being first on the start list to the advantageous position of going last in her bid for her first Canadian Championship title.

“You have to stay consistent in this championship to make the first-round result mean anything,” said Ramsay of Friday night’s competition. “It feels great to be back at the Royal. Everybody is excited to be here.”

Though pleased with the day’s result, Ramsay has her sights set firmly on the Royal Horse Show’s international division, hoping to be one of two Canadians to qualify with a top performance in the Canadian Show Jumping Championships. Mario Deslauriers, Tiffany Foster, Amy Millar, and Sam Walker have already secured their starting places based on their world rankings.

$25,000 Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship – Round 1

Friday, November 4
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Time

1. Ali Ramsay / Victoria, BC / Bonita vh Keizershof Z / 60.52
2. Susan Horn / Bolton, ON / Kirlo van den Bosrand / 62.52
3. Francois Lamontagne / St. Eustache, QC / Chanel du Calvaire / 65.67
4. Tiffany Foster / Langley, BC / Northern Light / 68.75
5. Jonathon Millar / Perth, ON / Isotropic Shadow / 70.40
6. David Samuel Pegg / Cannington, ON / Big Girl Z / 71.72
7. Lauren Esdale / Seagrave, ON / Viamdios d’Avril / 72.17
8. Carly Campbell-Cooper / Omemee, ON / Da Vinci KDW Z / 73.89
9. Hugh Graham / Schomberg, ON / Florino / 75.12
10. Jay Hayes / Mono, ON / Elton John / 76.31

Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge

Waylon Roberts and CS Carrera led the way in the first round of the Horseware® Indoor Eventing Challenge during opening weekend of the 100th Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. (Ben Radvanyi Photography)

Opening night of the centennial celebration of the Royal Horse Show kicked off with the Horseware® Indoor Eventing Challenge, bringing the exhilaration of jumping natural cross-country obstacles to an indoor setting with a mix of cross-country and traditional show jumping fences. Waylon Roberts, originally of Port Perry, ON, and now residing in Cartersville, GA, rode to the top of the class with a clear effort in a quick time of 81.16 seconds aboard CS Carrera, owned by Sher Schwartz. Closely behind Roberts was 2019 reserve champion Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, who crossed the timers in 81.65 seconds riding her own Audacious. Holly Jacks of Hillsburgh, ON, and Josephine, owned by Donna Van Beek, had the fastest time of the night in 77.84 seconds, but five faults put them into third place. The Horseware® Indoor Eventing Challenge continues Saturday, November 5, with the second and deciding round of competition, where results from both nights are combined to determine the overall standings.

This year’s Royal Horse Show showcases the very best in horse sport with an elevated CSI5*-W rating from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). For more information and to purchase tickets for the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of the 100th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit HERE.

The Royal also offers numerous hospitality experiences which sell out quickly. The Royal Terrace is available for VIP and corporate hosting while the Coliseum’s Sky Suites offer stables and groups their own private suites. New for 2022, the Tanbark Club will offer an upscale luncheon buffet on select days. Visit HERE for more details.