Eric Lamaze has made his mark as the most successful show jumping competitor in Canadian history – and continues to amaze fans and amass victories despite dealing with some very serious health issues. Eric, 51, who owns Torrey Pines Stables in Wellington, FL, and Ecaussinnes, BEL, announced in late 2017 that he was suffering from a very aggressive brain tumour. Following equally aggressive rounds of treatment, he defied the odds and continues to compete at the top of his game with remarkable spirit and tenacity.

Eric has had a stellar career, including representing Canada at three Olympics, seven World Equestrian Games, six World Cup Finals and five consecutive Pan Am Games. His crowning achievement came aboard the superhorse Hickstead when they won the individual gold medal in Hong Kong in 2008 and led Team Canada to a silver-medal podium finish. The pair also took the individual bronze medal at the 2010 WEG and won the $1 million CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters twice. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Eric and Fine Lady 5 had just one rail over four days of tough competition to take the individual bronze medal. The season was capped off when the same pair took the €300,000 Rolex Top 10 Final at CSI5* Geneva, and the $500,000 QE II Cup at Spruce Meadows in 2018.

Eric has contributed to the careers of several top riders including Tiffany Foster and Yann Candele and is now guiding the next generation of Olympic contenders, both human and equine. His Torrey Pines Stables owns either solely or in partnership the most elite show jumping talent in Canada – Fine Lady 5, Coco Bongo, Viva, and a number of other young prospects. With young students including Canada’s Kara Chad, who is now a full-time rider/trainer for Torrey Pines and a regular member of Nations’ Cup teams herself and competed a string of horses in Europe while Eric was undergoing treatment, and his eye for finding and developing horses such as the recently-acquired Idalville d’Esprit that he is aiming towards the Tokyo Olympics, he is helping to ensure a solid future for the sport in Canada.

Memorable Moments

“Winning the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with my teammates, and going on to win the individual gold with Hickstead, who was the most special horse in my career. Those are moments that I cherish and will stay with me forever.”

Foreseeable Future

“To bring home a medal from the Tokyo Olympics.”