Few would argue that Jill Irving is Canada’s most successful amateur rider. From her humble beginnings as a Pony Clubber to winning a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games, Irving, 56, has dedicated her life to riding, competing, and supporting equestrian sport in Canada.
Under the guidance of long-time friend and coach Ashley Holzer, Irving has risen through the ranks to the top of the sport, often competing as the only amateur among professionals. She has earned numerous top placings in the grand prix at some of the most prestigious CDI competitions in Europe and North America and helped Team Canada achieve an 11th-place finish at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Irving’s greatest competitive success to date came at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, where she was the veteran rider on Canada’s gold medal-winning dressage team. While she jokes about being the “team mom” to her younger teammates, Irving’s influence as a mentor to up-and-coming riders is perhaps her most important role within the sport.
In 2016 she launched the Jill Irving Youth Equine Mentor Program, a grassroots initiative to provide young Canadian dressage and jumper riders the invaluable opportunity to observe professional competition first-hand and learn directly from experienced riders and coaches. Each March, a group of young riders age 16-21 is chosen by lottery from across Canada to learn from top international riders, trainers, and industry experts at the Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL.
She says, “The longevity of equestrian athletes is continually increasing and I feel very lucky to be in a sport that at my age I can continue to do what I love. And of course I hope to have more time to spend with the participants in the Jill Irving Youth Equine Mentorship program – a program which would not be possible without the commitment of all our volunteer riders, coaches, speakers, chaperones, and sponsors.”
Foreseeable Future
“I think all athletes dream of competing for their country at the Olympic Games. Fortunately, my experiences on the Canadian Dressage Team both at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the 2019 Pam Am Games have contributed to my preparation for Tokyo 2020. It’s my life-long dream, even at my age, to represent Canada at an Olympic Games.”
Memorable Moments
“For me, sport is closely connected to family and friends. The biggest highlights are having my whole family in the stands at WEG cheering and waving the Canadian flag, having my husband at the Pan Am Games when we won the gold medal, and being able to work side-by-side with my friend Ashley Holzer as my coach for 34 years. And being named as one of Horse Sport’s 50 most influential people is a career highlight, too!”