Ecclestone Horse Transport was the presenting sponsor of the CSI2* at Angelstone’s Caledon Equestrian Park from July 15-19. Their goal went beyond sponsoring another week of competition and instead wanted competitors, owners, trainers and supporters to feel that this particular week was different.
The weather did not necessarily cooperate. Smoke from the wildfires in northern Ontario, severe thunderstorms and changing conditions affected portions of the competition schedule and forced the postponement of some planned activities. But the EHT team remained determined to make the week memorable.
Conditions were challenging, to say the least, but EHT made sure competitors had plenty to do. (Becca Hamel photo)
“We very much wanted this horse show to have a special feel,” said EHT owner Kyle Ecclestone.
The competitive highlight of the week was the $85,000 Ecclestone Horse Transport FEI 2* Grand Prix, won by Václav Staněk and Langley. Sean Jobin and Grande Dame DK finished second, with Jay Hayes and Quinet-K Van’t Kattenheye in third.
That effort included the introduction of EHT’s new merchandise cart, staffed throughout the week by EHT team member Molly Houlton, who handed out complimentary swag to competitors and visitors. Goodies included custom cookies, socks, sunshirts plus very popular sweaters sporting the EHT logo which were spotted being worn everywhere.
For Ecclestone, it was a simple gesture that served several purposes. It gave competitors something tangible to enjoy, provided an opportunity for the EHT team to meet people around the showgrounds and helped create a stronger presence for the company throughout the week.
EHT also hosted an exhibitor breakfast, bringing members of the horse show community together during a particularly wet and stormy morning. Although the conditions were less than ideal, the breakfast reflected the atmosphere Ecclestone hoped to create.
The exhibitor breakfast was a big hit. (Becca Hamel photo)
“I remember fondly when I, as a young competitor growing up, experienced such a nice community feel at these events,” Kyle said adding that it’s a feeling he believes Angelstone has worked to recreate.
The exhibitor breakfast was one way to strengthen that connection. Rather than simply placing EHT’s name around the grounds, the company wanted its sponsorship to contribute to competitors’ experience of the event.
An inaugural hobby horse competition had also been planned as part of the week’s activities. The event reportedly attracted interest from as far away as Winnipeg, but was postponed because of the weather.
Despite the changes, Ecclestone said the EHT and Angelstone teams worked to make the best of difficult conditions and preserve as much of the week’s programming as possible.
For EHT, becoming more involved in horse shows is part of a broader commitment to supporting the industry from which the company has grown.
“I just feel as a business owner, it’s very important to be supporting the sport,” Ecclestone said. “I think that we benefit off the industry every day. It’s our lives. I think that we as business owners in this space have an obligation to help see that the sport thrives.”
The merch cart. (Becca Hamel photo)
That philosophy is shaping how EHT approaches its sponsorships. Ecclestone does not want the company to participate only through signs, advertisements or class presentations. He wants EHT to help create experiences that add energy and value to the competition.
The merchandise cart and exhibitor breakfast provided an early indication of what that model could look like. Even when weather changed the original plans, the purpose of EHT Week remained clear: show up, support the competitors and help make the horse show feel special.
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